Gwinne: Act IV

2230
matres, sed ulti a matribus caesos patres,
et iussi, Orestes pius, et Alcmaeon pius
male sustulere: uterque sublatas luit
insaniendo, vindices Furias tulit.
at monstra monstrum superat hoc longe omnia.

2230
Mothers, yet avengers of fathers slain by mothers,
and, though commanded, pious Orestes and pious Alcmaeon
wickedly removed them: each paid for the mothers removed
by going insane, he bore the avenging Furies.
but this monster far surpasses all monsters by far.

2235
tibi, Nero, trimulo cecidit ex morbo pater:
at et ille partus tum meos, ortus tuos,
prius execratus: posse nil nobis putans
nisi execrandum, et publico nasci malo.
at mihi maritus alter, at pro te, cadit;

2235
for you, Nero, your father fell from a shivering tertian sickness:
but he too had first execrated then my child-bearings, your origins,
thinking that we could bring forth nothing save something execrable, and that you were born for the public ill.
but for me another husband falls—and for you, in your stead;

2240
cadit veneno, quia tibi prodest, tuo.
tu facta pro te vindicas? pro te nocens,
non tibi.

2240
he falls by poison, because it profits you—by your own.
do you vindicate deeds on your own behalf? on your own behalf guilty, not against you,
not to you.

sed heu me, non nocens, plector tibi.
caedere parentem (proh scelus) monstro libet:
videre caesam (proh pudor) moecho vacat:

but alas for me, not guilty, I am punished for you.
to cut down a parent (O crime) pleases the monster:
to see her cut down (O shame) the adulterer has leisure:

2245
ridere visam (proh nefas) scurram iuvat.
inceste parricida, sic natum decet.
mea membra tractas, alia vituperas, probas
alia, intuensque mox bibis orborta siti.

2245
it delights you to laugh at the buffoon when she is seen (ah, abomination).
incestuous parricide, thus it befits your son.
you handle my limbs; some you vituperate, others you approve,
others, and, looking on, you soon drink with thirst arisen.

quin bibe cruorem, quem sitis; matrem ebibe.

nay, drink the gore you thirst for; drink your mother dry.

2250
habere matrem nempe tam pulchram innocens
tu nesciebas. nempe tam pulchram nocens
habere non vis: non habes, matrem exuis:
oneri est et odio, mater, et pulchra: o scelus.
oneri putatur gratia, in quaestu ultio.

2250
to have a mother indeed, so beautiful, innocent one
you did not know. indeed, guilty one, so beautiful
you do not wish to have: you do not have—you strip off your mother:
she is a burden and a hatred, mother, and even beautiful: O crime.
favor is thought a burden; vengeance is a source of profit.

2255
impune tanta, tot scelera? nec dum furis?
nec dum expavescis?

2255
with impunity such great, so many crimes? and not yet do you rage?
and not yet do you grow terrified?

imo nec sentis adhuc
dira Furiarum verbera, ardentes faces?
sine metu adhuc est vita? sine cura quies?

nay, do you not yet feel
the dire lashes of the Furies, the burning torches?
is life still without fear? is rest without care?

nec dum agitat animus tortor ac terror tuus,

nor yet does your mind, your torturer and terror, agitate you,

2260
ille ille testis pectore retrusus tuo?
agitabit; et te senties paenam tibi,
te, gravius Eumenidibus et Nemesi malum.
quin parricidae culleus vivo domus?

2260
that, that witness shoved down in your breast?
it will agitate; and you will feel yourself the penalty to yourself,
you, a graver evil than the Eumenides and Nemesis.
why not the parricide’s sack a home for the living?

comes canis, simiola, gallus, vipera?

as companions, the dog, the monkey, the cock, the viper?

2265
mare lectus? illum sed nec absumant ferae,
magis efferandae: nec mare scelestum abluat,
ne polluatur: terra, sol, coelum, mare,
nata unde cuncta, cuncta deficiant eum,
matrem, unde natus, qui bene merentem necet.

2265
the sea a couch? but let not wild beasts devour him—
beasts rather to be made more feral; nor let the sea wash the wicked one,
lest it be polluted: earth, sun, heaven, sea,
from which all things were born, let all things fail him,
his mother, from whom he was born, he who kills one well-deserving.

2270
mare fluctuantem, spiritus vivum abdicet:
terra morientem, littus eiectum abnuat.
at vivit, heu me, vivit in maius nefas.
age, matre caesa, quid nefas?

2270
let the sea refuse him as he tosses, let his breath disown him alive:
let the earth refuse him dying, let the shore refuse him cast ashore.
but he lives—alas for me—he lives to a greater nefarious crime.
come, with the mother slain, what nefarious crime?

quid non nefas?
ego digna, fateor, ferre; at indignus Nero

What is not nefarious?
I—worthy, I confess—to bear it; but Nero is unworthy

2275
inferre matri: at quid meruit uxor pia,
tibi abdicanda? nisi satis non sit tibi
illam abdicare: quin neci immeritae dare
illam immerentem destinas: num non pudet?
Poppaea suadet (nec pudet) scortum impudens:

2275
to bring against your mother: but what has a dutiful wife deserved,
to be repudiated by you? unless it is not enough for you
to repudiate her: nay, you intend to give her, unmeriting, to an unmerited death—
are you not ashamed?
Poppaea urges it (nor is she ashamed), an impudent harlot:

2280
mihi machinata, nunc et uxori necem
male meditatur; sibi tuos spondet thoros.
nec illa, nec tu, nec Seneca tantum nefas
tuto auferetis: adsum, et has taedas fero
pronuba iugales: non potero forsan nurum

2280
having contrived against me, now she also wickedly meditates death for your wife;
she pledges to herself your marriage-bed.
neither she, nor you, nor Seneca will safely carry off so great a nefarious deed:
I am here, and as pronuba I bear these nuptial torches;
perhaps I shall not be able to [lead] the daughter-in-law

2285
servare sanctam, potero vexare impiam.
cremata, non humata, oberrabo undique.
nec te nec illam patiar immunes frui
maerore nostro: perge, tibi chara omnia
tu perde: Burrhus et Seneca nimiam fidem

2285
I may perhaps not be able to preserve the holy bride, I shall be able to vex the impious one.
cremated, not interred, I shall wander everywhere.
I will not allow you nor her to enjoy immunity
from our grief: proceed, yourself destroy all things dear to you;
Burrhus and Seneca have excessive fidelity

2290
merito luant: te Roma, tu Romam oderis:
odium ruinas et paret utrique, et ferat.
dii (si quid hominum cura sollicitat deos),
homines (hominibus siqua relligio in deos),
Dis (siquid homines aut deos audis pios),

2290
let them pay deservedly: may Rome hate you, and you hate Rome:
let hatred both prepare ruins for each, and bring them.
gods (if any care of humans solicits the gods),
men (if there is any religion of men toward the gods),
Dis (if you hear either men or gods who are pious),

2295
rapite Neronem, rapite rapientem omnia,
odium deorum, Ditis onus, hominum luem.

2295
Snatch Nero, snatch the snatcher of all things,
the odium of the gods, the burden of Dis, the plague of men.

POP. quo fugitis? an me vos fugitis?

POP. where are you fleeing? is it me you flee?

an vos ego?
Crispine coniux, nate Crispine, oscula
libate ut olim: non licet? prohibet Nero,

or am I fleeing you?
Crispinus, spouse, son Crispinus, kisses
libate as once: is it not permitted? Nero forbids,

2300
ensemque iugulo condit infensus meo!
servate, coniux, nate, servate: hoc licet;
excipite comitem: vos vagas umbras vaga
umbra comitabor. sed ut Agrippinam sequar
fax urget illa, cogit et vultus minax.

2300
and he buries the sword in my throat, hostile to me!
save me, consort, son, save me: this is permitted;
receive a companion: you wandering shades, I,
a wandering shade, will accompany. but that I may follow Agrippina
that torch urges me, and a menacing countenance compels.

2305
quo ducis? etiam ad Tartara trahentem sequar.
fax haec iugalis?

2305
where do you lead? I will follow, even if you drag me to Tartarus.
is this the conjugal torch?

vultus hic thalamos decet?

does this visage befit the nuptial chambers?

NERO Poppaea.

POP. sed vox unde, quae, quorsum sonat?

POP. But the voice, whence, what, whither does it sound?

NERO Sabina, thalamos cur reliquisti meos?
tu me relinquis, sola solamen meum?

NERO Sabina, why have you left my bedchambers?
do you abandon me—you, my sole solace?

2310
quo me fugis? quo te rapis? venio: mane.

2310
where are you fleeing from me? where are you rushing off? I am coming: stay.

quis te excitavit metus?

what fear has aroused you?

POP. Agrippinae furor:
quis te excitavit furor?

POP. Agrippina’s fury:
what fury has roused you?

NERO Agrippinae metus.
annon tubarum tibi pepulit aures sonus,
emissus inde, matris ubi tumulus meae?

NERO Agrippina’s fear.
did not the sound of trumpets strike your ears,
sent forth thence, where my mother's tomb is?

2315
POP. pepulit, tumultu bellicum magno canens.

2315
POP. it did strike, the war-trumpet, sounding with great tumult.

NERO migremus alio.

NERO let us move elsewhere.

POP. scilicet cervus fugis
percussus: haeret vulnus, et arundo comes.

POP. of course like a stag you flee
struck: the wound clings, and the reed as companion.

NERO mutanda sedes.

NERO the seat must be changed.

POP. non potest sedes nova
mutare mentem consciam caedis tibi.

POP. a new seat cannot
change, for you, a mind conscious of slaughter.

2320
NERO mihi facta caedes: vix tamen credo mihi
potuisse fieri: poena docet actum; probat,
cui testis oculus, animus: insomnem traho
noctem expavescens; trepidus opperior diem,
noctemque cupio de die, trepidum ut tegat.

2320
NERO a murder has been done by me: yet I scarcely believe myself
that it could have come to pass: the penalty teaches the deed; my mind confirms it,
for which the eye is witness: I drag an insomniac night, shuddering in dread,
trembling I await the day, and by day I long for night,
that it may cover me, trembling.

2325
sic mihi timetur prodromus exitii dies.
mare, littus, observatur aspectu gravi:
et planctus aures flebilis pulsat meas.

2325
thus for me the prodromal day of destruction is feared.
the sea, the shore, are watched with a grim gaze:
and a tearful lamentation beats upon my ears.

POP. matrumque planctus ego Latinarum audio.

PEOPLE. And I hear the laments of the Latin mothers.

NERO quis meque teque terror in somnis premit?

NERO what terror in dreams oppresses both me and you?

2330
an umbra, et error?

2330
or a shade, and error?

POP. umbra, sed qualis fuit
in scena Eriphyles aut Clitemnestrae.

POP. a shade, but such as there was
on the stage of Eriphyle or of Clytemnestra.

NERO faces
mihi minitantes nonne Agrippinae vides?
an video solus?

NERO torches
do you not see Agrippina’s menacing me?
or do I alone see?

POP. video minantes mihi.

POP. I see them threatening me.

NERO tellus hiabit mihi.

NERO the earth will gape for me.

POP. mihi tellus hiat.

POP. let the earth yawn for me.

2335
NERO videor cruentus.

2335
NERO I seem blood-stained.

POP. et mihi cruentus sinu
ensem meo recondis.

POP. and for me too, blood-stained, in my bosom
you sheathe the sword.

NERO in melius libet
interpretari: somnio somnus levi,
quos cogitabas de die, thalamos refert.
thalamos perennes inferi aeterni docent.

NERO it pleases me to interpret it for the better:
in a dream, light sleep
brings back the bridal chambers which you were thinking of by day.
the eternal underworld teaches everlasting bridal chambers.

2340
plangunt Latinae Octaviae viduos thoros.
regale resonans spondet imperium tuba.
clarum ominatur nomen accensae faces.

