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Britannicus-Jean Racine · Andromache

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  Speaker 1: Act one of Britannicus by Jean Racine, translated by Robert
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  Speaker 1: Bruce Boswell eighteen sixty four to nineteen thirty three. This
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  Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
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  Speaker 1: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Introduction to Britannicus. Except in the matter
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  Speaker 1: of chronological accuracy, the Annals of Tacitus have been closely
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  Speaker 1: followed as the historical groundwork for this tragedy. But Racine
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  Speaker 1: himself tells us that it cost him more pains in
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  Speaker 1: its composition than any other of his plays, and the
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  Speaker 1: result of this elaboration is that the hand of the
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  Speaker 1: artist has not been able to conceal its art under
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  Speaker 1: the semblance of spontaneous nature. Britannicus was first acted at
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  Speaker 1: the Hotel de Brion in December sixteen sixty nine. It
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  Speaker 1: met with much adverse criticism and was slow in establishing
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  Speaker 1: itself in public favor. Nor is this to be wondered at,
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  Speaker 1: for it requires careful study to appreciate its merits, and
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  Speaker 1: Voltaire has aptly termed it lapiste connosieurs. The strongest character
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  Speaker 1: is Nero's mother, Agrippina, Nero himself, Burus and Narcissus are
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  Speaker 1: also well drawn, but Britannicus and Junia are insipid and
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  Speaker 1: uninteresting characters.
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  Speaker 2: Nero Emperor, son of Agrippina read by Dale Burgess.
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  Speaker 3: Britannicus, son of Messalina and of the Emperor Claudius read
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  Speaker 3: by David Purdy.
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  Speaker 4: Agrippina, widow of Domitius Ahenobabus, the father of Nero, and
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  Speaker 4: widow by her second marriage of the Emperor Claudius, read
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  Speaker 4: by Mata Brachich.
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  Speaker 5: Junia beloved by Britannicus read by the story Girl.
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  Speaker 6: Buris, tutor of Nero, read by Todd.
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  Speaker 7: Narcissus tutor to Britannicus, read by alam Maapster.
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  Speaker 8: Albina confidential friend of Aglippina read by Sonya.
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  Speaker 1: Stage directions read by Larry Wilson. The scene is laid
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  Speaker 1: at Rome, in a chamber of Nero's palace, Act one,
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  Speaker 1: Scene one, Agrippina Albina while's.
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  Speaker 8: Nero court soft slumbers. Why should you come here to
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  Speaker 8: tarry his awakening, said Caesar's mother. Wander through these halls
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  Speaker 8: and unattended watch beside his door alone. Retire to your apartments, Madame.
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  Speaker 4: I must not leave him for a single moment. Here
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  Speaker 4: I will for him, engrossed with cares he causes me,
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  Speaker 4: so long as he may sleep. All I foretold is
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  Speaker 4: but too well confirmed. Nero has doomed the Prince Britannicus.
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  Speaker 4: Nero has thrown the reins on his impatience. Weary of
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  Speaker 4: being loved, he fain would be a terror. Young Britannicus
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  Speaker 4: torments him. And every day I feel myself becoming in
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  Speaker 4: my turn irksome you, to.
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  Speaker 8: Whom he owes the breath of life, who called him
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  Speaker 8: to the throne from his low station, disinheriting the son
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  Speaker 8: of Claudius, that Domitius might bear Caesar's name. All speaks
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  Speaker 8: on your behalf and claims.
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  Speaker 4: His love tis due to me, albina. All I have
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  Speaker 4: done would win a generous heart. But all is odious
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  Speaker 4: to ingratitude, ingratitude.
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  Speaker 8: Nay, all his conduct shows his soul well taught to
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  Speaker 8: heed the voice of duty for three holy years? Is
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  Speaker 8: what has he said or done? But what gives Rome
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  Speaker 8: the promise of a reign of perfect justice under his
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  Speaker 8: mild sway, she deems the day's returned. When consuls bore
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  Speaker 8: authority supreme, paternal rule marks the young Nero virtues as
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  Speaker 8: Augustus in his old age.
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  Speaker 4: Nay, interest cannot make me blind. Tis true that Nero
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  Speaker 4: has begun Ian as Augustus ended, But the future may
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  Speaker 4: make the past forgotten. And I fear as one began,
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  Speaker 4: so will the other end. Disguise is vain? I read
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  Speaker 4: upon his brow, the savage bent of a Demicius mixed
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  Speaker 4: with the Neroonic pride derived from me. The face of
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  Speaker 4: tyranny is ever mild. At first. Ian CAUs once was
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  Speaker 4: Rome's delight, but his feigned clemency soon turned to madness,
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  Speaker 4: and Rome's delight became her detestation. What matters it to me?
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  Speaker 4: In any case? Though Nero's virtue should remain unsullied, did
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  Speaker 4: I commit to him the helm of state that he
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  Speaker 4: might please the people and the Senate, the father of
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  Speaker 4: his country? Let him be if so he will, But
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  Speaker 4: let him not forget his mother's claims. How can that
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  Speaker 4: crime be called which daylight has revealed? He knows full
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  Speaker 4: well that Junior by Britannicus is loved, And this same Nero,
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  Speaker 4: who his virtue's model, makes Knight the screen to have
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  Speaker 4: her carried off? What moves him? Is it? Hatred or desire?
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  Speaker 4: Is it his only joy to injure them? Or does
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  Speaker 4: his malice visit on their heads spite against me for
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  Speaker 4: lending them support?
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  Speaker 8: How lending them support?
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  Speaker 4: Hush, dear Albina, I know to me alone they owe
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  Speaker 4: their ruin that was by me. Britannicus was hurled down
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  Speaker 4: from the throne that he inherited, that Junius's brother cast
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  Speaker 4: away his life, barred by me from marriage with Octavia Selinus,
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  Speaker 4: upon whom Claudius had cast an eye of favor air
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  Speaker 4: of great Augustus. Nero has all, and I, for my reward,
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  Speaker 4: must hold the balance evenly between them, that some day
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  Speaker 4: in his turn Britannicus may do the same between my
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  Speaker 4: son and me.
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  Speaker 5: With what design?
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  Speaker 4: I thus secure a port against the coming store I
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  Speaker 4: cannot hold him save with this bridle.
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  Speaker 8: But against a son, such care is surely vain.
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  Speaker 4: I should soon fear him, if he feared me no longer.
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  Speaker 8: Your alarm, perchance is groundless. But if Nero fails in
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  Speaker 8: filial duty, we have failed to mark the change. And
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  Speaker 8: these are secrets between him and you. Whatever new titles
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  Speaker 8: Roam bestows, Nero confers them all upon his mother, his
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  Speaker 8: slavish love withholds not brought from you. Your name in
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  Speaker 8: Rome is reverenced like his own, whilst poor Octavia is
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  Speaker 8: scarcely mentioned. Your ancestor Augustus honored less his Livia. The
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  Speaker 8: facies decked with Bay's march before Nero's mother. Never before
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  Speaker 8: had woman such distinction. How should he display his gratitude.
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  Speaker 4: With less respect and greater confidence? I scorned such honors,
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  Speaker 4: seeing my influenced wanes. As these increase. The time is
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  Speaker 4: gone when Nero, still a youth, answered the wishes of
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  Speaker 4: my doting heart. When upon me he leaned in every strait,
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  Speaker 4: when my command gathered the Senate here and present. Though
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  Speaker 4: concealed behind the screen, mine was the animating touch that
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  Speaker 4: moved them. Uncertain then of Rome's capricious will, his greatness
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  Speaker 4: had not turned the monarch's head. My memory, with pain,
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  Speaker 4: recalls the day when I first found him, dazzled with
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  Speaker 4: the glare of glory. Many a potentate had sent from
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  Speaker 4: Earth's remotest realm's envoys to greet him. I went to
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  Speaker 4: take my place upon the throne beside him. By whose
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  Speaker 4: counsel he disgraced me? I know not, But as soon
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  Speaker 4: as he perceived me. He showed displeasure on his countenance,
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  Speaker 4: whereby my heart grew ominous of ill. Then, with a
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  Speaker 4: feigned respect that masked the insult, he quickly rose, and,
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  Speaker 4: running to embrace me, turned my approaching footsteps from the throne.
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  Speaker 4: Since that hard blow has Agrippina's power been hurrying to
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  Speaker 4: its fall with rapid pace, all but the shadow gone.
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  Speaker 4: My favors sought less than the voice of Seneca or Burrus.
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  Speaker 8: Ah, if your heart is filled with such suspicions, why
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  Speaker 8: keep the fatal poison in your breast, Go and at
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  Speaker 8: Caesar's lips resolve your doubts.
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  Speaker 4: Others are always by. When Caesar seed, he gives me
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  Speaker 4: an audience at fixed times in public, he answers, or
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  Speaker 4: is silent as he is prompted. We have two masters,
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  Speaker 4: and with watchful eye, one or the other marks each interview.
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  Speaker 4: But I will follow him. The more he shuns me
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  Speaker 4: and turn his own confusion to my profit. I hear
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  Speaker 4: his door unfastened, Let us go and ask him what
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  Speaker 4: he means by this abduction, and unawares he may the
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  Speaker 4: truth reveal Ha Burus, He has been with him already.
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  Speaker 1: Scene two, Aguppina Burus Albina.
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  Speaker 6: Madam, I come to tell you in the name of Caesar,
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  Speaker 6: that an order which alarmed you is but a wise precaution,
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  Speaker 6: And of this the Emperor wills that you should be informed.
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  Speaker 4: Then let us center, since it is his pleasure, and
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  Speaker 4: learn his purpose better.
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  Speaker 6: For some time Caesar has sought seclusion by a postern
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  Speaker 6: unknown to many. Both the consuls came before you, Madam,
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  Speaker 6: But I will return.
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  Speaker 4: No, I will not disturb his privacy. But let us too,
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  Speaker 4: with somewhat less constraint, for once, with frankness, interchange our thoughts.
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  Speaker 6: The tongue of Burris ever scorned a falsehood?
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  Speaker 4: How long do you intend to hide him from me? Am? I,
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  Speaker 4: for ever to be held intrusive? When I would see him?
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  Speaker 4: Have I raised you then so high, only to have
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  Speaker 4: you place a bar between my son and me? Dare
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  Speaker 4: you not trust him a moment out of sight? Do
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  Speaker 4: you dispute with Seneca the glory of effacing his mother's
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  Speaker 4: image from his memory? And has my trust fed your
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  Speaker 4: ingratitude till neath the shadow of his name you rule supreme?
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  Speaker 4: I cannot think that you would make me, who might
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  Speaker 4: have left you in obscurity, your creature me, whose ancestors
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  Speaker 4: have filled the throne? Me daughter, sister, wife, and mother
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  Speaker 4: of your imperial masters? What then, mean you think you
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  Speaker 4: my voice has made an emperor, only to place two
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  Speaker 4: others over me. Nero's no more a child? Is it
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  Speaker 4: not time he ceased to fear you and began to reign?
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  Speaker 4: How long must he see all things? Throw your eyes?
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  Speaker 4: There are ancestral models he may copy, and choose between
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  Speaker 4: Tiberius and Augustus, or follow if he can Germanicus, my sire,
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  Speaker 4: I dare not rank myself with these, but there are
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  Speaker 4: lessons he may learn from me at any rate. The
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  Speaker 4: caution that imposes due limits to a prince's confidence in
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  Speaker 4: any subject.
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  Speaker 6: I am charged to day to excuse a single act
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  Speaker 6: on Caesar's part. But since, without desiring my defense, you
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  Speaker 6: lay on me the blame for all his deeds, I'll
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  Speaker 6: answer with the candor of a soldier who knows not, Madam,
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  Speaker 6: how to close the truth.
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  Speaker 1: To me.
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  Speaker 6: You trusted Caesar's youthful years. I own it and am
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  Speaker 6: bound ere to forget it. But have I ever sworn
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  Speaker 6: I would betray him or make him do your will?
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  Speaker 6: In everything? I am no more responsible to you but
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  Speaker 6: to Imperial Rome, which in my hands sees safety or destruction.
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  Speaker 6: He who once was son of yours is master of
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  Speaker 6: the world. If those were sought who might cajole his youth?
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  Speaker 6: Could only Seneca and I mislead? Why were not flatterers
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  Speaker 6: suffered to direct him? Were we recalled from exile as corruptors?
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  Speaker 6: Could not the servile court of Claudius furnish a thousand
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  Speaker 6: fitts than ourselves, all eager to raise themselves by Caesar's
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  Speaker 6: degradation till he grew old in long protracted childhood. What
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  Speaker 6: would you, madam? Are you not respected? Is not your
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  Speaker 6: name held sacred linked with Caesar's? The emperor tis true,
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  Speaker 6: no longer comes daily to lay his scepter at your
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  Speaker 6: feet and pay you humble court. But gratitude need not
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  Speaker 6: involve dependent so unworthy? Must Nero always be a timid child?
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  Speaker 6: Nor dare except a name to be Augustus Rome. Let
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  Speaker 6: me tell you justifies his conduct so long in bondage
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  Speaker 6: to three base born upstarts, and only just relieved from yoke,
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  Speaker 6: so galling dates her recovered liberty from Nero. Nay more,
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  Speaker 6: even virtue self seems born anew and to be master
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  Speaker 6: means no more to play yonder. The people freely choose
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  Speaker 6: their magistrates. Those whom the soldiers trust are made commanders.
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  Speaker 6: Still faithful in the army and the Senate are Cobolo
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  Speaker 6: and Thracia, though in fame the foremost desert isles, which
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  Speaker 6: senators peopled with exiles, hold the informers. Now what matters
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  Speaker 6: it that Nero trusts us? Still, provided that our counsels
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  Speaker 6: aid his glory and Rome throughout a prosperous reign have
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  Speaker 6: freedom unfailing as the omnipotence of Caesar. But Nero, Madam,
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  Speaker 6: does not need our guidance. Our part is to obey,
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  Speaker 6: not to direct him. He has examples in his ancestors,
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  Speaker 6: whereby to regulate his steps. Aright and happy he if
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  Speaker 6: linked in one long chain his later virtues by with
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  Speaker 6: those of youth.
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  Speaker 4: So daring not to count upon the future, you think
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  Speaker 4: your prince will go astray without you, You, who thus
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  Speaker 4: far with your work content, come hither to bear witness
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  Speaker 4: of his virtues. Tell me why Nero has become a
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  Speaker 4: robber and carried off the sister of Selenus? Is it
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  Speaker 4: too sally by so gross an insult my ancestors, whose
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  Speaker 4: blood fills Junia's veins? Of what does he accuse her by?
