The
Argument
The
drama
opens
with
the
indignation
of
Agrippina
,
at
receiving
her
son's
orders
from
Anicetus
to
remove
from
Baiae
,
and
to
have
her
guard
taken
from
her
.
At
this
time
Otho
having
conveyed
Poppaea
from
the
house
of
her
husband
Rufus
Crispinus
,
brings
her
to
Baiae
,
where
he
means
to
conceal
her
among
the
croud
;
or
,
if
his
fraud
is
discovered
,
to
have
recourse
to
the
Emperor's
authority
;
but
,
knowing
the
lawless
temper
of
Nero
,
he
determines
not
to
have
recourse
to
that
expedient
,
but
on
the
utmost
necessity
.
In
the
meantime
he
commits
her
to
the
care
of
Anicetus
,
whom
he
takes
to
be
his
friend
,
and
in
whose
age
he
thinks
he
may
safely
confide
.
Nero
is
not
yet
come
to
Baiae
:
but
Seneca
,
whom
he
sends
before
him
,
informs
Agrippina
of
the
accusation
concerning
Rubellius
Plancus
,
and
desires
her
to
clear
herself
,
which
she
does
briefly
;
but
demands
to
see
her
son
,
who
,
on
his
arrival
,
acquits
her
of
all
suspicion
,
and
restores
her
to
her
honours
.
In
the
meanwhile
Anicetus
,
to
whose
care
Poppaea
had
been
entrusted
by
Otho
,
contrives
the
following
plot
to
ruin
Agrippina
:
He
betrays
his
trust
to
Otho
,
and
brings
Nero
,
as
it
were
by
chance
,
to
the
sight
of
the
beautiful
Poppaea
;
the
Emperor
is
immediately
struck
with
her
charms
,
and
she
,
by
a
feigned
resistance
,
increases
his
passion
;
tho'
,
in
reality
,
she
is
from
the
first
dazzled
with
the
prospect
of
empire
,
and
forgets
Otho
:
She
therefore
joins
with
Anicetus
in
his
design
of
ruining
Agrippina
,
soon
perceiving
that
it
will
be
for
her
interest
.
Otho
hearing
that
the
Emperor
had
seen
Poppaea
,
is
much
enraged
;
but
not
knowing
that
this
interview
was
obtained
thro'
the
treachery
of
Anicetus
,
is
readily
persuaded
by
him
to
see
Agrippina
in
secret
,
and
acquaint
her
with
his
fears
that
her
son
Nero
would
marry
Poppaea
.
Agrippina
,
to
support
her
own
power
,
and
to
wean
the
Emperor
from
the
love
of
Poppaea
,
gives
Otho
encouragement
,
and
promises
to
support
him
.
Anicetus
secretly
introduces
Nero
to
hear
their
discourse
;
who
resolves
immediately
on
his
mother's
death
,
and
,
by
Anicetus's
means
,
to
destroy
her
by
drowning
.
A
solemn
feast
,
in
honour
of
their
reconciliation
,
is
to
be
made
;
after
which
she
being
to
go
by
sea
to
Bauli
,
the
ship
is
so
contrived
as
to
sink
or
crush
her
;
she
escapes
by
accident
,
and
returns
to
Baiae
.
In
this
interval
Otho
has
an
interview
with
Poppaea
;
and
being
duped
a
second
time
by
Anicetus
and
her
,
determines
to
fly
with
her
into
Greece
,
by
means
of
a
vessel
which
is
to
be
furnished
by
Anicetus
;
but
he
,
pretending
to
remove
Poppaea
on
board
in
the
night
,
conveys
her
to
Nero's
apartment
:
She
there
encourages
and
determines
Nero
to
banish
Otho
,
and
finish
the
horrid
deed
he
had
attempted
on
his
mother
.
Anicetus
undertakes
to
execute
his
resolves
;
and
,
under
pretence
of
a
plot
upon
the
Emperor's
life
,
is
sent
with
a
guard
to
murder
Agrippina
,
who
is
still
at
Baiae
in
imminent
fear
,
and
irresolute
how
to
conduct
herself
.
The
account
of
her
death
,
and
the
Emperor's
horrour
and
fruitless
remorse
,
finishes
the
drama
.