2340
the Latin women lament Octavia’s widowed marriage-bed.
the resounding trumpet pledges royal dominion.
kindled torches augur a renowned name.

nihil, nisi umbram, obstare docet umbra obvia.
ferrum ego recondam pace requiescens sinu

the meeting shadow teaches that nothing, except a shadow, stands in the way.
I will sheathe the steel, resting in peace, in my bosom

2345
tuo, Sabina: hinc inferi, planctus, tuba,
fax, umbra, ferrum, cuncta tibi spondent bona.

2345
your own, Sabina: from this the infernal powers, lamentation, trumpet,
torch, shade, iron—all pledge good things to you.

POP. sic dii deaque facite. mihi cedant bene.

POP. so may the gods and goddesses do. may things turn out well for me.

NERO promitto.

NERO I promise.

UMBRA Domiti.

SHADE of Domitius.

NERO quis vocat? et unde est sonus?

NERO who calls? And whence is the sound?

POP. sonus e sepulchro Caesarum venit.

POP. a sound comes from the sepulcher of the Caesars.

UMBRA Nero.

SHADE Nero.

2350
NERO video sepulchri sponte patefactas fores:
audio vocantem; et totus horresco.

2350
NERO I see the doors of the sepulchre opened of their own accord:
I hear someone calling; and I shudder all over.

UMBRA Nero.

NERO materna vox est: cur vocas? quo me cies?

SHADE Nero.

NERO it is my mother’s voice: why do you call? whither do you summon me?

venio: sed umbra evanuit. quantum est malum,
sine matre, nec cum matre tranquillo frui

I come: but the shade has vanished. How great an evil it is,
to be without a mother, nor to enjoy tranquility with a mother

2355
potuisse regno! at ante nec curas pati,
nec somniare solitus. at somnus mihi
nunc nullus, illum aut somnium triste excipit.

2355
to have been able to enjoy a reign! but formerly I was accustomed neither to endure cares,
nor to dream. but sleep for me
now is none; or a sad dream succeeds it.

nocte antegressa, dum rego navem; excidit,
extortus imo est clavus: excussus trahor

with the night having gone before, while I pilot the ship; it fell out,
the rudder was wrenched from the very bottom: shaken off, I am dragged

2360
tenebras in altas, et meae uxori trahor
ad loca, frequentes unde formicae volant:
inde simulacra quanta circumeunt, premunt,
qualia theatro posita Pompeii vides!
clune inde verso in simiam, asturco meus

2360
into deep darkness, and—for my wife—I am dragged
to places from which ants fly in throngs:
thence simulacra, how great, surround and press,
such as you see set up in the Theater of Pompey!
then, with the haunch turned into an ape, my Asturian pony

2365
capite canoros edit hinnitus tamen.
quam triste, turpe, somnium!

2365
yet from his head he emits canorous whinnies.
how sad, how disgraceful, a dream!

POP. interpres tibi
ero auspicata non minus, quam tu mihi.
tibi mater, huius clavus imperii, excidit,
quem Seneca adhuc et Burrhus extorquent tibi.

POP. I will be an interpreter for you
no less auspicious than you for me.
Your mother, the rudder of this empire, has fallen from you,
which Seneca and Burrhus still extort from you.

2370
nox, cura, forma Octaviae tenebras refert:
tenebrosa coniux coniugem in tenebras trahit
infamiamque: nigra plebs nigrae favens,
quasi provolantes alta formicae petunt.
simulacra, gentes stupida se opponunt male,

2370
Night, care, the form of Octavia brings back the shadows:
the tenebrous wife drags her consort into the shadows
and infamy: a black plebs favoring the black one,
as if, flying forward, ants seek the high places.
phantoms; the peoples, stupefied, set themselves badly in opposition,

2375
postrema quamvis simiae carpant tibi,
hinniet, et altum, et integrum imperii caput.
clavum hinc tuum rape, rege: formicas malo,
simulacra, tenebras, simias, merito obrue.

2375
although the lowest apes may carp at you,
let even the lofty and unimpaired head of the empire neigh.
snatch your helm from here, O king: with the mast,
deservedly overwhelm the ants, the effigies, the darkness, the apes.

NERO Sabina, sis Sibylla: sed votum magis

NERO Sabina, may you be a Sibyl: but rather a wish

2380
quam verum et animus concipit, et actus probat.
nam mihi dehiscunt Tartara; intentant faces
Eumenides, angues, flagra, tormenta undique.
et Eumenidibus saevior mater furit,
mihi quarta Furia, et quinta, mens intus mea.

2380
than truth, as both my spirit conceives, and my act proves it.
for Tartarus yawns open for me; the Eumenides threaten with torches,
serpents, scourges, torments on every side.
and a mother, more savage than the Eumenides, rages,
within me my mind is the fourth Fury, and the fifth.

2385
mihi ecce Ditis arbiter sedit triplex,
adiudicavit vulturem, saxum, rotam,
urnam, aquilam, hiante cum fame aeternam sitim.
Acheron dolores en parat, Phlegethon faces,
Cocytus eiulatum; et aeternum parat.

2385
behold for me the threefold arbiter of Dis has sat,
he has adjudicated a vulture, a stone, a wheel,
an urn, an eagle, eternal thirst with gaping hunger.
lo, Acheron prepares pains, Phlegethon torches,
Cocytus an ululation; and prepares the eternal.

2390
nec menti adhuc est, nec meae matri satis.
o parce, mater: at petis poenas, dabo,
requiris a me, an verius de me? dabo.
do non ferendas: horror, aerumna, et tremor
sum totus.

2390
nor is there yet satisfaction for my mind, nor for my mother.
O spare me, mother: but you demand punishments, I will give,
you require from me, or more truly of me? I will give.
I give unendurable ones: horror, hardship, and trembling
I am wholly.

an adhuc non placet poenae modus?

Or does the penalty’s measure still not please?

2395
quae terra condet? quod mare scelestum abluet?
terra ima capiat: mare Styge inferna obruat.

2395
What earth will bury me? What sea will wash away the crime?
Let the deepest earth receive me; let the sea overwhelm me with the infernal Styx.

POP. tibi parce, Caesar: pete deos: precibus lita
homines deosque: per magos fiant sacra:
umbrae evocentur: victima manes pia

POP. spare yourself, Caesar: seek the gods: propitiate men and gods with prayers
let the sacred rites be performed by magi:
let the shades be evoked: appease the manes with a victim

2400
placentur.

2400
let them be placated.

NERO homines ut ferant, dii non ferent.
quin potius homines non ferent, ut dii ferant.
homines deosque qui fugit, se non fugit.

NERO men may bear it; the gods will not bear it.
nay rather, men will not bear it, so that the gods may bear it.
he who flees men and gods does not flee himself.

diis submoventur impii a sacris: ego
praeconis illam conscius vocem horreo.

the impious are removed from the sacred rites for the gods: I
shudder at that voice of the herald, conscious of guilt.

2405
nec adire limen Vestae adorandum fero.
in me tonare, cum tonat, timeo Iovem.

2405
nor do I bear to approach the threshold of Vesta for adoration.
I fear Jupiter to thunder against me, when he thunders.

POP. prodigia narrant multa.

PEOPLE. They narrate many prodigies.

NERO prodigiis solent
nova nunciari imperia.

NERO by prodigies are new empires wont
to be announced.

POP. sol dubius stetit,
coeptosne cursus, an Thyestaeos agat:

PEOPLE. the sun stood in doubt,
whether to pursue his begun courses, or to take a Thyestean course:

2410
verso axe, medio de die perdit diem:
stellae sub ipso quo viderentur die.

2410
with the axis reversed, at midday it loses the day:
stars were seen in the very daylight itself.

NERO si perserveret, nil querar; in aevum occidat.

NERO if he should persist, I would complain of nothing; let him set forever.

POP. quin coena subito fulmine exarsit tua,
acsi vorax Harpyia praeripiat cibos.

POP. Why, your dinner suddenly blazed up with lightning,
as if a voracious Harpy were snatching the foods.

2415
NERO Harpyia mater fulmine ex nostro occidit.

2415
NERO The Harpy mother has perished by our lightning.

POP. enixa tortum mulier est anguem.

POP. the woman has borne a coiled serpent.

NERO quid hoc?
Iulia Neronem viperam enixa est sibi.

NERO what is this?
Julia has borne for herself Nero, a viper.

POP. fulmine perempta est alia concubitu viri.

NERO quid fulmen iterum, nomen invisum, audio?

POP. another woman was struck down by a thunderbolt in the act of intercourse with a man.

NERO what? do I hear “thunderbolt” again, that odious name?

2420
ni fulminata tu meo mirum: sed haec
curet pater Tarpeius: hic superis labor.
ego magis homines quam deos metuo, mihi
ne machinentur odia, et ex odiis malum.
cura levis.

2420
unless you were thunderstruck by my bolt—strange: but let these
things be cared for by Father Tarpeius: this is labor for the gods above.
i fear men more than gods, lest they machinate hatreds against me,
and from hatreds, an evil. a light care.

ira lenta sollicitat deos.

Slow anger agitates the gods.

2425
nec caesa latrat, et minus mordet canis.
at nunc et homines, et deos, et me mihi,
sentio molestos: et homines utinam et deos,
mecum perire sentiam: sed quod sat est,
et hos et illos, et fugo, et fugio simul.

2425
nor, when beaten, does the dog bark, and it bites less.
but now both men, and gods, and even myself to myself,
I feel troublesome: and would that men and gods
I might feel perish with me: but what is enough,
both these and those, both I put to flight, and I flee simultaneously.

2430

POP. potius utrosque qua reconcilies stude,
nam spes utrinque.

2430

POP. rather strive how you may reconcile both sides,
for there is hope on both sides.

Ingreditur Burrhus, dein Seneca, Sophronius Tigellinus, Fenius Rufus.

Burrus enters, then Seneca, Sophronius Tigellinus, Fenius Rufus.

at ecce te Burrhus petit.

but behold, Burrhus seeks you.

NERO petit veneno, an caede? quid, Burrhe, expetis?

Does NERO aim by poison, or by murder? What do you desire, Burrhus?

BUR. tuam salutem, Caesar, et matris tuae
fugisse te fallacis insidias truces,

BUR. your safety, Caesar, and your mother’s
that you have fled the insidious, truculent snares,

2435
tibi gratulantur milites laeto impetu.

2435
the soldiers congratulate you with joyful impetus.

NERO verene dicis, Burrhe?

NERO, do you speak truly, Burrhus?

BUR. da, Caesar, manum
exosculandam: testor hanc sacram manum,
tam gaudet evasisse te matrem malam
militia nostra, quam suis gaudet bonis.

BUR. give, Caesar, your hand
to be kissed: I attest this sacred hand,
our soldiery rejoices as much that you have escaped your evil mother as it rejoices in its own goods.

2440
NERO ergo age, viritim singulis dono minam,
posthac libenter principis in hostes pari
ut agantur animo: sed mihi infenso accidit
mea incolumitas, nec potero tanto in bono,
nisi maestus esse: lacrymae invito fluunt.

2440
NERO so then, come: man by man, to each I grant a mina,
so that hereafter they may act gladly, with a spirit equal to the princeps,
against the enemies; but my safety has befallen me while I am incensed,
and I shall not be able, amid so great a good,
to be anything except sad: tears flow though I am unwilling.

2445
BUR. quod voluit, et quod retulit, an quisquam fleat?

2445
BUR. for what she wanted, and what she has gotten in return, should anyone weep?

NERO occidere volui, nolui occidi mihi.

NERO I wanted to kill, I did not want to be killed myself.

BUR. malim ego, prior quicunque me caedat, cadat.

BUR. I would prefer that, whoever strikes me first, may fall.

NERO hac isset ipsa, nisi praeivissem prior.

NERO he would have gone this very way, unless I had gone ahead prior.

BUR. prior ergo periit, militum applausu omnium.

BUR. the former therefore perished, with the applause of all the soldiers.

