_Bur._ I thank your majesty. I will withdraw. _Agr._ Nay, I desire thee stay. I came not here to find thee; but thy presence Mends my intention. Let us hold a council. ’Tis not the first time our triumvirate, Secretly gathered in the nick of time, Hath preordained the changes which should fall Upon the earth like fate. To-day’s decree, If we combine, will be as big with action 510 As any we have uttered. _Bur._ I fear I stand In ignorance of the question. _Sen._ I will explain. _Agr._ Listen to me. We three who here are met Stand in such place, that, if we but unite, There’s none can say us nay. I do not ask Who raised thee, Burrus, or thee, Seneca, To where ye are: nay, if I asked you that I’d look for no more answer than if asking What two and two make; ’tis self-evident, Unquestioned; it was I; and if you owe 520 Allegiance to another, ’tis to one Whom I made more than I made you; ay, one Who has nothing but what was mine, and is mine: His body mine, his life and being mine, His power, his place, his honour mine, my son, My Nero, who, when my husband late deceased, The honest Claudius, passed to join the gods, Was raised and set by me under your guidance, To share with me the empire of the world. Now what it may be that hath warped his heart 530 Is from the matter: enough that so it is. I might blame one of you, sure not myself, Who have ever held in love and kindness towards him The same intention; nay, and from my kindness I swerve not now, though for a wholesome end I mask that kindness in severity. There’s but this choice, I must withdraw my favour, Or suffer my disgrace: ay, and for you, Burrus and Seneca, be sure, the same. If I fall, ye will fall. Therefore being one 540 In interest with me, I look to find you ready To stand by me in any scheme of action Which may preserve our station, while we may. _Sen._ Your majesty says well. We have hitherto All held one purpose, and if now we are foiled Or thwarted, none is thwarted more than I. And since it is my pride, in the high place Whereto your judgment called me, to exceed The measure which might justify your choice, I shall not fail. In these new difficulties 550 I would make no display of fresh resource; Full means there will be, yet what means it is I am not ripe to say. _Agr._ What say’st thou, Burrus? The matter Seneca avoids is this: Shall I be driven to exile, or will ye Join with me to forbid it? _Bur._ Hath your majesty, In urging opposition, any scheme That might give life to policy?