This fierce and victorious woman, carried away by her great success, has dared to menace the sacred empire of the world. Who can recall the many crimes, and infamous desires, and beguiling treachery of a woman who seeks power through the steps of every crime? Then sacred Loyalty fled with trembling step; cruel Erinys with deadly tread entered the deserted halls, polluted with baneful fires the sacred Penates, violated Justice, and broke every law of Nature. The unnatural wife mixed poison for her husband; he perished; then soon, she, too, fell by the hand of her own son. Thou, too, art fallen, Britannicus, unhappy youth whom we forever mourn, recently the star of the universe and the protector of a mighty home; now, woe to me, thou art only light ashes and a sorrowful shade. Even the cruel stepmother shed tears when I placed thy body upon the funeral pyre and when the cruel flame played round thy godlike limbs and features.[33]
_OCTAVIA_: Let it destroy me too lest this tyrant perish by my hand.
_NURSE_: Nature has not given such strength to thee.
_OCTAVIA_: Grief, sadness, misery, anguish, and mourning will give it.
_NURSE_: Thou hadst better conquer pitiless Nero by obedience.
_OCTAVIA_: For what purpose? That he may restore to me my brother whom he has murdered?
_NURSE_: That thou, thyself, mayst be safe; that thou by thy progeny, mayst keep from ruin the former home of thy father.
_OCTAVIA_: The home of the emperor desires another offspring. The dreadful death of my brother distracts me.
_NURSE_: Such great favor of the citizens toward him should soothe thy mind.[34]
_OCTAVIA_: It alleviates my sorrows but does not free me from them.
_NURSE_: The power of the people is great.
_OCTAVIA_: But the power of the ruler is greater.
_NURSE_: He will have regard for his wife.
_OCTAVIA_: His mistress forbids this.[35]
_NURSE_: But as everyone knows, she is hated by all.
_OCTAVIA_: Soon she will be a wife and at the same time a mother.
_NURSE_: Youthful ardor rages at first but easily languishes just as the warmth of a little flame; not long does it continue in disgraceful love, but unceasing love for a chaste wife remains. The first slave[36] who dared to dishonor thy couch long swayed the emperor’s mind, but now she fears--