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Suddenly Chrysa, daughter of Epicharis, who is ignorant of her mother's real character and dwells apart from her, rushes in and implores the protection of Vindex from a crowd of revellers who have pursued her. A very spirited duet follows in which the prince promises her his assistance.
A woman, named Epicharis, who had formerly been a mistress of Nero, was privy to Piso's conspiracy, and thinking it might be useful to have the help of a certain captain of triremes whom Nero had among his body-guards, she acquainted him with the plot, but not with the names of the plotters.
The persecuted girl sings a beautiful prayer, at the close of which Vindex joins her in a love-duet, which will always remain as one of the most refined and noble products of Rubinstein's skill in harmony. The next number is one of almost equal beauty, a duet for Chrysa and Epicharis, the motive of which is a cradle song.
Being thus deprived of their leader, the conspirators gave up all hope of effecting the revolution, and thought only of the means of screening themselves from Nero's vengeance. In the mean time, Epicharis had so far recovered during the night, that on the following morning it was determined to bring her again to the torture.
Proculus reveals the plot to Nero. Nero perplexed. Epicharis imprisoned. A new plan. Piso's objections. Reasons. Final arrangements agreed upon. Nero to be slain in the theatre. The several parts assigned. Scevinus. Excitement of Scevinus. His knife. He gives his knife to Milichus to be ground. Milichus confers with his wife. Their suspicions. Revelations made by Milichus. Scevinus's defense.
In the mean time the conspirators became considerably alarmed when they heard of the arrest of Epicharis, and though they knew that thus far she had revealed nothing, they could not tell how soon her fidelity and firmness might yield under the tortures to which she was every day liable to be subjected; and as there appeared to be now no prospect that Flavius would ever undertake to execute his plan, they began to devise some other means of attaining the end.
Proculus listened with great apparent interest to Epicharis's communication, and pretended to enter very cordially into the plan of the conspiracy; but as soon as the interview was ended he immediately left Misenum, and proceeded immediately to Rome, where he divulged the whole design to Nero. Nero was exceedingly alarmed, and sent officers off at once to seize Epicharis and bring her before him.
Epicharis, when questioned and confronted with Proculus, resolutely denied that she had ever held any such conversation with Proculus as he alledged, and feigned the utmost astonishment at what she termed the impudence of his accusation. She called for witnesses and proofs.
Among the other officers of the fleet was a certain Proculus, who was one of the first with whom Epicharis communicated. Proculus was one of the men who had been employed by Nero in his attempts to assassinate Agrippina his mother, and for his services on that occasion had been promoted to the command of a certain number of ships, a number containing in all one thousand men.
Origin and nature of Piso's conspiracy. Lucan, the Latin poet. His quarrel with Nero. Lateranus. Celebrity of his name. The church of St. John Lateran. Fenius Rufus. A woman in the secret. Plans and arrangements of the conspirators. Bold proposals of Flavius. The palace to be set on fire. Epicharis impatient. She goes to the fleet. She communicates with Proculus at Misenum.
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