Poppaea

Poppaea

Poppaea is a slave-girl. The slave-girl stands near the door. The slave-girl watches the road. The master sleeps in the garden. The master is Lucrio. Lucrio is an old man.

Poppaea: I am waiting for my friend. Where is my friend? (Lucrio snores.) Oh no! Lucrio is in the house. (Farmers shout in the street.)

Farmers: Hooray! The farmers do not work today!

Poppaea: Lucrio! Lucrio! The farmers enter the city. The farmers are here.

Lucrio: Boys! (Half-asleep) F...f...farmers? Hooray! Sorex! Actius! The actors are here.

Poppaea: Lucrio! Lucrio! The boys run through the street. Why do you shout, Poppaea? Why are you making a commotion?

Poppaea: Lucrio, the Pompeians are making a commotion. The farmers and boys are in the street.

Lucrio: Why are you bothering me?

Poppaea: The actors are performing a play in the theatre.

Lucrio: Actors?

Poppaea: Sorex and Actius are here.

Lucrio: What are you saying?

Poppaea: (angrily) The old men walk to the theatre, the young men hurry to the theatre, all the Pompeians rush to the theatre. The actors are performing a play in the theatre.

Lucrio: Hooray! The actors are here. I also will hurry to the theatre. (Lucrio exits.)

Poppaea: My friend: Hooray! Lucrio is gone! (Friend enters the house.)

Friend: Greetings, my dove!

Poppaea: Grumio, my delight! Greetings!