2450
NERO at haec senatus ut ferat, timeo male.
tu, Seneca, ad illos literas scribas meo
nomine, scelesta ut tulerit insidias mihi;
sed deprehensa, qua manum intulerit sibi.
me purga, at illam asperge repetitis, novis.

2450
NERO but that the senate should pass these things, I fear badly.
you, Seneca, write letters to them in my
name, that the wicked woman has laid plots against me;
but, once apprehended, that she laid a hand upon herself.
clear me, but bespatter her with repeated, with new ones.

2455
.
SEN. facile patrari, haud facile purgari potest,
materna caedes: pareo Neroni tamen.

2455
.
SEN. Matricide can be easily perpetrated, not easily purged,
nevertheless I obey Nero.

Seneca exit.

Seneca exits.

POP. quid adhuc severo tristis es vultu, Nero?
est quod triumphes potius, in tutum tuas
laudes receptas: Hydra, numerosum malum,

POP. why are you still sad with a severe visage, Nero?
there is reason that you should rather triumph, your praises received into safety: the Hydra, a numerous evil,

2460
in matre monstro cecidit, aut Hydrae aemula.
te dormientem sub dio, et puerum, draco
texisse fertur, strangulaturos fugans
a Messalina et in necem missos tuam.
at tu draconem, nunc vir, et vigilans, manu

2460
in your mother, the monster fell, or a rival of the Hydra.
it is reported that a dragon covered you, sleeping under the open sky, and, a boy,
driving away those about to strangle you and sent to your death by Messalina.
but you, the dragon—now a man, and awake—with your hand

2465
magis auspicata te necaturam necas.

2465
you kill one who, having taken better auspices, was going to kill you.

NERO memnini, ut mones. serpentis exuvias, opus
matris, et in auro textili armillam gero:
cuius memoriae taedio abiicio, diu
quam gestitavi.

NERO I remember, as you remind me. the serpent’s cast-off, my mother’s handiwork,
and I wear a bracelet in woven gold:
whose memory, out of weariness, I cast away—what for a long time
I was eager for.

Armillam proiicit.

He throws down the armlet.

POP. sic enim exosae decet

POP. for thus it befits the hated one

2470
omnia aboleri, quae vel effigiem ferant.
emancipatus nunc pupillarem exuis,
tu servitutem, liber, et iuris tui.
matrem reverito nunc licet quicquid libet.
nunc aÈtokrãtvr imperas: non es puer,

2470
let everything be abolished that even bears an effigy.
emancipated now, you discard the pupillary state,
you strip off servitude, being free and of your own right.
revere your mother; now whatever you please is permitted.
now as autocrat you command: you are not a boy,

2475
vir vix es: ut sis vir, mihi votum; at negat
Augusta: ne vir utique, magistri negant
hic, ille: ne sis Iupiter, Iuno negat.
cur differuntur, si vir es, thalami mei?
an forma nostra displicet, Othoni placens,

2475
you are scarcely a man: that you be a man is my vow; but the Augusta denies it;
as for your being a man at all, the masters deny—this one, that one; that you be Jupiter, Juno denies.
why are my bridal chambers deferred, if you are a man?
or does our form displease, pleasing to Otho,

2480
quaeque tibi placuit? an triumphales avi?
an verus animus?

2480
and what pleased you? or your grandfather’s triumphal honors?
or a true spirit?

uterus in partum ferax?
placet illa forsan uxor, aut nullam tibi
datura prolem: aut potius Eucero dabit,
ludere perito tibiis Aegyptio?

a womb fertile for childbirth?
perhaps that wife pleases you, either destined to give you no
offspring: or rather she will give it to Eucerus,

the expert Egyptian on the pipes to play?

2485
mihi nuptiales pollicite, praesta thoros .
praestare quid vis iam potes: non vis? volens,
non potes? Othonem, si, Nero, linquis, sequar.

2485
you who promised me nuptials, provide the marriage‑bed .
you can now provide what you wish: do you not wish? willing, are you unable?
I will follow, Nero, if you leave Otho.

NERO Poppaea, cupio, quod cupis, quam tu, magis
quod cupio, dum conficio, paulisper sine.

NERO Poppaea, I desire what you desire, more than you,
what I desire, while I complete it, allow for a little while.

2490
Burrhe, videní illam? quin meam dico? placet?

2490
Burrhus, do you see her? Why, I say she’s mine; does she please?

Venerem, Dianam, Pallada, sub una putes.
laudes in una non vides omnes? quid est,
Burrhe, quod in illa mihi deest?

You would suppose Venus, Diana, and Pallas in one.
Do you not see all the praises in one? What is it,
Burrhus, that in her is lacking to me?

BUR. certe nihil,
nisi honestus animus.

BUR. certainly nothing,
except an honest mind.

NERO nisi meus, dicas, thorus;

NERO unless it is mine, you would say, a marriage-bed;

2495
quem feret.

2495
whom will it bear.

BUR. an ergo Octaviae sedem auferet?

BUR. so then will he take away Octavia’s seat?

NERO auferet: et illi, si volet, caedem inferet.

NERO will take it away; and on him, if he wishes, he will inflict slaughter.

BUR. absit: repudii ratio quae tanti subest?

BUR. Far be it: what rationale of repudiation lies beneath that is of such weight?

NERO placuit: repudia nempe Caesaribus nova.

NERO it is settled: repudiations—indeed, novelties for the Caesars.

BUR. at illa qua displicuit, id potius petam!

BUR. but as for that by which she displeased, that rather let me ask!

2500
NERO quam proba, probetur matre; quam pudens, patre.
alienus animus, forma deformis, frequens
adulter, alvus sterilis, an Burrho placent?

2500
NERO—how virtuous, let her be approved by her mother; how modest, by her father.
an alien mind, a deformed form, a frequent adulterer, a sterile womb—do these
please Burrhus?

BUR. plura petis: unum, caetera ut mittam, rogo.
his non probatis pellere insontem placet?

BUR. you ask for more: I request one thing, to omit the rest.
with these not approved, is it your pleasure to expel an innocent?

2505
NERO placet.

2505
NERO it pleases.

BUR. ergo dotem redde in imperio sitam.

BUR. therefore return the dowry situated in the empire.

NERO quid ais?

NERO what do you say?

BUR. quid aiam, me, Nero, ne bis roges.
sat est semel dixisse.

BUR. What am I to say? As for me, Nero, do not ask twice.
it is enough to have said it once.

NERO vix credo vales.
fauces tumentes video: praeclusum audio
arcto meatu spiritum: anginam putem!

NERO I scarcely believe you are well.
I see a swollen throat: I hear the breath shut off
by a narrow passage: I would think angina!

2510
an ulcus ut habes?

2510
or do you have an ulcer?

BUR. habeo me, Caesar, bene.

BUR. I am well, Caesar.

NERO at ego remedium faucibus mittam tuis.
tu te quieti redde.

NERO but I will send a remedy to your throat.
you, restore yourself to rest.

Exit Burrhus.

si mors sit quies,
reddam quietum; spritus altos premam.
Burrho improbare, quod probat Caesar, licet?

if death be repose,
I will render him quiet; I will press down his lofty breaths.
Is it permitted to Burrhus to disapprove what Caesar approves?

2515
libetque? tuto? impune?

2515
and is it pleasing? safely? with impunity?

tolerandus mihi?
nec bis rogandus? dotem, honestatem crepat?

must he be tolerated by me?
not to be asked twice? he prates of a dowry and respectability?

increpat? an audet? qui potestatem dedi,
nunc praepotentem sentio: solus regit
illos suorum Caesarum dominos, dare

does he rebuke? or does he dare? I who gave him power,
now I perceive him prepotent: alone he rules
those lords of his Caesars, to grant

2520
imperia, et eadem auferre qui assumunt sibi.
caute auferendus. quid moror?

2520
to give commands, and to take away the same—those who assume them for themselves.
cautiously to be removed. why do i delay?

morbo cadit,
morbive cura, toxico? hac hostes eant.
at qui cohibeat milites, quis nunc erit?

does he fall by disease,
or by the disease’s cure—by poison? let the enemies go this way.
but who will restrain the soldiers—who will there be now?

POP. praetorianis praefice regendis duos:
duos, in unum ne omnis exundet favor:

POP. appoint two as prefects for governing the Praetorians:
two, lest all favor overflow upon one:

2525
aemulus ut alter alteri, immineant sibi:
sit spes ab uno, ab altero si fit metus.
divisa vis, infirma. Sofronium tibi,
Fenum in favorem militum et vulgi lege.

2525
so that, each a rival to the other, they may impend upon one another:
let there be hope from the one, if fear arises from the other.
a divided force is weak. Sofronium for you,
choose Fenum to be in favor with the soldiers and the vulgar crowd.

ille tibi similis; prospera hic fama valet.

let that one be like you; this one’s prosperous fame prevails.

2530
sic tibi cavebis, consules illis simul.

2530
thus you will beware for yourself; at the same time you will consult for them.

NERO quam providenter! ille licet isto magis
placeat, utrumque probo. Tigellinus comes
sit Rufo; utrumque militum assigno ducem.

NERO, how provident! though that one, more than this one,
may please, I approve both. Tigellinus, companion
be to Rufus; I assign each as commander of the soldiers.

uterque scitis, credo, quid nobis opus.

you both know, I believe, what we need.

2535
nos hoc agamus, nequis ex usu suo
quicquam unus habeat, quod sit ex nostro magis.
omnibus egebit, omnibus quisquis praeest.

2535
let us do this: that no one alone have anything for his own use
which is rather of what is ours.
he who presides over all will be in need of all.

Dimittit Caesar Rufum.

Caesar dismisses Rufus.

TIGEL. non Burrhus in me vivit, aut obstat tibi:
nec spes ut ille, specto diversas ego.

TIGEL. Burrus does not live in me, nor does he obstruct you:
nor do I, like him, look to other hopes; I look to contrary ones.

2540
sola incolumitas Caesaris ob oculos mihi.
praesens cavebis urbis insidias satis,
at comprimendos exteros motus vide.
en Gallias erexit ille ad res novas,
cui grande nomen Sylla dictator dedit;

2540
Caesar’s safety alone is before my eyes.
being present you will beware the city’s plots enough,
but see to the foreign disturbances being repressed.
behold, he has raised the Gauls to revolution,
to which the Dictator Sulla gave a great name;

2545
cui cura canos fecit ante annos; inops,
atque igitur audax. cornua, ut pauper, gerit:
simulat quietem, dum temeritati locum
reperiat: illi Plautus ex Asia pares
animos, honores impares, magnas opes,

2545
for whom care has made gray hairs before his years; destitute,
and therefore audacious. He bears horns, as a poor man, does:
he simulates quiet, until he may find a place for temerity;
for him Plautus from Asia provides matching spirits, honors not on a par, great wealth,

2550
illustre iactat ex avo Druso genus.
nec iste fingit otium, at priscos refert
victu Quirites: Stoicum fastum fovet
sectamque, praxin quae iubet, turbas facit.
utrumque metuis; quod metuis, odio premas.

2550
he vaunts an illustrious lineage from his grandsire Drusus.
nor does that man feign leisure, but he recalls
by his way of living the Quirites of old: he fosters Stoic haughtiness,
and the sect—which enjoins praxis—makes disturbances.
you fear both; what you fear, press down with hatred.

2555
NERO age, mitte in Asiam, et Gallias, ad nos caput
utriusque qui perducat abscissum: monet
astrologus, astra principi ubi signant malum,
visum cometen caede ut illustri expiem,
minasque coeli a capite depellam meo.

2555
NERO, come then, dispatch to Asia and to the Gauls someone who may bring to us the head
of each, cut off: the astrologer advises, when the stars mark evil for the emperor,
that I expiate the seen comet with illustrious slaughter, and drive the menaces of heaven away from my head.

2560
procerum cometes sanguinem forsan sitit:
hauriet abunde; dabitur hinc illinc satis.
sanguine minaces nobili extinguam faces.