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  Speaker 4: What crime has she in one day grown so dangerous?
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  Speaker 4: She who till then bore Grandeur modestly, who but for
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  Speaker 4: this knight's work, would ne'er have seen him, and would
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  Speaker 4: have counted it a signal favor, had she been kept
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  Speaker 4: forever from his sight.
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  Speaker 6: She's under no suspicion of a crime, nor has the
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  Speaker 6: Emperor as yet condemned her. There is no object here
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  Speaker 6: to wound her eyes. She is at home among her ancestors.
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  Speaker 6: Her title to the throne is strong enough to make
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  Speaker 6: her husband raise an insurrection. Tis right that Caesar's blood
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  Speaker 6: should be allied only to such as Caesar well can trust,
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  Speaker 6: nor without his consent, as you must own, should any
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  Speaker 6: where the offspring of Augustus.
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  Speaker 4: I understand you nearer by your mouth tells me Britannicus
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  Speaker 4: relies in vain upon my choice, that I have vainly
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  Speaker 4: sought to turn his eyes from his misfortunes with a bate.
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  Speaker 4: So tempting tis the Emperor's will to show that Agrippina
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  Speaker 4: promises more than she can fulfill. Rome rates too highly
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  Speaker 4: a mother's influence, and by this affront, he'll undeceive her
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  Speaker 4: and teach all the world not to confound an emperor
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  Speaker 4: with a son. This he may do, Yet I am
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  Speaker 4: bold to tell him to make his scepter strong before
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  Speaker 4: he strikes. In forcing me to match my feeble arm
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  Speaker 4: against him, he betrays how weak his own is. And
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  Speaker 4: it may be that, in the balance tested, my name
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  Speaker 4: will have more weight than he supposes.
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  Speaker 6: What will you always doubt your son's respect? Can he
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  Speaker 6: not take one step but you mistrust it? How can
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  Speaker 6: he think you Genia's partisan? Or reconcile to young Britannicus?
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  Speaker 6: Will you support your foes that you may find a
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  Speaker 6: pretext for complaining against him at every trivial rumor that
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  Speaker 6: you hear? Will you be always ready to divide the empire?
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  Speaker 6: Shall continual dread possess you that asks solution en when
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  Speaker 6: you embrace him, Be not so careful to find food
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  Speaker 6: for censure, but exercise a mother's fond indulgence. Suffer some
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  Speaker 6: slight rather than make it public, lest so the court
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  Speaker 6: be taught to disregard you.
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  Speaker 4: And who would seek support from Agrippina? When Nero doth
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  Speaker 4: himself proclaim my ruin when he would have me banished
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  Speaker 4: from his presence and burst theirs to keep me at
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  Speaker 4: his threshold.
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  Speaker 6: Madam, I see tis time that I were silent. My
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  Speaker 6: frankness only causes your displeasure. Pain is unjust, and all
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  Speaker 6: the arguments that fail to soothe it aggravate suspicion. Here
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  Speaker 6: comes Britannicus. I will retire, and you shall hear with
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  Speaker 6: pity his disgrace, blaming for that it may be, Madam,
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  Speaker 6: those whose counsels Caesar has least deigned to follow.
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  Speaker 1: Scene three, Agrippina, Britannicus, Narcissus Albina.
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  Speaker 4: Whither so fast? What restless Arja Prince cast you thus
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  Speaker 4: blindly in the midst of foes. Whom do you come
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  Speaker 4: to seek?
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  Speaker 3: Whom seek? By heaven? Here, Madam, here is all that
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  Speaker 3: I have lost, hemmed in by multitudes of savage troops.
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  Speaker 3: Hither has Junia been ignobly dragged alas? What horror must
• 18:46
  Speaker 3: her timid hurt have felt at such unwonted spectacle. Yes,
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  Speaker 3: they have torn her from me cruel mandate that parts
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  Speaker 3: two lovers misery united. Doubtless they grudged that we, mingling
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  Speaker 3: our sorrows, should help each other. To endure our woes enough.
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  Speaker 4: I feel your wrongs as much as you do, and
• 19:09
  Speaker 4: my complaints have gone before your murmurs. But I am
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  Speaker 4: well aware the helpless anger does not absolve me of
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  Speaker 4: my solemn promise. You do not comprehend me, would you
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  Speaker 4: do so? Follow my steps to pallace. There I'll wait.
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  Speaker 1: You scene for Bertelicus.
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  Speaker 3: Narcissus, Narcissus, Can I trust her word and make her
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  Speaker 3: umpire in my quarrel with her son? What say you?
• 19:38
  Speaker 3: Is she not that Agrippina whom erst my father married
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  Speaker 3: to my ruin, and who you say, finding his ebbing
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  Speaker 3: life too long for her? Cut the last remnant short?
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  Speaker 7: No, Master, She, like you, feels herself outraged? Has she
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  Speaker 7: not promised you the hand of unia? You knite your griefs,
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  Speaker 7: combine your interests. This palace vainly echoes your regrets, and
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  Speaker 7: whilst with suppliant voice you hear are seen spreading complaints
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  Speaker 7: around instead of terrors, your fierce resentment lost in idle words.
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  Speaker 7: Without a doubt you will complain.
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  Speaker 3: For ever You know, Narcissus, whether I intend to be
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  Speaker 3: inured to tame submissiveness, if by my fall affrighted I
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  Speaker 3: renounced the throne forever which my birthright gave me. But
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  Speaker 3: I am still alone. My father's friends are grown such
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  Speaker 3: strangers as to chill my heart, and those who in
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  Speaker 3: the court rest true to me, yet hold themselves aloof
• 20:50
  Speaker 3: from one so young, after the brief experience of a
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  Speaker 3: year has made me know how wretched is my lot?
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  Speaker 3: What see I round me? But false friends, suborned to
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  Speaker 3: watch my every step with sleepless eyes, chosen by Nero
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  Speaker 3: for so base an office. They sell to him the
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  Speaker 3: secrets of my soul, and daily take their profit out
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  Speaker 3: of me. He sees my aims beforehand, hears my converse,
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  Speaker 3: and knows what passes in my breast as well as you.
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  Speaker 3: What thinks, Narcissus, feeble minded, you should choose friends on
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  Speaker 3: whom you can rely, nor be so lavish of your secrets.
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  Speaker 3: Sir Narcissus, you say true, but this mistrust A noble
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  Speaker 3: heart is ever slow to learn, too long deceived. But
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  Speaker 3: I believe in you, or rather I have vowed to
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  Speaker 3: trust no other. My father oft assured me of your zeal.
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  Speaker 3: Of all his freedmen, you alone have proved faithful and
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  Speaker 3: kept your eyes open to aid me, saving me still
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  Speaker 3: from countless hidden rocks. Go see then, if the noise
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  Speaker 3: of this new storm has fanned the smoldering courage of
• 22:14
  Speaker 3: my friends. Watch well their eyes, attend to their discourse.
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  Speaker 3: See if I may expect true help from them, But
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  Speaker 3: chiefly in this palace, well observe with what precautions Nero
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  Speaker 3: guards the princess. Learn if her precious life is out
• 22:34
  Speaker 3: of danger, and if I still may be allowed to
• 22:37
  Speaker 3: see her. Meanwhile, to Nero's mother, I'll repair she is
• 22:42
  Speaker 3: with pallace, whom my father freed. As he did. You
• 22:47
  Speaker 3: all stir her wrath and maybe pledge her to move
• 22:52
  Speaker 3: farther than she intends.
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: In the fact one, Act two of Britannicus by Jean Racine,
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell eighteen sixty four to nineteen
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: thirty three. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Scene one Nero Buris Narcissus
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: guards Buris.
• 23:31
  Speaker 2: Be sure of this. Though she's unjust, she is my mother,
• 23:34
  Speaker 2: and I'll take no notice of her caprices. But I
• 23:37
  Speaker 2: will not spare the underling who dares to foster them.
• 23:40
  Speaker 2: Pollus instills his poison in her ears, and every day
• 23:44
  Speaker 2: corrupts Britannicus. His voice alone, they hear, and if we
• 23:49
  Speaker 2: followed their steps with Pollus, we perhaps should find them.
• 23:53
  Speaker 2: I've borne too much. He must be parted from them
• 23:57
  Speaker 2: for the last time. I say it. Let him go,
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: does my command? And ere this day has done my court,
• 24:04
  Speaker 2: and Rome too must be quit of them. Despatch the
• 24:08
  Speaker 2: safety of the states concerned. Come here, Narcissus, to the guards,
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: Let my guards retire.
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: Scene two, Nero, Narcissus.
• 24:20
  Speaker 7: Thank Heaven, my Lord Junior is in your hands, and
• 24:24
  Speaker 7: so today the peace of Romes secured. Your enemies, cast
• 24:30
  Speaker 7: down from their vain hopes, have gone to Pallace to
• 24:34
  Speaker 7: bewail their weakness. But what is this? I see you vexed, confounded,
• 24:42
  Speaker 7: and more dismayed than is Britannicus. What does that frowning
• 24:47
  Speaker 7: air of gloom portend? Those random looks that Rome uneasily
• 24:52
  Speaker 7: all smiles on you, and fortune crowns your wishes.
• 24:58
  Speaker 2: The die is cast, Narcissus, Nero loves you, sire, A
• 25:04
  Speaker 2: moment since and yet forever love said, I love Nay
• 25:09
  Speaker 2: Junia is my idol.
• 25:11
  Speaker 7: Whats you love her?
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: My curiosity moved me this night to see her. On
• 25:17
  Speaker 2: arrival here she was sad and raised to heaven, her
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: eyes tears stained that shone amid the flash of arms
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: in beauty on adorned and simple garb, as when they
• 25:27
  Speaker 2: seized her inner sleep. I know not whether that disarray,
• 25:32
  Speaker 2: the torchlit darkness, the cries that broke the silence, and
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: the faces of her ferocious ravishers enhanced the timid sweetness
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: of those lovely eyes, but with so fair a spectacle entranced.
• 25:45
  Speaker 2: I tried to speak, but felt myself tongue tied. Amazement
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: seized me, and I could not move, and suffered her
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: to pass to her apartments. I sought my chamber there
• 25:58
  Speaker 2: in solitude. Vainly I tried to turn my thoughts from her,
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: but ever present to my eyes, I seemed to talk
• 26:06
  Speaker 2: with her. I loved the very tears I caused to flow,
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: and sometimes, but too late, I sued for her forgiveness,
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: and my sighs ended in threats, thus nursing my new passion.
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: I have not closed mine eyes that watched for daylight,
• 26:25
  Speaker 2: but I may conjure up too fair an image of her,
• 26:28
  Speaker 2: whom I beheld at such advantage?
• 26:32
  Speaker 7: What say Narcissus, who'd believe, my Lord, that she has
• 26:37
  Speaker 7: lived so long by you unseen?
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: You know it well, Narcissus, moved by wrath that held
• 26:44
  Speaker 2: me guilty of her brother's death, or treasuring with jealous care,
• 26:48
  Speaker 2: a pride severe that grudged mine eyes, her dawning charms.
• 26:53
  Speaker 2: True to her grief and courting dim seclusion, she stole
• 26:57
  Speaker 2: away and shunned all admiration. And tis this virtue to
• 27:01
  Speaker 2: the court so new that in its perseverance piques my love?
• 27:05
  Speaker 2: Is there another damsel here in Rome? Who, if I
• 27:09
  Speaker 2: loved her, would not grow more vain at such an honor?
• 27:12
  Speaker 2: Is there one but tries her amorous glances upon Caesar's heart?
• 27:16
  Speaker 2: Soon as she learns their power, she alone, the modest junior,
• 27:22
  Speaker 2: scorns the boon they covert, nor deigns. It may be
• 27:26
  Speaker 2: e'n to seek to learn if Caesar merits love or
• 27:29
  Speaker 2: knows its rapture. Tell me, is young, Britannicus her lover?
• 27:35
  Speaker 7: Her lover asks, my liege, he is.
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: Too young to know himself? Or love's enchanting poison?
• 27:42
  Speaker 7: Love never waits for reason, good my Lord dart not
• 27:47
  Speaker 7: he loves tad By such potent charms, his eyes have
• 27:51
  Speaker 7: learned to melt with tenderness. He knows how best to
• 27:56
  Speaker 7: meet her slicest wish, And it may be already can
• 28:01
  Speaker 7: persuade her.
• 28:02
  Speaker 2: What can the boy have won her heart's allegiance?
• 28:07
  Speaker 7: I know not somewhre, But what I can, I'll tell you.
• 28:12
  Speaker 7: I've seen him sometimes tear himself away, full of a wrath,
• 28:17
  Speaker 7: which he conceals from you, vexed at the court's ingratitude
• 28:22
  Speaker 7: that shuns him, chafing against your power and his subjection,
• 28:28
  Speaker 7: fear and impatience swaying him. In turn, he goes to
• 28:32
  Speaker 7: Junia and returns contented.
• 28:36
  Speaker 2: The more unhappy he for learning how to please her.
• 28:39
  Speaker 2: He should rather wish her anger. NERO will not be
• 28:43
  Speaker 2: jealous without vengeance.
• 28:46
  Speaker 7: You, sir, And why should you be ill at ease?
• 28:51
  Speaker 7: Junia has pitied him and shared his sorrows. Sure she
• 28:56
  Speaker 7: has seen no other tears than his. But now, my Lord,
• 29:00
  Speaker 7: that with her eyes unsealed, she shall be hauled so
• 29:05
  Speaker 7: near your royal splendor, and kings and crowns stand in
• 29:10
  Speaker 7: attendance round you, unknown amidst the crowd, her lover too,
• 29:15
  Speaker 7: hangs on your eyes and honored by a look which you,
• 29:19
  Speaker 7: my Prince, may chance to cast upon them. When she
• 29:24
  Speaker 7: shall see you from that height of glory, Come to
• 29:28
  Speaker 7: confess her victory with sighs, the master of a heart
• 29:33
  Speaker 7: already charmed, you will have but to command, and she
• 29:37
  Speaker 7: will love you.
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: How much chagrin must I prepare to meet? What a
• 29:42
  Speaker 2: wearisome entreaties?
• 29:44
  Speaker 7: Why who hinders my Lord's good pleasure?
• 29:48
  Speaker 2: All Octavia Buris Seneca Agrippina ron herself three years all stainless?
