Ah! ah! ’tis thee. Speak softly, for these walls have ears.
_Agr._ To-day thy spies Are mine, but must not hear.
_Agr._ He is thine enemy: no hope from him.
_Br._ I would not have this spoken of as my hope.
_Agr._ True, boy. I mentioned not thy name, and Nero, Being now persuaded thou art innocent, Forgives thee. Let the risk I ran for thee Be earnest of more good. 1410
_Agr._ ’Tis nothing, this. Thou yet shalt reign.
_Br._ I pray thee Draw me not into thy deep-plotted schemes That rush on guilt. If I have hope or wish, ’Tis but to live till the divorce be writ ’Twixt Cæsar and my sister: that is not long To wait; and then her exile, which must follow, If I may share, I think some days of peace May be in store for both. That is my hope, Not Rome, nor empire, but some tranquil spot Where innocence may dwell, and be allowed 1420 To be its own protection.
_Agr._ Can it be possible That thou, who in thy veins hast the best blood Of Rome, should’st own so beggarly a spirit, And being the heir of all the world should’st wish Only to hide thy claim, so thou may’st live The life which broken-hearted slaves, and men Diseased and aged scarce prize?
_Br._ I too might say somewhat. Is it not strange, Thou being a lady, should’st possess a heart 1431 So fond of wrong, and blood, and wrathful deeds?
_Agr._ Ah, ah! Thou thinkest that thou know’st me rightly, And yet would’st dare to taunt me, and to thwart My stablished purpose? Child, I say, remember The deeds thou castest in my teeth, and think Whether it were not much better now at last To side with me, and take the help I proffer. I have sworn to set thee on the throne; think twice Ere thou oppose my will.
_Br._ Did’st thou not say 1440 Thou had’st persuaded Nero of my innocence?
_Br._ Nay, thou wert right in that, Wrong now returning on disclaimed ambition.
_Agr._ Art thou content to see thyself deposed, Thy sister thus dishonoured....
_Agr._ Now This once again I bid thee, child, consider. Doubt not my power.
_Agr._ Then hear me, child. Whether thou join or not, Whether thou wilt be Cæsar, or refusest, 1450 Thou shalt be Cæsar. If thou wilt not plot, It shall be plotted for thee: in my hands I hold thy life, and guard it but for this, To make thee Cæsar. Ay, and if thou shrinkest When the day comes, I’ll have a doll made like thee; My men shall carry it about, and style it Britannicus, and shout to it as to Cæsar. I say thou shalt be Cæsar, think it o’er. Dare not refuse me: ’tis not yet too late; To-morrow I will speak with thee again. 1460 Now to thy better thought. [_Exit._