Neoph.  ’Twas strange that Piso was so soone supprest.

Epaphr.  Strange? strange indeed; for had he but come up
And taken the Court in that affright and stirre
While unresolv’d for whom or what to doe,
Each on [of?] the other had in iealousie
(While as apaled Maiestie not yet
Had time to set the countenance), he would
Have hazarded the royall seat.

Neoph.  Nay, had it without hazard; all the Court
Had for him bin and those disclos’d their love
And favour in the cause, which now to hide
And colour their good meanings ready were
To shew their forwardnesse against it most.

Epaphr.  But for a stranger with a naked province,
Without allies or friends ith’ state, to challenge
A Prince upheld with thirty Legions,
Rooted in foure discents of Ancestors
And foureteene yeares continuance of raigne,
Why it is—­

Enter Nero, Nimphidius, Tigellinus to them.

Nero.  Galba and Spaine?  What?  Spaine and Gal[b]a too?

[Ex.  Ner.  Nimph.

Epaph.  I pray thee, Tigellinus, what furie’s this?  What strange event, what accident hath thus Orecast your countenances?

Tigell.  Downe we were set at table and began
With sparckling bowles to chase our feares away,
And mirth and pleasure lookt out of our eyes;
When, loe, a breathless messenger arrives
And tells how Vindex and the powers of France
Have Sergius Galba chosen Emperor;
With what applause the Legions him receive;
That Spaines revolted, Portingale hath ioyn’d;
As much suspected is of Germany. 
But Nero, not abiding out the end,
Orethrew the tables, dasht against the ground
The cuppe which he so much, you know, esteem’d;
Teareth his haire and with incensed rage
Curseth false men and Gods the lookers on.

Neoph.  His rage, we saw, was wild and desperate.

Epaph.  O you unsearched wisedomes which doe laugh
At our securitie and feares alike,
And plaine to shew our weaknesse and your power
Make us contemne the harmes which surest strike;
When you our glories and our pride undoe
Our overthrow you make ridiculous too.

[Exeunt.

(SCENE 2.)

    Enter Nimphidius solus.

Slow making counsels and the sliding yeere
Have brought me to the long foreseene destruction
Of this misled young man.  His State is shaken
And I will push it on; revolted France
Nor the coniured Provinces of Spaine
Nor his owne guilt shall like to me oppresse him. 
I to his easie yeelding feares proclaime
New German mutenys and all the world
Rowsing it selfe in hate of Neroes name;
I his distracted counsels doe disperce
With fresh despaires; I animate the Senate
And the people, to ingage them past recall
In preiudice of Nero:  and in briefe
Perish he must,—­the fates and I resolve it. 
Which to effect I presently will goe
Proclaime a Donative in Galbaes name.