in peace dishes prepared by Sicilian chefs—
(Laughter and hoots from the crowd.)
ROMULUS
Don’t you recognize the orator? It’s Porcius, the drunk; Porcius,the glutton.
CROWD
Down with Porcius!
(They shove him.)
Down! Down!
PORCIUS (aside)
One will never make anything of these ragamuffins.
SENECA
I demand to speak.
CROWD
Silence! Listen! Silence!
SENECA (after having spit and coughed)
I won’t tell you O Manes of Senator Plautus, the color of Venus’ hair, the day of the birth of Hercules, the number of Achilles’ hair—
(Laughter and hoots)
CROWD
Enough! Enough!
SENECA
I won’t tell you—
CROWD
Down with the orator!
ROMULUS
It’s Seneca, the philosopher, Seneca, the lawyer, Seneca, the merchant of phrases—
CROWD
Down with him! Down with him!
SENECA
In the name of the twelve gread Gods—
ROMULUS
If he doesn’t shut up, throw him in the Tiber—
CROWD
Yes, yes.
SENECA
Mercy, my good friends, mercy.
CROWD
In the Tiber! In the Tiber!
NERVA (appearing)
Stop!
ALL
Nerva!
AURELIUS
Yes, citizens! The only man who is worthy of being your leader.
ROMULUS
Silence, now, and let everyone form up.
(To Nerva)
Approach, Lord, come confide to Plautus your message to the land of the shadows.
NERVA
When Tiberius strikes our friends and our neighbors he forbids regrets, he makes a crime of our tears. He orders the mother whose son he kills to put laurels on her door. He orders the son whose father he has killed to kiss his merciful hand; as for me, I declare that I honor the victims of Tiberius, that I approach them without fear, and that I hold them as sacred! Allow me then, O Death, to shake your cold hand. Let me turn your livid face toward the stars. Hear, O Death, my funereal goodbyes! Tell Julius Caesar that under Tiberius, barbarians insult the frontiers of the Empire, and that Rome agonizes in blood. Tell Augustus to send us from the depth of his tomb, a breath of honor and justie, to revive in us the faith of our ancestors, and to make Tiberius quake in his infamous island. Tell the Republicans, those vanquished at Pharsalus, that we have all sworn on your cadaver, eternal hate to tyranny!
ALL
Eternal hate!
ROMULUS
Listen—that marching, that noise of arms!
CROWD (with terror)
The Praetorians!
NERVA
Yes, the Praetorians—who are with us! The Praetorians that Caligula is leading to us!
(The old geezer makes a violent gesture)
KIOMARA (low)
Patience, will you!
(Numerous soldiers invade the square)
CROWD
Long live Caligula! Long live the Praetorians!
CALIGULA
Block all the streets!
(Turning to the Patricians)
In the name of Tiberius, I arrest you!
NERVA
Treason!
CALIGULA
You understand that resistance is useless.
KIOMARA (low to old geezer)
There! You see!
(The Old Geezer strides forward and throws back the hood that hid his face.)
ALL (recognizing him)
Tiberius!
TIBERIUS (to Caligula)
By Hercules! Now there’s a fine nephew.
CALIGULA (bending his knee)
Caesar!
TIBERIUS
Hug me, will you, my dear Caius!
(aside)
Someone must have warned him I was in Rome.
(looking at Kiomara)
She, perhaps!
CALIGULA (aside)
Kiomara didn’t deceive me.
(aloud)
Caesar, my devotion, my respect.
TIBERIUS
Fine, fine. I know your heart.
NERVA (to Caligula)
Do you deny that this very morning you conspired with us?
PATRICIANS
Yes,
