Germanicus Read online

MARCIA

  You would not sleep tonight. That’s bad. It’s very unwise.

  AGRIPPINA

  But I feel awake. I wish we could, this very night,

  depart just as the morning stars appear.

  Just listen: in the dark of night the legions stir.

  Iron clanks ’gainst iron. Hear them start their march.

  Jumps up, goes towards the door

  I feel myself march with each darkened footfall.

  The night itself is stirring, gains life and cruelty

  as the mighty armies prepare to march.

  MARCIA

  Oh dear! I haven’t done! Come, sit here!

  How your lovely curls do twist into a mop!

  AGRIPPINA

  I wish I could with locks run wild bestride a horse

  and lead the men. Our armies choose the way

  to the heart of the great Germany; our chase;

  today is going to be fine.

  MARCIA

  You’re a woman; you’ve children.

  AGRIPPINA

  But he and I shall hunt! He is the tiger

  and I the tiger’s dam: we hunt as one.

  Gets up again

  D’you know, I am not afraid of blood like women –

  like other women ...

  MARCIA

  Do sit. Just for a moment.

  AGRIPPINA [28]

  Sits again; softly

  I have walked across his battlefields alone

  where thousands, where every yard a man lay dead

  and reeking blood; and horses neighing still in fear

  (it is a dreadful sight as dumb brutes scream

  and stagger, drag and bite)

  and wounds where life is throbbing out ...

  and ... listen here ... my heart was glad and proud

  that he had power, that I could be his wife!

  MARCIA

  This is terrible. Sometimes I fear for you.

  Your thoughts must be of softer things.

  I’ve done.

  AGRIPPINA [Gets up]

  His power, power. That is my husband’s beauty.

  MARCIA

  He’s like a boy: his eyes are clear and bright.

  AGRIPPINA

  And, hear this too: if he should win in this campaign,

  then all the world lies open too

  and we shall play, play like two young hounds,

  and know no fear nor any need to keep silence ...

  MARCIA

  The men of Rome they love Germanicus

  and want no other lord than only him.

  AGRIPPINA

  I’ll fight it, fight this fear of mine!

  You know: I know this fear, it’s just as black,

  it’s just as rank and dreadful as that pride

  with which I tread alike on the dying and the dead.

  When he is on the battlefield and I at home,

  waiting scared in my tent and ask for news,

  then I cringe, sit and shiver like a young girl,

  and feel my shame and perish, perish dumb.

  I should like to be a man – [29]

  and yet his wife.

  And then the other more secret fear:

  something I cannot touch, can’t even give a name;

  and round him, round him it settles fast ...

  that fear must go ... and all must fear only him!

  MARCIA

  I could not do that. I know his heart so well.

  AGRIPPINA

  Those that lie and glare in Rome – they will!

  Only the most powerful has beauty.

  And I desire beauty – beauty just for him.

  MARCIA

  Your speech is wild and reckless, child.

  Germanicus’ elderly personal physician comes on with parcels and flasks; fidgets and scratches around

  Here comes the doctor.

  AGRIPPINA [Laughing]

  Why do you creep and creep around

  as if picking herbs in your little plot?

  Would you not like to gird a sword today?

  DOCTOR

  Ah, ah, the women talk – they seldom think.

  Wait, let me reckon: it’s bloodstone against bleeding;

  here is the wine with cheese and barley pap

  for when he’s tired ...

  Are you aware that this is war?

  We’re going forth to danger, wounds and death.

  Hell stone for boils that come in summer.

  The strange suppuration breathed out in this land,

  the fertile marshes and herbs that have no name

  through which the general wades ... ah no, it’s nought:

  your little veins run hot with air and misty fog ...

  it’s words, words: “adventure”, “victory”,

  – damp air, that often has a rancid, sour smell.

  Again fidgets with his parcels [30]

  AGRIPPINA

  Don’t act so cross! We, women, we like doctors.

  You know astrology: rather tell me now;

  about the Quiet Ones and Germanicus?

  DOCTOR

  I have no need to look at heaven over me:

  by his golden hair and his bright forehead I can see

  that the Sun when he was born shone through the Scales

  and near to Venus, why, his very figure,

  his walk, when he comes near, these show that he

  – so say the laws of the always Silent Ones

  will always keep to justice and to right.

  The four great body humours: blood,

  and phlegm, yellow and black bile, are so

  mixed in him, so balanced equally,

  so by his stars were fixed, combining all,

  unmoving clarity they granted him ...

  AGRIPPINA

  But will he be great, mighty and so happy?

