The third act discovers Chrysa hidden in a secluded cottage of her mother's and guarded by Vindex, who declares his honorable love for her. Nero has released the imprisoned Epicharis in order to follow her as a decoy to Chrysa and while Vindex goes to seek a refuge for the women outside the city, Nero appears. He offers the girl a place beside him on the throne but she spurns him and his softness turns to fury. Popp= follows to remind him that Rome is in flames and with sinister laughter he remem bers that it was he who started the conflagration. With Chrysa and her mother dragged in his footsteps, he goes forth gleefully to watch his work. He stops to sing and play upon the wall and intersperses his song with impreca tions upon the Christians. At this, Chrysa, who is a convert to the faith, publicly announces the fact and is struck down by the people. In a moment the house, upon the steps of which she lies with her penitent mother bending over her, falls and buries them in its ruins.
In the fourth act, Nero flying from the infuriated people, takes refuge in the mausoleum of Augustus, where the shades of his numerous victims pass before him in review. Terror stricken, he rushes out into the storm. Vindex, who has mustered the legions, is close upon his heels, and the Emperor realizes that the end is near.
Exclaiming "Ah! what an artist here will be lost! " he points the dagger at his own breast. As he hesitates, Saccus, who accompanies him, aids him to the accomplish ment of the best of his deeds, plunging the weapon into his body and the earth is rid of the greatest of its tyrants. As he falls, dying, there appears in the heavens a shining cross to proclaim the triumph of Christianity.
Rubinstein's setting of this elaborate tale of lust. vanity and bloodshed is brilliantly colored and, while uneven in values, includes some passages of great beauty. The ballet music in the second act has endured and Chrysa's song " Oh mother, oh mother, why from me wert taken? " is much admired. Other numbers that are attract ive are the chorus of maidens at the mock marriage, " Deck thee with the tunic fair; " the intonation of the bridal song by Vindex, " My song to thee, guardian of marriage; " " Crowned my dreams by love," sung by Poppma; " Oh my fate, how remorseless," the song of Iphigenia sung by Nero ; Chrysa's prayer, " Father in Heaven, Father of Mercy ; " the berceuse of Epicharis, " Oh sleep my child, free from all sorrow ; " Nero's song while Rome is burning, " 0 Ilion, 0 Ilion, thou by the gods upreared in pride " and the chorus of Gallic Legions, " He sang so much, so much did Caesar."