_Thr._ Believe me, sir, this tale of things being at their worst is common to all times. Your judgment has gone astray upon a contempt for Cæsar’s follies, or a hatred of his mother’s crimes. Measure Nero but by what he has already done, and you may even find cause for congratulation. 19 _Pr._ We shall be ruled like the Britons by a Queen. _Thr._ O nay. It is not possible that Nero will suffer Agrippina’s ambition to take such a place. ’Tis already a quarrel between them, and Seneca declares for him. _Pr._ Then, I ask you, may there not be found in this quarrel an opportunity to bring in Britannicus? Now he is of age, he can no longer be held disqualified. _Thr._ There is no question of qualification or of claim. 28 _Pr._ How so? The late emperor Claudius in his will mentioned Britannicus for his successor, as being his own son.... _Thr._ May be. But then, sir, his empress made away with both him and his will; and the Roman people chose for Cæsar the son of the murderess, rather than the heir of the idiot they were glad to be rid of. Since which day Nero is as truly our Cæsar as Britannicus could ever have been. Those who swore to Nero will remain by him; as ’tis well they should, else were no stability. _Pr._ Shall we then do nothing? 39 _Thr._ You take things by the wrong handle. Let us make the best of what we have. Our Cæsar is the pupil of a philosopher and guided in everything by his master’s counsels. _Pr._ You are very tolerant and hopeful. _Thr._ Try and be so too, and I shall wish to see more of you. If you will visit my house, you will indeed be most welcome and may find congenial company. Only no more of Brutus. _Pr._ Thank you for your kindness, if it is an earnest of your confidence—On another occasion... 50 _Thr._ O we will find many. (_Shouts heard._) What is that? (_More shouts._) It must be Cæsar: he is coming this way. Be not seen talking with me: go you that way: I will remain. Farewell. _Pr._ Farewell, Thrasea. [_Exit._