Enter Antoneus to him.

Anton.  Yonders Nimphidius, our Commander, now.  I with respect must speake and smooth my brow.  —­Captaine, all haile.

Nimph. Antoneus, well met.  Your place of Tribune in this Anarchi.

Anton.  This Anarchy, my Lord? is Nero dead?

Nimph.  This Anarchy, this yet unstiled time While Galba is unseased of the Empire Which Nero hath forsooke.

Anton.  Hath Nero then resign’d the Empire?

Nimph.  In effect he hath for he’s fled to Egypt.

Anton.  My Lord, you tell strange newes to me.

Nimph.  But nothing strange to mee,
Who every moment knew of his despaires. 
The Curriers came so fast with fresh alarmes
Of new revolts that he, unable quite
To beare his feares which he had long conceal’d,
Is now revolted from himselfe and fled.

Anton.  Thrust with report and rumours from his seat!  My Lord, you know the Campe depends on you As you determine.

Nimph.  There it lies Antonius. 
What should we doe? it boots not to relie
On Neroes stinking fortunes; and to sit
Securely looking on were to receive
An Emperor from Spaine:  which how disgracefull
It were to us who, if we waigh our selves,
The most materiall accessions are
Of all the Roman Empire.  Which disgrace
To cover we must ioyne ourselves betimes,
And therefore seeme to have created Galba. 
Therefore He straight proclaime a Donative
Of thirty thousand sesterces a man.

Anton.  I thinke so great a gift was never heard of. Galba, they say, is frugally inclinde:  Will he avow so great a gift as this?

Nimph.  Howere he like of it he must avow it,
If by our promise he be once ingaged;
And since the souldiers care belongs to mee,
I will have care of them and of their good. 
Let them thank me if I through this occasion
Procure for them so great a donative.
                                       [Ex.  Nimph.

Anton.  So you be thankt it skils not who prevaile,
Galba or Nero,—­traitor to them both. 
You give it out that Neroes fled to Egypt,
Who, with the frights of your reports amaz’d,
By our device doth lurke for better newes,
Whilst you inevitably doe betray him. 
Workes he all this for Galba then?  Not so: 
I have long seene his climbing to the Empire
By secret practises of gracious women. 
And other instruments of the late Court. 
That was his love to her that me refus’d;
And now by this he would [gain?] give the souldiers favour. 
Now is the time to quit Poppaeas scorne
And his rivallity.  Ile straight reveale
His treacheries to Galbaes agents here.
                                     [Exit.