Poetical Works of ROBERT BRIDGES

Volume VI

London Smith, Elder & Co. 15 Waterloo Place 1905

OXFORD: HORACE HART PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

POETICAL WORKS OF ROBERT BRIDGES

VOLUME THE SIXTH CONTAINING

LIST OF PREVIOUS EDITIONS

FEAST OF BACCHUS.

1. THE FEAST OF BACCHUS. By Robert Bridges. Privately printed by H. Daniel: Oxford, 1889. Small 4to

2. THE F.O.B. A Comedy in the Latin manner and partly translated from Terence. By Robert Bridges. Published by Geo. Bell & Sons, Covent Garden, and J. & E. Bumpus, Lim., Holborn Bars. 4to. [1894.]

NERO.

1. NERO. Part 2. From the death of Burrus to the death of Seneca, comprising the conspiracy of Piso. Published by Geo. Bell & Sons, and F. & E. Bumpus. [1894.]

1

THE FEAST OF BACCHUS

A COMEDY IN THE LATIN MANNER

&

PARTLY TRANSLATED FROM TERENCE

2

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

The scene is in a suburb of Athens, opposite the house of Chremes (L): on the other side is Menedemus’ garden (R): this occupies most of the back of the stage: a gate from the garden gives on the stage: between the garden and Chremes’ house a road runs down to the city.

Duration of time—a few hours of one day. There is no pause in the action, and the whole may be played continuously with a formal break at the end of each act.

3

THE FEAST OF BACCHUS

ACT · I

MENEDEMUS seen at work in his garden.

CHREMES calling to him over the hedge.

CHREMES.

MENEDEMUS.

Enter Pamphilus and Clinia.

PAMPHILUS.

CLINIA.

(Pamphilus returns to Clinia.)

Re-enter Chremes.

(Runs back to meet Phil.)

Re-enter Pamphilus with Philolaches.

PHILOLACHES.

[Exeunt.

38

ACT · II

Enter PAMPHILUS.

PAMPHILUS.

Enter Clinia.

CLINIA.

Enter Philolaches with a large bundle.

PHILOLACHES.

(They retire.)

Enter Gorgo and Antiphila.

GORGO.

ANTIPHILA.

(Takes up the bundle.)

Enter Chremes from his house.

46

CHREMES.

[Exeunt Pam. and Phil. into house at back.

Re-enter Chremes with servant.

[Exeunt Clinia and Antiphila with servant within.

Re-enter Pamphilus and Philolaches.

(Going indoors.)

Re-enter Chremes.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

60

ACT · III

Enter CHREMES.

CHREMES.

[Exit into Menedemus’ garden.

Enter Philolaches and Pamphilus disguised as Persians.

PHILOLACHES.

PAMPHILUS.

(Gives.)

MENEDEMUS.

Re-enter Chremes from Menedemus’ house.

[Exit.

[Exit.

Re-enter Chremes and Pamphilus.

80

ACT · IV

PAMPHILUS.

CLINIA.

Enter Chremes from town.

CHREMES.

Enter Sostrata from Chremes’ house.

SOSTRATA.

Enter Gorgo with Sostrata.

GORGO.

Enter Philolaches from Chremes’ house.

PHILOLACHES.

Re-enter Chremes, speaking as he comes out to Sostrata within.

Re-enter Sostrata.

103

ACT · V

MENEDEMUS and CLINIA.

MENEDEMUS.

CLINIA.

Enter Chremes.

CHREMES.

Re-enter Clinia.

Enter Sostrata and Antiphila.

SOSTRATA.

Enter Pamphilus.

PAMPHILUS.

Enter Philolaches as a Persian.

PHILOLACHES.

ANTIPHILA.

123

NERO PART II

FROM THE DEATH OF BURRUS TO THE DEATH OF SENECA COMPRISING THE CONSPIRACY OF PISO

124

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

As in first part

125

NERO PT. II

ACT · I

SCENE · 1

(As Prologue.)

Rome. Thrasea’s house. THRASEA and PRISCUS.

THRASEA.

PRISCUS.

132

SCENE · 2

Naples. A marine tavern, the open court of it, with fountain at centre, and low colonnade around. On the left at a table some Mariners are drinking and playing with dice. On the right are Officers sitting apart and drinking. Towards the front PROCULUS (the Admiral) and SENECIO. EPICHARIS is serving the Officers.

SENECIO.

I do beg of you, my lord!

PROCULUS.

Why so frightened, sir, at a little trembling of the soil? Had the Gods any appetite to swallow you, think you that they would trouble to provide warnings for your escape?

