_Ep._ I know not, sir, Where I have been, nor how my brother suffered: He had no fear; he welcomed death: and yet,— Ah! what I saw! were it assured a dream, I would not live after that dream; the memory Would make a horror of joy. I pray to die, Die and forget; but first live and avenge him: I will do that: help me or show me how. _Luc._ Can thy just hate teach thy tongue silence, lady? _Ep._ Fear not my tongue: fear nothing: were I not brave, Should I be alive? should I be here? _Luc._ My secret, That I shall tell thee, is my life. I am one Of a conspiracy to rid the world Of this black monster. _Ep._ Thou art? thou art? Thou tellst me That I may join? Alas, that I am a woman. _Luc._ Prove now thy mastery of thyself by reasoning In sober terms. _Ep._ I can. _Luc._ (_showing the book_). Who gave thee this? _Ep._ Senecio. _Luc._ Ha! Senecio! can it be.... _Ep._ Thou mayst not think it, sir, seeing me to-day: But yesterday thou wouldst have well believed I might have lovers. _Luc._ ... At Naples, at this tavern, Hast thou acquaintance with the Admiral? 1551 _Ep._ I know him well. _Luc._ How doth he stand towards Cæsar? _Ep._ He hates him. _Luc._ Yes, but would he join our party? We have no means to sound him: this Senecio Has taken it on himself. I did not trust him; Now I suspect him. _Ep._ You would win the navy? _Luc._ ’Tis that. _Ep._ I could approach him. _Luc._ I think thou mayst. Bide with me here to-day; for ere we talk Thou must have food & sleep. I shall speak with thee More confidently then: thou art now o’erstrained. _Ep._ I shall not sleep. _Luc._ To the distracted heart, To whom this life is hell, nature hath given A perfect boon, the numbing poppy-juice: Soothed by its gracious power thou wilt sleep well. My mother shall attend thee: she knows all. ACT ·• IV SCENE ·• 1 _The tavern at Naples_ (_as in I. 2_). _GRIPUS, MARINERS and SENECIO._ _GRIPUS._ I say weather permitting: it’s always weather permitting. 1568 _MARINERS._ _1st Mar._ There was no weather permitting in it. I heard the Admiral say he had his orders to sail for the Adriatic, and the ships at Formiæ were to join him here last night. _Gri._ Weather permitting. _1st M._ No: no weather permitting. If it had been weather permitting, would they have put out in the teeth of a sou’-wester? that’s what I look at. _2nd M._ No sailor would have done it; least of all Regulus. _Gri._ Then ’twas Cæsar’s fault not to have said weather permitting. _3rd M._ Eight firstrates: the pick of the fleet.