• 29:58
  Speaker 2: Not that, for Octavia remains one tender relic of the
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: tie that bound us long since weary of her love.
• 30:05
  Speaker 2: Rarely mine eyes deigned to behold her tears? Happy if
• 30:09
  Speaker 2: soon the favor of divorce relieved me of a yoke
• 30:11
  Speaker 2: imposed by force. The gods themselves have secretly condemned her.
• 30:17
  Speaker 2: Four years her earnest prayers have fruitless, proved they show
• 30:21
  Speaker 2: not that her virtue touches them by honoring her couch
• 30:24
  Speaker 2: with any pledge. And vainly does the state demand an heir.
• 30:29
  Speaker 7: Why hesitate, my lord to cast her off? Your scepter
• 30:33
  Speaker 7: and your heart alike condemn her? Did not August us,
• 30:39
  Speaker 7: when he sighed for Livia by twin divorce, unite her
• 30:42
  Speaker 7: to himself, and to that lucky severance you owe the
• 30:47
  Speaker 7: crown Tiberius, whom his marriage linked with him. And you
• 30:52
  Speaker 7: dared to repudiate the daughter even before the father's eyes.
• 30:58
  Speaker 7: You only thwarting your own wish. Refuse a course so welcome,
• 31:04
  Speaker 7: know you not?
• 31:04
  Speaker 2: The rage of Agrippina? Her I seem to see bringing
• 31:08
  Speaker 2: me to Octavia, and with eye a fury, bidding me
• 31:11
  Speaker 2: respect a bond so sacred tied by her, and charging
• 31:15
  Speaker 2: me in no soft terms, with long ingratitude. How shall
• 31:20
  Speaker 2: I face her violent attacks?
• 31:22
  Speaker 7: Be your own master, sire, and hers as well? Will
• 31:26
  Speaker 7: you submit to tutel it forever? Reign for yourself? Too
• 31:32
  Speaker 7: long you've reigned for her? Fear you to do so? Nay,
• 31:38
  Speaker 7: you fear not? Have you not just now banished haughty
• 31:42
  Speaker 7: palace whose insolence you know that she supports.
• 31:47
  Speaker 2: Out of her sight. I threaten or command list to
• 31:50
  Speaker 2: your counsels, venture to approve them. My temper rises, and
• 31:54
  Speaker 2: I think to brave her. But I will lay my
• 31:56
  Speaker 2: feelings bear before you soon as ill luck into her
• 32:00
  Speaker 2: presence brings me either, I dare not then disown the
• 32:04
  Speaker 2: spell of eyes, where I have read my duty long,
• 32:07
  Speaker 2: or the remembrance of past kindness grants to her control
• 32:10
  Speaker 2: of all that she has given. And all my efforts
• 32:14
  Speaker 2: are of no avail. My spirit trembles overawed by hers,
• 32:19
  Speaker 2: and tis to free myself from her dependence. I everywhere
• 32:23
  Speaker 2: avoid and so offend her, nor spare from time to
• 32:27
  Speaker 2: time to rouse her anger, that she may shun me
• 32:30
  Speaker 2: as I fly from her. But I too long detain
• 32:35
  Speaker 2: you go, Narcissus, lest Britannicus, you seem intriguer.
• 32:40
  Speaker 7: No, No, I have his perfect confidence. He thinks I
• 32:46
  Speaker 7: see you, sire, by his command to hear from you
• 32:50
  Speaker 7: all that concerns himself, and by my mouth, would learn
• 32:54
  Speaker 7: your secret plans. Impatient to behold his love once more,
• 33:00
  Speaker 7: he waits the aid my trusty cares may bring him thereto.
• 33:05
  Speaker 2: I give consent. Yes, he shall see her, convey the pleasing.
• 33:10
  Speaker 7: News, banish him from her.
• 33:13
  Speaker 2: I have my reasons. Trust me, good, Narcissus. He shall
• 33:17
  Speaker 2: not see her without paying dearly. But boast to him
• 33:21
  Speaker 2: of your successful scheme. Tell him that I have been
• 33:25
  Speaker 2: deceived myself, and that he sees her without my permission,
• 33:31
  Speaker 2: she comes, Go find your master, bring him here.
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: Scene three.
• 33:36
  Speaker 2: Nero, Junia, your cheek is pale, and you seem anxious. Lady,
• 33:42
  Speaker 2: read you some gloomy presage in my eyes.
• 33:46
  Speaker 5: I cannot hide from you, Sire, my mistake. I thought
• 33:50
  Speaker 5: to see, not Caesar, but Octavia.
• 33:54
  Speaker 2: I know it, Madam, and Octavia's fortune in gaining your
• 33:57
  Speaker 2: good graces makes me envious you, sire, and think you
• 34:02
  Speaker 2: that Octavia, only within these walls, has eyes to see
• 34:06
  Speaker 2: your merits.
• 34:07
  Speaker 5: Whom else can I implore to pity me? And tell
• 34:11
  Speaker 5: what crime I've unawares committed. You punish it, my lord,
• 34:16
  Speaker 5: and needs must know it. Let Junia learn her fault.
• 34:21
  Speaker 5: I do beseech you.
• 34:23
  Speaker 2: Is it a light offense? Then? To have kept so
• 34:26
  Speaker 2: long your beauty and concealment? Madam has bounteous heaven, its
• 34:30
  Speaker 2: choicest gifts bestowed that you should bury what was meant
• 34:33
  Speaker 2: to shine. Is not Britannicus afraid to hide his growing
• 34:38
  Speaker 2: passion and your charms from us? Why till to day
• 34:42
  Speaker 2: have you so ruthlessly made us an exile in our court?
• 34:45
  Speaker 2: From eyes so bright? Tis said to Madam, you permit
• 34:49
  Speaker 2: without offense his amorous overtures. I'll not believe that you
• 34:54
  Speaker 2: have favored them without consulting us, nor been so heedless
• 34:58
  Speaker 2: of du decorum. Has to plight your troth and leave
• 35:02
  Speaker 2: us to the voice of common rumor for information.
• 35:06
  Speaker 5: I confess, my lord, his sighs have sometimes told his
• 35:11
  Speaker 5: heart's desires. With eyes forever fixed upon a maid sole
• 35:17
  Speaker 5: relic of a famous family. He thinks, perhaps of how
• 35:20
  Speaker 5: unhappier days his father destined her to be his bride.
• 35:26
  Speaker 5: He loves me, heeding his imperial sire. Your mother's wish,
• 35:32
  Speaker 5: and may I add your own. Your will is ever
• 35:37
  Speaker 5: so conformed to hers.
• 35:40
  Speaker 2: My mother has her views and I have mine. We'll
• 35:43
  Speaker 2: speak no more of her and Claudius. Tis not their
• 35:47
  Speaker 2: choice that can determine mine. I and I only must
• 35:51
  Speaker 2: decide for you, and at my hands I'll have you
• 35:54
  Speaker 2: choose a husband.
• 35:56
  Speaker 5: My Lord, bethink you that another union would bring discie
• 36:00
  Speaker 5: honor on my ancestors.
• 36:02
  Speaker 2: Lady, not so. The spouse of whom I speak need
• 36:06
  Speaker 2: feel no shame to range his parentage with yours. You
• 36:10
  Speaker 2: may consent without a blush to his addresses.
• 36:14
  Speaker 5: Who then is he?
• 36:15
  Speaker 2: Sire Madam myself? You I would name another if other
• 36:23
  Speaker 2: name I knew higher than neroes. My eyes have searched
• 36:27
  Speaker 2: the court, Rome and the world to choose you such
• 36:31
  Speaker 2: a partner as might meet your approbation. And the more
• 36:34
  Speaker 2: I seek into what hands this treasure may be trusted,
• 36:38
  Speaker 2: the more I see Caesar alone deserves to hold it.
• 36:42
  Speaker 2: He alone deserves your love, and should entrust you to
• 36:46
  Speaker 2: know hands but those to which the empire of the
• 36:48
  Speaker 2: world's committed. Do you yourself recall your earliest years when
• 36:54
  Speaker 2: Claudius betrothed you to his son, twas at a time
• 36:58
  Speaker 2: when he intended naming that son one day the heir
• 37:01
  Speaker 2: of all his empire. The gods declared to me, Oppose
• 37:06
  Speaker 2: them not, but follow where they point to sovereignty. Vainly
• 37:11
  Speaker 2: have they bestowed this signal honor, unless your heart should
• 37:15
  Speaker 2: be united with it. If cares so great, be soothed
• 37:18
  Speaker 2: not by your smiles. If while I give to vigilant alarms,
• 37:24
  Speaker 2: those days by others envied grudg'd by me, I may
• 37:28
  Speaker 2: not breathe some moments at your feet. Let not Octavia's
• 37:32
  Speaker 2: image cloud your eyes. Rome, like myself to you, her
• 37:36
  Speaker 2: suffrage gives rejects Octavia, and would have me loose a
• 37:41
  Speaker 2: marriage tie that Heaven itself disowns. Consider what I say,
• 37:45
  Speaker 2: and ponder well this choice well worthy of a prince
• 37:49
  Speaker 2: who loves you, Worthy of those bright eyes too long immured,
• 37:55
  Speaker 2: and of the world to which your charms are due.
• 37:58
  Speaker 5: My lord, good cause, have I to stand astonished all
• 38:04
  Speaker 5: in the course of one short day, I see myself
• 38:07
  Speaker 5: brought hither as a criminal, And when I trembling come
• 38:11
  Speaker 5: before your eyes, hardly confiding in my innocence, at once
• 38:17
  Speaker 5: you offer me Octavia's place. Yet am I bold to say?
• 38:22
  Speaker 5: I have deserved neither this dazzling honor nor this insult.
• 38:28
  Speaker 5: And can you wish, my liege, that a poor maid, who,
• 38:32
  Speaker 5: almost soon as she was born, beheld her home destroyed,
• 38:37
  Speaker 5: and an obscurity nursing her sorrow learned to be resigned,
• 38:42
  Speaker 5: should at a single step pass from such darkness to
• 38:46
  Speaker 5: sit where all the world may gaze upon her in brilliance.
• 38:50
  Speaker 5: That she shrank from scene afar usurping majesty that is another's?
• 38:56
  Speaker 2: Have I not already said I renounced her? Dispel those
• 39:00
  Speaker 2: timid fears or bashful scruples, think not. My present choice
• 39:05
  Speaker 2: is blind and rash. I know you worthy only give consent.
• 39:10
  Speaker 2: Remember from what ancestry you spring. Do not prefer to
• 39:14
  Speaker 2: those substantial honors, wherewith the hands of Caesar would endure
• 39:19
  Speaker 2: you the glory of refusal, to be followed by vain regrets.
• 39:25
  Speaker 5: Heaven knows my secret thoughts. I take no pride in
• 39:29
  Speaker 5: a vainglorious boast, and know the greatness of the prize
• 39:33
  Speaker 5: you offer. But all the more, should I, the brighter
• 39:38
  Speaker 5: shown my fortune, be ashamed to face the guilt of
• 39:41
  Speaker 5: having plundered her whose right it is?
• 39:44
  Speaker 2: Nay, you consult her interests too much. The claim of
• 39:48
  Speaker 2: friendship scarce can reach so far. But let us leave
• 39:53
  Speaker 2: delusions and be plain. The sister moves you less than
• 39:56
  Speaker 2: does the brother. And for Britannica, SI.
• 39:59
  Speaker 5: He has known how to touch my heart, and freely
• 40:03
  Speaker 5: I confess it. Such frankness may perchance be indiscreet, but
• 40:09
  Speaker 5: never have my lips belied my heart. In absence from
• 40:14
  Speaker 5: the court, I could not think that I had need
• 40:16
  Speaker 5: to learn the art of feigning. I love Britannicus, his
• 40:22
  Speaker 5: destined bride, when marriage was to lead to sovereignty. But
• 40:26
  Speaker 5: that ill fate which has denied the throne his honors,
• 40:29
  Speaker 5: fled his palace, desolate the courtiers whom his fall has
• 40:33
  Speaker 5: banished from him, serve but as ties to Junius constancy.
• 40:39
  Speaker 5: Here all things minister to your desires. Your days flow
• 40:44
  Speaker 5: calmly by in ceaseless pleasures, the exhaustless source thereof your
• 40:50
  Speaker 5: sovereign power. Or if some trouble mar their placid course,
• 40:55
  Speaker 5: the universe, solicitous to please you, hastens to blot it
• 40:59
  Speaker 5: from your memory. Lonely the lot of poor Britannicus, in
• 41:04
  Speaker 5: all his sorrows. He has me alone to sympathize my tears.
• 41:10
  Speaker 5: His only solace that lead him sometimes to forget his woes.
• 41:16
  Speaker 2: Ah tis that solace in those tears I envy for them.
• 41:20
  Speaker 2: Another with his life, should pay but milder treatment. Keep
• 41:24
  Speaker 2: eye for this prince. He shall appear before you soon.
• 41:27
  Speaker 5: Fair lady, your virtues, Sire have ever reassured me.
• 41:33
  Speaker 2: I might forbid him access to your presence, but I
• 41:35
  Speaker 2: would fain anticipate the danger to which resentful wrath might
• 41:40
  Speaker 2: carry him. I do not wish his death better that
• 41:43
  Speaker 2: he should hear his sentence from the lips he loves.
• 41:47
  Speaker 2: Is his life dear to you? Than part him from
• 41:50
  Speaker 2: you without cause given to believe me jealous incur the
• 41:55
  Speaker 2: odium of his banishment, And whether by your words or
• 41:58
  Speaker 2: by your silence, in any case, by frigid looks persuade
• 42:02
  Speaker 2: him to take his wishes in his hopes elsewhere, ay.
• 42:07
  Speaker 5: To pronounce a sentence so severe my tongue will swear
• 42:12
  Speaker 5: I meant the contrary aim. Could I so prove traitor
• 42:17
  Speaker 5: to myself, my eyes would still forbid him to obey me.
• 42:22
  Speaker 2: Curtain close by. I shall behold you, madam, Shut up
• 42:25
  Speaker 2: your love within your inmost heart. No secret language shall
• 42:29
  Speaker 2: escape my notice. Looks that you fancy mute, I shall
• 42:33
  Speaker 2: o'er hear, and death to him shall be the sure reward.
• 42:37
  Speaker 2: If sigh or gesture unawares betrays.
• 42:39
  Speaker 5: You, alas if I dare still form any wish, grant me,
• 42:46
  Speaker 5: my Lord, that I may never see him.
