_Ep._ Wilt thou? Art thou the man? Dost thou hate Nero? _Luc._ Pray, lady, be still. _Ep._ Sir, canst thou help me? _Luc._ If thou art wronged by Nero, Lady, I can and will help thee. _Ep._ And thou Thyself too art in danger. _Luc._ In greater danger Than thou surmisest. _Ep._ If all wait their turn, Who shall be left to avenge? _Luc._ I do not wait. Let me beseech thee, lady, master this passion, And tell thy grief. _Ep._ My grief? nay, that’s past telling: There are no words for that. Yet fear not, sir; I can be quiet while I tell my story. _Luc._ Be comforted to know thou tellest to one, Thy sworn ally, before thou sayst a word. To his strong mortal anger add thy cause. _Ep._ I shall, sir; I can. All womanly soft feeling I have driven for ever from me; and I have sworn A pact with tears, that I will shed not one 1502 Till I be avenged. _Luc._ Trust me; and tell thy wrong. _Ep._ I live at Naples, sir; my mother keeps The tavern where the sailors most resort. My father died five years ago, and then It happened that my brother, my only brother,— Whose generous nature blamed the life of gain That there we led,—left us, and was ere-long Inveigled by the Christian sect. It happened He met their leader Paulus,—whom ’twas said Burrus protected,—for he came by Naples, And there my brother heard him, and after had Strange visions, and believed the end of the world Was near, and Christ would come to reign in Rome, And other doctrines taught by Paul; and lately, Three days ago, he saw Paul in a dream, Who beckoned him to Rome. Hither he came, And I soon after him, being full of fear, Knowing the ill-odour of his sect, and him Inclined to boast it; and so I came. The Christians Were seized last night, and my poor brother, sir, Though unknown, unsuspected and unchallenged, Gave himself up. Now all is over. _Luc._ Thou meanest.... _Ep._ I could not stay him. I saw him taken. One Thrasea, 1525 A senator, whose voice seemed powerful with them, Joined his commands with my poor prayers in vain: ’Twas Nero’s order. _Luc._ Was he burned? _Ep._ Ye gods, If there be any gods; if there be Christ, Or Zeus, or Jove, or who you will, look down, Avenge! _Luc._ Thou shalt be avenged.