_Ner._ Ay, that is wisdom. Live. Enjoy the hour; which minds me, for to-night I have time well disposed: we sup with Actè; She will inaugurate the new pavilion, And after, there are masks and clubs provided. 200 Thou’lt join us, eh! _Oth._ With all my heart. _Ner._ (_to Tig. and Luc._). And you. And you. And, Paris, see Petronius comes, And Anicetus. Hence, and bid them now. [_Exit Paris._ Good news for them I think; pleasure in store. We’ll make a merry night. Now tell me, Otho, You’re a good judge, have you ever seen a woman Fit to compare with Actè? _Oth._ I say no. _Ner._ I mean not, man, for what our grandsires praised, Who knew no better; I mean the perfect art 209 Which makes each moment feverous. _Oth._ I know none. _Ner._ ’Tis spoke as if thy judgment or thy envy Grudged me the word. _Oth._ Nay, Cæsar. _Ner._ O, I know Thou’rt a good husband, thy good wife commands thee. _Oth._ Say, my good fortune, Cæsar. _Ner._ Now if thy boast Be true as it is rare, thy lady’s presence Would add much spirit to our gaieties. I have never seen Poppæa, say that to-night Thou bring her. _Oth._ In this thing, for friendship’s sake, Hold me excused. _Ner._ Nay, no constraint; thy wish Is all in all. Wrong me not; I would not have, 220 And least to thee, my pleasures a command; But my commands are pleasures. Let us go. [_Exeunt._ SCENE · 2 _A room in the palace. Enter OCTAVIA and BRITANNICUS._ _BRITANNICUS._ Why art thou weeping, dearest? Has Nero been Again unkind? _OCTAVIA._ Most unkind. _Br._ Weep not so. Octavia, weep not so. Count but my tears as thine, so shall my pity Comfort thy wrongs. Nay, wert thou not my sister, How must I feel to see so base a rival Honoured before thyself in Cæsar’s palace! Why even his mother could not grant him that 230 Unmoved, but wept with rage: while he himself, I saw, was touched with shame. _Oct._ Hush, hush! nay, ’tis not that; I mind not that: at least they tell me now I must not mind; and since he never loved me It matters little. ’Tis not that at all. _Br._ Then something fresh; what more? _Oct._ I scarce dare tell. What hast thou said or done, Britannicus, That so could anger him? _Br._ Ah! is’t with me then He is angry? Dost thou weep for me? _Oct._ For both. _Br._ Now tell me all, sister.