Agrippina.

Pallas, thy date is out: thou art dismissed; Thou goest from the court: yet what thou takest May soften thy regrets. Thy shiny days Were not misspent, and thou may’st live like Cæsar. Farewell, we still are friends: the debt I owe I shall remember: ’twas thy power that first Gave root to mine: for thee, I think my favours Were once thy pleasure. If those days are gone, We can look time in the face; we have not wasted The days that flew: ’tis now with what remain Still to be careful. Friends and firm allies.

Pal. Ay, firm as ever.

Agr. Nay, though thou goest first, That is not much: even that I cannot save thee Is sign that I am fallen ere thou could’st fall: A deeper, deadlier fall, unless indeed My wit can save me still.

Pal. Alas, dear queen, Fear makes this parting sad. But if there’s hope, ’Tis this, to gain thy son.

Agr. Ay, till our schemes be ripe; And even though Seneca betray me,—and that Is sure,—I fear not him. I know my son Better than he, and I shall win him yet. My plan is now to seem resigned to all: I will pretend my purpose is to leave him, And fly from Rome to voluntary exile. ’Twill work upon his fear and duty both, To cut himself quite off from me, and all That goes with me. He will entreat me stay; And if I stay—

Pal. Ay, if this storm go by, The turns of time may offer us reprisals. At present use all means to gain thy son.

Agr. I shall. Farewell.

Pal. Be bold. The gods protect you. Farewell.

Agr. Farewell. [Exeunt severally.

Enter Tigellinus and Paris.