NERO. Ah, you must live—you are an artist too.
LOCUSTA. I have a poison that is slipped in wine—
Not nauseous to the taste.
NERO. An artist still!
Let me have that, and suddenly. And listen—
The cup presented to Britannicus
Must be too hot: so that he calls for snow
To cool it. In that snow the poison lurks.
[Exit LOCUSTA.
[ANICETUS hastily returns.
ANICETUS. O Caesar, the Augusta had not left
The palace; and now, o'erjoyous at thy words,
She will be present at the supper-board,
Bringing with her the prince Britannicus.
[Servants enter with various dishes and arrange the tables and
couches for the guests, and supper begins.
[They all recline amid a low hum of conversation. Dreamy music is heard, which might be a continuation of the music played before.
NERO reclines at the head of the central table between AGRIPPINA and OCTAVIA. POPPAEA is a prominent figure. BRITANNICUS, with other youths, lies at a side table. SENECA, BURRUS, and TIGELLINUS present with other members of the Court. At a sign from NERO dancing girls enter and perform a strange, wild measure, after which the hum of conversation is resumed. Again, at a sign from NERO, odours are spurted over the guests amid cries of delight.
[At a sign from NERO, flowers descend from the ceiling. At first lilies, then of deeper and deeper colour. At last a tempest of roses which gradually slackens.