Ha! Here’s my Quintian! 725 The pale Parnassian reptile, that hath ne’er Moistened his leathery tongue in Hippocrene.... Nay, laugh not so immoderately, I fear Your sides may split. _TIGELLINUS._ O no, thou god of the world, Thou hast practised them too well. _Qu._ And I, your majesty, Am proud to move your jovial lips to smile. _VATINIUS._ We all believe it, while thy writhing grin Makes us such sport. _Qu._ (_aside_). Curse on this ugly brute! _Ner._ Mind him not, Quintian; we are in good spirits. We have worked all night like firemen, and saved the palace If not the city. Ha! Senecio, tell us, How stands it with thy house? _Se^{o.}_ Permit me, sire, To thank you for the imperial favour shewn To my poor dwelling. _Ner._ Thank Vatinius: ’Twas his idea. _Se^{o.}_ Then, sir, I thank thee humbly,— 740 (_Aside._) Till I can kill thee. _Vat._ The emperor and I Are glad to serve you; we are very free To all the race. _Ner._ ’Tis true:—Senecio, Thou wilt remember well the merry nights, When I and thou and Otho inaugurated My reign with freaks of license: since that time What steps we have made! I laugh when I recall Those timorous revellings in the dark, and how ’Twas deemed a scandal Cæsar should be seen Horse-racing. What misgivings when I first Opened my circus on the Vatican! But what applause! Then I saw Rome was with me, Nor ever have doubted since: in other games Outrunning popularity, till now, —My thanks to Tigellinus—there’s scarce one Of all the noblest houses that can brag It hath not sent some actor to the stage, Or wrestler to the theatre: and I crowned My triumph in Naples, when ye saw, ye heard, Ye applauded.—Would it be believed that when I came to the throne I might not, in my palace, Sing my own song at supper? _Se^{o.}_ Glorious Cæsar, The Gods deny you nothing. _Tig._ Thyself a god, By destiny their peer. _Vat._ Perfect Apollo! In music equal, and in medicine ... (_Acts taking poison_). _Tig._ (_hastily_). Above all gods in this, that full success Attests thy wisdom.