Simon her humor flattered to its height, And artfully grew more and more confused Before her, till he judged her satisfied That his humiliation was complete. Then, with abject profession of remorse And shame that he so far forgot her due As to seek audience with the emperor In any way other than through herself, He humbly asked her what her wish might be; In short, renewed the proffer of himself To be her faithful servant all in all. "But art thou not in prior duty bound To that Drusilla fair of thine?" she asked. "Yea, doubtless," the adroit dissembler said-- A protestation of deep loyalty To his old mistress, not to be seduced, Commingling strangely in his look and tone With offer to be serviceable now. "Supposing beautiful Drusilla's aims And mine should clash?" Poppæa said. But he: "That were calamity indeed--for her; The far more beautiful must needs prevail. She has perhaps her too aspiring hopes; Her hopes, I own, I have no heart to dash. Let her nurse them; but be it mine meanwhile To watch and strive they do not pierce the breast That suckles them in vain." "What meanest thou?" Poppæa asked. "Why, this," the sorcerer said, "Lady Drusilla's interests and her aims May not agree. They do not, if her aims And thine, O empress, clash. Her interests, True interests, I mean, she best consults In being to her sovereign loyal liege. I serve the subject, when I serve the queen." "'Empress,' thou namest me," Poppæa said. "Thou knowest I am not empress." "Yea, I know," Said Simon, "empress not in name--as yet." "Another," with deep implication said Poppæa, "that imposing title bears." "Were it not so," with apt intelligence, Made instant answer Simon, "thou wouldst not Need modestly disclaim the title--thou Who worthily possessest now the power." "Not all the power," Poppæa sagely said; "Some real part of the power is in the name. Help me to win the name, and fix thy price." "My price would be the pleasure I should have To see thee sitting, where thy right ere now Had placed thee, on the half throne of the world"-- So Simon with devout obeisance said. Then added: "If the emperor should suspect-- But, pardon, thou hast asked me nothing yet." "I ask thee now, speak freely out to me All that is in thy mind," Poppæa said. "If then, I say, the emperor should suspect-- Of course with ground for the suspicion (that Well understood, no innocent to be wronged)"-- And Simon grinned intolerably a wry Involuntary grin of import such, So horribly conveyed, that almost she, Poppæa, shuddered in recoil from him-- "Suspect, with reason shown, a full supply, That the young partner of his bed and throne, Octavia, is less worthy of his faith Than were to--"