• 42:50
  Speaker 1: Scene four Nero Junia Narcissus Brittannicus. My lord asks for
• 42:56
  Speaker 1: the princess. He is at hand.
• 43:00
  Speaker 2: Then let him enter, Sire. I leave you, and his
• 43:05
  Speaker 2: fate on you depends more than on me. Remember, I
• 43:09
  Speaker 2: shall see you.
• 43:12
  Speaker 1: Scene five Junia Narcissus.
• 43:16
  Speaker 5: Ah, Dear Narcissus, run to meet your master. Tell him, Ah,
• 43:22
  Speaker 5: I'm undone, I see him coming.
• 43:27
  Speaker 1: Scene six Britannicus Junia Narcissus.
• 43:31
  Speaker 3: What happiness, dear damsel brings me near you? May I
• 43:36
  Speaker 3: then taste so sweet an interview? But ah, amidst this pleasure,
• 43:42
  Speaker 3: grief devours me to think I may not hope to
• 43:45
  Speaker 3: see you more? Now must I steal with many a subterfuge,
• 43:50
  Speaker 3: a privilege that erst you granted daily? Ah, what a
• 43:55
  Speaker 3: night I've passed with? What awakening? Your tears have not
• 43:59
  Speaker 3: disarmed cruel foes? What was your lover doing? Did some
• 44:04
  Speaker 3: god grudge me the boon of dying at your feet?
• 44:08
  Speaker 1: Alas?
• 44:09
  Speaker 3: Have you, in secret, struck with terror, made your complaint
• 44:13
  Speaker 3: to me? Have you, my princess, vouchsafed to breathe? A
• 44:17
  Speaker 3: wish that I were with you? Thought you, upon the
• 44:20
  Speaker 3: woes that you would cost me?
• 44:22
  Speaker 1: What say you?
• 44:23
  Speaker 7: Not?
• 44:24
  Speaker 3: Looking as cold as ice?
• 44:27
  Speaker 5: Is it?
• 44:27
  Speaker 3: Thus you comfort me for my disgrace? Speak we're alone,
• 44:32
  Speaker 3: Our enemy deceived is busied somewhere else while we're together.
• 44:37
  Speaker 3: Take full advantage of his happy absence.
• 44:41
  Speaker 5: His power pervades each corner of this palace. It's very well, sir,
• 44:47
  Speaker 5: may have eyes to see us. Caesar is never absent
• 44:52
  Speaker 5: from this place?
• 44:54
  Speaker 3: And how long have you been so timorous? What does
• 44:59
  Speaker 3: your love consent to be in bondage already? What has
• 45:03
  Speaker 3: changed the heart that swore to make ey Nero envious
• 45:06
  Speaker 3: of our love? But banish, madam such uncalled for fear?
• 45:12
  Speaker 3: All hearts have not yet lost their loyalty. I see
• 45:16
  Speaker 3: no eye, but doth approve my anger. We have the
• 45:19
  Speaker 3: Emperor's mother on our side, and Rome herself offended at
• 45:23
  Speaker 3: his conduct.
• 45:25
  Speaker 5: Surely your tongue, sir, contradicts your thought. You have yourself
• 45:30
  Speaker 5: told me a thousand times that with one common voice,
• 45:33
  Speaker 5: Rome praises him. You ever rendered homage to his merits?
• 45:38
  Speaker 5: Tis grief distracts you and dictates this language.
• 45:43
  Speaker 3: Your words surprise me. I must needs confess it. To
• 45:48
  Speaker 3: hear you praise him was not what I sought? Scarce?
• 45:52
  Speaker 3: Can I seize a favorable moment to make you share
• 45:55
  Speaker 3: the grief that overwhelms me? And these few precious moments
• 45:59
  Speaker 3: are consumed in praises of the foe who crushes us?
• 46:03
  Speaker 3: How different from yourself has one day made you? Why
• 46:08
  Speaker 3: in your looks have learned strange retescence? What's this you
• 46:13
  Speaker 3: seem to fear? To meet my eyes? Am I then odious?
• 46:17
  Speaker 3: Can it be that Nero finds favor? If I thought so? Ah,
• 46:23
  Speaker 3: By Heaven, dispel this darkness you have cast around me. Speak,
• 46:28
  Speaker 3: is Britannicus no more remembered?
• 46:31
  Speaker 5: Prayce or withdrawal? The Emperor is coming.
• 46:36
  Speaker 3: This stroke Narcissus severs my last hope.
• 46:43
  Speaker 1: Scene seven Nero Junia Narcissus, Madam.
• 46:48
  Speaker 5: No sire, I cannot hear a word. I have a
• 46:53
  Speaker 5: bait you not. At least my tears flow freely now
• 46:58
  Speaker 5: that he no more can see.
• 47:00
  Speaker 1: The scene Eight Nero Narcissus.
• 47:06
  Speaker 2: Well, my Narcissus, you have seen the ardor with which
• 47:08
  Speaker 2: they love apparent in in silence. My rival has her
• 47:13
  Speaker 2: heart tis plain enough. My joy shall be to drive
• 47:16
  Speaker 2: him to despair. How charmingly does fancy paint his anguish,
• 47:21
  Speaker 2: and I have seen him doubt whether she loves him.
• 47:25
  Speaker 2: I'll follow her. My rival waits your presence to vent
• 47:29
  Speaker 2: his fury. Go with fresh suspicions, torment him, And while
• 47:34
  Speaker 2: I witness the tears she fondly sheds for him, make
• 47:37
  Speaker 2: him pay dearly for boone that he despises.
• 47:41
  Speaker 7: Narcissus alone once more, fortune invites me. Shall I then
• 47:48
  Speaker 7: refuse her offer? Nay to the end, I'll follow her
• 47:52
  Speaker 7: behests and doom the wretched to secure my wheel.
• 47:59
  Speaker 1: In the fact two, Act three of Britannicus by Jean Racine,
• 48:09
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell eighteen sixty four to nineteen
• 48:14
  Speaker 1: thirty three. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
• 48:19
  Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
• 48:24
  Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Scene one Nero Burus.
• 48:32
  Speaker 6: Pallace will be obedient, Sire, and.
• 48:35
  Speaker 2: Hows Agrippina seen her pride confounded?
• 48:38
  Speaker 6: Doubt not your majesty. The blow strikes home, and soon
• 48:42
  Speaker 6: the storm will burst in loud reproaches. Her wrath has
• 48:46
  Speaker 6: long begun to show itself. Nor can it stop at
• 48:50
  Speaker 6: unavailing clamor.
• 48:52
  Speaker 2: Why what design think you? She meditates?
• 48:55
  Speaker 6: Always is Agrippina to be dreaded Your army and all
• 48:59
  Speaker 6: Rome revere her lineage. They'll ne'er forget Germanicus, her father.
• 49:05
  Speaker 6: She knows her influence, you know her courage, And that
• 49:09
  Speaker 6: which makes me dread her all the more is that
• 49:11
  Speaker 6: her fury by yourself is fed, and that you give
• 49:15
  Speaker 6: her arms to fight against you. Iborus, Yes, my Lord,
• 49:20
  Speaker 6: that love which holds you.
• 49:22
  Speaker 2: I take your meaning, but it can't be helped. My
• 49:25
  Speaker 2: own heart tells me more than you can say, and
• 49:29
  Speaker 2: yet I cannot choose.
• 49:30
  Speaker 6: But love tis fancy, my liege, and satisfied with slight resistance.
• 49:37
  Speaker 6: You fear an evil feeble at its birth. But if
• 49:40
  Speaker 6: your heart strong in the course of duty, refuse to
• 49:44
  Speaker 6: hold a parley with its foe. If you consult the
• 49:47
  Speaker 6: glory of your past, if you recall to your remembrance,
• 49:50
  Speaker 6: Sire Octavia's virtues of such recompense unworthy, and her love
• 49:56
  Speaker 6: proof against scorn. If more than all, avoiding Junia's presence,
• 50:01
  Speaker 6: you doom your eyes to a brief spell of absence.
• 50:05
  Speaker 6: Trust me, howe'er this passion seems to charm you. None love,
• 50:10
  Speaker 6: my Lord, unless they wish to love.
• 50:13
  Speaker 2: I'll trust you, Buris. When mid war's alarms, our martial
• 50:16
  Speaker 2: glory needs your firm support, or when in peaceful session
• 50:20
  Speaker 2: of the Senate, the welfare of the state demands your voice,
• 50:23
  Speaker 2: I will rely on your experience. But in a matter
• 50:27
  Speaker 2: that concerns my heart tis otherwise, and I should have
• 50:30
  Speaker 2: some scruple in bringing your grave judgment to such trifles. Farewell,
• 50:36
  Speaker 2: I am ill at ease away from Junia.
• 50:39
  Speaker 1: Scene two Burus.
• 50:42
  Speaker 6: Nero at last shows his true character, Buras, that fierceness
• 50:48
  Speaker 6: which you thought to tame is ready to break loose
• 50:50
  Speaker 6: from your weak bonds, and like a swollen river, spread destruction.
• 50:57
  Speaker 6: How shall I act in this unhappy hour? Seneca's counsels
• 51:01
  Speaker 6: may not soothe my cares afar from Rome. He knows
• 51:05
  Speaker 6: not of this danger.
• 51:07
  Speaker 2: Ah.
• 51:08
  Speaker 6: If I could but touch the mother's feeling of tenderness,
• 51:12
  Speaker 6: she comes, good fortune brings her.
• 51:16
  Speaker 1: Scene three, Agrippina Burus Albina.
• 51:21
  Speaker 4: Well, Burus, was I wrong in my suspicions? You have
• 51:24
  Speaker 4: impressed fine lessons on your pupil. Pallace is banished for
• 51:28
  Speaker 4: the crime perchance of having raised your master to the purple.
• 51:32
  Speaker 4: You know full well that never but for him would Claudius,
• 51:35
  Speaker 4: whom he swayed, have fathered Nero. You foised a rival
• 51:40
  Speaker 4: in Octavia's place, and set my son free from his
• 51:43
  Speaker 4: nuptial oath. Fit task for one sworn foe to flatter
• 51:47
  Speaker 4: as chosen to curb the wild career of youth, thus
• 51:51
  Speaker 4: to turn flatterer himself and teach how he may pare
• 51:54
  Speaker 4: contempt on wife and mother.
• 51:57
  Speaker 6: Madam, you have no cause yet to accuse. This act
• 52:01
  Speaker 6: of Caesar's may be justified. Pallis has well deserved his banishment,
• 52:06
  Speaker 6: meet recompense for pride too long endured. The emperor has only,
• 52:11
  Speaker 6: with regret fulfilled the secret wishes of his court. The
• 52:15
  Speaker 6: evil that remains admits of cure. Octavia's tears may at
• 52:20
  Speaker 6: their source be dried. But calm your rage. There is
• 52:24
  Speaker 6: a milder method that sooner will recall him to her arms,
• 52:28
  Speaker 6: while threats and angry words will make him wilder.
• 52:32
  Speaker 4: Ah, you will try in vain to stop my mouth.
• 52:36
  Speaker 4: I see my silence, but provokes your scorn. My handy
• 52:40
  Speaker 4: work has had too much respect. All Agrippina's props fall
• 52:44
  Speaker 4: not with Pallas, But gods have left enough to venge
• 52:47
  Speaker 4: my ruin. The son of Claudius begins to feel his wrongs,
• 52:52
  Speaker 4: for which not I alone am guilty. I'll show him
• 52:56
  Speaker 4: to the army, doubt it, not complain before them of
• 52:59
  Speaker 4: his young life blasted, and make them, like myself, repair
• 53:04
  Speaker 4: their error. On one side, shall they see an emperor's
• 53:07
  Speaker 4: son reclaim a faith sworn to his family and hear
• 53:10
  Speaker 4: a daughter of Germanicus in O Barbas's son, on the
• 53:14
  Speaker 4: other hand, with his supporters Seneca and Buris, by me
• 53:18
  Speaker 4: recalled from exile, both of them who share the sovereign
• 53:22
  Speaker 4: power before my eyes. I will take care they know
• 53:26
  Speaker 4: our common crimes, and by what paths I have conducted
• 53:30
  Speaker 4: him to make his sway and yours detestable. I will
• 53:34
  Speaker 4: avow the most injurious rumors. All shall be told exiles, assassinations,
• 53:40
  Speaker 4: poison itself.
• 53:42
  Speaker 2: Madam.
• 53:44
  Speaker 6: They'll not believe you. They'll not be caught by your
• 53:47
  Speaker 6: deceitful wiles. But know tis speak that promotes self accusation.
• 53:53
  Speaker 6: As to myself, who first advanced your plots and made
• 53:57
  Speaker 6: the troops swear fealty to Nero, my zealous efforts cause
• 54:01
  Speaker 6: me no repentance. A son succeeded to his father, Madam,
• 54:05
  Speaker 6: for in adopting Nero, Claudius chose to give his son
• 54:10
  Speaker 6: and yours an equal footing. Rome's choice has been for Nero,
• 54:15
  Speaker 6: so she took Tiberius adopted by Augustus, nor wronged the
• 54:19
  Speaker 6: young Agrippa, his own grandson, who claimed in vain to
• 54:23
  Speaker 6: wield the imperial scepter. His power established upon such foundations
• 54:29
  Speaker 6: cannot be weakened by yourself to day, and if he
• 54:32
  Speaker 6: heeds me still his bounty, Madam will soon remove the
• 54:36
  Speaker 6: wish to injure him. I have begun the work and
• 54:40
  Speaker 6: will complete it.
• 54:42
  Speaker 1: Scene four Agoppina, Albina, in what sea of passion grief
• 54:48
  Speaker 1: has plunged you?
• 54:50
  Speaker 8: And can it be that Caesar knows not of it?
• 54:53
  Speaker 4: Ah? Should he venture in my sight himself?
• 54:56
  Speaker 8: Madam, in Heaven's name conceal this schola. Let not yo
• 55:01
  Speaker 8: zeale for sister or for brother, destroy your peace. For
• 55:04
  Speaker 8: ever must you check the emperor even in his love affairs.
