_Ner._ Is it? Stay—Seneca, dost thou think My mother was in earnest when she urged Treason on thee and Burrus? And dost thou think She fooled me in saying that she made proposal To Burrus but to sound his honesty? _Sen._ Eh! with that tale she took you? _Ner._ Is’t not true? _Sen._ That true! _Ner._ She was in earnest though in passion? Answer me. _Sen._ Ay, she was. _Ner._ I pray thee leave me. I shall not wait. [_Exit Seneca._ I stand alone. Such officers as share 1140 The functions of tyrannic government Cannot be looked to for a policy Of personal security; they lack The motive that abates the fear of crime. Britannicus must go, and ’tis my hand Must aim his death. I have a medicine Which he must drink for me, to save my life. To-night shall do it. But for my other enemy, My mother, who with such dissimulation Won me, spite of foreknowledge of her deeds, 1150 And judgment of her purpose—Ha! indeed; Seneca’s laughing-stock! Now, what I do Will much surprise her. If it kill her hope And prove my temper towards her, ’twill be well. [_Exit._ SCENE · 2 _Room in Domitia’s house. Enter DOMITIA and PARIS._ _DOMITIA._ Come hither, Paris! Thou art my freedman. _PARIS._ Ay, madam. _Dom._ Hitherto Thou hast served me well. _Par._ Ay, madam. _Dom._ Would’st thou now Retrieve thy purchase money? _Par._ Dost thou say Thou wilt restore me that for any service I can perform? _Dom._ I do. _Par._ But name the deed. 1160 _Dom._ Dost thou remember Crispus Passienus? _Par._ Could I forget thy honoured husband, madam, That was my master? _Dom._ Paris, thou hast a wife, And thy wife hath a sister.. _Par._ Ay. _Dom._ How think’st thou Thy wife would love her sister, if that sister Supplanted her with thee, sowed seeds of hate, Contrived divorce, and when thou wert divorced Should marry thee herself? _Par._ Madam, I know Thy wrong, and share thy hate. _Dom._ That was not all. _Par._ Not all? _Dom._ Nay, listen, Paris: if I forget 1170 My kinship in my hatred, I have cause. I loved him, and have now no thought in life But to avenge his murder. _Par._ Why! can’st thou think?...