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AGRIPPINA AND NERO 13
later, unless Narcissus sets them free from the edifying
spectacle of a semi-divinity quite intoxicated.'
'
'
Hush said '
!
Agrippiua, severely. This levity is
boyish
and ill-timed. Jest at what you like, but never at the majesty
of the Imperial power not even in private, not even to me.
And remember that palace walls have ears. Did you leave
'
Octavia at the table ?
'I did.'
' '
'
Imprudent said his mother. You know what ! pains
I have taken to keep her from seeing too much of her father
except when we are present. Claudius sometimes sleeps off
the fumes of wine, and after a doze he can talk as sensibly as
'
he ever does. Was Britannicus in the Hall ?
'
'
'
Britannicus ? said Nero. Of course not. You have
taken pains enough, mother, to keep him in the background.
According to the antique fashion which the Emperor has revived
of late, you saw him at the banquet, sitting at the end
of the seat behind his father. But the boys have been
dismissed with their pedagogues long ago, and, for all I know,
Britannicus has been sent to bed.'
'
And for whose sake do I take these precautions
? ' asked
the
'
Empress. Is it not for your sake, ungrateful ? Is it not
that you may wear the purple, and tower over the world as
the Imperator Rornanus '
?
'
For my sake,' thought Nero, '
and for her own sake, too.'
But he said nothing and as he had not attained to
;
the art of
disguising his thoughts from that keenest of observers, he bent
down, to conceal a smile, and kissed his mother's cheek, with
'
'
the murmured words, Best of mothers !
'
'
Best of mothers ! Yes ;
but for how long
? said Agrippina.
'
When once I have seated you on the throne '
She
broke off her sentence. She had never dared to tell her son
the fearful augury which the Chaldeans had uttered of him :
'
He shall be Emperor, and shall kill his mother.' He had
'
never dreamed that she had returned the answer : Let him
slay me, so he be Emperor.'
'
Optima mater, now and always,' he replied. But I am
angry with Britannicus '
very angry and he ! stamped his
foot.
'
Why ? The boy is harmless enough. I thought you had
him completely under your power. You seem to be very