2 Rom.  Doe not deceive your thoughts: 
My Lord, we bring no comfort,—­would we could,—­
But the last duty to performe and best
We ever shall, a free death to persuade,
To cut off hopes of fearcer cruelty
And scorne, more cruell to a worthy soule.

1 Rom.  The Senate have decreed you’re punishable
After the fashion of our ancestors,
Which is, your necke being locked in a forke,
You must be naked whipt and scourg’d to death.

Nero.  The Senate thus decreed? they that so oft
My vertues flattered have and guifts of mine,
My government preferr’d to ancient times,
And challenge[d] Numa to compare with me,—­
Have they so horrible an end sought out? 
No, here I beare which shall prevent such shame;
This hand shall yet from that deliver me,
And faithfull be alone unto his Lord. 
Alasse, how sharp and terrible is death! 
O must I die, must now my senses close? 
For ever die, and nere returne againe,
Never more see the Sunne, nor Heaven, nor Earth? 
Whither goe I?  What shall I be anone? 
What horred iourney wandrest thou, my soule,
Under th’earth in darke, dampe, duskie vaults? 
Or shall I now to nothing be resolv’d? 
My feares become my hopes; O would I might. 
Me thinkes I see the boyling Phlegeton
And the dull poole feared of them we feare,
The dread and terror of the Gods themselves;
The furies arm’d with linkes, with whippes, with snakes,
And my owne furies farre more mad then they,
My mother and those troopes of slaughtred friends. 
And now the Iudge is brought unto the throne,
That will not leave unto Authoritie
Nor favour the oppressions of the great!

1 Rom.  These are the idle terrors of the night, Which wise men (though they teach) doe not beleeve, To curbe our pleasures faine[d] and aide the weake.

2 Rom.  Deaths wrongfull defamation, which would make Us shunne this happy haven of our rest, This end of evils, as some fearefull harme.

1 Rom.  Shadowes and fond imaginations, Which now (you see) on earth but children feare.

2 Rom.  Why should our faults feare punishment from them?  What doe the actions of this life concerne The tother world, with which is no commerce?

1 Rom.  Would Heaven and Starres necessitie compell Us to doe that which after it would punish?

2 Rom.  Let us not after our lives end beleeve More then you felt before it.

Nero.  If any words had[95] made me confident
And boldly doe for hearing others speake
Boldly, this might.[96] But will you by example
Teach me the truth of your opinion
And make me see that you beleeve yourselves? 
Will you by dying teach me to beare death
With courage?

1 Rom.  No necessitie of death Hangs ore our heads, no dangers threaten us Nor Senates sharpe decree nor Galbaes arms.