Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
Nero By: Stephen Phillips (1864-1915) |
---|
![]()
NERO by STEPHEN PHILLIPS Author of "The Sin of David" London
MacMillan and Co., Limited
New York: The MacMillan Company
1906 All rights reserved Copyright, 1906, by the MacMillan Company
CHARACTERS
NERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emperor of Rome. BRITANNICUS . . . . . . . . . . Nero's Half Brother. OTHO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Young Noble. SENECA . . . . . . . . . . . . )
)
BURRUS . . . . . . . . . . . . )
) Ministers of State.
TIGELLINUS . . . . . . . . . . )
)
ANICETUS . . . . . . . . . . . ) A SEAMAN. PARTHIAN CHIEF. BRITISH CHIEF. XENOPHON . . . . . . . . . . . . A Physician. SLAVE TO NERO. AGRIPPINA . . . . . . . . . . . Nero's Mother. OCTAVIA . . . . . . . . . . . . Sister to Britannicus. POPPAEA . . . . . . . . . . . . Wife to Otho, afterwards to Nero. ACTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Captive Princess. LOCUSTA . . . . . . . . . . . . A Poisoner. MYRRHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maid to Poppaea. HANDMAIDENS, SPIES, ETC. Five years elapse between Acts I. and II., two years between Acts III.
and IV.
ACT I SCENE. The scene is in the Great Hall in the Palace of the Caesars.
At the back are steps leading to a platform with balustrade opening on
the air, and beyond, a view of the city . [ On the right of the stage is a cedarn couch on which CLAUDIUS is
uneasily sleeping. On the right is a door communicating with the inner
apartments. On the left a door communicating with the outer halls . [XENOPHON is standing by the couch of CLAUDIUS. AGRIPPINA is
sitting with face turned to an ASTROLOGER, who stands at the top of
the steps watching the stars . [LOCUSTA is crouching beside a pillar, right. A meteor strikes across
the sky. The ASTROLOGER, pointing upwards, comes down the steps
slowly . ASTROLOGER. These meteors flame the dazzling doom of kings. [AGRIPPINA rises apprehensively. XENOPHON. Caesar is dead! AGRIPPINA. The drug hath found his heart.
[ To LOCUSTA, who steals forward.
Locusta, take your price and steal away!
Sound on the trumpet. Go! your part is done. [ Exit LOCUSTA.
[ Trumpet is sounded. That gives the sign to the Praetorians
Upon the instant of the Emperor's death. [ Answering trumpets are heard. Hark! trumpets answering through all the city.
Xenophon, you and I are in this death
Eternally bound. This husband have I slain
To lift unto the windy chair of the world
Nero, my son. Your silence I will buy
With endless riches; but a hint divulged XENOPHON. O Agrippina, Empress, fear not me! AGRIPPINA. Meantime his child, his heir, Britannicus,
Must not be seen lest he be clamoured for.
So till the sad Chaldean give the sign
Of that so yearned for, favourable hour,
When with good omens may my son succeed,
The sudden death of Claudius must be hid!
Then on the instant Nero be proclaimed
And Rome awake on an accomplished deed. XENOPHON. Then summon Claudius' musicians in
To play unto the dead as though he breathed. AGRIPPINA. Call them! A lulling music let them bring. [ Exit XENOPHON.
[ She turns to ASTROLOGER. O thou who readest all the scroll of the sky,
Stands it so sure Nero my son shall reign? ASTROLOGER. Nero shall reign. AGRIPPINA. What lurks behind these words?
There is a 'but' still hovering in the stars. ASTROLOGER. Nero shall reign. AGRIPPINA. The half! I'll know the rest. ASTROLOGER. Peer not for peril! AGRIPPINA. Peril! His or mine? ASTROLOGER. Thine then. AGRIPPINA. I will know all, however dark.
Finish what did so splendidly begin. ASTROLOGER. Nero shall reign, but he shall kill his mother. AGRIPPINA. Kill me, but reign! Enter SENECA SENECA. The trumpet summoned me,
And I am here. AGRIPPINA. Seneca! Speak it low!
Caesar is dead! Nero shall climb the throne... Continue reading book >>
|
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|