[Exit AGRIPPINA leading BRITANNICUS, followed by COURT in great excitement, all but BURRUS and SENECA, TIGELLINUS and NERO—a blank pause.
SENECA. Now what to do?
TIGELLINUS. Already can I hear
The roar of the Praetorians and their march,
This time to crown another. Burrus, you
Command them.
BURRUS. They would tear me into pieces,
As hounds a master entering in on them
Unrecognised, if Agrippina once
Hallooed to them the name 'Germanicus.'
TIGELLINUS. Surely Britannicus must be our aim:
He gone, what threat, what counter-move hath she?
Removing him, we take the sting from her;
Then let her buzz at will.
BURRUS. But he is gone.
SENECA. Even as an eagle snatches up a babe,
So Agrippina caught him up and flew.
TIGELLINUS. For once my wits are lost.
SENECA. Still, what to do?
[NERO has been sitting with his back to them, suddenly rises.