_Ner._ Who will name The arts? There’s sculpture, painting, poetry, 1540 Singing.. _PARIS._ And acting. _Ner._ Well, what more? _Tig._ Horse-racing. _Pop._ (_across_). Ruling I think’s an art. _AGRIPPINA_ (_across_). And making love. _Ner._ ’Tis of the fine arts we would speak. (_To servants_) Ho! fellows, Pour out the wine! Ah, here’s a lovely mullet. Has this been tasted? _TASTER._ Ay, Cæsar. ’Tis stuffed with truffles. _Ner_. A mullet stuffed with truffles. Now, Poppæa, Will not this please? _Pop._ I thank you.—(_aside_) Prithee, bid Lucan to speak for poetry. _BRITANNICUS_ (_to servant_). Nay, the mullet. _Ner._ Lucan, what say you for your art? _LUCAN._ I claim The first place for it, and I say ’tis proved 1550 Nobler than any plastic art in this; It needs not tools nor gross material, And hath twin doors to the mind, both eye and ear. Nay, even of drama Aristotle held, Though a good play must act well, that ’tis perfect Without the stage: which shows that poetry Stains not her excellence by being kind To those encumbrances, which, in my judgment, Are pushed to fetter fancy.—Then hath our art Such strong and universal mastery 1560 O’er heart and mind, that here ’tis only music Competes, and she is second far in scope, Directness, and distinction. _Ner._ You think that? _Luc._ Ay, Cæsar. _Ner._ Do you! you who have ever been More gracious to my voice than to my pen! Am I a better singer then than poet, Think you? _Luc._ Nay, Cæsar; but.... _Ner._ Ha! then you are envious. You would not have me write because, forsooth, You write yourself. Now, by the god, I swear Thou shalt not publish nor recite a verse 1570 Within my empire till I give thee leave. One man to keep the muses to himself! Monstrous! _Pop._ And serve him right. _Luc._ (_aside_). Monstrous indeed! _Ner._ (_to servants_). Heat me some wine. Come, lords, ye drink not. Eh! what have we here? _Servant._ Cherubim, Cæsar. _Ner._ What is Cherubim? _Petr._ The gods of the Jews. _Ner._ Hoo! let us eat their gods. They are much like pheasants. _Servt._ ’Tis a pheasant, Cæsar, And stuffed with woodcock.