2560
the comet perhaps thirsts for the blood of the nobles:
it will drink abundantly; enough will be given from here and from there.
with noble blood I will extinguish the menacing torches.

TIGEL. at Seneca nostris obviam studiis venit.
foenore Britannos durus exactor gravi

TIGEL. But Seneca comes to meet our designs.
a harsh exactor upon the Britons with heavy usury

2565
ad arma saevos egit, ut nunquam pari
clade rueremus: millia quot illic neci
data a muliere (proh pudor) ut illic mare
cruore nostro flueret: o Senecam bonum!
at adhuc avarus auget immodicas opes:

2565
he drove the savages to arms, so that never with equal
disaster did we collapse: how many thousands there were given to slaughter
by a woman (for shame!), so that there the sea
flowed with our blood: O good Seneca!
and yet even now the avaricious man augments immoderate wealth:

2570
in se Quiritum studia convertit: suis
villis et hortis vel supergreditur tua.
laudem eloquentis vendicat soli sibi.
nunc factitare carmina assuescit, tibi
carmina placere ut sensit egregie aemulus.

2570
he turns the zeal of the Quirites onto himself: with his own
villas and gardens he even surpasses yours.
he claims the praise of eloquence for himself alone.
now he grows accustomed to keep composing poems, to you
since he sensed that poems are pleasing—an exceptional emulator.

2575
at equos regentis vim palam obtractat tuam:
voces canentis ludit: haec Senecam decent?
acsi Quirina in urbe sit clarum nihil,
quod non ab illo. at meta puerilis tibi
decursa: robur, quo vales, iuvenem probat.

2575
but he openly disparages your force in managing horses;
he makes sport of the voice of the singer: do these things befit Seneca?
as if in the Quirine city there were nothing illustrious
that is not from him. but the childish turning-post has been run for you:
the strength, by which you prevail, proves you a young man.

2580
exue magistrum, instructus eximiis avis.

2580
cast off the master, instructed by distinguished ancestors.

POP. quid odia Senecae, quid studia, partes, opes
memoras? id instar omnium: si quam cupis,
abnegat, amandam at imperat, si quam fugis.

POP. why do you recount Seneca’s hatreds, his enthusiasms, parties, resources?
that is the equivalent of all: if you desire any woman, he denies her;
but he commands that she be loved, if you flee her.

me tibi, vigente Iulia, comitem tulit:

it bore me to you, with Julia vigorous, as a companion:

2585
illa iacente, me tibi uxorem negat.
servire Senecae (serva quam vilis fui!)
id est placere Caesari: at Senecae gravi
quod non in usu, id Caesari summo nefas
in amore haberi: sic adhuc ferulam feres?

2585
with her lying low, he denies me to you as wife.
to serve Seneca (a slave-woman—how vile I was!)
that is to please Caesar: but what is not in use with grave Seneca
that, with Caesar, is held the utmost impiety in love—
will you thus still bear the ferule?

2590
Seneca prematur, spongiae ut plenae solent.
bene pastus aries aureum vellus dabit.
opipara caena est ex saginato sue.

2590
Let Seneca be squeezed, as full sponges are wont to be.
well-fed, a ram will give a golden fleece.
a sumptuous dinner is from a fattened swine.

Seianus ut avo, sic Seneca prosit tibi.
Pallanta Senecae iunge, qui nimias opes

As Sejanus benefited your grandfather, so let Seneca profit you.
Join Pallas to Seneca, who has excessive wealth

2595
longa senecta detinet, et hostem meis
thalamis Doryphorum: dives, horum haeres, eris.

2595
a long old age detains him, and an enemy to my
bedchambers, Doryphorus: rich, you will be the heir of these.

NERO quam cuncta docte! Seneca, ne dubites, luet
durum magistrum: elatus in caelum, ruet.
sed opus et arte est et mora: prudens, potens,

NERO, how learnedly in all things! Seneca—do not doubt it—will pay for the harsh tutor:
raised to heaven, he will fall.
but there is need both of art and of delay: prudent, powerful,

2600
nec facile casses nec cito in nostros cadet.
at nostra coniux interim, sterilis, gravis,
amota per civile dissidium domo,
donata Plauti praediis, Burrhi aedibus,
inauspicatis. pulsa mox Capuam petat:

2600
nor will you easily ensnare him nor will he soon fall into our nets.
but our spouse meanwhile, barren, burdensome,
removed from the house through civil dissension,
granted the estates of Plautus, the houses of Burrhus,
ill-omened. driven out, let her soon make for Capua:

2605
miles cohibeat, nequid attentet novum.
capitale crimen tu, Tigelline, appara:
servilem amorem vilis Euceri obiice:
age quaestiones; fune, face, ferro exprime,
ancillae in illam vera vel falsa annuant.

2605
let the soldier keep her in check, lest she attempt anything new.
you, Tigellinus, prepare a capital charge:
allege the servile love of the worthless Eucerus;
set the interrogations in motion; with rope, torch, iron, extract it,
let the maidservants nod to truths or falsehoods against her.

2610
accitus ad nos peraget Anicetus ream.

2610
Summoned to us, Anicetus will execute the accused woman.

Exeunt.

They exit.

C. VIP. moderator orbis Caesar has ad vos, patres,
dedit exhibendas litteras: illas legam.
ìdii me, daeque, quam pereo, peius velint
perire, si quid, quo modo, scribam, scio.

C. VIP. Caesar, moderator of the world, to you, fathers,
has given letters to be exhibited: I will read them.
May the gods and goddesses wish me to perish worse than I am perishing,
to perish, if I know what, in what manner, I am writing.

2615
ut criminetur filius matrem, grave:
gravius, ut illa hunc crimine infando petat.
non nisi dolenti filio mater perit:
perit volenti, perdere immeritum volens.
quid multa?

2615
that a son should criminate his mother is grave:
graver, that she assail him with an unspeakable crime.
a mother perishes only to a grieving son:
she perishes to one who is willing, she willing to destroy the undeserving.
why say more?

mater (mater, agnosco, mea,

mother (mother, I recognize, my,

2620
si mater, in me quae scelus strueret, fuit)
in me, ministro sceleris Agerino, scelus
paravit, animo conscio, et eodem luit.
percussor ille, et illa, percussi suo
scelere: nec ullum scelus Agrippinae novum.

2620
if she was a mother—one who was plotting a crime against me—)
against me, with Agerinus the minister of the crime, a crime
she prepared, with a mind privy to it, and by that same she paid.
he the striker, and she, were struck by their own
crime; nor is any crime of Agrippina a new thing.

2625
speravit illa iam diu nimium potens,
populi et senatus dedecus, verba in sua
totas cohortes militum abituras: tamen
infensa vobis, militi, plebi, irrita
dissuasit illis dona: sed vobis, patres,

2625
she, for a long time now too powerful, hoped,
a disgrace of the people and the senate, that entire cohorts of soldiers
would go over into her watchwords: yet,
hostile to you—the soldiery, the plebs—she dissuaded
those gifts for them, rendering them void: but for you, fathers,

2630
periculosas struxit insidias, mea
quas cura repulit: quin labor quantus mihi,
invidia quanta, ne sacrum irrumpens forum
pro curia responsa legatis daret!
quam Claudiana tempora inclament ream,

2630
she constructed perilous insidious plots, which my care repelled: indeed, how great the labor for me,
how great the envy, lest, bursting into the sacred Forum, she should give replies to the legates in place of the Curia!
how the Claudian times proclaim her the accused,

2635
nil dico: sed tum sceleris est actum nihil,
quod non ab illa: nunc prope absorptam mari
audistis, et tum melius absorptam putem,
quam scelere, quam vi, quam manu tandem sua.
sed nec ego, nec vis, nec sua ipsius manus,

2635
I say nothing: but then nothing of crime was done,
which was not by her: now you have heard her nearly absorbed by the sea,
and I would think her better absorbed then,
than by crime, than by force, than at last by her own hand.
but neither I, nor force, nor her own hand itself,

2640
fortuna at illam publica extinxit. patres,
statuite merita quod mea et matris ferent.

2640
but the public Fortune has extinguished her. Fathers,
decree what my and my mother's merits will bear.

THRA. rumore Seneca vix bono ferri potest,
huic ordini qui taliaósed abeo silens.

THRA. by rumor Seneca can scarcely be borne with good repute,
to this order which does such things—but I go away silent.

Exiturus.

About to exit.

HELV. cynosura nostra cur abis, Thrasea?

HELV. our cynosure, why do you depart, Thrasea?

THRA. quia

THRA. because

2645
proferre nequeo quid velim; sed quod queam,
nolo: ordo noster servit, oblitus sui;
ad servitutem nata mancipia ut putes.
si bene: periclum est; si male, scelestum loqui.

2645
I cannot proffer what I would; but what I can, I do not want:
our order serves, forgetful of itself;
you would suppose slaves were born for servitude.
If well: there is peril; if badly, it is criminal to speak.

HELV. at nunc pericli tute tibi causam facis:

HELV. but now you yourself make for yourself the cause of peril:

2650
nec das initium, liberi ut simus magis.

2650
nor do you give the initiative, so that we may be more free.

THRA. si me perimeret sibi refragantem Nero,
mihi gratularer, gratias illis agam
qui blandiuntur Caesari: sed si Nero
vel blandientes tollit, et tollet, mori

THRA. if Nero should slay me resisting him,
I would congratulate myself; I would give thanks to those
who flatter Caesar: but if Nero
even removes the flatterers, and will remove them, to die

2655
cur frustra oportet turpiter, vita frui
cum liceret honesta liberos, lingua eruta?
sermonem habebunt posteri de me: sed hos
qua re meminerint, nisi trucidatos probe?
occidere potest, non potest Thraseam Nero

2655
why ought one disgracefully to enjoy life to no purpose,
when it might be permitted honorably, with the tongue torn out, to be free?
posterity will have talk about me; but these—
for what reason will they remember them, unless as duly butchered?
Nero can kill; he cannot kill Thrasea

2660
laedere: quod audis, quodque naufragium refert,
quis fortuitum credat? aut adeo est hebes?
tantumne mulier, naufraga an tantum audeat.

2660
to injure: what you hear, and the shipwreck which he reports,
who would believe it fortuitous? or is he so obtuse?
would a woman, shipwrecked, dare so much.

unus cohortes Caesaris, classes, petat,
perfringat unus? non probo: non est ita.

shall one man assail Caesar’s cohorts, the fleets,
shall one man break through? I do not approve: it is not so.

2665
pietas in illo, facinus in nobis foret.
nec ego Neronem culpo, sed Senecam magis;
confessionem Seneca sic scribit ream?
immanitate Nero superat omnem fidem,
questumque.

2665
piety would be in him, a crime in us.
nor do I blame Nero, but Seneca more;
does Seneca thus write the confession as guilty?
in savagery Nero surpasses all belief,
and complaint.

sed vos agite, sine Thrasea, ut lubet.

but you, act, without Thrasea, as it pleases.

2670

Exit Thraseas.

FONT. decreta sic sunt: nomine Neronis, deis
ut supplicetur omnibus, et arae omnium
omnes petantur: utque quinquatrus, quibus
insidiae apertae, exinde ludis annuis
celebrentur: huius ut sit omne aevum memor.

FONT. the decrees are thus: in Nero’s name, to the gods
that supplication be made to all, and the altars of all
be approached: and that the Quinquatrus, on which
the plots were uncovered, be thenceforth celebrated
with annual games: that all time may be mindful of this.

2675
principis imago, Palladis imago simul,
aurea locetur: sitque Agrippinae dies
inter nefastos utique natalis dies.
sic de Nerone sospite senatus tulit.

2675
the image of the princeps, the image of Pallas likewise,
be set up in gold; and let there be for Agrippina a day
among the nefasti—at any rate her natal day.
thus, with Nero safe, the senate carried it.

OCT. nata in miserias, quid querar? quid non querar?

OCT. born into miseries, what shall I lament? what shall I not lament?

