_Bur._ Be content To say so much in form, that our report Suffice for your acquittal.
_Agr._ Ay, go, good fellows; though ye have roused my passion, 2380 Your coming here hath cheered me wondrously. Nay, if ye have ever such another matter, Bring it again; be not abashed, but come; Or send your wives, and those two gentlemen, Whose names I know not. My lords, your humble servant.
[_Exeunt Burrus and Seneca and two Gentlemen._
Plautus! now is it possible I was wrong Not to have thought of Plautus? No, I laugh, ’Tis merely laughable. At forty-five To marry a pretender; and Plautus too! He would not have me. Fulvia, do you think 2390 That Plautus wants to marry me? Ha! ha! Is it my beauty, think you, or my virtue, Or my good fortune tempts the stoic? Oh, Domitia, oh, you are dull. I cannot fear This plot. We shall retire with more than honour. ’Twas strange, I think, that Pallas was not struck; His name escaped.
_Ful._ There is ample reason, madam. They say that in his house he holds such caution As not to speak before his slaves. His orders Are given by nod and sign, or if there’s need 2400 He writes: there’s none can say they have heard him speak.
_Agr._ May good come of it. ’Twould be hard indeed If they should exile Plautus for a fear Lest I should marry him. That were a fate Of irony. Why, give the man his choice Of marrying me and exile, would he not Fly to the pole? Poor Plautus! marry Plautus!
I find you merry, mother; the gods be praised That you deny the impeachment.
_Agr._ Really, Nero, Burrus’ memory is getting very short If he said I denied it. I did not.
_Agr._ Ay, you seem misled. I guess who ’tis. But let that pass. I hoped I might advise you privately; I knew You would not wish it known. Now, was I wrong?
_Ner._ Do you deny what is affirmed against you?
_Agr._ No, son: for if you wished to take my life, Why should I rob you of this grand pretence? 2420 Yet since you cannot, and the charge itself But moves my laughter, as you overheard, My only wish is you should now retire With dignity, and act as Cæsar ought.
_Ner._ (_aside_). This then is added to my shames.
_Agr._ What say you? Fulvia, await without. [_Exit Fulvia._] Who brought this to thee?
_Agr._ Tell me, didst thou believe it? is it possible? Thou didst! Whence gottest thou thy wits I wonder; Certain they are not mine, no, nor thy father’s: I think they came of Claudius by adoption. 2431 Dost thou believe it still?