Anto.  How sausely yon fellow Enters the Empresse Chamber.

Petron.  I, and her too, Antonius, knowest thou him?

Anto.  What? knowe the only favorite of the Court?  Indeed, not many dayes ago thou mightest Have not unlawfully askt that question.

Petron.  Why is he rais’d?[3]

Anto.  That have I sought in him
But never peece of good desert could find. 
He is Nimphidia’s sonne, the free’d woman,
Which basenesse to shake off he nothing hath
But his own pride?

Petron.  You remember when Gallus, Celsus, And others too, though now forgotten, were Great in Poppeas eyes?

Anton.  I doe, and did interpret it in them
An honorable favor she bare vertue. 
Or parts like vertue.

Petron.  The cause is one of theirs and this man’s Grace. 
I once was great in wavering smiles of Court;
I fell, because I knew.  Since have I given
My time to my owne pleasures, and would now
Advise thee, too, to meane and safe delights: 
The thigh’s as soft the sheepes back covereth
As that with crimson and with Gold adorn’d. 
Yet, cause I see that thy restraind desires
Cannot their owne way choose, come thou with me;
Perhaps He shew thee means of remedie.

[Exeunt.

(SCENE 2.)

1 Rom.  Whither so fast, man?  Whither so fast?

2 Rom.  Whither but where your eares do lead you?  To Neros Triumphs and the shouts you heare.

1 Rom Why? comes he crown’d with Parthian overthrow And brings he Volegesus with him chain’d?

2 Rom. Parthian overthrowne! why he comes crownd
For victories which never Roman wonne;
For having Greece in her owne arts overthrowne,
In Singing, Dauncing, Horse-rase, Stage-playing. 
Never, O Rome had never such a Prince.

1 Rom.  Yet, I have heard, our ancestors were crown’d For other Victories.

2 Rom.  None of our ancestors were ere like him.

Within:  Nero, Apollo, Nero, Hercules![4]

1 Rom.  Harke how th’applauding shouts doe cleave the ayre,[5] This idle talke will make me loose the sight.

Two Romans more to them.

3 Rom.  Whither goe you? alls done i’th Capytall,
And Nero, having there his tables hung
And Garlands up, is to the Pallace gone. 
’Twas beyond wonder; I shall never see,
Nay, I never looke to see the like againe: 
Eighteen hundred and eight Crownes
For severall victories, and the place set downe
Where, and in what, and whom he overcame.

4 Rom.  That was set down ith’ tables that were borne Upon the Souldiers speares.

1 Rom.  O made, and sometimes use[d] for other Ends!