2680
queri iuvaret, si queri quicquam iuvet:
et facile, si fas: obvia querendi seges;
sed messis interclusa: cum pressit malis,
quis, nisi tyrannus, flere quod fecit, vetet?
magis an inundet me dolor, dubium, an timor:

2680
to complain would help, if complaining helps anything:
and it would be easy, if it were licit: an obvious harvest for complaining;
but the harvest is cut off: since he has been pressed with ills,
who, unless a tyrant, would forbid weeping over what he has done?
whether grief inundates me more, or fear, is doubtful:

2685
timor an dolores augeat, an abdat magis.
de matre, patre, fratre iam vetus est dolor.
nocens nocentem sustulit matrem pater:
fratri dedit venena, cum fratrem dedit.

2685
whether fear augments my pains, or abates them more.
about mother, father, brother, now the grief is old.
the guilty father removed the guilty mother:
to his brother he gave poisons, when he gave a brother.

dedit maritum mihi, sibi mortem dedit.

he gave me a husband, he gave himself death.

2690
nec mihi maritus, qui velit amari, datur,
sed amaritudo exosa, quae cor exedat.
nec nuptiarum, at funeris primus dies.
nisi luctuosum, triste, funestum nihil.

2690
nor is a husband given to me, who would wish to be loved,
but a detested bitterness, which eats the heart away.
not the first day of nuptials, but of a funeral.
nothing except mournful, sad, funereal.

nihil est Atridae filia, et Orestae soror,

the Atrides’ daughter, and Orestes’ sister, is nothing,

2695
deflens utrumque, si meos luctus putem;
miseranda, misera, nata, soror, uxor quoque:
nata, soror alios; se queritur uxor magis.
ancilla domina potior, Acte ausa est nefas,
actamque de me docuit: illam autem expulit,

2695
weeping for both, if I reckon the griefs as my own;
to-be-pitied, wretched, a daughter, a sister, and a wife too:
as daughter and sister for others; as wife she complains of herself more.
a handmaid more powerful than the mistress, Acte dared a nefarious deed,
and made known the deed about me: but drove her out,

2700
imo et me et illam, nupta in uxoris necem
Poppaea: sed adhuc aliquid horresco amplius.
amplius an aliquid? an metus omnes mala
vicere nostra?

2700
nay, both me and her, a bride for a wife’s slaying
Poppaea: but as yet I shudder at something more.
more—or anything? Or have our evils
conquered all fears?

an timeo ne moriar? nec hoc:
pellar? nec illud: pulsa ne crucier?

Or do I fear lest I die? Not this:
Shall I be expelled? Not that: expelled, shall I be tormented?

nec id.

nor that.

2705
sed crimen omni gravius exitio mihi.
modo crimen absit, adsit exitium mihi.
exitium et aderit, cum sit exilium imminens.

2705
but the crime is for me graver than any ruin.
only let the crime be absent, let ruin be present for me.
and ruin will also be present, since exile is imminent.

pallere nullo crimine, scelestum nihil
conscire, murus aeneus habetur mihi.

to turn pale at no crime, to be conscious of nothing wicked
is held by me to be a wall of bronze.

2710
sortem at veretur innocens, legem nocens.
sed crimen absit; deprecor hoc unum deos.

2710
but the innocent fears the lot, the guilty the law.
but let the charge be absent; I beseech the gods for this one thing.

SEN. Augusta, quo te fata lugentem trahunt?

SEN. Augusta, whither do the Fates drag you, in mourning?

OCT. nos, Seneca, fugimus; tu philosopharis domi.
sed num philosophi sic in uxores docent,

OCT. we, Seneca, are fleeing; you philosophize at home.
but do philosophers teach thus toward wives,

2715
pellere pudicas, capere meretrices domo?
itane docebas? itane discebat Nero?

2715
to drive out chaste wives, to take prostitutes into the house?
was this how you were teaching? was Nero learning thus?

nequiter uterque; uterque nequitiam luat.
monstrum est philosophicus aulicus: neutrum puto,
uterque qui vult esse: conveniunt male.

wickedly each; let each pay for his wickedness.
a philosophic courtier is a monster: I deem him neither,

the one who wants to be both: they ill agree.

2720
me Capua, sed te curia potentem capit.
nec illa me, qua cepit Annibalem, capit.
sed ista, te tutare, ne captum enecet,
ut odore dulci pardus allectas feras.

2720
Capua takes me, but the curia takes you, powerful.
nor does it take me in that way by which it took Hannibal.
but from that one, protect yourself, lest, once captured, it kill you,
as by a sweet odor the pard lures beasts.

sed tibi, sed illi, sed melius urbi velim.

but for you, but for him, but I would wish better for the city.

2725
modo bona fama, castitas, pietas, pudor,
mecum miseriae, supplicia, mortes eant.

2725
only let good fame, chastity, piety, modesty go;
let miseries, torments, deaths go with me.

Abit Octavia.

Octavia departs.

SEN. (solus ) o digna summis laudibus, thalamo Iovis;
indigna tantis cladibus, factis feris;
vincis philosophos faemina, virago viros.

SEN. (alone ) o worthy of highest praises, of the bridal chamber of Jove;
unworthy of such calamities, of savage deeds;
you, a woman, surpass philosophers; a virago surpasses men.

2730
testare fugiens exules tecum deos,
nihil hic relinqui, nisi stuprum, caedem, scelus.
illam ista ferre cum video, quae spes boni?
vires, ut olim, haud artibus nunc sunt bonis.

2730
testify, as you flee, that the gods, exiles, are with you,
nothing is left here, except violation, slaughter, crime.
when I see her bear these things, what hope of good?
power is not now, as once, with good arts.

amotus alter, ad bonum qui dux erat:

the other was removed, who was a leader toward the good:

2735
ego morte Burrhi infringor, ut ne sim potens.
ad nequiores nequior vergit Nero.
me criminantur, quibus honestatem libet
calumniari: crimina haec produnt mihi,
quibus ulla honesti cura; qui (pudor est loqui)

2735
I am weakened by the death of Burrhus, so that I may not be powerful.
Nero, more nefarious, inclines toward the more nefarious.
They incriminate me, those to whom it pleases to calumniate honesty:
these charges commend me to those who have any concern for honor; who (it is a shame to speak)

2740
quam pauci in aulo; imo quam nulli: pius
aula exit: exi, Seneca, et in temet redi.
non quaero latebras: non abeo inermis, fugax:
sint salva reditu signa: referatur gradus.
ab urbe in orbem redeo: patria orbis mihi.

2740
how few in the court; nay, how none: the pious man
leaves the court: go out, Seneca, and return into yourself.
I do not seek hiding-places: I do not depart unarmed, as a fugitive:
let the standards be safe for return: let the step be retraced.
from the city I return into the world: the world is my fatherland.

2745
pars magna deseratur; at maior manet.
nec summa, nec sors infima probetur tibi;
periclitari summa, contemni infima.
consiste citra: sit potestati modus,
authoritati terminus: ne sis onus

2745
let a great part be deserted; but the greater remains.
let neither the heights, nor the lowest lot commend itself to you;
the heights are perilous, the lowest are contemned.
stop short: let there be a measure to power,
a terminus to authority: do not be a burden

2750
pendens, ut aliis, sic tibi nimium grave.
descende caute, ne parum cautus cadas.
fortuna magna servitus magna est: fuge,
fuge magna.

2750
hanging, as for others, so for you, excessively heavy.
descend cautiously, lest, being too little cautious, you fall.
great fortune is great servitude: flee,
flee great things.

coge temet: ut tu sis malus,
numerus malorum ne faciat: in te redi.

Compel yourself: let not the number of the wicked bring it about that you be bad;
return into yourself.

2755
est aula ludus; ludit, illudit: vide.
est aula Siren; cantat, incantat: time.
est aula cavea; claudit, includit: cave.

2755
the court is a game; it plays, it illudes: see.
the court is a Siren; it sings, it enchants: fear.
the court is a cage; it shuts, it encloses: beware.

est aula hyaena; comprimit, perimit: fuge.
aut aula nihil est, aut scelus, fucus, dolus.

the court is a hyena; it presses, it destroys: flee.
either the court is nothing, or crime, paint, deceit.

2760
paucos beavit, perdidit plures: sed et
hos quos beavit perdidit: ab aula redi.
sic, Seneca, sentis aulice? ferendo probra,
grates agendo.

2760
it has blessed a few, it has destroyed more: but even
those whom it blessed it has destroyed: return from the court.
thus, Seneca, do you feel, courtier? by bearing reproaches,
by giving thanks.

tam diu, nimium diu,
ego vixi in aula: praemia reporto duo,

so long, too long,
I have lived at court: I bring back two rewards,

2765
et paenitere, et sapere: peccatum est satis,
satis aulicatum: vive tibi, Seneca, et sape.
colere potentes, dulce inexperto; sed est
experto amarum. vel metum fert, vel malum.

2765
both to repent, and to be wise: it is enough to have sinned,
enough of court-life: live for yourself, Seneca, and be wise.
to cultivate the powerful is sweet to the inexperienced; but to the experienced it is
bitter. it brings either fear, or evil.

quid imperantis gratia? aestiva est quasi

What is the favor of the ruler? It is like summer

2770
aura, mare placidum, somnium, lunae status.
Nero ignis instar: nec prope habita, nec procul.
cui fulminata est Iuno, num parcet tibi?

2770
an aura, a placid sea, a dream, the moon’s status.
Nero, in the likeness of fire: neither dwell near, nor far.
he against whom Juno has fulminated—will he spare you?

en saevientis cerno flagrantes notas.

Behold, I discern the blazing marks of the raging one.

Nero cum Plauti capite in manibus.

Nero with Plautus’s head in his hands.

NERO venistiní hem cognate, et imperii aemule?

NERO have you come, hem, cognate, and rival of the empire?

2775
salve imperator: quin Nero posito metu
coniugia maturare Poppaeae parat,
dilata te terrente? quin pellit thoro
quamvis modestam Octaviam, et populi gravem
studiis, et alto Claudiae titulo domus?

2775
hail, emperor: indeed Nero, fear laid aside
prepares to expedite Poppaea’s marriage,
delayed with you frightening him? indeed he drives from the bed
though modest, Octavia, and to the people formidable
by their support, and with the high title of the Claudian house?

2780
en Seneca, Plautus venit: at truncus quidem;
et gratior, quam Plautus in scena histrio.

2780
Behold, Seneca, Plautus has come: but indeed a trunk;
and more pleasing than Plautus the actor on stage.

SEN. horresco: tanta decuit in tantum virum?

SEN. I shudder: did such things become so great a man?

NERO agnosco: quantus! at capite nunc est minor.
tantusque, cernis, venit in nostras manus.

NERO I recognize: how great! but now he is lesser by a head.
and so great a one, you see, has come into our hands.

2785
at ei, fatebor hercle, tam grandem viro
fuisse nasum nescii: o quantus fuit!
diadema nostrum forsan hoc deceat caput.
imo hic triumpho; laurea cingo caput.

2785
but alas, by Hercules I will confess, we were unaware that the man had so great a nose: O how great it was!
perhaps our diadem may befit this head.
nay, rather for a triumph; I wreathe the head with laurel.

SEN. civica corona cive servato datur,

SEN. the civic crown is given for saving a citizen,

2790
non caeso.

2790
not for one slain.

NERO at hostis lauream caesus dabit.

NERO but the enemy, cut down, will give the laurel.

SEN. num Plautus hostis?

SEN. Is Plautus an enemy?

NERO Plautus, et quisquis mihi
praeripere cupiat lauream, sic, sic eat.

NERO Plautus, and whoever would desire to snatch the laurel from me,
thus, thus let him go.

Caput proculcat.

He tramples the head.

SEN. nec multa medicum funera, nec altum decent
supplicia multa Caesarem, patriae patrem.

SEN. nor do many funerals befit a physician, nor do many punishments befit
exalted Caesar, the father of the fatherland.

