_Sost._ Why, I’m sure, Pamphilus, she is a pinnacle of perfection. But I know another. _Pam._ No, no; if I am to marry, be hanged! I’ll choose for myself. I know of a girl will do very well. _Sost._ Who is it? _Pam._ Archonides’ daughter. _Sost._ You c^d not have pleased me more. _Chr._ My word! I do believe my wife & I are agreed On something at last. O wonderful day! _Sost._ Chremes, I knew 1581 ’Twould end like this. _Chr._ Now, wife! none of your prophecies. Come in, come all to dinner. _Pam._ Philolaches was asked; May he come too? _Chr._ Oh yes! if it’s the Persian custom. I’ll bear no grudge to-day; come in, sir, with the rest, And help to make us merry. This is THE FEAST OF BACCHUS. NERO PART II FROM THE DEATH OF BURRUS TO THE DEATH OF SENECA COMPRISING THE CONSPIRACY OF PISO DRAMATIS PERSONÆ AS IN FIRST PART _NERO_ _SENECA_ _LUCAN_ _a poet, nephew to Seneca_. _PETRONIUS_ _a gentleman of Rome_. _TIGELLINUS_ _prætorian prefect_ (_successor to Burrus_). _THRASEA_ _a stoic senator_. _PRISCUS_ _a young stoic, lover of Fannia_. _GRIPUS_ _a Neapolitan boatman_. _POPPÆA_ _now wife to Nero_. NEW CHARACTERS IN THIS PART _CLITUS_ _a Christian, brother of Epicharis_. _PISO_ _a nobleman_. _NATALIS_ _confidential follower of Piso_. _SCEVINUS_, _a rich lord_ } _SENECIO_, _an upstart gentleman_ } _courtiers_. _QUINTIAN_, _a court poet_ } _PROCULUS_ _Admiral_ (_successor to Anicetus_). _LATERANUS_ _Consul elect_. _RUFUS_ _shared prefecture with Tigellinus_. _FLAVUS_, _a tribune_ } _ASPER_, _a centurion_ } _under Rufus_. _VATINIUS_ _Nero’s fool_ (_successor to Paris_). _CASSIUS_ _a guardsman, distinguished by his size_. _ACTE_ _Nero’s early mistress_. _EPICHARIS_ _daughter of a tavern-keeper at Naples_. _FANNIA_ _Thrasea’s daughter, marries Priscus_. _PAULLINA_ _wife to Seneca_. _Officers_, _Attendants_, _Sailors_, _Soldiers_, _Citizens_, _etc._ NERO P^T. II ACT ·• I SCENE ·• 1 (AS PROLOGUE.) _Rome. Thrasea’s house. THRASEA and PRISCUS._ _THRASEA._ What is it, Priscus, that hath led thee now To pledge my ear to closer secrecy Than what thy loving trust alway command? _PRISCUS._ I fear to tell. _Thr._ Suppose then I tell thee. I know thy sickness, and I hold the cure. _Pr._ Nay, sir: I rank among the incurables.