E-text prepared by Al Haines

NERO

STEPHEN PHILLIPS

Author of "The Sin of David"

London
MacMillan and Co., Limited
New York: The MacMillan Company
1906

CHARACTERS

NERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emperor of Rome.

BRITANNICUS . . . . . . . . . . Nero's Half-Brother.

OTHO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Young Noble.

SENECA . . . . . . . . . . . . ) )BURRUS . . . . . . . . . . . . ) ) Ministers of State.TIGELLINUS . . . . . . . . . . ) )ANICETUS . . . . . . . . . . . )

A SEAMAN.

PARTHIAN CHIEF.

BRITISH CHIEF.

XENOPHON . . . . . . . . . . . . A Physician.

SLAVE TO NERO.

AGRIPPINA . . . . . . . . . . . Nero's Mother.

OCTAVIA . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister to Britannicus.

POPPAEA . . . . . . . . . . . . Wife to Otho, afterwards to Nero.

ACTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Captive Princess.

LOCUSTA . . . . . . . . . . . . A Poisoner.

MYRRHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maid to Poppaea.

HANDMAIDENS, SPIES, ETC.

Five years elapse between Acts I. and II., two years between Acts III.and IV.

ACT I

SCENE.—The scene is in the Great Hall in the Palace of the Caesars.At the back are steps leading to a platform with balustrade opening onthe air, and beyond, a view of the city.

[On the right of the stage is a cedarn couch on which CLAUDIUS isuneasily sleeping. On the right is a door communicating with the innerapartments. On the left a door communicating with the outer halls.

[XENOPHON is standing by the couch of CLAUDIUS. AGRIPPINA issitting with face turned to an ASTROLOGER, who stands at the top ofthe steps watching the stars.

[LOCUSTA is crouching beside a pillar, right. A meteor strikes acrossthe sky. The ASTROLOGER, pointing upwards, comes down the stepsslowly.

ASTROLOGER. These meteors flame the dazzling doom of kings.

[AGRIPPINA rises apprehensively.

XENOPHON. Caesar is dead!

AGRIPPINA. The drug hath found his heart.
  [To LOCUSTA, who steals forward.
  Locusta, take your price and steal away!
  Sound on the trumpet. Go! your part is done.

[Exit LOCUSTA.
[Trumpet is sounded.

That gives the sign to the Praetorians
Upon the instant of the Emperor's death.

[Answering trumpets are heard.

  Hark! trumpets answering through all the city.
  Xenophon, you and I are in this death
  Eternally bound. This husband have I slain
  To lift unto the windy chair of the world
  Nero, my son. Your silence I will buy
  With endless riches; but a hint divulged——

XENOPHON. O Agrippina, Empress, fear not me!

...