Seo. I do pray you, my lord admiral, take me on board your galley for to-night; only for to-night.

Pro. We are under Cæsar’s orders to sail for the Adriatic, sir; else I might strain to make some cabin accommodation: but then that would be for the ladies. Epicharis, help this gentleman to wine; he’s nervous: some more drink, and I think he’ll be as brave as any of us.

133

EPICHARIS.

’Twill be at my cost, your excellence.

Pro. Nay, I’ll cover that. Come, drink, sir, and cheer your soul. That’s the only kindness I can do you.

Seo. Thank you, my lord, but I . . . (a rumbling heard.) Oh! oh! there it is again.

Ep. (to Senecio). ’Tis safe enough in our court, sir; if you sit from the walls.

Pro. And fill for me, fair hostess. Wilt not thou come aboard my ship?

Ep. Your ship, my lord?

Pro. ’Tis against the rules of the service: but they provide not for these earthquakes.

Ep. Ha! ha! you jest, my lord.

Pro. We have no wars to occupy us: why should I not give shelter to the ladies, that fear to be ashore?

Ep. That would not be me, my lord. We rode out worse shakings last year.

Pro. Come, I’ll have thee come. Should Cæsar hear of it, I can take care of myself.(They talk.)

(Mariners to each other.)

FIRST MARINER.

He was a-acting of Niobby.134

SECOND MARINER.

Niobe, who was Niobe?

THIRD MARINER.

A first-rate, went down with all hands off Andros, the year of Claudius’ death.

1st. True, mate; that was our Niobby. But this was a Greek lady that lost all her children at a clap; bad luck with her name!

2nd. The Emperor would have made to be her, as ’twere; was it?

1st. ’Twas a tragedy, look: and that’s just where it is. Everybody is somebody else, and nothing’s as it should be.

2nd. That’s right: he were dressed out like a woman.

1st. Did ye not see him, nodding to the music, and throwing his hands about? then he gets red in the face, then he should stoop down to catch his breath, (he acts) then creening up again he should throw back his head, and ei! ei! (Screams. All laugh loudly.)

Pro. Hell and thunder! Silence there!

MARINERS (to themselves).

Why, if we mayn’t laugh in the theater, nor out of it!135

Pro. (to Officers). Here’s a gentleman, who would go to sea to escape being shaken. Shall we take him a cruise?

FIRST OFFICER.

Frightened by the earthquake, sir? I do not blame you.

Seo. When the gods shake your city, as a terrier does a rat.

1st Off. But how should the sea cure you? ’Tis their common plaything.

Pro. Indeed, sir, you would learn what heavings be. These land movements are nought. What would you say to thirty feet up and down three times a minute? with now your bows in the air and now your stern: pitched now forward, now backward, now rolled from side to side; thrust up to heaven till your brains are full of air, then sunk down till your belly squirms, inside out, outside in! 201

Seo. Maybe, sir: but the roof will not fall on your head: the waves do not crack your walls. Your ships being constructed mainly of wood . . .

Pro. But the rocks, sir, are mainly constructed of stone, upon which if a wooden-constructed ship be driven, there’s no man that would not pay his fortune down to set one foot on the most quakeful or boggy ground ’twixt Ganges and Gades. And there be136 monsters, too, which, though I have never seen them, will swallow, they say, your whole ship at a gulp, as you do your wine.

(The house trembles, some jars fall: all run to centre.)

Seo. There ’tis again! Oh! oh!

(A great crash heard.)

Mar. Belay there!

Seo. Oh! oh! ye gods in heaven!

1st Off. Steady, my men, steady!

Mar. Ay, ay, sir.

1st Off. Order! To your seats!

Ep. Sit and drink, gentlemen. Wine shall be cheap to-day. The life in the earth will crack my jars. A few more rumbles like that will drain the cellars.

1st Off. (to men). We’re safe here as anywhere, lads; if you keep an eye to the main-walls. It’s all plasterwork aloft.

Enter Clitus.

CLITUS.

Epicharis! Art thou here, Epicharis? 225

Pro. (to Epicharis). Who is this scared fellow?

Cli. Epicharis, ’tis come: the day is come! Fly from this place!

Ep. (to Proc.). ’Tis my poor brother, sir: heed him not; he is simple.

137

Cli. (come to Epi.). Seest thou not, ’tis the end, the day of wrath? The earth shakes and the dead rise from their tombs.

Pro. (to 1st Off.). By Pluto, if he be not one of them!

Ep. (to Clit.). Sit down quietly, Clitus, for a minute: I can speak with you presently.

Cli. O Madness! Come from this hell: fly while thou mayst!

