Nero.  I wedded?

Poppaea.  I, you wedded. 
Did you not heare the words oth’ Auspyces? 
Was not the boy in bride-like garments drest? 
Marriage bookes seald as ’twere for yssue to
Be had betweene you? solemne feasts prepar’d,
While all the Court with God-give-you-Ioy sounds? 
It had bin good Domitius your Father
Had nere had other wife.

Nero.  Your froward, foole; y’are still so bitter.  Whose that?

    Enter Milichus to them.

Nimph.  One that it seemes, my Lord, doth come in hast.

Nero.  Yet in his face he sends his tale before him.  Bad newes thou tellest?

Mili.  ’Tis bad I tell, but good that I can tell it Therefore your Maiestie will pardon me If I offend your eares to save your life.

Nero.  Why? is my life indangerd?  How ends the circumstance? thou wrackst my thoughts.

Mili.  My Lord, your life is conspir’d against.

Nero.  By whom?

Mili.  I must be of the world excus’d in this, If the great dutie to your Maiestie, Makes me all other lesser to neglect.

Nero.  Th’art a tedious fellow.  Speake:  by whom?

Mili.  By my Master.

Nero.  Who’s thy Master?

Mili. Scevinus.

Poppea. Scevinus? why should he conspire?—­ Unlesse he thinke that likenesse in conditions May make him, too, worthy oth’ Empire thought.

Nero.  Who are else in it?

[Mili].  I thinke Natalis, Subrius, Flavus,[66] Lucan, Seneca, and Lucius Piso, Asper and Quintilianus.

Nero.  Ha done, Thou’ilt reckon all Rome anone; and so thou maist, Th’are villaines all, Ile not trust one of them.  O that the Romanes had all but one necke!

Poppea. Pisoes slie creeping into mens affections
And popular arts have given long cause of doubt;
And th’others late observed discontents,
Risen from misinterpreted disgraces,
May make us credit this relation.

Nero.  Where are they? come they not upon us yet?  See the Guard doubled, see the Gates shut up.  Why, they’le surprise us in our Court anon.

Mili.  Not so, my Lord; they are at Pisoes house And thinke themselves yet safe and undiscry’d.

Nero.  Lets thither then, And take them in this false security.

Tigell.  ’Twere better first to publish them traytors.

Nimph.  That were to make them so
And force them all upon their Enemies. 
Now without stirre or hazard theyle be tane
And boldly triall dare and law demaund;
Besides, this accusation may be forg’d
By mallice or mistaking.

Poppea.  What likes you doe, Nimphidius, out of hand: 
Two waies distract when either would prevaile. 
If they, suspecting but this fellowes absence,
Should try the Citie and attempt their friends
How dangerous might Pisoes favour be?