2795
NERO medicum severum intemperans aeger facit.
miser misericors, facile qui parcit, petit.
an deceat hoc me nil moror: satis est, licet.

2795
NERO, an intemperate patient, makes the doctor severe.
the merciful man is wretched; he who readily spares, begs.
whether this befits me I do not care at all: it is enough; it is permitted.

SEN. aegre vel aegros urere medentes solent:
curare, non secare, clementes volunt.

SEN. physicians are wont reluctantly to burn (cauterize) the sick:
the clement wish to cure, not to cut.

2800
NERO putrida vel illis membra resecantur, magis
contagiosa, reliqua ne tabem trahant.

2800
NERO even from them the putrid limbs, the more contagious, are resected,
lest they draw corruption to the rest.

SEN. pars melius aegris aegra, quam nulla haereat.

SEN. for the sick, it is better that a diseased part should adhere than that none should.

NERO pars aegra sanis secta dat sanos magis:
strumam execare liceat, et deceat malam.

NERO a diseased part, once cut off, makes the healthy more sound:
let it be permitted to excise the struma (scrofulous swelling), and let it be decent to remove the bad one.

2805
tollit inimicos.

2805
it removes enemies.

SEN. reddit inimicos magis.
Augustus astra et gloriam clemens tulit.

SEN. makes all the more enemies.
Augustus, clement, won the stars and glory.

NERO triumvirorum tabula quam clemens docet.

NERO the tablet of the triumvirs teaches how clement he is.

SEN. Cinnae pepercit.

SEN. He spared Cinna.

NERO Cinna parcentem dolo
voluit recente perdere.

NERO wished to destroy Cinna, who was sparing him, by a stratagem
recently devised.

SEN. pepercit tamen.

SEN. he spared, however.

2810
NERO at hunc senatu movit assensus patrum.

2810
NERO but removed him from the Senate, with the assent of the Fathers.

SEN. graviora sunt haec ludibria, quam sunt mala.

SEN. these mockeries are graver than the evils.

NERO quicunque vel suspectus, imperium mihi
vel velle somno tollere, peribit prior.

NERO whoever even suspected of even wishing in sleep to take the empire from me,
will perish first.

SEN. utcunque caedas plurimos, illum tamen,

SEN. however you may slaughter very many, yet that one,

2815
qui surrogandus, caedere priorem nequis.

2815
the one who is to be your surrogate, you cannot kill first.

NERO ìutcunque caedas plurimos, illum tamen,
qui surrogandus, caedere priorem nequis?î
mentem efferatam frangis hoc dicto: nequit
successor interire, nisi strage omnium.

NERO “however many you may cut down in great numbers, yet him,
who is to be substituted, can you not cut down first?”
you break a savage mind with this dictum: the successor cannot perish, unless by the slaughter of all.

2820
at illa strages omnium o utinam irruat.

2820
but oh, would that that slaughter of all might rush in.

SEN. quin tua perenni sobole fundetur domus.

SEN. nay rather, let your house be founded by perennial offspring.

NERO Poppaea quam det.

NERO Whatever Poppaea may give.

SEN. imo quam coniux tua.

SEN. nay rather, your consort.

NERO sterilis.

NERO barren.

SEN. quod annus non dedit, plures dabunt.

SEN. what one year has not given, more
will give.

NERO infesta.

NERO hostile.

SEN. amoris solus est adamas amor.

SEN. the only adamant of love is love.

2825

NERO invisa.

NERO hated.

SEN. amorem vincet alienum fides.

SEN. will conquer another's love fidelity.

NERO suspecta.

NERO suspect things.

SEN. non convicta.

SEN. not convicted.

NERO sed coniux mea
non pura modo sit labe, sed labis metu.

NERO but let my consort
be not only pure of stain, but of the fear of stain.

2830

SEN. quis suspicatur?

SEN. who suspects?

NERO Caesar; et pepulit ream.

NERO Caesar; and he has banished the accused woman.

SEN. populus gravatur.

SEN. the people are aggrieved.

NERO populus id curet.

NERO let the people see to that.

SEN.queri

SEN.to complain

2830
ubique vulgus audias.

2830
everywhere you would hear the vulgar throng.

NERO vulgus leve.

NERO the crowd is fickle.

SEN. grave, quod queratur: per merita divi patris,
per studia populi, per sacram imperio manum,
per coniugales te deos, Caesar, precor,
prius audiatur, post repudietur rea.

SEN. it is grave, what she complains of: by the merits of the deified father,
by the zeal of the people, by the hand sacred to Empire,
by your conjugal gods, Caesar, I pray,
let the accused be heard first, afterward let her be repudiated.

2835

NERO age, revocetur: sed Tigellinus ream
si quaestione facta in ancillas probet,
peius peribit, et loco, et poenae modo.

NERO come, let her be recalled: but if Tigellinus should prove the accused
by an inquisition carried out upon the maidservants,
she will perish the worse, both in the place and in the mode of the penalty.

SEN. nunc causa, Caesar, si vacat, agatur mea.
octavus agitur annus imperii tui,

SEN. now, Caesar, if there is time, let my case be heard.
it is the eighth year of your reign,

2840
decimusque quartus, quo tuae admotus spei,
opes, honores fero redundantes; nihil
faelicitati, nisi modus, ut absit meae.
exempla magna haec, non meae, at sortis tuae.
secretum Agrippae suave Mitylenes dedit

2840
and the fourteenth, when I was admitted to your hope;
I bring resources and honors overflowing; nothing
is lacking to felicity except a limit—may it be absent from mine.
these are great exemplars, not of my lot, but of your fate.
Mytilene granted Agrippa a pleasant seclusion

2845
Augustus; ipsa in urbe peregrinum otium,
Caesare ferente, agente, Mecoenas tulit:
in bello Agrippa, in pace Mecoenas comes,
utrique magnis magna pro meritis bona.
merita mihi minora, maiores opes.

2845
Augustus; in the city itself a foreign leisure,
with Caesar permitting and promoting it, Maecenas supplied it:
in war Agrippa, in peace Maecenas as companion,
to each great goods for great merits.
my merits are lesser, my resources greater.

2850
novus anteivi nobiles, proceres, eques.
fateor: sed ista dona sunt, Caesar, tua.
mensuram uterque implevimus; quantum queat
princeps amico dare, dabas: quantum queat
accipere amicus, principi acceptum fero.

2850
as a new man I went before nobles, magnates, as a knight.
I confess: but those gifts are yours, Caesar.
we each filled the measure; as much as a prince can give to a friend
you were giving; as much as a friend can receive,
I acknowledge as received from the prince.

2855
incumbit hinc mihi invidia, sed te minor.
en peto levamen, de via fessus, senex,
vel levibus impar muneribus: istas opes
tuos in usus auferat quaestor tuus.
nec pauper inde, sed magis liber, tibi

2855
from this there weighs upon me envy, but less than upon you.
behold, I seek alleviation, weary from the road, an old man,
even unequal to light gifts: let your quaestor carry off
those resources for your uses. and not poorer thereby, but rather freer, to you

2860
reddam illa, quae fulgore perstringunt suo.
villis et hortis quod vacat, id animo vacet.
tibi tot per annos regimen invictum, et vigor
superest: amici consilia dabimus senes,
quanquam vacantes: me quod ad summa auxeris,

2860
I will give back those things which dazzle with their own brilliance.
What is vacant for villas and gardens, let that be vacant for the mind.
For you, through so many years, an unvanquished rule and vigor
remain: we friends, old men, will give counsels,
although at leisure: as for me, that you have raised me to the summits,

2865
qui modica tolerem, cedet in laudes tuas.

2865
that I tolerate modest means will redound to your praises.

NERO responsa subita, Seneca, docuisti dare.
senibus remisit otium Augustus senex:
at conglobatis exuit neutrum bonis.
at magno bello (sic opus) meriti: haud minus,

NERO, you have taught me, Seneca, to give sudden replies.
Augustus, an old man, restored leisure to old men:
but, with goods massed together, he stripped neither of their goods.
but men deserving by a great war (such was the task), no less,

2870
ratione puerum qui fovet, iuvenem instruit.
aeterna merita et munera Neroni tua.
tibi multa per me; sint licet plures tamen
plura tenuerunt, sed tibi haud quaquam pares.

2870
he who fosters the boy with reason instructs the young man.
your eternal merits and gifts to Nero.
many things to you through me; though there may be more, yet others have held more, but by no means whatsoever equals to you.

te ditiores esse libertos pudet.

you are ashamed that the freedmen are richer.

2875
quin charitate primus, es primus loco?
tibi constat aetas; ego spatia regni tero
prope prima: si qua lubricus pecco, regis.
si me relinquas, si tuas reddas opes,
et mea tyrannis, et mea feretur fames,

2875
why not be first in station, since you are first in affection?
your age is established; I wear away almost the first stretches of my reign:
if in any slippery way I sin, you steer.
if you were to leave me, if you were to withdraw your resources,
both the tyranny will be mine, and the hunger will be mine,

2880
non tibi quietus animus, aut lucri modus.
sit continentis magna laus; non est tamen
sapiente dignum, dedecus amico suo.
unde parat, inde gloriam ut captet sibi.

2880
you have not a quiet spirit, nor a measure of lucre.
let there be great praise of the continent man; nevertheless
it is not worthy of a wise man to bring disgrace upon his friend.
whence he procures it, thence he seeks to capture glory for himself.

quid plura? si te, Seneca, tu debes mihi,

what more? if you, Seneca, you owe yourself to me,

2885
ne te indigenti subtrahas: Atlas polo
subducat humeros, Herculem pondus prement.
cape signa amoris, oscula, amplexum, manum.
citius peribo, Seneca, quam noceam tibi.

2885
do not withdraw yourself from the indigent: let Atlas withdraw his shoulders from the pole, let the weight press Hercules.
take the signs of love—kisses, an embrace, my hand.
sooner shall I perish, Seneca, than I would harm you.

SEN. perpetua velit haec Iupiter nobis bona.

SEN. May Jupiter will that these good things be perpetual for us.

2890
NERO confide, fruere.

2890
NERO have confidence, enjoy.

Seneca dimissus exit. intrat Anicetus.

Seneca, dismissed, exits. Anicetus enters.

sic odia blandis tego,
sic natus, assuefactus. en alter venit
Anicetus, odio iam gravi, at forsan levi
post facinus illud gratia: facti gravis
minister, acsi exprobret, aspectum gravat.

thus I cloak hatreds with blandishments,
thus born, accustomed. see, another comes
Anicetus, now with heavy hatred, but perhaps with favor light
after that crime: minister of a grave deed,
and as if he reproached, he burdens my sight.

2895
nec debitori creditor gratus venit.
eo usque laeta merita, dum exolui queunt.
ubi anteveniunt, odia succedunt magis.

2895
Nor is a creditor welcome to a debtor.
Benefits are cheerful only so far as they can be paid off.
When they get ahead, hatreds take their place all the more.

Ad eum convertitur.

Turns toward him.

operae prioris quam memor, non est opus
referam, Anicete: solus auxilium, salus,

of the earlier service, how mindful I am, there is no need
that I should recount, Anicetus: you alone were help, salvation,

2900
vita, incolumitas; matris insidias meae
solus fugasti authoris in dirum caput.
locus haud minoris gratiae en instat; thoro
Octaviam si pellis infensam meo.
nec opus, ut olim, est aut manu aut telo: struprum

2900
life, safety; the plots of my mother
you alone have put to flight onto the dire head of their author.
behold, an occasion of no lesser favor now presses; from my bed
if you drive Octavia, hostile to me.
nor is there need, as once, either of hand or of weapon: unchastity

2905
fatere rebus utile novandis tuum.
occulta primum praemia in praesens feres:
maiora deinde, quoque secedas, loca
amaena: mortem, si negas, merito feres.

ANIC. priora scelera quam facile iussu tuo

2905
admit your usefulness for renewing affairs.
at first you will bear hidden rewards for the present:
then greater ones, and places, to which you may withdraw,
pleasant: you will deservedly bear death, if you refuse.

