Nero at length dismisses Simon, bidding him tell his mistress the emperor's desire to pay her a secret visit. This message the sorcerer gratifies his own spleen by conveying to Drusilla in terms the most offensive to her pride. She bursts out in violent anger and spurning; but Simon shows his mistress how she may salve in a measure the hurt to her dignity, and at the same time serve her hatred of Paul, by making it a condition of her complaisance that the emperor shall first put the apostle and his companions to death. The sorcerer returns with her reply to Nero, who again, and even more deeply than before, stirs the Jew's heart to deadly hatred. Simon plots a wild scheme to have his revenge. Meantime with change in certain officers of the government the aspect of affairs grows threatening for Paul and his fellow-Christians. Onesimus and Syrus are arrested and hurried away to suffer on the rack. NERO AND SIMON. Drusilla, eager in uncertain hope To meet the pleasure of the emperor, Promptly sent Simon to him as he said. She charged her minion to bend all his craft To win his mistress way that she in proof Upon that youngster emperor of the world Might, without let from other present, try If for once only what of power was left Her, after such misfortunes suffered late, To steal possession of the hearts of men. "Consider, Simon, what might not I do For thee, once seated in that place of power?" She with such words and with a subtle smile Of deep insinuation cheered him forth. But Simon, in an outer anteroom Of the imperial palace with its guards-- Many removes from where the emperor was-- Long hung in waiting day by day in vain. At length Poppæa, not the emperor, Sent gracious word that she would see that Jew. "Thou hadst perhaps forgotten who it was," The favorite, drunken-fond of power nor less Of demonstration too of power, began, To dash the sorcerer in his confidence-- "Say, hadst thou not forgotten who it was Gave thee for thy Drusilla her desired Access to the imperial presence late?" Simon saw what she wanted, and was quick To humor to the full her proud caprice. He readily commanded to his face A trouble of confusion and chagrin, And stammered something inarticulate. The merciless Poppæa pressed her point: "Was it to me, or to somebody else, I heard thee offer service of thine art? Methinks thou spokest, or perhaps I dreamed, Of certain potencies thou couldst exert On my behalf--or some one's--if thou wouldst, To make at need a mind amenable To reason that might otherwise resist?"