"See," said he, "how the Quirites value poetry and me."
"Scoundrels!" answered Vatinius. "Command the pretorians, lord, to fall on them."
Nero turned to Tigellinus,—
"Can I count on the loyalty of the soldiers?"
"Yes, divinity," answered the prefect.
But Petronius shrugged his shoulders, and said,—
"On their loyalty, yes, but not on their numbers. Remain meanwhile where thou art, for here it is safest; but there is need to pacify the people."