• 55:10
  Speaker 4: I'll see you not how they would humple me. Albina
• 55:13
  Speaker 4: tis to me they give a rival soon. If I
• 55:17
  Speaker 4: break not this ill omened tie, my place is occupied
• 55:21
  Speaker 4: and I am nothing. Octavia has enjoyed but hitherto an
• 55:25
  Speaker 4: empty title by the court, ignored as useless, and to
• 55:28
  Speaker 4: me the eyes of all have looked for profit. Now
• 55:32
  Speaker 4: another love has cast out mine. She as his wife
• 55:36
  Speaker 4: and mistress, will reign alone, and in the pomp of power,
• 55:40
  Speaker 4: reap the rich fruit of all my pains. As need
• 55:43
  Speaker 4: of one kind. Look already I am forsaken. I cannot
• 55:48
  Speaker 4: dear ilbin abeare the thought, even though I hasten the
• 55:52
  Speaker 4: disastrous sentence of heaven. Ungrateful Nero Lo his rival seen.
• 56:00
  Speaker 1: Five Britannicus Agoppina, Narcissus Albina.
• 56:06
  Speaker 3: Our common foes are not invincible, and there our hearts
• 56:10
  Speaker 3: can feel for our misfortunes. Your friends and mine so
• 56:15
  Speaker 3: silent hitherto while we were losing time in vain regrets
• 56:20
  Speaker 3: fired with the anger which injustice kindles have made their
• 56:24
  Speaker 3: grievance known to good Narcissus not yet has Nero undisturbed
• 56:29
  Speaker 3: possession of her, whose conquest means my sister's shame. If
• 56:35
  Speaker 3: still her wrongs can move you, he, though faithless, may
• 56:39
  Speaker 3: be brought back to tread the path of duty. Sure
• 56:43
  Speaker 3: we have half the Senate on our side. Scylla and
• 56:46
  Speaker 3: Piso Ploudus.
• 56:48
  Speaker 4: Prince, what say you you name the highest nobles of
• 56:52
  Speaker 4: the state.
• 56:53
  Speaker 3: Madam, I see my words have wounded you, and that
• 56:57
  Speaker 3: your wrath, trembling, irresolute, already fears to gain all it
• 57:02
  Speaker 3: has wished for. Nay, my disgrace has taken root too firmly.
• 57:08
  Speaker 3: You need not dread what any friend of mine may venture.
• 57:12
  Speaker 3: I have lost them all your prudence has scattered them,
• 57:17
  Speaker 3: or long ago seduced them.
• 57:19
  Speaker 4: Trust your suspicions less Our safety, Sir, depends upon our
• 57:24
  Speaker 4: mutual understanding. Rely upon my word, despite your foes. I
• 57:29
  Speaker 4: will be true to all that I have promised. Nero
• 57:32
  Speaker 4: is guilty and in vain he shuns me, sooner or
• 57:36
  Speaker 4: later he must hear his mother force and persuasion. I
• 57:40
  Speaker 4: will try by turns, or if I fail, leading your
• 57:43
  Speaker 4: sister with me, I'll spread abroad my dread and her alarms,
• 57:48
  Speaker 4: and make all hearts responsive to her tears. Farewell on
• 57:52
  Speaker 4: all sides. I will ply the attack, and you take
• 57:55
  Speaker 4: my advice avoid his presence.
• 58:00
  Speaker 1: Six Britannicus narcissus, Have you.
• 58:04
  Speaker 3: Not flattered me with hopes fallacious? Or can I place
• 58:08
  Speaker 3: reliance on your statement?
• 58:10
  Speaker 7: You may, my prince, but this is not the place
• 58:14
  Speaker 7: wherein this mystery must be unfolded. Let us go forth?
• 58:20
  Speaker 7: What wait you for?
• 58:22
  Speaker 3: I wait for alas explain yourself if scheme of yours
• 58:30
  Speaker 3: could get me sight of her again, of whom my
• 58:34
  Speaker 3: weakness makes me blush, but then more firmly I should
• 58:39
  Speaker 3: meet my fate.
• 58:41
  Speaker 7: What after all my words you deem her true.
• 58:46
  Speaker 3: No, I believe her false, deserving hot reproach. And yet,
• 58:52
  Speaker 3: despite myself less than I ought, do I believe it?
• 58:58
  Speaker 3: My stubborn heart can owns her fickleness, finds reason for excuse,
• 59:04
  Speaker 3: and still adores her. Would I could crush my incredulity?
• 59:09
  Speaker 3: Would I could hate her with a mind at ease?
• 59:13
  Speaker 2: Yet?
• 59:13
  Speaker 3: Who'd believe a heart that seemed so noble foe of
• 59:17
  Speaker 3: a faithless court from infancy, could so forget its glory
• 59:22
  Speaker 3: and at once hatch perfidy too base for courtiers?
• 59:27
  Speaker 7: Who knows if in her long retreat the wretch kept
• 59:31
  Speaker 7: not the Emperor's conquest in her eye, sure that her
• 59:36
  Speaker 7: beauty could not be concealed. Perhaps she fled that she
• 59:40
  Speaker 7: might be pursued, inciting Nero to the hard earned glory
• 59:45
  Speaker 7: of quelling pride till then invincible.
• 59:50
  Speaker 3: May I not see her, then, sir?
• 59:53
  Speaker 7: At this moment she listens to the voice of her
• 59:57
  Speaker 7: new lover.
• 59:59
  Speaker 3: Well let LESCo. But whom do I behold? Tis she.
• 1:00:06
  Speaker 1: Narcissus?
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 7: Aside great gods, Caesar must hear of this.
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 1: Scene. Seven Britannicus Junior.
• 1:00:18
  Speaker 5: Fly, sir, nor face a wrath that burns against you
• 1:00:22
  Speaker 5: inflamed by my determined resolution. Nero is angered. I have
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 5: just escaped, while Agripina labors to detain him. Farewell, wrong, not,
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 5: my love, But look to see the happy day when
• 1:00:37
  Speaker 5: I shall be absolved from blame. Your image in my
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 5: soul shall dwell for I, and naught shall banish it.
• 1:00:46
  Speaker 3: I know your purpose, madam. You would have me fly
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 3: to leave you free to indulge your new desire, while
• 1:00:54
  Speaker 3: I am here. No doubt a secret shame somewhat disturbs
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 3: the relict of enjoyment. Yes, I must go and pute, not,
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 3: sir to me, you might have held the field a
• 1:01:08
  Speaker 3: little longer. I murmur not that your affections fickle, and
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 3: that you join the side which fortune favors. That you
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 3: are dazzled with imperial splendor, and at my sister's cost,
• 1:01:21
  Speaker 3: would fain enjoy it, but rather that beguiled like others.
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 3: Now you should have seemed untouched by its deceits. So
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 3: long despair has seized me. I confess it. This was
• 1:01:35
  Speaker 3: the only ill I never thought to cope with. On
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 3: my ruin, I have seen injustice flourish heaven itself accomplice
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 3: of my oppressors. But such horrors have not drained its
• 1:01:47
  Speaker 3: full cup of wrath. There yet remained to be by
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 3: you forgotten.
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 5: Happier moments might urge my just impatience to resent distrust.
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 5: But Nero dance danger presses, and I have other thoughts
• 1:02:03
  Speaker 5: than to distress you. Go reassure your heart and cease complaints. Nero,
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 5: who heard our words, bade.
• 1:02:11
  Speaker 2: Me dissemble ah cruel witness.
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 5: Of our interview. With eyes severe, he scanned my countenance,
• 1:02:20
  Speaker 5: ready to make his vengeance burst on you. If but
• 1:02:23
  Speaker 5: a gesture should betray our.
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 3: Secret, Nero was listening. Yet your eyes the while might
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 3: have looked cold without deceiving me. They might have told
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 3: me who imposed their rigor. Love is not dumb. The
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 3: language of the heart is varied. One glance might have
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 3: saved me woe intense they're needed.
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 5: There was need of silence to save you. How often
• 1:02:52
  Speaker 5: was my heart about to tell you its perplexity? How
• 1:02:56
  Speaker 5: many rising sighs did I suppress? Afraid meet the eyes?
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 5: I yearned to look on silence as torture. When a
• 1:03:05
  Speaker 5: loved one grieves, when to his groans we must ourselves contribute,
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 5: knowing we might console him by a look. Yet would
• 1:03:16
  Speaker 5: such look have cast more bitter tears. Had that remembrance
• 1:03:21
  Speaker 5: anxious and disturbed? I felt my feigning lacked reality. I
• 1:03:27
  Speaker 5: feared the pallor of my quivering cheek, my eye too
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 5: plainly full of my distress. I feared each instant Nero,
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 5: in his wrath, was coming to abraid my want of rigor,
• 1:03:41
  Speaker 5: for vain seem'd all my efforts to keep down the
• 1:03:44
  Speaker 5: love I almost wished I ne'er had known alas for
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 5: his own peace of mind and ours too clearly has
• 1:03:53
  Speaker 5: he read your heart and mine? Once more? Go hence
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 5: and hide you from his sight. At fitter season, all
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 5: shall be explained. A thousand other secrets be discovered.
• 1:04:06
  Speaker 3: Too much already more than I can bear. How guilty
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 3: I have been, and you, how kind? And know you
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 3: all that you forsake for me?
• 1:04:18
  Speaker 1: Throwing himself at Junia's.
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 3: Feet, When may I at your feet blot out the offense?
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 5: What are you doing? Look? Your rifle comes.
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 1: Scene eight Nero Britannicus, Junia, Prince.
• 1:04:35
  Speaker 2: Do not interrupt such charming transports, Madam. His thanks show
• 1:04:40
  Speaker 2: you you are wondrous kind. I have surprised him at
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 2: your knees. To me some gratitude surely do as well.
• 1:04:48
  Speaker 2: He finds this place convenient where I keep you in
• 1:04:51
  Speaker 2: readiness for interviews?
• 1:04:52
  Speaker 3: So sweet I can my joy or sorrow lay before her?
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 3: Where'er her kindness grants me audience? Nor has this place
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 3: where you think fit to keep her aught that can
• 1:05:05
  Speaker 3: overawe Britannicus?
• 1:05:07
  Speaker 2: What see you? Nothing that can warn a subject to
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 2: hold my power respected? And obey me?
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 3: This palace saw us not brought up together me to
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 3: obey you, you to taunt my weakness. The fortune of
• 1:05:20
  Speaker 3: our birth ne'er made it likely that I should own
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 3: a master in demicious.
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 2: I wishes have been crossed by destiny once I obeyed,
• 1:05:28
  Speaker 2: And now your turn has come. If yet you have
• 1:05:31
  Speaker 2: not learned so hard a lesson that shows you are
• 1:05:34
  Speaker 2: still a boy and must be taught it?
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 3: And who will teach me Rome and all her empire?
• 1:05:41
  Speaker 3: Does Rome among your high prerogatives count cruelty and violent injustice,
• 1:05:47
  Speaker 3: unfair imprisonment, rape and divorce?
• 1:05:50
  Speaker 2: Rome prize not with too curious regard into the secrets
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 2: that I choose to hide, Copy her.
• 1:05:57
  Speaker 3: Prudence what she thinks?
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 2: Y know? At least she holds her tongue. Do you
• 1:06:04
  Speaker 2: the same?
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 4: Thus?
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 3: Then, has Nero ceased to curb his passions?
• 1:06:09
  Speaker 2: Nero has ceased to care to hear you longer?
• 1:06:12
  Speaker 3: All hearts should bless his reign for happiness.
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 2: Happier wretched tis enough they fear me.
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 3: I know not Junia, or such sentiments would scarce be
• 1:06:23
  Speaker 3: likely to win praise from her.
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 2: If I am little skilled at how best to please her,
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 2: I can at least punish a saucy rival.
• 1:06:32
  Speaker 3: Whatever dangers threaten to overwhelm me. I fear to lose
• 1:06:36
  Speaker 3: her love, and that alone.
• 1:06:39
  Speaker 2: Tware better wished for. I can say no more.
• 1:06:41
  Speaker 3: My sole ambition is to enjoy her favor, and she.
• 1:06:45
  Speaker 2: Has pledged that favor yours forever.
• 1:06:49
  Speaker 3: At least I have not learned to play the spy
• 1:06:51
  Speaker 3: upon her words. But let her praise or blame me unwatched,
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 3: nor hide myself to shut her mouth.
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 2: I see, huh, Gods there, what then.
• 1:07:02
  Speaker 5: Will you do? Pardon the jealous love of one so
• 1:07:06
  Speaker 5: near akin a thousand miseries he suffers. Can his rare
• 1:07:12
  Speaker 5: happiness excite your envy? Suffer me, sire, to knit your
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 5: hearts together and hide me from the eyes of both
• 1:07:20
  Speaker 5: of you. My absence then will heal your fatal discords,
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 5: and I will join the ranks of Vesta's virgins. Let
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 5: not my vows be longer ground of strife between you.
• 1:07:35
  Speaker 5: Let them trouble heaven alone.
• 1:07:38
  Speaker 2: This project is as strange as it is sudden. Let
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 2: it be taken. Guards to her apartments, and with his
• 1:07:43
  Speaker 2: sister keep Britannicus tis.
• 1:07:46
  Speaker 3: Thus that Nero woos a woman's heart, do.
• 1:07:49
  Speaker 5: Not provoke him. Prince bend to this storm.
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 2: Guards do my bidding, and delay no.
• 1:07:57
  Speaker 1: Longer see nine Nero Burrus? Ye, God, what do I
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 1: see Nero without seeing burrs?
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 2: Thus fiercer glow their fires? I know what hand arranged
• 1:08:12
  Speaker 2: their meeting twas but for this that Agrippina sought me,
• 1:08:15
  Speaker 2: and all her long protracted lecture tended only to further
• 1:08:19
  Speaker 2: this vile scheme of.
• 1:08:20
  Speaker 1: Hers perceiving Buruhs acquaint me.
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 2: If my mother still is here, I would retain her
• 1:08:26
  Speaker 2: burrs in the palace and let my body God relieve
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 2: her own.
• 1:08:31
  Speaker 6: Your mother, sire, will you not hear her stop?
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 2: I know not Burus what you may be plotting, but
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 2: all my wishes have for some days past found you
• 1:08:42
  Speaker 2: a censor ready to oppose them. Answer for her or
• 1:08:46
  Speaker 2: else if you refuse, others shall answer both for her
• 1:08:49
  Speaker 2: and Burus.
• 1:08:52
  Speaker 1: In le fact III for a Britannicus by Jean Racine,
• 1:09:03
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell eighteen sixty four to nineteen
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 1: thirty three. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
• 1:09:17
  Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Scene one, Agrippina buris.
• 1:09:25
  Speaker 6: I, madam, you may clear yourself at leisure. Caesar consents
• 1:09:31
  Speaker 6: to give you audience here. If his command restricts you
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 6: to the palace, his purpose maybe is to talk with you.