ANIC. the former crimes, how easily at your command

2910
fuit peragere! nunc quod imponis, minus
difficile: scelera me mea, ut pergam, monent:
nec me modo scelus, magis adhortatur salus.
fingam, fatebor plura, quam Caesar, iubes.

2910
how easy it was to carry through! now what you impose is less
difficult: my crimes admonish me to go on;
nor crime alone urges me—rather my safety does more.
I will feign, I will confess more than you bid, Caesar.

facta approbavi: dicta ne dubites mea.

I have approved the deeds: do not doubt my words.

2915
stuprare corpus non licet? nomen licet.

2915
to violate the body is not permitted? the name is permitted.

NERO age, quaestioni, quam Tigillenum vides
agere in ministras, confitens asta reus.

NERO, come now; to the inquisition which you see Tigellinus conducting
against the handmaids, stand as a confessing defendant.

Intrat Tigellinus cum Pythia. exit Nero.

Tigellinus enters with Pythia. Nero exits.

TIG. iam torta satis, ancilla, quin prodis ream?

TIG. now you have been tortured enough, maidservant, why not confess yourself guilty?

PYTH. dominamne prodam famula?

PYTH. shall a maidservant betray her mistress?

TIG. si domina est nocens.

TIG. if the mistress is guilty.

2920

PYTH. at innocentem?

PYTH. but the innocent one?

TIG. prode; vel coget dolor.

TIG. come forth; or pain will compel you.

PYTH. non coget ullus ut probam prodam dolor.

PYTH. no pain at all will compel me to betray an honest woman.

TIG. hos mulier animos?

TIG. does a woman have such spirit?

PYTH. mollior, at animus mihi.

PYTH. Softer—but I have spirit.

TIG. huc aliquis ignem.

TIG. Someone bring fire here.

PYTH. flamma purum aurum probet.

PYTH. let the flame prove pure gold.

TIG. adulterinum potius.

TIG. rather adulterated.

PYTH. et adulter quis est?

PYTH. and who is the adulterator?

2925
TIG. Eucerus.

PYTH. adde, servus.

PYTH. add, slave.

TIG. et adulter tamen.

TIG. and yet an adulterer.

PYTH. mentitis ima, saeve quaesitor, gula.
corvum columbae, et agnae aprum, cervae lupum,
satyrum Dianae, Palladi Stygium canem
coniunge pariter, ac herae servum meae.

PYTH. with lies from the depths, cruel inquisitor—your gullet.
yoke a raven to a dove, and to a lamb a boar, to a hind a wolf,
a satyr to Diana, to Pallas the Stygian dog,
join likewise, and a slave to my mistress.

2930
TIG. mammae applicetur ignis.

2930
TIG. let fire be applied to the breasts.

Uritur mamma

The breast is burned

PYTH. o, quid vis loquar?

PYTH. o, what do you wish me to say?

TIG. loquere; quid illa?

TIG. speak; what about her?

PYTH. casta, divina, innocens.

PYTH. chaste, divine, innocent.

TIG. quam mater ipsa, credo.

TIG. than her mother herself, I believe.

PYTH. quam nemorum dea,
quam Vesta.

PYTH. than the goddess of the groves,
than Vesta.

TIG. perstas? alteram ure.

TIG. Do you persist? Burn the other one.

PYTH. o, quod loquar?
tam casta.

PYTH. o, what shall I say?
so chaste.

TIG. quam tu virgo.

TIG. as you, virgin.

PYTH. quam coniux potest.

PYTH. as a wife can.

2935
sunt castiora muliebria dominae meae,
quam, quo innocentem laedis, os illud tuum.

2935
my lady’s womanly parts are chaster
than that mouth of yours, with which you wound the innocent.

Faciem conspuit.

He spits in the face.

TIG. os obstruatur turpe. sed testes probant
multi, quod una pernegas.

TIG. let the foul mouth be stopped. but many witnesses testify
what you alone deny.

PYTH. ergo quid est,
quod quaeris ultra?

PYTH. then what is it
that you seek beyond?

TIG. conscia ut damnes ream.

TIG. so that, as an accomplice, you may condemn the accused.

2940
PYTH. damnate tortor, nec domina sceleris rea,
nec conscia ego sum: testis etiamnum quis est?

2940
PYTH. Accursed torturer, neither am I the mistress of the crime, a defendant,
nor am I a conscious accomplice: who even now is witness?

TIG. quae servierunt caeterae.

TIG. the others who served.

PYTH. an servis fides
in dominam habetur?

PYTH. Or is credence given to slaves against their mistress?
with respect to their mistress?

TIG. non habent servae fidem?

TIG. do maidservants have no faith?

PYTH. habent? in illam quam decet, cur non habent?

PYTH. Have they? In her, as is proper—why do they not have it?

fidemque falsis cur habes, si non habent?

and why do you give credence to falsehoods, if they do not have it?

TIG. quid tu ergo? domina?

TIG. what about you then? mistress?

tibi fides? an non fides?

Are you to be believed? or not?

2945
PYTH. sum serva, sed cui charior vita fides.

2945
PYTH. I am a slave, but to whom fidelity is dearer than life.

TIG. quis credat?

TIG. who would credit it?

PYTH. illam quisquis intactam sciat.

PYTH. Whoever it is, let him know that she is intact.

TIG. intacta Amazon.

TIG. intact Amazon.

PYTH. carnifex, rides?

PYTH. executioner, do you laugh?

TIG. tace.

TIG. be silent.

PYTH. non taceo.

PYTH. I will not be silent.

TIG. linguam evello ni taceas: taces
dicenda, sed tacenda proloqueris procax.

TIG. I will tear out your tongue unless you are silent: you keep silent
about things that must be said, but, procacious, you proclaim what must be tacit.

2950

PYTH. nempe illa petulans quae Tigellinus velit.

TIG.

2950

PYTH. surely that petulant girl whom Tigellinus wants.

TIG.

quaeque expriment tormenta, fax, ferrum, fames.

and what torments will extract: torch, iron, hunger.

ANIC. imo insolenter ista mittatur procax:
ingenii et animi captat hinc laudem sui.

ANIC. nay rather, let that petulant fellow send those things insolently:
from this he is angling for praise of his talent and his spirit.

PYTH. cruenta spolia: laus tibi talis.

PYTH. bloody spoils: such praise to you.

TIG. tace.

TIG. be silent.

2955

PYTH. torta, quia tacui.

PYTH. tortured, because I kept silent.

TIG. non taces? linguam erue.

TIG. Will you not be silent? Rip out his tongue.

Intercedit.

He intervenes.

ANIC. imo audienda, ut audiat quae nunc feram.
suspicio valeat, quae parum in servo valet.

ANIC. nay rather, it must be listened to, so that he may hear what I now bring.
let suspicion prevail, which counts for too little in a slave.

a me, fatebor egomet, hoc omne est scelus.
vidi Neroni Octaviam exosam suo:

by me, I myself will confess, this whole crime is.
I saw Octavia odious to her own Nero:

2960
odium mariti struit ad uxorem viam.
vidi marito coniugem infensam suo.
infensa quid non in virum coniux struet?

2960
the husband's hatred paves a way toward the wife.
i saw a spouse hostile to her own husband.
hostile, what will a wife not contrive against her man?

vidi modestam fronte, miserandam tamen.
misera, modesta pellicit amores meos.

i saw her modest of brow, yet pitiable.
wretched, the modest one entices my loves.

2965
me vidit illa classis eximium ducem:
socianda classis spem novis rebus dedit.
vidit novercam ut abstuli. ablatam sibi
gavisa: ab illo charior facto fui.

2965
that fleet saw me as an eminent leader:
a fleet to be joined in alliance gave hope for new affairs.
she saw when I removed the stepmother. taken away from herself
she rejoiced: by that deed I became dearer.

vidit potentem, vidit et amantem sui:

she saw me potent, she saw also a lover of her:

2970
amans, potensque a faemina quid non ferent?
vidimus utrique, utrique miscuimus dolos,
consilia, vires, corpora: quid ultra potest?
sed illa, dum res exigat, ut artes tegat,
partus abegit.

2970
a lover, and a man in power—what will they not endure from a woman?
we both saw it, both of us we commingled deceits,
counsels, forces, bodies: what more can be done?
but she, while the situation required, in order to veil her arts,
aborted the offspring.

PYTH.euge, sis mendax memor

PYTH.bravo, please remember to lie

2975
partus abacti; et sterilis exacta? haud pudet?

2975
abortions procured; and driven to sterility? are you not ashamed?

TIG. pro sterili habetur, cuius haud partus patet.

TIG. she is considered sterile, she for whom no birth is apparent.

PYTH. at ille, ut illam!

PYTH. but he—how he goes at her!

TIG. quin taces? nondum satis
probantur ista?

TIG. Why don’t you be silent? Are those things not yet sufficiently
proven?

an nescio quid sit satis?
satis est, superque: liber, ultro, in se, reus

or do I not know what is enough?
it is enough, and more than enough: free, unbidden, in himself, the accused

2980
fatetur: hanc vos rapite; nos Caesar manet.

2980
he confesses: you, seize her; Caesar awaits us.

UMB. Nero.

GHOST. Nero.

NERO quo vocamur? quis vocat?

NERO whither are we called? who calls?

UMB. mater.

SHADE. mother.

NERO scio.
venio: quid hoc est? in foro expositus puer?

NERO I know.
I’m coming: what is this? a boy exposed in the forum?

In puerolum impingit exiens.

scitus puerulus: scripta quid narrat novi
tabella? NON TE TOLLO, NE MATREM AUFERAS.

Going out, he bumps into a little boy.

clever little boy: what new thing does the written
tablet tell?
I DO NOT PICK YOU UP, LEST YOU CARRY OFF YOUR MOTHER.

2985
quin tolle, ne te tollat, ut tolli times:
si te abstulisset ille, non exoneres.
hunc tollat aliquis.

2985
nay, pick him up, lest he pick you up, since you fear to be picked up:
if that one had carried you off, you would not disburden yourself.
let someone pick this one up.

Aufertur puer.

The boy is taken away.

VOX sustulit matrem Nero.

A VOICE Nero has killed his mother.

NERO puta sustulisse: quisquis es, non te peto.

Suppose NERO to have carried her off: whoever you are, I do not seek you.

VOX matrem interemit.

VOICE killed his mother.

NERO quid tua? matrem tuam

NERO what is it to you? Your mother!

2990
non interemit, sed suam: non te sequor:
nec enim fatebor ista quam doleant: probra
agnita videntur, si doles; si non doles,
spreta exolescunt: ingenia inanis dolor
irritat otiosa: crebrescet magis

2990
she did not kill, but her own: I do not follow you:
for neither will I confess how much those things pain me: opprobrium
seems acknowledged, if you grieve; if you do not grieve,
despised, they fade away: empty pain provokes idle minds: it will grow the more

2995
fama, ubi vagantur paena: contemni probra
probris medela est: non pudet. animo meo
nil magis habeo laudare, quam quod nil pudet.
sed adhuc quid illud?

2995
rumor, where penalties roam: for insults to be despised
is the remedy for insults: I am not ashamed. In my mind
I have nothing I have more to praise than that nothing shames me.
But as yet, what is that?

Culeus in statua suspensus.

A sack suspended on a statue.

culleus statuae meae
assuitur? et ego meritus in eundem insui.

is a culeus being sewn to my statue?
and I deserve to be sewn into the same.

3000
sed utrinque quid tabella proscriptum dedit.

3000
but what public notice did the tablet display on either side.

Tabella inscripta.

Inscribed tablet.

N°rvn, ÉOr°sthw, ÉAklma¤vn mhtroktÒnoi.
qui venit illis, veniet et nobis furor?
QUIS NEGET AENAEAE MAGNA DE STIRPE NERONEM?

Nero, Orestes, Alcmaeon, matricides.
Will the fury that came to them come to us as well?
WHO WOULD DENY NERO TO BE OF THE GREAT STOCK OF AENEAS?