Mar. Ay, sit, mate, sit! be not afeard! sit with us!

Cli. Woe to you, slaves of Babylon! woe cometh To the queen that sits upon the seven hills.

1st Mar. That is Rome: the seven hills is Rome. What of Babylon?

Cli. Rome shall be burned with fire, Babylon burned, Her smoke shall curl to heaven.

Enter Gripus, out of breath.

GRIPUS.

Gone, she’s gone down!

Pro. What’s gone, man?

Gri. The theater; foundered, sir, gone clean down. I had just got well clear of her, when she gave a lurch, and plumped under starn-foremost in a cloud of dust.

Cli. (to Epic.). Come, come, Epicharis, I pray thee!

Seo. Is this the gods, or is it not the gods? (drinks.)

Pro. That was the crash. 252

138

Cli. (dragging at Epic.). Thou shalt, thou must.

Ep. (freeing herself). One moment, Clitus, please!

Gri. (to Proc.). I ran to know, my lord, if you’ll have the boats.

Ep. Were any killed, Gripus? tell us.

Gri. ’Twas a wonder; all the folk had just left her, I near the last; I felt dizzy-like, and saw the street seem anyhow: then I looked at the theater, and she was full of crinks and chinks, when down she went all to pieces. A little sooner and we had been buried alive.

1st Off. Emperor and all.

Seo. O ye gods! (drinking) I drink to thee, old dustman (to Gripus).

Pro. Off with you, my men: in five minutes I’ll be aboard. (To Epic.) Come, lass!

(Mariners go out with Gripus.)

Ep. Come where, my lord?

Pro. Why, aboard with me.

Ep. Ha ha! I thank you, but I cannot.

Pro. Wouldst thou be buried alive?

Ep. There is my old bed-ridden mother, my lord; I’ll not leave her. 275

Pro. Well, stick to your ship, like a true girl. You, Calvus, pay the charges and follow.

139

Seo. Who’s afraid now, my lord! Is it not the gods?

Pro. They take much pains to frighten us, sir.

[Exit.

Seo. And me, with a wife and family. I care not.

1st Off. (paying). Thou’lt be buried with thy jars, Epicharis.

Ep. Balmed in good wine, eh! Add me yet a denarius for lord Senecio’s drink.

Seo. Two; I have drunk two.

1st Off. Here’s for him.

Seo. (drinking). Your health, sir! If you wish to know the cause of all this, I can inform you. ’Tis the emperor’s cursed singing hath done it. He hath offended the gods. To call himself Apollo on the one hand, and on the other to sing in the theatre. What else could he expect? I give him his due, he cares not for the gods.

Ep. He doth not, sir.

Seo. Nor I either: not much.

1st Off. Good-night, lass: may we meet again!

Ep. No fear.[Exit 1st Off. with the others.

(Senecio remains, and Clitus, who stands aloof.)

Ep. (to Senecio). Follow thou, follow them. 300

Seo. They won’t have me.

Ep. Nor will I. I wonder thou durst even show thy face after all thy vain promises. Thou that wouldst bring me to Cæsar, and I know not what.

140

Seo. I can, I shall yet.

Ep. Begone, see you, begone.

Seo. Look what I had brought thee (showing a book).

Ep. A book I do believe.

Seo. Purple edges and gold knops.

Ep. Seneca on morals, I suppose.

Seo. No. ’Tis Lucan’s book. This can bring thee to Cæsar. This little book hath great treasons in it.

Ep. Treason! ha! and I to inform, to show it to Cæsar?

Seo. Well, if not, think what his friends might give to recover it.

Ep. You should have sold it yourself and brought me the money.

Seo. ’Twould be guessed whence I whizzled it.

Ep. Wretch! in what villany wouldst thou snare me? Give it me. (Takes it.) From whom didst thou steal it?

Seo. Only from a friend.

Ep. I’ll save thy friends from thee, and first myself. Begone! begone!

Seo. Thou wilt come to Rome, Epicharis?

Ep. (thrusting him out). Begone![Exit Senecio. (To Clitus) Now, brother.

SCENE · 3

A passage or ante-room in Seneca’s house in Rome.

Enter SENECA with papers in his hand.

SENECA (calling).

PAULLINA (within).

(Unrolls a book and goes into his library reading. Exeunt severally.)

SCENE · 4

Room in Seneca’s house. Enter SENECA reading.

SENECA.

Enter Lucan, Priscus, Lateranus and Flavus.

LUCAN.

My dear uncle, good morning.

LATERANUS and others.

(They sit. Priscus apart.)1

FLAVUS.

