Poor, foolish girl! and canst thou hope for this?
Bethink thee of his former sins—and hope.
Nay, he has spared thy wretched life till now,
That thou mayst at his marriage altars fall.
But why so often turn thy streaming eyes665
Upon thy home? Now speed thy steps away,
And leave this bloody prince's hall for aye.
Chorus: Now dawns at last the day we long have feared
And talked of. Lo, our Claudia, driven forth670
By cruel Nero's threats, leaves that abode