  DOCTOR

  That’s something else. The stars don’t really speak!

  They go their way. It is the blood, the humours

  in every body that makes an individual

  (as you call it), “happy”, “brave” – or “weak” ...

  AGRIPPINA

  Go play your starlight games! Go dig out herbs.

  Your kind must stay a lackey! Know, know ...

  you know what should have happened when it’s past:

  you see “just why”, know how the pill was twisted,

  but we are those that make and break, uncertainty

  we forge to something new, we lead from far in front,

  sword galaxies ... and no-one knows where we shall go.

  Here, take this mirror, look at your own humours,

  watch how they’re churned together into porridge

  to coagulate to stodge! [Germanicus enters] [31]

  I need no stars at all to show to me

  where power and a glorious future beckons me.

  GERMANICUS

  You’re speaking of the stars? Aratus is all done.

  Take this and look after it.

  He gives the manuscript to the old physician

  There’s wisdom there, but hidden deep and far,

  remote – and we, we are not nearly warm at all.

  There’s a rule and order to which the stars belong:

  the bright, clear singly-plied necessity.

  Have you been speaking of your hidden art?

  DOCTOR

  I wanted to explain what I believe is really so.

  Prepare this and that for your campaign

  AGRIPPINA

  Smiling again; to the Doctor

  Forgive me, please, be true to me, old friend.

  I speak too soon when I get in that mood.

  And go now; run!

  GERMANICUS

  And thanks for all your care.

  The Doctor and Marcia go off.

  AGRIPPINA

  Are you annoyed that I put myself forward then

  when the men were grimly arguing – I, a woman?


  and dared to speak where you were in command tonight?

  GERMANICUS

  I want to keep you proud just as you are;

  as women were in former days.

  AGRIPPINA

  I am a woman and my pride hides fear;

  tonight I am all fear.

  My thoughts are all of death.

  You heard them shout: their clamour was of “rule”, [32]

  of “Caesar”. You know how every sound grows rancid

  in our climate. I see you caught up close

  in the hunter’s net: myrmillo, Caius!

  and the retiarius flicks it over you.

  Break out of it! Or I see our deathbeds,

  one long row: I see my children die:

  first one and then another dies, like princes, sombre;

  no-one complains or knows why he must die,

  each only knows that he must either rule, or die.

  GERMANICUS

  I knew that it was coming – this call.

  For months and months it has been stalking me.

  Tonight it’s crouched to spring.

  I love you dearly.

  AGRIPPINA

  I love you dearly, dear.

  And yet – one thing in you I cannot get to grasp.

  Somewhere you’re inhuman in your heart.

  Whatever way I try to reach, I only touch

  this coolly gleaming thing. This quiet rest of yours

  tonight – Should you not fear? Yes, this fear,

  it’s good and human: keep it near your heart.

  GERMANICUS

  Sit here and listen.

  Words sometimes come forth bloody, like a weight

  from inside one, as when a child is born.

  I shall attempt it.

  Livia nursed a hatred for my mother.

  No. Not even that.

  Do you think I do not fear!

  If I were to allow my fear

  to thrust one black arm along the lintel of my door

  and feel its way, it would rip my whole house apart

  and screech along through every room. [33]

  I dare not fear. I dare scarce speak of fear.

  I see my children every night. I see you.

  AGRIPPINA

  Sit. Rest and try to find the words you seek.

  The heart needs words just as it needs love.

  GERMANICUS

  I need to grab that power! Do I not have a need to rule!

  Do you think that small!

  Have I not felt action, victory, honour, power

  intoxicate my senses like sweet wine

  and not grown thirsty from desire

  more than one day!

  And yet

  there are so many hair-cracks in my will.

  AGRIPPINA

  You need to grab and give to Rome a ruler

  worthy to rule Rome.

  That is the pit in which the earth

  casts out its filth day by day. Its nobles come

  Don’t name that name, not even here.

  GERMANICUS [Tiredly]

  from near and far, they seep into our midst,

  they take our names.

  And yet: if I dare mould!

  AGRIPPINA

  Goes to the tent opening and folds back the flap

  Wide open is the tent. See there, the morning star.

  Know this: you are my husband, we two are one.

  You will decide. I’ll die here with you

  Or else I shall rule,

  and, humble for you alone,

  rule where you rule.

  Our legions all surge hence!

  You need to rest. For this night was great.

  Scene Four

  Germany

  Germanicus’ official tent

  One week later

  [34]

  About a week later. In Germany. An old secretary from the general’s headquarters sits writing at a table in Germanicus’ official tent. A young officer enters