CORDENIUS.
And thou too smilest.—Yes; he will deliver
That which I call myself. For this poor form
Which vests me round, I give it to destruction
As gladly as the storm-beat traveller,
Who, having reached his destined place of shelter,
Drops at the door his mantle's cumbrous weight.
NERO (going).
Incorrigible man! Here, in this chamber
Keep him secure till the appointed hour.
(To the Officers, &c.)
Off, good Sulpicius! hang not on me thus!
SULPICIUS.
Delay it but a month, a week, a day.
[Exeunt Nero, Sulpicius, Senators, &c. Sulpicius still keeping close to Nero in the act of supplication.—Orceres, Cordenius, and Guards remain, the Guards standing respectfully at a distance in the back-ground.
ORCERES.
Thus brook to be a public spectacle,
Fighting with savage beasts, the sport of fools,
Till thou shalt fall, deformed and horrible,
Mangled and piece-meal torn? It must not be.