• 1:09:40
  Speaker 6: In any case, if I may speak my thought, forget
• 1:09:44
  Speaker 6: that he has given you offense, be ready rather to
• 1:09:47
  Speaker 6: receive him back with open arms. Defend yourself and blame
• 1:09:52
  Speaker 6: not his conduct. See how all the court observe him
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 6: and him alone. Though he may be your son and
• 1:10:00
  Speaker 6: owe you all, he is your emperor, like us, your
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 6: subject to the power you gave. Whether he threatened or
• 1:10:08
  Speaker 6: caress you, madam, the court will either shun or press
• 1:10:12
  Speaker 6: around you. Tis his support they seek in seeking yours.
• 1:10:16
  Speaker 6: But look, the Emperor comes.
• 1:10:19
  Speaker 4: Leave me with him.
• 1:10:22
  Speaker 1: Scene too, Nero Agrippina Agrippina seating herself.
• 1:10:28
  Speaker 4: Come hither, NERO take your place beside me. Tis wish
• 1:10:32
  Speaker 4: that I should clear your wrong suspicions. I know not
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 4: with what crime I have been slandered. All I have
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 4: done a midst of explanation. You sway Earth's sceptera now,
• 1:10:44
  Speaker 4: and yet you know how far your birth removed you
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 4: from such greatness. My ancestors, whom Rome has deified, bestowed
• 1:10:52
  Speaker 4: a slender title without me. When Messlina's doom opened a
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 4: field of competition for the couch of Claudius mid All,
• 1:10:59
  Speaker 4: the fair aspirance to his choice, who begged the intercession
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 4: of his freedmen, I wished to win with this sole
• 1:11:07
  Speaker 4: thought that I might give the throne where I should sit.
• 1:11:11
  Speaker 4: To you, my pride, I humbled to solicit Pallace, his
• 1:11:16
  Speaker 4: master daily in my arms, caressed by slow degrees, drew
• 1:11:21
  Speaker 4: from his niece's eyes the love to which I sought
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 4: to lead his feelings. But that close tie of kindred
• 1:11:28
  Speaker 4: blood between us the bard incestuous union. Nor did Claudius
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 4: dare to espouse the daughter of his brother, the psequist
• 1:11:37
  Speaker 4: senate by a law less strict place Claudius in my
• 1:11:41
  Speaker 4: arms Rome at my feet. Thus much I gained, but
• 1:11:45
  Speaker 4: nothing yet for you into his family. I introduced you
• 1:11:49
  Speaker 4: close on my steps, made you his son in law,
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 4: gave you his daughter, whom Silanus loved, and he forsaken
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 4: with his life blood marked that fatal But nothing yet
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 4: was done. Claudius would still prefer his son to you.
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 4: I begged the aid of Pallace once again, and so
• 1:12:09
  Speaker 4: prevailed on Claudius to adopt you. He called you Nero,
• 1:12:14
  Speaker 4: and before the time desired that you should share the
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 4: sovereign power to all men. Then, as they recalled the past,
• 1:12:21
  Speaker 4: my scheme, already too matured, lay bare. His father's friends
• 1:12:26
  Speaker 4: true to Britannicus, murmured against his imminent disgrace. The eyes
• 1:12:31
  Speaker 4: of some with promises I dazzled exile released me from
• 1:12:35
  Speaker 4: the most seditious. Claudius, himself, weary of my complaints, unceasing
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 4: took his son out of the care of those whose zeal,
• 1:12:44
  Speaker 4: long constant to his cause, might yet prevail to set
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 4: him on the throne. Father, I chose among my following
• 1:12:52
  Speaker 4: those whom I wished should have him in their charge.
• 1:12:55
  Speaker 4: Such on the other hand, I named to be your governess,
• 1:12:59
  Speaker 4: whom Rome held most respected death to intrigues. I trusted
• 1:13:03
  Speaker 4: fame's clear voice, recalled from exiled Seneca, and took from
• 1:13:07
  Speaker 4: martial service Burus. Those same men who since roam then
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 4: esteemed them for their virtues. Meanwhile, I drew on the
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 4: imperial chest for lavish lgress. In your name, bestowed presents
• 1:13:21
  Speaker 4: and shows, invincible attractions, gained you the people's hearts, and
• 1:13:25
  Speaker 4: won the army, which, reawakening to his first affections, favored
• 1:13:29
  Speaker 4: in you, My sire, Germanicus Claudius grew feebler as the
• 1:13:33
  Speaker 4: time passed on. His eyes long sealed were opened. At
• 1:13:37
  Speaker 4: the last he knew his error, and in fear let
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 4: fall some words of sorrow for his son. Too late,
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 4: he would have gathered all his friends around him. The guards,
• 1:13:48
  Speaker 4: the palace, and the royal bed were under my control.
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 4: I let his fondness be wasted in vain sighs, and
• 1:13:56
  Speaker 4: kept close watch on his last hours. Feigning to spare
• 1:14:00
  Speaker 4: him pain. I hid his son's tears from the dying monarch.
• 1:14:04
  Speaker 4: He died a thousand shameful rumors spreading. I quickly stopped
• 1:14:09
  Speaker 4: the tidings of his death, and while in secret, Buris
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 4: was dispatched to make the army swear to you allegiance,
• 1:14:16
  Speaker 4: and you were marching to the camp as I arranged.
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 4: In Rome, the smoke of sacrifice rose from her altars,
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 4: and deceived by me, the anxious people prayed that he
• 1:14:27
  Speaker 4: might live. When Claudius was no more, your power established
• 1:14:32
  Speaker 4: on the obedience sworn by all the legions. At length,
• 1:14:36
  Speaker 4: I showed the corpse, and Rome, astonished at what had happened,
• 1:14:41
  Speaker 4: learned that he was dead and nearer ar reigned. This
• 1:14:44
  Speaker 4: is the true confession I wished to make. Thus I
• 1:14:49
  Speaker 4: have sinned, and this is my reward, now that you
• 1:14:54
  Speaker 4: reaped the fruit of all my pains. Grateful for scarce
• 1:14:57
  Speaker 4: six months, you feel the burden of respect too irksome,
• 1:15:01
  Speaker 4: and do not care to recognize me.
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 5: More.
• 1:15:04
  Speaker 4: Buris and Seneca have taught you how to be ungrateful,
• 1:15:07
  Speaker 4: sharpening your suspicions, and overjoyed to find a pupil fitter
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 4: to be their teacher. Gay gallants, I see, like young
• 1:15:15
  Speaker 4: Synesio and Otho, share your confidence, am Panda to your pleasures,
• 1:15:20
  Speaker 4: and when displeased at your disdainful treatment, I have inquired
• 1:15:24
  Speaker 4: the reason of such insults. Unable to withstand by just
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 4: complaints you have replied with ever fresh affronts. Just now,
• 1:15:33
  Speaker 4: I promised Junior to your brother, and both felt flattered
• 1:15:37
  Speaker 4: at your mother's choice. When to your palace secretly conveyed
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 4: one night makes Junia mistress of your heart, from which
• 1:15:45
  Speaker 4: I see Octavia has been banished, and soon I ween
• 1:15:49
  Speaker 4: the nuptial bond I tie will be dissolved. Britannicus arrested
• 1:15:54
  Speaker 4: Pallas in exile. I await the fetters in store for me,
• 1:15:58
  Speaker 4: for Buris dares to act the jailer. When you find
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 4: your guile unmasked, Instead of seeking me to beg forgiveness,
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 4: you order me to justify myself.
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 2: I ne'er forget that tis to you I owe the throne,
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 2: nor need you trouble to repeat it. Your kindness, Madam,
• 1:16:17
  Speaker 2: may at peace repose on Nero's gratitude. Besides, these murmurs
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 2: that breathe the satisfaction and suspicion have made all those
• 1:16:26
  Speaker 2: who hear your plaints believe that hitherto this in your
• 1:16:29
  Speaker 2: private ear, you have in my name toiled, but for yourself,
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 2: such honors, they say, such respectable homage. Are these returned?
• 1:16:39
  Speaker 2: Too mean for her acceptance. What is the crime for
• 1:16:43
  Speaker 2: which she blames her son was only to obey her
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 2: that she crowned him holds he the scepter as her deputy.
• 1:16:51
  Speaker 2: And yet if I could thus have satisfied you, I
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 2: would have gladly yielded you that power which you so
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 2: loudly claimed to reach assume. But Rome will have a master,
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 2: not a mistress. You know the uproar that my weakness
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 2: raised the ferment of the Senate, and the people, hearing
• 1:17:11
  Speaker 2: your will dictated through my lips, how they declared that
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 2: Claudius had bequeathed to me his tame submission with his
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 2: throne a hundred times. You've seen the indignation with which
• 1:17:22
  Speaker 2: our troops have before you paraded their eagles, shamed so
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 2: to disgrace their heroes, whose effigies are stamped upon them. Still,
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 2: no other woman would have braved their scorn. But you,
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 2: unless you reign, ne'er cease and complain leagued with Britonicus.
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 2: The match you proposed between him and Junia was designed
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 2: to strengthen him against me, and Pollus hatched the plot. When,
• 1:17:47
  Speaker 2: to my sore regret, I take such measures as may
• 1:17:50
  Speaker 2: secure my peace. Your rage and hatred burst forth, you'll
• 1:17:54
  Speaker 2: show my rival to the army. Already has the rumor
• 1:17:57
  Speaker 2: reached the camp I make him emperor?
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 5: Will you believe it?
• 1:18:03
  Speaker 4: What votive could I have? What hind be gained? What
• 1:18:07
  Speaker 4: honors might I look for in his court? If malice
• 1:18:10
  Speaker 4: spares me not while you are sovereign, If my accusers
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 4: closely dog my steps and venture to attack the Emperor's mother,
• 1:18:18
  Speaker 4: how should I fare amid a court of strangers? They
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 4: would reproach me not with feeble murmurs, with schemes condemned
• 1:18:26
  Speaker 4: to failure at their birth, but crimes brought in your
• 1:18:29
  Speaker 4: presence for your sake, and all too soon convict me
• 1:18:34
  Speaker 4: of my guilt. You cannot baffle me with your evasions.
• 1:18:37
  Speaker 4: You are ungrateful, and have always been so, even from
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 4: your earliest years. My tender care has but extorted from
• 1:18:45
  Speaker 4: you feigned affection, Naught has veiled to win you, and
• 1:18:49
  Speaker 4: your hardness ought to have stopped the channels of my heart.
• 1:18:54
  Speaker 4: What misery is mine? Must all my fondness be found
• 1:18:58
  Speaker 4: a burden by my only son, He gods who hear
• 1:19:02
  Speaker 4: my sorrowing words. This day? Have not my thousand pairs
• 1:19:06
  Speaker 4: been all for him. Fears, perils and remorse have checked me. Not.
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 4: No scorn subdued me, and I turned mine eyes from
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 4: all calamities that were predicted. I've done my best. You reign,
• 1:19:19
  Speaker 4: and I am content. Now if you wish it, with
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 4: the liberty of which I have been robbed, take life
• 1:19:26
  Speaker 4: as well, provided that the people and their rage deprive
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 4: you not of what has cost me.
• 1:19:31
  Speaker 2: Dear speak, then what is it that you would have
• 1:19:35
  Speaker 2: me do?
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 4: Punish the insolence of mine accusers? Calm the resentment of Britannicus.
• 1:19:41
  Speaker 4: Let Junior have the partner of her choice. Let both
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 4: be free, and Pallas stay at Rome and suffer me
• 1:19:50
  Speaker 4: to see you when I.
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 1: Will, perceiving Buris at the back of the stage.
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 4: Lastly, let Burrus, who has come to hear us, no
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 4: longer detain me at your door.
• 1:20:03
  Speaker 2: Yes, Madam, I desire my gratitude. May henceforth stamp your
• 1:20:07
  Speaker 2: power on every heart. And I already bless that happy frost,
• 1:20:11
  Speaker 2: which makes the fire of our affection brighter. What Pollus
• 1:20:14
  Speaker 2: may have done shall be forgotten. My quarrel with Britannicus
• 1:20:18
  Speaker 2: is over, and as to what has most divided us,
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 2: my passion shall be subject to your judgment. Go then,
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 2: and tell my brother what will please him. Guards, let
• 1:20:29
  Speaker 2: my mother's orders be obeyed.
• 1:20:33
  Speaker 1: Scene three, Nero.
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 6: Buris, with what delight did I behold? My lord embraces
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 6: that must bring back peace between you? You know if
• 1:20:46
  Speaker 6: ere my voice was raised against her, or labored to
• 1:20:49
  Speaker 6: estrange you from her love, or if I merit her
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 6: unjust resentment.
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 2: I tell you plainly, Burus, that I thought one common
• 1:20:57
  Speaker 2: understanding made you both traitors. But now her enmity restores
• 1:21:02
  Speaker 2: you my confidence. She grasps too hastily a triumph. If
• 1:21:08
  Speaker 2: my rival I embrace, it is to crush him, Sire enough,
• 1:21:15
  Speaker 2: his ruin must set me free from Agrippina's fury. For
• 1:21:18
  Speaker 2: while he breathes, I have but half a life. Myne
• 1:21:22
  Speaker 2: ears are weary of his hateful name. Nor will I
• 1:21:25
  Speaker 2: suffer her audacity to promise him my throne a second time?
• 1:21:30
  Speaker 6: Must she soon weep?
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 4: Then?
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 6: For Britannicus ere sunset, I shall fear the boy no more.
• 1:21:37
  Speaker 6: What motive is it that inspires this purpose?
• 1:21:41
  Speaker 2: Honor and love, my safety and my life?
• 1:21:45
  Speaker 6: Nay, tell me what you will. This foul design was never, Sire,
• 1:21:50
  Speaker 6: conceived in your.
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 2: Own breast bursts.
• 1:21:54
  Speaker 6: To learn it from your lips confounds me. Heavens, did
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 6: not you your self shudder to hear it? Thank you?
• 1:22:02
  Speaker 6: What blood you are about to spill? Is nero tired
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 6: of reigning in all hearts? What will men say of you?
• 1:22:10
  Speaker 6: Consider that?
• 1:22:12
  Speaker 2: Why bound forever to a blameless past? Must I observe
• 1:22:16
  Speaker 2: the shifting breeze of favor, the gift of chance? Nor
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 2: certain for a day slave to their will that thwarts
• 1:22:23
  Speaker 2: my own desires? Am I their monarch? But to do
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 2: their pleasure?
