Finis Actus Tertii.
_Actus Quartus.
Enter Nero, Poppaea, Nimphidius, Tigellinus, Neophilus,
and Epaphroditus_.
Nero. This kisse, sweete love Ile force from thee, and this;
And of such spoiles and victories be prowder
Than if I had the fierce Pannonian
Or gray-eyed German ten times overcome.
Let Iulius goe and fight at end oth' world
And conquer from the wilde inhabitants
Their cold and poverty, whilst Nero here
Makes other warres, warres where the conquerd gaines,
Where to orecome is to be prisoner.
O willingly I give my freedome up
And put on my owne chaines,
And am in love with my captivitie.
Such Venus is when on the sandy shore
Of Xanthus or on Idas pleasant greene
She leades the dance; her the Nymphes all a-rowe[64]
And smyling graces do accompany.
If Bacchus could his stragling Mynion
Grace with a glorious wreath of shining Starres,
Why should not Heaven my Poppaea Crowne?
The Northerne teeme shall move into a round,
New constellations rise to honour thee;
The earth shall wooe thy favours and the Sea
Lay his rich shells and treasure at thy feete.
For thee Hidaspis shall throw up his gold,
Panchaia breath the rich delightful smells;
The Seres and the feather'd man of Inde
Shall their fine arts and curious labours bring;
And where the Sunn's not knowne Poppaeas name
Shall midst their feasts and barbarous pompe be sung.
Poppea. I, now I am worthy to be Queene oth' world,
Fairer then Venus or the Bacchus love;
But you'le anon unto your cutt-boy[65] Sporus,
Your new made woman; to whom now, I heare,
You are wedded too.
Nero. I wedded?
Poppaea. I, you wedded.
Did you not heare the words oth' Auspyces?
Was not the boy in bride-like garments drest?
Marriage bookes seald as 'twere for yssue to
Be had betweene you? solemne feasts prepar'd,
While all the Court with God-give-you-Ioy sounds?
It had bin good Domitius your Father
Had nere had other wife.
Nero. Your froward, foole; y'are still so bitter. Whose that?
Enter Milichus to them.
Nimph. One that it seemes, my Lord, doth come in hast.