PRISCUS.

Enter Paullina excitedly.

PAULLINA.

159

ACT · II

A room in the palace, with large windows at back, and doors right and left. The scene remains unchanged throughout the act.

SENECIO, SCEVINUS and QUINTIAN.

SCEVINUS.

’TIS abominable, sir. What’s your net loss?

SENECIO.

I ask you, Quintian, as a man of culture and erudition, what do you make of it?

QUINTIAN.

You admit that Cæsar was not drunk?

Seo. Had he been drunk, he had had some excuse. ’Twas past midnight when he burst in, turned us all out of bed, and ordered the house to be pulled down; and I a married man. I have a wife and daughters.

Sce. Married! well, I never knew that. So your house is pulled down.

Seo. And half the street, for that matter.

Qu. ’Twas done to stay the fire: ’twas well done.

160

Seo. But we were reckoning our danger past: and ’twas so situated, that if he wished to protect his palace he had choice of some four streets: and he chooses mine, and begins with me, my house, Senecio’s house; Senecio his sworn comrade. I have played housebreaker and looker on to him these eight years, and helped to save his life a score of times from injured husbands and common fellows....

Sce. You do not stand with him as you did.

Seo. Nay, nor you.

Qu. And he hath made verses on me, which he will recite in all company when I am present.

Seo. ’Tis that long-nosed cad Vatinius who hath undermined me.

Sce. And all of us. We are put down by a coarse pig.

Qu. He hath no true wit, no true humour.

Sce. The commoner a man is now, the better will he like him.

Seo. It used not to be so: he was once thick with me.

Sce. He hath sunk to depths.

Qu. With his acting and singing.

Seo. I believe ’twas he set fire to the city. I would the earthquake had swallowed him!

Qu. Well, I’ll not be civil to his buffoon any longer.

Seo. A gentleman must draw the line somewhere.

Sce. Hark, then! Shall we unite in some plan of lordly revenge?

161

Seo. I care not; I’d as lief run him through and have done with it.

Sce. Are you in earnest? Mean you what you say? Would you join the patriots?

Seo. I care not.

Qu. Could we not raise a quarrel between Tigellinus and Vatinius?

Sce. Poison the brutes both.

Seo. All three of ’em, damn ’em!

Qu. Hush thou! here they come.

Enter Nero, Tigellinus and Vatinius.

NERO.

TIGELLINUS.

VATINIUS.

Enter a Servant.

SERVANT.

169

Enter Seneca. (Scevinus, Senecio and Quintian still stand aside.)

SENECA.

class="right">[Exeunt, bowing separately to Nero and Seneca.

(A Messenger enters and speaks to Tigellinus, who goes out with him.)

[Bows to Nero and exit.

Re-enter Tigellinus excitedly.

Enter Poppæa.

POPPÆA.

[Exit Poppæa.

Re-enter Poppæa with Acte.

(Poppæa goes out, and is seen to hide where she can be seen by the audience, and can overhear.)

ACTE.

[Exeunt Nero and Acte. Poppæa comes out from where she was hid. The fire rages.

181

(There is at the end of this act such a tableau of fire as the stage machinery will allow of. The fire is first seen thro’ the windows when Tigellinus sends Nero to the window at line 986. At Acte’s speech, ‘Nero, the fire!’ it is very bright: and its climax is during Poppæa’s last speech.)

182

ACT · III

SCENE · 1

A burned street in Rome: night.

THRASEA.

Enter the mob carrying off Clitus—Epicharis following.

MOB.

Burn him! To the Vatican! to the Vatican! Burn him!

EPICHARIS.

Pity, pity, pity, sirs! He is guiltless, indeed he is guiltless. He is my brother.

Mob. Here’s another. He’s a Christian. Seize him!

Thr. Hands off, fools! I am Thrasea.

Mob. Thrasea! 1130

Thr. Are ye Romans?

Citizen. ’Tis Nero’s order.

Ep. (kneeling to Thrasea). O sir, save thou my brother.

Cit. If thou wert Thrasea, man, thou wouldst not hinder us from punishing them that fired the city.

Mob. On! on!

Another Cit. Nay, nor let any Christian woman touch thee.

Mob. To the Vatican! on! (Going.)

Thr. Fools, I am Thrasea, and I bid you stay.

184

Mob. Burn him, burn him![Exeunt Mob, etc.

Thr. Stay! Are ye men?

Ep. O sir, ’tis my brother, my brother Clitus; save him!

Thr. What can I do? Alas, (calls) stay! stay! (To Ep.) Thou seest.[Exeunt running.

Enter Lateranus and Flavus.

