Mili. And if it be but talke oth' State 'tis Treason. (aside)
Like it they cannot, that they cannot doe:
If seeke to mend it, and remoove the Prince,
That's highest Treason: change his Councellours,
That's alteration of the Government,
The common cloke that Treasons muffled in:
If laying force aside, to seeke by suite
And faire petition t'have the State reform'd,
That's tutering of the Prince and takes away
Th' one his person, this his Soveraigntie.
Barely in private talke to shew dislike
Of what is done is dangerous; therefore the action
Mislike you cause the doer likes you not.
Men are not fit to live ith' state they hate.
Piso. Though we would all have that imployment sought,
Yet, since your worthy forwardnesse Scevinus[35]
Prevents us and so Nobly beggs for danger,
Be this (thine?) the chosen hand to doe the deed;
The fortune of the Empire speed your sword.
Scevin. Vertue and Heaven speed it. You home-borne
Gods of our countrey, Romulus and Vesta,
That Thuscan Tiber and Romes towers defends,
Forbid not yet at length a happie end
To former evils; let this hand revenge
The wronged world; enough we now have suffered.
[Exeunt.
Manet Milichus solus.
Mili. Tush, all this long Consulting's more then words, It ends not there; th'have some attempt, some plot Against the state: well, I'le observe it farther And, if I find it, make my profit of it. [Exit.
Finis Actus Secundus. [Sic.]
Actus Tertius.
Enter Poppea solus. [Sic.]
Poppea. I lookt Nimphidius would have come ere this.
Makes he no greater hast to our embraces,
Or doth the easiness abate his edge?
Or seeme we not as faire still as we did?
Or is he so with Neroes playing wonne
That he before Poppea doth preferre it?
Or doth he think to have occasion still,
Still to have time to waite on our stolne meetings?