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 6: And is it then no satisfaction? Sire? That to your
• 1:22:33
  Speaker 6: hand Rome owes her happiness. You still are master. Tis
• 1:22:38
  Speaker 6: for you to choose. You have been good, and you
• 1:22:41
  Speaker 6: may yet remain so. The way is well marked out,
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 6: no obstacle forbids your steps to tread fresh heights of virtue.
• 1:22:50
  Speaker 6: But should you heed the voice of flattery, then you
• 1:22:53
  Speaker 6: will have to rush from crime to crime, support your
• 1:22:57
  Speaker 6: harshness by new cruelties, and wave through ever rising streams
• 1:23:01
  Speaker 6: of blood. The Prince's death will rouse the fiery zeal
• 1:23:06
  Speaker 6: of all his friends, impatient to take up his quarrel.
• 1:23:09
  Speaker 6: That shall fresh supporters find to follow them when his
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 6: avengers perish the flame you kindle shall be ne'er extinguished.
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 6: Thou feared by all the world, You must yourself fear
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 6: all and tremble as you strike unceasing count every subject
• 1:23:26
  Speaker 6: as an enemy. Ah, does the experience of your earliest
• 1:23:31
  Speaker 6: years cause you to hate your youthful innocence? Think you
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 6: what happiness has marked their course? Good Gods, how tranquility
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 6: they glided by. What a joy to think and say
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 6: within yourself. All at this moment, bless me everywhere and
• 1:23:49
  Speaker 6: love me. No one shudders at my name, No tearful
• 1:23:53
  Speaker 6: eyes are turned to heaven for me. No looks of
• 1:23:57
  Speaker 6: sollen hatred shun my presence, But all all hearts fly
• 1:24:01
  Speaker 6: to meet me as I pass. Such thoughts once pleased you.
• 1:24:06
  Speaker 6: Oh ye, God's what change the violess blood was precious
• 1:24:11
  Speaker 6: in your sight? One day I will remember when the
• 1:24:15
  Speaker 6: Senate pressed you to sign a criminal's death doom. You
• 1:24:18
  Speaker 6: long opposed their just severity. It seemed too cruel to
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 6: your tender heart, and troubled at the burden of a crown,
• 1:24:27
  Speaker 6: you said I would I knew not how to write.
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 6: No be persuaded, or my death shall spare me the
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 6: sight and sorrow of a blow like this. I cannot live, sire,
• 1:24:40
  Speaker 6: to survive your glory if you are bent upon so
• 1:24:43
  Speaker 6: black a.
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 1: Deed, throwing himself at Nero's feet.
• 1:24:49
  Speaker 6: Lo, I am ready strike. Ere you begin, this heart
• 1:24:53
  Speaker 6: that cannot to such crimes. Consent, Send for those cruel
• 1:24:57
  Speaker 6: men who so mislead you, and let them try their
• 1:25:00
  Speaker 6: faltering hands on me. But I can see my tears
• 1:25:05
  Speaker 6: have touched my master. Your virtuous soul shrinks from their
• 1:25:09
  Speaker 6: bloody counsels. Ah, lose no time. Tell me the trader's names,
• 1:25:15
  Speaker 6: who dare to prompt you to such villanies. Summon your
• 1:25:18
  Speaker 6: brother in his arms, forget.
• 1:25:21
  Speaker 2: You know not what you ask.
• 1:25:23
  Speaker 6: He hates you not, he is produced. I know him innocent.
• 1:25:28
  Speaker 6: I'll answer for his loyalty, my liege, I, with all speed,
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 6: will hasten this glad meeting.
• 1:25:35
  Speaker 2: Bring him to my apartments. There await me.
• 1:25:39
  Speaker 1: Scene for Nero.
• 1:25:41
  Speaker 7: Narcissus always provided for so just a death. I have
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 7: the poison ready fame. La Custa has exercised for me
• 1:25:53
  Speaker 7: her utmost skill. She killed a slave before my very eyes.
• 1:25:59
  Speaker 7: A d It cannot make so quick an end as
• 1:26:02
  Speaker 7: this new poison.
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 2: She has given me enough Narcissus. For these pains, I
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 2: thank you, but do not wish you to extend them further.
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 7: What is your hatred for Britannicus so slack that you forbid?
• 1:26:18
  Speaker 2: Yes, we are friends.
• 1:26:20
  Speaker 7: Far be it from me to dissuade you, sire. But
• 1:26:24
  Speaker 7: he so lately found himself in prison that this offense
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 7: will rankle in his heart. No secrets are there, time
• 1:26:34
  Speaker 7: does not reveal. He'll know my hand was to have
• 1:26:38
  Speaker 7: offered him poison prepared for him by your command. May
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 7: Heaven diver is mine from such a purpose. But he
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 7: perchance will do the deed you dare.
• 1:26:50
  Speaker 2: Not the answer for his heart. I'll conquer mine.
• 1:26:56
  Speaker 7: And Junior's marriage. Does that seal the bond? Are you
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 7: to make this sacrifice for him?
• 1:27:04
  Speaker 2: You take too much concern? Be as it may. He
• 1:27:08
  Speaker 2: is no longer enemy of mine.
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 7: Your mother reckoned upon this, my lord, and she once
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 7: more submits your will to hers.
• 1:27:18
  Speaker 2: What mean you, Sarah? Tell me what she says?
• 1:27:23
  Speaker 7: She boasts of it, and publicly enough of what that
• 1:27:29
  Speaker 7: she had. But to see you, sire, one moment and
• 1:27:33
  Speaker 7: all this vehemence and anger, modest silence would succeed, that
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 7: you would be the first to give assent to peace,
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 7: rejoiced that she should deign to pardon what's past.
• 1:27:48
  Speaker 2: Now, sisters tell me how to act? Glad would I
• 1:27:51
  Speaker 2: be to punish a presumption? And if I had my wish,
• 1:27:55
  Speaker 2: this foolish triumph should soon be followed by regret eternal?
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 2: But what will all the world say then of me?
• 1:28:02
  Speaker 2: Wouldst have me following the steps of tyrants? Shall roam
• 1:28:06
  Speaker 2: all honorable titles canceled? Leave me to no other name
• 1:28:09
  Speaker 2: than poisoner. Such vengeance they would count a parricide.
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 7: Did you expect they'd always hold their tongues? Is it
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 7: for you to heat their idle words? Shall your own
• 1:28:24
  Speaker 7: wishes fade from your remembrance? And will you dare to
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 7: thought none but yourself? But you, my lord, know not
• 1:28:34
  Speaker 7: what romans are. They keep a better bridle on their tongue.
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 7: This caution is but weakness in a monarch. They'll think
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 7: that they deserve it. If you fear them. They have
• 1:28:48
  Speaker 7: been long accustomed to the yoke, and lick the hand
• 1:28:52
  Speaker 7: that rivets fast their fetters. You'll find them ever eager
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 7: to contend you type wearied of such cringing subjects. Myself
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 7: invested with a borrowed power, which with my freedom I
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 7: received from Claudius a hundred times during my day of glory.
• 1:29:14
  Speaker 7: Tried hard their patience, but it never failed. Fear you,
• 1:29:20
  Speaker 7: the odium of a cup of poison, destroy the brother
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 7: and desert the sister Rome on her altars will not
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 7: spare the victims, nor fail to find them guilty. Were
• 1:29:33
  Speaker 7: they pure from all offense, their birthdays you will see
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 7: ranked among luckless anniversaries.
• 1:29:42
  Speaker 2: I tell you once again, I cannot do it. I've promised,
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 2: Burus being forced to yield. Now, do I wish to
• 1:29:49
  Speaker 2: break my word and give his virtue arms that he
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 2: may use against me? My courage fell before his arguments.
• 1:29:56
  Speaker 2: Nor could I listen calmly as he spoke leave me.
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 7: Burrus thinks not as he speaks, his virtue shrewdly backs
• 1:30:05
  Speaker 7: his interest. Or rather, they all work with one intent.
• 1:30:11
  Speaker 7: This stroke they see would shatter all their power. You
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 7: would be free, my lord, and at your feet your
• 1:30:19
  Speaker 7: masters then would bow their heads like us want know you,
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 7: not all that they dare to say. Nero, Forsooth was
• 1:30:30
  Speaker 7: never born to rule. His words and deeds are such
• 1:30:33
  Speaker 7: as we prescribe. Burr Us directs his heart and Seneca
• 1:30:38
  Speaker 7: his mind. The sole ambition that he knows is to
• 1:30:41
  Speaker 7: be skillful in the chariot race, to gain the prize
• 1:30:45
  Speaker 7: in meanest competitions, to show himself in public to the Romans,
• 1:30:50
  Speaker 7: to let his voice be heard upon the stage and
• 1:30:53
  Speaker 7: win their admiration with his songs, while Ever and Anon
• 1:30:57
  Speaker 7: his soldiers force the loud applause that greet SI's fresh performance. Ah,
• 1:31:04
  Speaker 7: will you not compel them to be silent.
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 2: Narcissus, Let's go see what we should.
• 1:31:11
  Speaker 1: Do in the fact four, Act five are Britannicus by
• 1:31:21
  Speaker 1: Jean Racine, translated by Robert Bruce Boswell eighteen sixty four
• 1:31:27
  Speaker 1: to nineteen thirty three. This is a LibriVox recording. All
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 1: or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Scene one
• 1:31:43
  Speaker 1: Britannicus Junior.
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 3: Yes, Junior, Nero waits me in his hall. However strange
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 3: it seems to make me welcome there. All the youth
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 3: at court have been invited, and there midfestal pomp and mercy,
• 1:32:00
  Speaker 3: he wills our mutual oaths should, in their sight be
• 1:32:03
  Speaker 3: sealed and love revived with brotherly embraces his passion for yourself,
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 3: source of our hatred, he quenches and makes you over
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 3: his fate, soul, arbitress, though banished from the rank my
• 1:32:18
  Speaker 3: father's held, though in their spoils, he decks him before
• 1:32:23
  Speaker 3: my eyes. Yet ceasing to oppose our love, he yields
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 3: me the delight of pleasing you, and my heart in
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 3: secret pardons him, and gives up all the rest. With
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 3: small regret. No longer shall I live apart from you?
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 3: This moment I can see without alarm those eyes which
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 3: neither grief nor terror moved, which have for me refused
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 3: the imperial throne. But what new fear, dear lady, thus
• 1:32:56
  Speaker 3: constrains your heart's participation in my joy? How while you
• 1:33:01
  Speaker 3: hear me, your sad eyes cast lingering looks towards the
• 1:33:05
  Speaker 3: sky above us? What is it that you dread?
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 5: I scarcely know, but I'm afraid.
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 3: You love me?
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 5: Can you ask it?
• 1:33:18
  Speaker 3: Nero no longer mars our happiness?
• 1:33:21
  Speaker 5: But can you guarantee me his good faith?
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 3: What you suspect him of a secret hatred?
• 1:33:28
  Speaker 5: Just now? Did Nero love me? Swore to slay you? Me?
• 1:33:33
  Speaker 5: He avoids seeks you can change? So great be but
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 5: a moment's work.
• 1:33:40
  Speaker 3: A master stroke of Agrippinas. In this work, I see
• 1:33:44
  Speaker 3: she thought my death would bring her ruin with it.
• 1:33:48
  Speaker 3: Thanks to the foresight of her jealous spirit, our bitterest
• 1:33:52
  Speaker 3: enemies have fought for us. My trust is in the
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 3: passions she displayed in Buris, and the Emperor himself. I trust,
• 1:34:02
  Speaker 3: like me, incapable of treason, he hates with open heart,
• 1:34:07
  Speaker 3: or hates no longer.
• 1:34:09
  Speaker 5: Nay, judge not sir, his feelings by your own. The
• 1:34:14
  Speaker 5: course you follow is not that of Nero, his court
• 1:34:18
  Speaker 5: and him I've known but for a day. But here
• 1:34:21
  Speaker 5: alas if I dare own the truth? How different is
• 1:34:26
  Speaker 5: their speech from what they think? How little do the
• 1:34:30
  Speaker 5: heart and tongue agree? How lightly here are promises belied?
• 1:34:36
  Speaker 5: How strange are all their ways to you and me?
• 1:34:40
  Speaker 3: But be their friendship true or false? If you fear Nero,
• 1:34:46
  Speaker 3: is he without fear himself? No? No, he will not
• 1:34:50
  Speaker 3: by so base a crime dare to arouse the people
• 1:34:53
  Speaker 3: and the Senate against himself. He owned his latest wrong,
• 1:34:59
  Speaker 3: He showed remorse even before Narcissus. Ah, my dear princess,
• 1:35:04
  Speaker 3: had he told you how?
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 5: But are you sure Narcissus is no traitor.
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 3: Why would you have me doubt him?
• 1:35:13
  Speaker 5: Nay, I know not, But tis your life that is
• 1:35:18
  Speaker 5: at stake, my prince, And I read treachery in every eye. Nero,
• 1:35:25
  Speaker 5: I fear and fear the dark misfortunes that dog my steps,
• 1:35:30
  Speaker 5: prescient against my will of woe. With fond regret, I
• 1:35:36
  Speaker 5: see you leave me this peace, wherewith you feed your hopes,
• 1:35:44
  Speaker 5: should hide some secret snare against your life. If Nero,
• 1:35:50
  Speaker 5: by our mutual love provoked, has chosen night's deep shadows
• 1:35:54
  Speaker 5: to conceal his vengeance, and makes ready while I see you,
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 5: to strike, if I should ne'er behold you more, my.
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 3: Prince, dear Junia, do I see you weep? Are my
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 3: concerns of such account to you? To day? When Nero,
• 1:36:15
  Speaker 3: swelling in his pride, thought to bewitch your eyes with
• 1:36:18
  Speaker 3: royal splendor here where all shun me and pay court
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 3: to him? Can you prefer my woes to all his
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 3: pomp on this same day and in his very palace,
• 1:36:31
  Speaker 3: refuse a throne and weep my love for me, But
• 1:36:36
  Speaker 3: dry those precious tears. Soon my return will dissipate alarms.
• 1:36:42
  Speaker 3: Longer delay may wake suspicions. Fare you well, I go.
• 1:36:48
  Speaker 3: My heart is full of tender thoughts of you, amidst
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 3: the mirth of young eyes that are blind to see
• 1:36:54
  Speaker 3: what I see on you. All fondly gaze and hold
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 3: sweet convert Prince. They wait my coming, and I must go.
