- [the Empress, soaking naked in a tub of ass's milk and calling to a friend]
- Poppaea: Dacia, you're a butterfly with the sting of a wasp. Take off your clothes. Get in here and tell me all about it.
- Titus: "We are to become as children," Jesus said... "with a child's simple loving vision." If we have the simplicity... the faith, the trust of a child... we accept that which we do not fully understand. For me, for all men... He lifted the black mist from the face of God. And there was no longer the God of wrath... but only a loving Father. All that we had been taught before about the great Spirit... became suddenly a new understanding... a compassionate God to whom we could turn. The blood of these martyred followers of Jesus... is not yet dry on the stones of Jerusalem.
- Titus: Since knowing Him and since following the truth... old habits have slipped from my body. There are no longer any earthly bonds confining my spirit. All is at peace within me. If every living man knew what I know... if I could be sure that the message is in every heart... I could be wholly at peace. As Jesus loved God, so He loved his brothers... who are also the children of God. With understanding, with faith... He held power over all things, even death. He proved there is no death... only a crossing over to the Father... and life everlasting. Jesus knew it. He lived it. He walked the earth in goodness... telling that we're all of His blood, His spirit. Work for one another, comfort one another... that was His cry. Love your neighbor as yourself. That is what He came to teach mankind. That message is heard. It will be carried to all men... to the farthest corners of the earth. And God will walk among us... and you will go out into the world... and you will carry to your brothers a new life... and that new life is freedom. Freedom as vast and beautiful as heaven is.
- Poppaea: Do you love this girl? Answer me!
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Well, then I... I don't know.
- Poppaea: That says you perhaps do. I could laugh with Rome about it if I didn't care so much. Marcus Superbus... caught at last by a Christian wanton.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: You've no right to call her that.
- Poppaea: Oh, very much in love.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Well, why not? It's not so impossible, so laughable. She's young, beautiful, virtuous. I find I'm sick of patrician women.
- Poppaea: That's a direct enough insult.
- Mercia: Marcus, listen to me. I don't want to live like this. I want to die with them.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: You mean you'd give up life with me... and would rather die for a belief, for some vague...
- Mercia: It isn't vague. It's certain. One man proved it. He changed men with it.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: It's an illusion. It's madness, I tell you. Rome and mankind will go on as they are forever. Your Christianity will be stamped out and dead within a year.
- Mercia: I know better.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Mercia, listen to me. Renounce your God in name only. Even though I can't believe in Him, I will respect Him. You'll not lose Him, I swear it, if you'll live as my wife.
- Mercia: No, Marcus, to know that you love me is all I can have.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Mercia, how can you do this to both of us?
- Mercia: This is stronger than we are, much greater than our love.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Mercia, live.
- Mercia: Didn't you see Stephan go out there?
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Yes, yes. It was horrible. I couldn't believe it. But why should you go, too?
- Mercia: Didn't you hear my promise that I would follow him?
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: You must live, Mercia.
- Mercia: No, Marcus, I must follow them.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Then if you die, I shan't live either.
- Mercia: You must live. If only because someday you may know what I know now.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Oh, Mercia, tell me. This is all true, isn't it? An afterlife and happiness?
- Mercia: Yes.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: For me, too? Even I could have it?
- Mercia: Yes, Marcus.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: I believe you. I believe what you tell me. There, with this Christ, we could always be together? Promise me that?
- Mercia: It's true.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Then I want to go with you.
- Mercia: Marcus!
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Yes, with you, now.
- Mercia: But it isn't fair to you.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Yes it is, it's merciful to me. It's some hope. It keeps you with me, maybe always.
- Jailer: [interrupting Marcus] Excellence, the Emperor...
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Yes, yes, we're ready. Come, Mercia. Why, you're pitying me, and I'm happy. I can't believe it. I'm full of strange hope. Much happier. You want me to go with you, don't you?
- Mercia: Yes. I love you.
- Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome: Well, come, then. You'll have to go on teaching me, leading me. Sometime I'll know. But stay close. Give me your hand. I can't sing the hymn. I shan't look up either. I'll be looking at you... and believing you're my wife.