against him. "O Hercules, my Roman Hercules--does love, that makes us
women see, put bandages on men's eyes? You have turned your back upon
the better part of Rome to--"

"Better part?" He shook her by the shoulders, snorting. "Liars,
cowards, ingrates, strutting peacocks, bladders of wind boring me and
one another with their empty phrases, cringing lick-spittles--they make
me sick to look at them! They fawn on me like hungry dogs. By Jupiter,
I make myself ridiculous too often, pandering to a lot of courtiers! If
they despise me then as I despise myself, I am in a bad way! I must
make haste and live again! I will get the stench of them out of my
nostrils and the sickening sight of them out of my eyes by watching true
men fight! When I slay lions with a javelin, or gladiators--"

"You but pander to the rabble," Marcia interrupted. "So did Nero. Did
they come to his aid when the senate and his friends deserted him?"

"Don't interrupt me, woman! Senate! Court!" he snorted. "I can rout
the senate with a gesture! I will fill my court with gladiators! I can
change my ministers as often as I please--aye, and my mistress too," he
added, glaring at her. "Out with the names of these new conspirators
who have set you trembling for my destiny!"

"I know none--not yet," she said. "I can feel, though. I hear the
whispers in the Thermae--"

"By Jupiter, then I will close the Thermae."

"When I pass through the streets I read men's faces--"