• 1:37:07
  Speaker 5: At least stay till you're sent.
• 1:37:09
  Speaker 1: For Scene two Britannicus, Agrippina Junior.
• 1:37:15
  Speaker 4: Why tarry, Prince, go quickly? Nero sits impatiently, complaining of
• 1:37:21
  Speaker 4: your absence. The joy of all the guests still incomplete.
• 1:37:25
  Speaker 4: Waste a burst forth till you embrace each other. Let
• 1:37:28
  Speaker 4: not so flattering a wish grow cool. Depart and we
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 4: will find Octavia. Madam.
• 1:37:35
  Speaker 3: Go my fair Junia, with your mind at ease, hasten
• 1:37:39
  Speaker 3: and greet her warmly. She expects you. As soon as
• 1:37:43
  Speaker 3: I can do so, I will join you and give
• 1:37:46
  Speaker 3: you thanks, Madam, for all your kindness.
• 1:37:51
  Speaker 1: Scene three Agrippina Junia, Madam.
• 1:37:55
  Speaker 4: If I mistake not, you have shed some parting tears
• 1:37:58
  Speaker 4: with which your eyes are, tell me what cloud has
• 1:38:03
  Speaker 4: troubled your calm sky? Doubt you the peace my pains
• 1:38:06
  Speaker 4: have now secured.
• 1:38:08
  Speaker 5: After so many griefs this day has cost me. I
• 1:38:13
  Speaker 5: cannot still my agitated heart scarce Can I yet believe
• 1:38:18
  Speaker 5: this miracle? And should I fear your goodness may be thwarted?
• 1:38:23
  Speaker 5: Forgive me, for I knows the court is fickle, and
• 1:38:27
  Speaker 5: some alarm always consorts with love.
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 4: I've said enough, the aspect of affairs is altered, and
• 1:38:35
  Speaker 4: my cares leave you no ground to doubt it. I
• 1:38:38
  Speaker 4: will answer for this peace. Neer has sworn to me
• 1:38:42
  Speaker 4: with surest pledges. I would that you had witnessed the
• 1:38:46
  Speaker 4: endearments with which he sealed anew his solemn promise with
• 1:38:51
  Speaker 4: what affection He just now detained me and kept his
• 1:38:54
  Speaker 4: arms around me. Ere we parted, His ready kindness written
• 1:38:58
  Speaker 4: on his features, at first to lighter matters, condescended with
• 1:39:02
  Speaker 4: filial frankness. All his pride for getting into his mother's
• 1:39:06
  Speaker 4: heart poured forth his feelings, but soon resuming a severer manner,
• 1:39:12
  Speaker 4: as of an emperor who consults his mother without reserve.
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 4: He trusted me with secrets whereon the fortune of mankind
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 4: the pens no I must here confess it to his honor.
• 1:39:23
  Speaker 4: He harbors now no taint of dark resentment. Our enemies
• 1:39:27
  Speaker 4: alone warped his good nature and gained his ear to
• 1:39:31
  Speaker 4: bias him against us, But in its turn their influence
• 1:39:35
  Speaker 4: is waning. Rome soon shall recognize my power once more
• 1:39:39
  Speaker 4: and gladly hails the end of my disfavor. Meanwhile, we
• 1:39:43
  Speaker 4: must not tarry here till night. But with Octavia close,
• 1:39:47
  Speaker 4: this happy day I deem so fatal. But what strikes
• 1:39:52
  Speaker 4: my ears uproar and tumult? What can they be doing?
• 1:39:56
  Speaker 5: Oh, gracious Heaven, save Britannicus.
• 1:40:01
  Speaker 1: Scene four, Agrippina junior Burus.
• 1:40:05
  Speaker 4: Whither away so fast?
• 1:40:07
  Speaker 5: Stop burst?
• 1:40:08
  Speaker 6: Tell me, Madam tis done. Britannicus is dying.
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 4: A laugh, ha, my friend dying.
• 1:40:23
  Speaker 6: Or rather Madam already dead.
• 1:40:27
  Speaker 5: Parted this agony. I got to succor or to follow him.
• 1:40:36
  Speaker 1: Scene five, Agrippina Burus.
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 4: Oh, Burus, what a crime.
• 1:40:41
  Speaker 6: I'll not survive it. I needs must quit the Emperor
• 1:40:45
  Speaker 6: and his court?
• 1:40:46
  Speaker 4: What quailed he not to shed his brother's blood?
• 1:40:50
  Speaker 6: More secretly he compassed his design scarce did the Emperor
• 1:40:54
  Speaker 6: see his brother come? When from his knees he raised
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 6: him and embraced him, And while all stood in silence,
• 1:41:02
  Speaker 6: seized a cup to crown this day, said he, with
• 1:41:06
  Speaker 6: better welcome. I pour the first drops forth as my libation. Ye, gods,
• 1:41:12
  Speaker 6: to whom I thus appeal, be present to favor now
• 1:41:16
  Speaker 6: our reconciliation by the same oaths, the young prince binds himself.
• 1:41:23
  Speaker 6: The cup still in his hand is by Narcissus rey filled.
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 6: But as he touched it to his lips, no sword
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 6: thrust ever caused effect so potent his eyes grew dim.
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 6: Their vital fire had vanished. Lifeless and cold, upon his couch,
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 6: he fell. Think how this blow struck every trembling heart.
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 6: Half the guests, with cries of fear, rushed out, But
• 1:41:48
  Speaker 6: those whose knowledge of the court was longer conformed their
• 1:41:52
  Speaker 6: countenance to Caesar's looks, which showed no sign of wonder.
• 1:41:55
  Speaker 6: As he lay still on his couch. This malady said,
• 1:41:59
  Speaker 6: he of which you fear the violence, has oft times
• 1:42:03
  Speaker 6: attacked his childhood, and is free from danger. Narcissus tried
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 6: in vain to seem concerned. His treacherous joy betrayed itself
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 6: too well. Let nero, if you will punish my boldness. I,
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 6: passing through the crowd, left his vile court, and, overwhelmed
• 1:42:22
  Speaker 6: with grief at this foul murder, mourned for the Prince,
• 1:42:26
  Speaker 6: for Caesar, and for Rome.
• 1:42:29
  Speaker 4: He comes now you shall see if I inspired him.
• 1:42:34
  Speaker 1: Scene six Nero, Agrippina burs Narcissus. Nero seeing Agrippina, great.
• 1:42:41
  Speaker 4: Gods stop Nero. I must speak to you a word
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 4: or two. Britannicus is dead. I know the hand that
• 1:42:49
  Speaker 4: murdered him.
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 2: Who, madam you, I see how suspicion works upon you.
• 1:42:57
  Speaker 2: No evil happens, but you hold me guilty. And if
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 2: one chose to heed your reckless words, twas I who
• 1:43:04
  Speaker 2: cut the life of Claudius short. You loved his son.
• 1:43:08
  Speaker 2: His death may turn your brain, But for the strokes
• 1:43:11
  Speaker 2: of fate I cannot answer no.
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 4: No, Britannicus has died of poison. Narcissus did the deed
• 1:43:18
  Speaker 4: at your command, Madam?
• 1:43:21
  Speaker 2: Who dares to tell you it was? So?
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 7: Does this suspicion wrong you, sire? So much? Madam? Britannicus
• 1:43:29
  Speaker 7: had secret projects which carried out, would with good cause,
• 1:43:34
  Speaker 7: have grieved you. His aim was higher than a match
• 1:43:39
  Speaker 7: with Junia. You would have suffered deeply for your kindness.
• 1:43:44
  Speaker 7: Much he deceived you, meaning soon or late, to take
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 7: full vengeance for his cherished wrongs. If Fate has helped
• 1:43:54
  Speaker 7: you in your own despite or Caesar, with his knowledge
• 1:43:58
  Speaker 7: of the plots against your life, trusted my faithful service.
• 1:44:03
  Speaker 7: Leave tears, my lady, to your enemies, and let them
• 1:44:08
  Speaker 7: number this calamity with those they deem their worst. But
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 7: you go on.
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 4: Such ministers will win a glorious name for Nero. You
• 1:44:19
  Speaker 4: have gone too far already now to draw back. First,
• 1:44:22
  Speaker 4: with your brother's blood beginning, I foresee your hand will
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 4: strike your mother next. For in your secret heart you
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 4: hate me and would free you from the yoke of gratitude.
• 1:44:33
  Speaker 4: But I will make my death useless, nor think that dying.
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 4: I will leave you in peace. This light of day
• 1:44:40
  Speaker 4: to which I gave you, This city, always everywhere will
• 1:44:44
  Speaker 4: show me before your eyes. Remorse like furies haunt you
• 1:44:49
  Speaker 4: by fresh atrocities. You will think to calm then, and madness,
• 1:44:53
  Speaker 4: rising like a swollen stream, shall brand your life with bloodshed,
• 1:44:57
  Speaker 4: dire and frequent, but heaven at last. I hope, loathing
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 4: your crimes will add another victim to the heap, and
• 1:45:06
  Speaker 4: after worrowing in their blood and mine, that you will
• 1:45:09
  Speaker 4: be compelled to shed your own. Now that posterity shall
• 1:45:13
  Speaker 4: hold your name more odious than the cruelest of tyrants. This,
• 1:45:18
  Speaker 4: my heart tells me, is your destiny. Farewell, depart, Narcissus
• 1:45:24
  Speaker 4: follow me.
• 1:45:27
  Speaker 1: Scene seven, Agrippina buris.
• 1:45:31
  Speaker 4: Heavens. How unjust have my suspicions been, condemning you, and
• 1:45:36
  Speaker 4: hearkening to Narcissus, saw you could burus. What a glance
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 4: of fury Nero left with me as his valediction. The
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 4: die is cast. Nothing will stop him now. The blow
• 1:45:50
  Speaker 4: foretold me is about to fall, and he will overwhelm
• 1:45:54
  Speaker 4: you in your turn.
• 1:45:56
  Speaker 6: Ah As for me, I've lived a day to long.
• 1:46:01
  Speaker 6: Would heaven his cruelty had been so kind as to
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 6: have tried its prentice hand on me?
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 1: Then?
• 1:46:08
  Speaker 6: Should I have been spared this certain prospect of Rome's
• 1:46:11
  Speaker 6: impending ruin which this crime reveals. It is not that
• 1:46:16
  Speaker 6: the deed alone wakes my despair, since jealousy might prompt
• 1:46:19
  Speaker 6: the fratricide. But to be candid, Madam, twas Nero's coolness
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 6: as he saw him die, the look of unconcern already
• 1:46:29
  Speaker 6: fixed that marks the tyrant, long inured to crime. Let
• 1:46:33
  Speaker 6: him complete his work and put to death a troublesome
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 6: adviser who can bear him no longer. Far from wishing
• 1:46:41
  Speaker 6: to escape, the quickest doom shall be to me most.
• 1:46:44
  Speaker 1: Welcome scene eight. Agrippina Burus Albina.
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 8: Madam, run in safe the emperor go berris go his
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 8: madness masters him parted forever from all hope of Junior.
• 1:47:00
  Speaker 4: What has The princess then ended her life.
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 8: To overwhelm him with eternal sorrow, though yet alive, Junia
• 1:47:09
  Speaker 8: is dead for him. You know how hurriedly she left
• 1:47:13
  Speaker 8: this spot, feigning that she would visit, said Octavia. But
• 1:47:17
  Speaker 8: soon she turned aside and took her way where I
• 1:47:19
  Speaker 8: could follow her. As on she sped, she passed distracted
• 1:47:23
  Speaker 8: to the palace gates. But when she saw the statue
• 1:47:26
  Speaker 8: of Augustus, she with her tears, bedue to his marble feet,
• 1:47:31
  Speaker 8: clinging around them closely with her arms. Prince, by these, niece,
• 1:47:36
  Speaker 8: said she, which I embrace. Protect me now, lest of
• 1:47:40
  Speaker 8: thy family Rome has just witnessed slaughtered in thy palace,
• 1:47:45
  Speaker 8: the only one of thy descendants left who might have
• 1:47:48
  Speaker 8: been like thee they would have had me prove false
• 1:47:51
  Speaker 8: to him. To keep my faith unsullied, I here devoted
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 8: me to the immortal gods, whose altars, through thy virtue
• 1:48:00
  Speaker 8: thou dost chare. Meanwhile, the people wandering at the sight
• 1:48:04
  Speaker 8: from all directions fly and throng around her, pitying her
• 1:48:08
  Speaker 8: sorrow melted at her tears, and with one voice they
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 8: promised to defend her. They lead her to the temple,
• 1:48:16
  Speaker 8: where so long our virgins vowed to serve at Vesta's shrine,
• 1:48:20
  Speaker 8: keep faithful watch over the precious fire that burns forever.
• 1:48:24
  Speaker 7: There.
• 1:48:25
  Speaker 8: Caesar looks on, nor dares to interfere as they depart.
• 1:48:29
  Speaker 8: Emboldened by the wish to please his master, Narcissus lays
• 1:48:33
  Speaker 8: the sacred leegious hand on Junia, and, without alarming her,
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 8: tries to detain her. But a thousand blows punish his rashness,
• 1:48:42
  Speaker 8: and the damsel's robes are sprinkled with his blood. In
• 1:48:45
  Speaker 8: dumb surprise, the Emperor leaves him in their hand and
• 1:48:49
  Speaker 8: goes back to his palace, and his sullen silence forbids approach.
• 1:48:54
  Speaker 8: Only the name of Junia escapes his lips. With vague,
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 8: uncertain steps. He walk with downcast and bewildered eyes, and
• 1:49:03
  Speaker 8: much I fear that knight and solitude combining to embitter
• 1:49:07
  Speaker 8: his despair. If you should longer fail to bring him
• 1:49:10
  Speaker 8: succor his grief may hurry him to self destruction. Time
• 1:49:15
  Speaker 8: presses run, or in a fit of passion, he'll take.
• 1:49:19
  Speaker 4: His life tis justly forfeited. But Burus, let us see
• 1:49:24
  Speaker 4: how far his transports are like to go, whether remorse
• 1:49:27
  Speaker 4: will change him, and he henceforth will list better counsel.
• 1:49:32
  Speaker 6: Aye would to heaven this crime might be his last.
• 1:49:38
  Speaker 1: In the fact five in The Britannicus by Jean Racine,
• 1:49:43
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell eighteen sixty four to nineteen
• 1:49:48
  Speaker 1: thirty three.