Lup.  What tell’st thou me of pothecaries, knave!  Tell him, I have affairs of state in hand; I can talk to no apothecaries now.  Heart of me!  Stay the pothecary there. [Walks in a musing posture.] You shall see, I have fish’d out a cunning piece of plot now:  they have had some intelligence, that their project is discover’d, and now have they dealt with my apothecary, to poison me; ’tis so; knowing that I meant to take physic to-day:  as sure as death, ’tis there.  Jupiter, I thank thee, that thou hast. yet made me so much of a politician.
                                              [Enter Minos. 
You are welcome, sir; take the potion from him there; I have an antidote more than you wot of, sir; throw it on the ground there:  so!  Now fetch in the dog; and yet we cannot tarry to try experiments now:  arrest him; you shall go with me, sir; I’ll tickle you, pothecary; I’ll give you a glister, i’faith.  Have I the letter? ay, ’tis here.—­Come, your fasces, lictors:  the half pikes and the Halberds, take them down from the Lares there.  Player, assist me.
                  [As they are going out, enter Mecaenas and Horace. 
Mec.  Whither now, Asinius Lupus, with this armory?

Lup.  I cannot talk now; I charge you assist me:  treason! treason!

Hor.  How! treason?

Lup.  Ay:  if you love the emperor, and the state, follow me.
          
                                            [Exeunt.

Scene iii.-An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter Ovid, Julia, Gallus, Cytheris, tibullus, Plautia,
Albius, Chloe, Tucca, Crispinus, Hermogenes, Pyrgus,
characteristically habited, as gods and goddesses.

Ovid.  Gods and goddesses, take your several seats.  Now, Mercury, move your caduceus, and, in Jupiter’s name, command silence.

Cris.  In the name of Jupiter, silence.

Her.  The crier of the court hath too clarified a voice.

Gal.  Peace, Momus.

Ovid.  Oh, he is the god of reprehension; let him alone:  ’tis his office.  Mercury, go forward, and proclaim, after Phoebus, our high pleasure, to all the deities that shall partake this high banquet.

Cris.  Yes, sir.

Gal.  The great god, Jupiter,—­[Here, and at every break in the line, Crispinus repeats aloud the words of Gallus.]—­Of his licentious goodness,—­Willing to make this feast no fast—­From any manner of pleasure;—­Nor to bind any god or goddess—­To be any thing the more god or goddess, for their names:—­He gives them all free license—­To speak no wiser than persons of baser titles;—­ And to be nothing better, than common men, or women.—­And therefore no god—­Shall need to keep himself more strictly to his goddess—­Than any man does to his wife:—­Nor any goddess—­Shall need to keep herself more strictly to her god—­Than any woman does to her husband.—­But, since it is no part of wisdom,—­In these days, to come into bonds;—­It shall be lawful for every lover—­To break loving oaths,—­To change their lovers, and make love to others,—­As the heat of every one’s blood,—­And the spirit of our nectar, shall inspire.—­And Jupiter save Jupiter!