uld kill me if I came!
Truly I did!

NERO. I kill you!

AGRIPPINA. 'O,' I said,
'I have wearied him: he is weary of his mother.'

NERO. Oh!

AGRIPPINA. In my ears there buzzed that prophecy--
'Nero shall reign but he shall kill his mother.'

[NERO _starts_.

AGRIPPINA. Now--now--I had not told you had I not
Been above measure happy. Now no more
Wild words, no more mad words between us two,
Who all the while are aching to be friends.
O how your hands come waxen once again
Within my own: again behind your voice
The hesitating tardy bird-like word
And the sweet slur of 'r's.' O but to-night
Even grandeur palls, the splendid goal: to-night
I am a woman and am with my child.

[_A pause and she strains him to her_.

Beautiful night that gently bringest back
Mother to son, and callest all thy stars
To watch it. Quiet sea that bringest peace
Between us two. Hast thou not thought how still
The air is as with silent pleasure? Child,
Is not the night then more than common calm?

NERO. A sparkling starlight and a windless deep.

AGRIPPINA. Never until to-night did I so feel
The lure of the sea that lures me to lie down
At last after such heat. Ah, but the stars
Are falling and I feel the unseen dawn.
Son, I must go at once. Where is my maid
To wrap me? Sweet and warm now is the night
And I am glad I had prepared to go
By water, not by land.

_Enter_ SERVANT, _hurriedly_

SERVANT. O Caesar!

NERO. Well?

SERVANT. Thy mother's galley by a random barge
Was struck, and now is sinking fast.

AGRIPPINA. Alas!
Now must I go by land.

NERO. Yes, go by land.

[TIGELLINUS _signals to_ ANICETUS.

ANICETUS. Yonder there lies a barge with fluttering flags,
A gilded pinnace, a light pleasure-boat
Built for you with much art and well designed.
Will you return in her? Easily she
Can swing round to the landing-stage.

AGRIPPINA. Yes--yes--
I'll go in her--Why not?

NERO. It was foretold----

_Enter_ ACCERONIA, _who elaborately wraps_ AGRIPPINA

AGRIPPINA. Nero, my maid a moment to enwrap me.
As the wrapping is finished.
I have slept ill of late: but I shall have
A soft and steady breeze across the bay.
I shall sleep sound. Now, Nero, now good-bye.
For ever we are friends?

NERO. Good-bye: yet stay!

[_During this