Paris.

Ay, madam.

Dom. Hitherto Thou hast served me well.

Par. Ay, madam.

Dom. Would’st thou now Retrieve thy purchase money?

Par. Dost thou say Thou wilt restore me that for any service I can perform?

Dom. I do.

Par. But name the deed.

Dom. Dost thou remember Crispus Passienus?

Par. Could I forget thy honoured husband, madam, That was my master?

Dom. Paris, thou hast a wife, And thy wife hath a sister..

Par. Ay.

Dom. How think’st thou Thy wife would love her sister, if that sister Supplanted her with thee, sowed seeds of hate, Contrived divorce, and when thou wert divorced Should marry thee herself?

Par. Madam, I know Thy wrong, and share thy hate.

Dom. That was not all.

Par. Not all?

Dom. Nay, listen, Paris: if I forget My kinship in my hatred, I have cause. I loved him, and have now no thought in life But to avenge his murder.

Par. Why! can’st thou think?...

Dom. Think! do I think? I cannot speak of it. If ’tis suspicion, be it so—and yet... Well, thou hast seen my heart—even were my sister Kind I should not forgive: but seeing she works Against me still to drive me from the court, I put my strength with Cæsar, to disbarrass The palace of this plague. Say wilt thou aid me?

Par. The favour Cæsar shows me binds me, lady, To have no thought but his; and if his mother Misses his love, ’tis not made up by mine.

Dom. I’d have thee on my side whate’er I do. I have now contrived a scheme which hangs on thee To bring it home.

Par. I will do anything That will not touch my life.

Dom. She is hard to catch. Late, when she plotted with Britannicus, Though ’twas as clear as day, when brought to question She quite out-faced us all.

Enter Servant.