(SCENE 2.)

Enter Nimphidius solus.

Slow making counsels and the sliding yeere Have brought me to the long foreseene destruction Of this misled young man. His State is shaken And I will push it on; revolted France Nor the coniured Provinces of Spaine Nor his owne guilt shall like to me oppresse him. I to his easie yeelding feares proclaime New German mutenys and all the world Rowsing it selfe in hate of Neroes name; I his distracted counsels doe disperce With fresh despaires; I animate the Senate And the people, to ingage them past recall In preiudice of Nero: and in briefe Perish he must,—the fates and I resolve it. Which to effect I presently will goe Proclaime a Donative in Galbaes name.

Enter Antoneus to him.

Anton. Yonders Nimphidius, our Commander, now. I with respect must speake and smooth my brow. —Captaine, all haile.

Nimph. Antoneus, well met. Your place of Tribune in this Anarchi.

Anton. This Anarchy, my Lord? is Nero dead?

Nimph. This Anarchy, this yet unstiled time While Galba is unseased of the Empire Which Nero hath forsooke.

Anton. Hath Nero then resign'd the Empire?

Nimph. In effect he hath for he's fled to Egypt.

Anton. My Lord, you tell strange newes to me.

Nimph. But nothing strange to mee, Who every moment knew of his despaires. The Curriers came so fast with fresh alarmes Of new revolts that he, unable quite To beare his feares which he had long conceal'd, Is now revolted from himselfe and fled.

Anton. Thrust with report and rumours from his seat! My Lord, you know the Campe depends on you As you determine.

Nimph. There it lies Antonius. What should we doe? it boots not to relie On Neroes stinking fortunes; and to sit Securely looking on were to receive An Emperor from Spaine: which how disgracefull It were to us who, if we waigh our selves, The most materiall accessions are Of all the Roman Empire. Which disgrace To cover we must ioyne ourselves betimes, And therefore seeme to have created Galba. Therefore He straight proclaime a Donative Of thirty thousand sesterces a man.

Anton. I thinke so great a gift was never heard of. Galba, they say, is frugally inclinde: Will he avow so great a gift as this?

Nimph. Howere he like of it he must avow it, If by our promise he be once ingaged; And since the souldiers care belongs to mee, I will have care of them and of their good. Let them thank me if I through this occasion Procure for them so great a donative. [Ex. Nimph.

Anton. So you be thankt it skils not who prevaile, Galba or Nero,—traitor to them both. You give it out that Neroes fled to Egypt, Who, with the frights of your reports amaz'd, By our device doth lurke for better newes, Whilst you inevitably doe betray him. Workes he all this for Galba then? Not so: I have long seene his climbing to the Empire By secret practises of gracious women. And other instruments of the late Court. That was his love to her that me refus'd; And now by this he would [gain?] give the souldiers favour. Now is the time to quit Poppaeas scorne And his rivallity. Ile straight reveale His treacheries to Galbaes agents here. [Exit.