For heaven’s sake, stay, sir! Have patience. Piso is unprepared. _Lat._ Scevinus, 1750 Thou art bound to abide by and respect the voice Of the party.—We do not choose thee.— _Sce._ Whóm chóose ye? _Lat._ No scheme is ready as yet. The matter needs More judgment than thou usest. _Nat._ And more caution. _Sce._ Caution and judgment are for cowards. By God I have sworn. ’Tis by this hand Cæsar shall die. _Nat._ (_to Lat._). We must prevent him. _Lat._ (_to Nat._). Shall we seize him? _Sce._ My lords, I thank you for your counsel. Go now to Piso, And make him ready: I shall to the palace To screen my purpose in some usual conduct. To-night all will be over.—Fare-you-well. [_Exit._ _Lat._ Come after him, Natalis: we must make A show of yielding, and delude him gently By mock convincement; else he’ll ruin all. [_Exeunt._ SCENE ·• 3 _A room in the palace. NERO and POPPÆA meeting._ _NERO._ Empress! the emperor of the world salutes thee, Bows to thee. _POPPÆA._ And embraceth? _Ner._ And embraceth.— Didst thou sleep well in thy new chamber? _Pop._ I did. _Ner._ How doth it please? _Pop._ ’Tis fine. It hath no fault, Save that it lies so far from thine. _Ner._ In that See how I trust thee. _Pop._ I shall need my litter In this new palace: ’tis a morning’s journey From end to end. What distances! _Ner._ Yes, space: Grandeur in space: we cannot emulate Starry distinctions and ethereal peace; Mortal conditions hamper us ... yet I’ll teach 1775 The world what may be done; and my new Rome Shall stand for a type: the streets all laid out broad, Straight and intelligible; and all the houses Of fireproof stone from Alba and Gabii. In four years ’twill be finished. _Pop._ Four whole years Of rubbish-heaps and hammering? _Ner._ Come see The plans in the library. _Pop._ Would you believe The plans of architects can cheer a woman? _Ner._ If thou wert happy thou wouldst love to see All that I do, and for my sake admire. I wish that thou wert happier. Think, Poppæa, What cause thou hast, being for thy peerless beauty Chosen the world’s Augusta. I could wish Thou didst smile oftener. _Pop._ Well, consider, love, I have cause for care.