And with a light heart journey toward Rome
Joyous I go, for Agrippina lives.

[_A great triumphal shout swells up again, and to the sound of military
music_, NERO _and the procession pass off. Meanwhile_ TIGELLINUS _is
left in a listening attitude_. POPPAEA _stands breathless at back.
There is a pause. Then a trumpet-call is heard far off; a second; and
a third_. POPPAEA _rushes to_ TIGELLINUS _and clasps his hand_.

ACT IV

SCENE I

SCENE.--_A tower overlooking Rome_

_Enter_ SENECA, BURRUS, _and_ PHYSICIAN

SENECA. How dark the future of the Empire glooms!

BURRUS. Now the Gaul mutters: the Praetorians
Sullenly snarl.

SENECA. The Christians privily
Conspire.

BURRUS. The legions waver and whisper too.

SENECA. [_To_ PHYSICIAN.] What of the Emperor?

PHYSICIAN. Through Campania
He rushes: and distracted to and fro
Would fly now here, now there; behind each woe
He sees the angered shade of Agrippina.
Now hearing that Poppaea sinks toward death.
Hither is he fast hurrying.

SENECA. Ah, Poppaea,
No sooner Empress made than she must die----

BURRUS. See: she is carried hither.

SENECA. Here to look
Her last upon the glory of the earth.

[_Exeunt_ SENECA, BURRUS, _and_ PHYSICIAN.

[POPPAEA _enters, supported by handmaids. She takes a long look
at Rome, then is assisted down to couch._

POPPAEA. Give me the glass again: beautiful yet!
This face can still endure the sunset glow,
No need is there for me to sue the shadow,
Perfect out of the glory I am going.

MYRRHA. Lady, the mood will pass: still you are young.

POPPAEA. Why comes not Nero near me?
O he loathes
Sickness or sadness or the touch of trouble,

MYRRHA. Nay, lady; hither he is riding fast,
In fury spurring from Campania,
And trouble upon trouble falls on him--
Misfortune follows him like a faithful hound.

POPPAEA. I snared him, Myrrha, once; let him flutter away!
But to relinquish the wide earth at last,
And flit a faint thing by a shadowy river,
Or yearning without blood upon the bank----
The loneliness of death! To go to strangers--
Into a world of whispers----

[_Looking at and lifting her hair._

And this hair
Rolling about me like a lighted sea
Which was my glory and the theme of the earth,
Look! Must this go? The grave shall have these eyes
Which were the bliss of bu