SUSTULIT HIC MATREM, SUSTULIT ILLE PATREM.

This one removed his mother, that one removed his father.

3005
ego morte, at humeris ille: placet ¶irvn mihi
epigramma: veneat author: hanc laurum ferat.

3005
I by death, but he by the shoulders: pleases me
the epigram of an Eiron: let the author be for sale: let him bear this laurel.

Culeum.

The Sack.

tollam ego vel illum, patrem ut Aeneas tulit,
medios per ignes: perdam ut uxorem tamen.
Poppaea sed quid territa exiliit foras?

I will carry even him, as Aeneas carried his father,
through the midst of the fires: yet I shall lose my wife.
But why did Poppaea, terrified, spring out outside?

3010

Provoluta genibus.

Prostrate at the knees.

POP. non sunt in illo res loco, Caesar, meae
de coniugali ut tumida concertem thoro
(quanquam o, sit ipsa potius id vita mihi),
sed ipsa mihi iam vita in extremum locum
adducta, saevis aemulae servis meae

POP. things are not, for me, in that condition, Caesar,
that I, swollen, should contend about the conjugal couch
(although—oh—would that life itself rather were that for me),
but my very life has now been brought to the uttermost extremity,
dragged by the savage slaves of my rival

3015
Octaviae petita, qui nomen sibi
populi indiderunt; pace tentarunt ea,
bello evenire publico quae vix solent.
revocata postquam Octavia, frequentes ruunt,
bacchando resonant, undique effigies meas

3015
Petitions for Octavia, by those who have assigned to themselves the name of "the people";
in peace they attempted those things which scarcely are wont to occur in public war.
after Octavia was recalled, in crowds they rush,
they resound with Bacchic reveling, on all sides my effigies

3020
tractas, iacentes proruunt, caeno obruunt,
at siqua imago Octaviae affulsit, gerunt
humeris ovantes, floribus spargunt, foro
templisque statuunt: clamitant, fremitant, strepunt
nescio quid, ipsi nesciunt; me, te crepant,

3020
they drag them, they topple those lying, they bury them in mud,
but if any image of Octavia has flashed forth, they bear it
on their shoulders, ovating; they strew it with flowers; in the forum
and in the temples they set it up: they keep shouting, they roar, they make a din
I know not what; they themselves do not know; they keep bawling my name, yours,

3025
illam, aulam, et arma, tela, ferrum, ignes crepant.
nec liber ille est, libere qui non fremat;
imo licenter obstrepat, dicat male.
fera turba verum percrepat Martis genus;
pulsosque reges memorat, et fractos duces:

3025
her, the court, and arms, missiles, steel, fires they cry aloud.
nor is he free, who does not roar freely;
nay rather, let him with license make an obstreperous din, let him speak ill.
the savage crowd proclaims a truth aloud—the breed of Mars;
and it commemorates kings driven out, and captains broken:

3030
memorat tyranni saeva Tarquinii stupra,
decemviri mox Appii, arbitrio gravi
Quiritum ut ille pulsus, hic caesus +vati.+
vis turbulenta nomine vocatur novo,
Romana virtus: imperat populus; iubet

3030
it recounts the savage rapes of the tyrant Tarquinius,
and next of Appius the Decemvir, by grim arbitrament,
of the Quirites, how that one was driven out, this one cut down +for the seer.+
a turbulent force is called by a new name,
Roman virtue: the people commands; it orders

3035
quam odit repelli; cui favet, recipi iubet,
furor furorem promovet;. eundo furor
vires adauget; armaque ministrat furor.
nolens volenti cogitur, currit volens.
gerit arma turba, nescia quid armis gerat.

3035
whom it hates, to be repelled; whom it favors, it bids be received,
fury promotes fury;. by going fury
augments its strength; and fury supplies arms.
unwilling he is compelled to willingness; willing, he runs.
the mob bears arms, not knowing what it does with arms.

3040
arma illa contra principem sumi liquet.
nec animus, at dux iam deest: nec dux diu
deerit novandis rebus: alioqui meum
quod crimen? animum cuius offendi uspiam
an quia datura Caesari verum genus,

3040
it is clear that those arms are being taken up against the prince;
nor is spirit lacking, but a leader is now lacking; nor will a leader long
be lacking for a revolution: otherwise, what is my
crime? whose spirit have I offended anywhere,
or because I am going to give to Caesar true lineage,

3045
Aegyptii tibicinis spurium suo
malit reponi populus imperio? tuis
si rebus id conducat, age, dominam libens
accerse, non coactus: aut potius tuae
securitati consulat iusta ultio.

3045
Would the people prefer that the bastard of an Egyptian piper be restored to their sovereignty? Your
affairs if that would conduce, come, summon your mistress gladly,
not compelled: or rather let just retribution have regard to your
security.

3050
aliquid tulere, Octaviae dum spes fuit
redintegrandae gratiae; haec spes si cadat,
illi maritum, et dotem in imperio dabunt.
fave, Nero, mihi. mihi, tibi, Caesar, cave:
vel pignus utero quod tuum gestem meo.

3050
they have endured something, while there was hope for Octavia of favor to be restored;
if this hope should fall, they will give to her a husband, and a dowry, in the empire.
favor me, Nero. for me, for yourself, Caesar, beware:
or at least the pledge which I carry in my womb is yours.

3055
NERO Poppaea, noli genibus advoli meis;
quae semper odiis, nunc atrox urges metu;
accendis odiis odia, multiplicas metu
metum: eius odia meus amor vincat; metum
in me fides expellat: an populum times?

3055
NERO Poppaea, do not fall to my knees;
you who always have pressed with hatreds, now, atrocious, you press with fear;
you kindle hatreds with hatred, you multiply fear with fear;
let my love conquer her hatreds; let faith in me drive out fear:
or do you fear the people?

3060
est, est timenda multiceps Hydra: Herculi
non est timenda: at unicum si sit caput,
quam facile lueret! unicum o utinam foret,
unicus ut ictus amputet. an audet procax
bellare cum diis infimi proles luti?

3060
yes, yes, the many-headed Hydra is to be feared: by Hercules
it is not to be feared: but if there were a single head,
how easily it would pay the penalty! O if only it were single,
so that a single blow might amputate it. Or does the impudent
offspring of the lowest clay dare to wage war with the gods?

3065
o fulminati quin ruunt montes? ruent.
igne subigenda est Hydra, si ferro nequit.

3065
o why do the thunder-struck mountains not collapse? they will collapse.
by fire the Hydra must be subdued, if it cannot by steel.

ferro, ruina, et igne subigatur. furit
populus in armis? arma furiosum premant.

by iron, by ruin, and by fire let it be subdued. does the people rage in arms?
let arms press down the furious one.

POP. at multitudo tanta qui reprimi potest?

PEOPLE. but how can so great a multitude be restrained?

3070
NERO fidelem adoptat hic Tigellinum labor.
inerme vulgus miles armatus premet
facile.

3070
NERO by this effort adopts Tigellinus as faithful.
the unarmed crowd the armed soldier will press
easily.

POP.facilius forte multi unum prement,
quam reprimet unus plurimos: forsan prius
aulam cremarint ignibus.

POP.more easily perhaps many will press one,
than one will repress very many: perhaps sooner
they will have burned the palace with fires.

TIG. iacta alea.

TIG. the die is cast.

3075
§moË yanÒntow ga›a mixyÆtv pur¤.

NERO §moË d¢ z«ntow: unica haec clades mihi
quod clade nulla, nisi Britannorum procul,
mea claruerint tempora, ut nostri memor
aetas futura nos canat: at aderit dies,

3075
when I am dead, let the earth be mixed with fire.

NERO but while I live: this single calamity for me
that by no calamity, unless that of the Britons, far away,
my times have shone, so that, mindful of us, the future
age may sing of us: but the day will come,

3080
quo face ruinas, sanguine extinguam faces.
interea in illos militum immissi globi,
demoliantur, proruant, rapiant, necent.
agite, ite in illos; ite, praefecti truces.

3080
with that torch I will make ruins, with blood I will extinguish the torches.
meanwhile let masses of soldiers be sent against them,
let them demolish, topple, seize, slay.
come on, go at them; go, fierce prefects.

POP. at concitatrix illa, turbarum caput,

POP. but that inciter, the head of the tumults,

3085
nova meditari, Caesaris abuti thoro,
iam nota, iam notata, num tuto auferet?
tumultuosa ut concitet turbas novas?
causam mali praescinde, ut exscindas malum.

3085
to meditate novel things, to abuse Caesar’s bed,
now known, now noted—will she carry it off safely?
that the tumultuous woman may excite new tumults?
cut off the cause of the evil, that you may extirpate the evil.

populo sororem iam aufer, ut matri prius

now remove the sister from the people, as earlier from the mother

3090
fratrem abstulisti: tutus exinde imperes.

3090
you have taken away the brother: from then on, exercise empire in safety.

NERO grave stirpe natam Claudia claris avis,
grave imperantem, coniugem ut tollam, grave.

NERO grave, born from the Claudian stock with illustrious ancestors,
grave as she commands; that I should take away my consort—grave.

POP. tollas ut illam, quae gravis, non est grave.

POP. To remove her, who is grave (burdensome), is not grave.

NERO hinc odia populi; at oderit populus licet,

NERO hence the populace’s hatreds; but let the populace hate, be it permitted,

3095
dum metuat: ego quam diligi, metui velim.
Poppaea suadet, pellicit: populus fremat,
rumpatur: age, pellatur hinc coniux procul
in Pandaterias insulas; pulsa occidat.
Poppaea mihi dum luceat, coelum occidat.

3095
so long as they fear: I would rather be feared than loved.
Poppaea urges, entices: let the people roar,
let them burst: come, let the spouse be driven far from here
to the Pandateria islands; let the banished woman die.
So long as Poppaea shines for me, let heaven perish.

3100

urgent fata tyrannidem.
tam trux nulla tyrannis est,
quam mentis male consciae.
nemo terret, at haec timet:
nemo cum sequitur, fugit:

the fates press upon tyranny.
no tyranny is so savage as that of a mind conscious of its guilt.
no one terrifies, yet it is afraid;
when no one follows, it flees:

3105
nec se, si reliquos, fugit.
nec se, cum fugit, effugit.
haec, haec, ut Stygius canis ,
ira, luxu, odio triceps.

3105
nor, if it flees the others, does it flee itself.
nor, when it flees, does it escape itself.
this, this, like the Stygian hound ,
three-headed with ire, with luxury, with hatred.

haec, ut tres furiae, invidens,

this, like the three Furies, envious,

3110
ulciscens, cupiens male.
ut Ditis tria flumina,
ardescit, dolet, eiulat.
urgent multa foris mala;
intus plura premunt reum.

3110
avenging, desiring ill.
as the three rivers of Dis,
it blazes, it grieves, it wails.
many evils press from outside;
within, more press upon the accused.

3115
testes mille sinu gerit,
nec se iudice solvitur.
pallescit, tremit, aestuat,
horrescit, fremit. exedit
cor curis miseris suum:

3115
he bears a thousand witnesses in his bosom,
nor is he absolved, himself the judge.
he grows pale, he trembles, he seethes,
he shudders, he rages. wretched cares
gnaw his own heart away:

3120
in somnis vigilat, putat
factum, quod fieri potest.
totus fit dolor, et pavor:
totus suspicio, et furor.
exosus superis, sibi,

3120
in dreams he keeps vigil, he thinks
accomplished what can come to pass.
he becomes wholly dolor and dread:
entirely suspicion and fury.
odious to the gods above, to himself,

3125
optat saepe mori, et timet,
et vivens moritur tamen.
mox vult, quos voluit mori,
vivos, nec revocat tamen.
tantum mens mala fert mali.

3125
he often wishes to die, and he fears,
and yet, living, he dies.
soon he wants those whom he wished to die
alive, and yet he does not call them back.
so much evil the evil mind bears.

3130