LATERANUS.

FLAVUS.

Lat. He should be here; we must wait for him.

Fla. You trust him, sir?

Lat. Yes.

Fla. And Piso?

Lat. Certainly.

Fla. It is hard, sir, for a man like me, to trust a man like Piso. I yield to the choice of my betters, and the vote of the majority. I would not split the party. Yet I wish we had persuaded Seneca!

Lat. So do I, and it cost him a pang to refuse. ’Twas only Thrasea’s opinion that overweighted him.

Fla. Priscus ruined us.

Lat. There’s no choice for us now; and I doubt185 not we can make Piso emperor. He hath a wider following than Seneca. But when we have set him up, ’twill be in the power of any to pull him down.

Fla. And then Seneca: why not Seneca then?

Lat. Hush! who comes?

Fla. ’Tis Rufus.

Enter Rufus.

RUFUS.

Good evening, gentlemen; go you to Petronius’?

Fla. We do, general. 1171

Lat. We wait for Natalis.

Ruf. Flavus, I’m glad of thee; hast thou heard of any new adherents?

Fla. Too many, general: and not the least some of Cæsar’s bosom friends.

Ruf. Who are they?

Fla. There’s Scevinus, hot as fire, who drags with him Senecio and Quintian, with one or two more filibustering fellows.

Ruf. The household contingent should help us when we come to close quarters.

Fla. If they are to be trusted.

Ruf. If a man cannot be trusted to hate Nero for a week or ten days, there’s little to reckon on in this world.

Lat. Here is Natalis.

186

Enter Natalis.

NATALIS.

All’s well. Piso is at Petronius’s.

Ruf. Hath he consented to head our party?

Nat. Yes, believe me. But you will find him cautious and delicate in speaking of it.

Fla. If he speak not, how shall we trust him? He may turn on us.

Nat. My life for yours; my assurance; what oath you will . . .

187

SCENE · 2

The previous scene withdraws, showing a supper-room in the house of PETRONIUS. Slaves removing the last of the feast. PETRONIUS, PISO, LUCAN, SCEVINUS, SENECIO, and QUINTIAN. Three places are empty.

PETRONIUS (to Piso).

PISO.

SENECIO.

QUINTIAN.

SCEVINUS.

[Exeunt.

SCENE · 3

The next morning: a room in Lucan’s house.

Enter a Servant.

SERVANT.

Scarce an hour after sunrise, and two ladies for my master already. This it is to be a poet. One gives no name; the other is Thrasea’s daughter, Priscus’ young wife. I am to take her first: though the other looks the more pressing. (Goes to side, and returns ushering Fannia.) If my lady will kindly wait here a moment.

199

FANNIA.

Enter Lucan, hurriedly.

>LUCAN.

Enter Epicharis.

207

ACT · IV

SCENE · 1

The tavern at Naples (as in I. 2).

GRIPUS, MARINERS and SENECIO.

GRIPUS.

I SAY weather permitting: it’s always weather permitting.1568

MARINERS.

1st Mar. There was no weather permitting in it. I heard the Admiral say he had his orders to sail for the Adriatic, and the ships at Formiæ were to join him here last night.

Gri. Weather permitting.

1st M. No: no weather permitting. If it had been weather permitting, would they have put out in the teeth of a sou’-wester? that’s what I look at.

2nd M. No sailor would have done it; least of all Regulus.

Gri. Then ’twas Cæsar’s fault not to have said weather permitting.

3rd M. Eight firstrates: the pick of the fleet.

1st M. Nay, seven, mate. The Ulysses is put in for repairs.

208

SENECIO.

What is it you talk of, fellows?

1st M. Why, where have you been, sir? Half the fleet’s ashore off Misenum.

Seo. Wrecked?

Gri. Ay, that they be.

Enter Epicharis.

EPICHARIS.

Is it true, Gripus? Is the squadron lost?

Gri. True enough.

Ep. Was the Admiral with them?

1st M. Regulus: ’twas Regulus at Formiæ, lady.

Ep. Not Proculus?

1st M. Nay, he’s with his ships in the bay.

Ep. And the crews?

2nd M. Ther’ll not be many stand up, when they come ashore.

Ep. Poor fellows! And whose fault was this?

Gri. Cæsar’s, I say, lady: and none else.

Seo. Epicharis, see, I am returned. 1600

Ep. Well, I see you, sir. Have you been to Rome and back so soon?

Seo. Yes, my house is pulled down. But I saw the Christians burned.

Ep. Hark, sir; I have news for you. (Takes him aside and speaks with him.)

209

Enter Proculus.

PROCULUS.