Sosia SILIUS. May’t please your highness not forget yourself; I dare not, with my manners, to attempt Your trouble farther. AGRIPPINA. Farewell, noble Silius! SILIUS. Most royal princess. AGRIPPINA. Sosia stays with us? SILIUS. She is your servant, and doth owe your grace An honest, but unprofitable love. AGRIPPINA. How can that be, when there’s no gain but virtue’s? SILIUS. You take the moral, not the politic sense. I meant, as she is bold, and free of speech, Earnest to utter what her zealous thought Travails withal, in honour of your house; Which act, as it is simply born in her, Partakes of love and honesty; but may, By the over-often, and unseason’d use, Turn to your loss and danger: for your state Is waited on by envies, as by eyes; And every second guest your tables take Is a fee’d spy, to observe who goes, who comes; What conference you have, with whom, where, when. What the discourse is, what the looks, the thoughts Of every person there, they do extract, And make into a substance. AGRIPPINA. Hear me, Silius. Were all Tiberius’ body stuck with eyes, And every wall and hanging in my house Transparent, AS this lawn I wear, or air; Yea, had Sejanus both his ears as long As to my inmost closet, I would hate To whisper any thought, or change an act, To be made Juno’s rival. Virtue’s forces Shew ever noblest in conspicuous courses. SILIUS. ’Tis great, and bravely spoken, like the spirit Of Agrippina: yet, your highness knows, There is nor loss nor shame in providence; Few can, what all should do, beware enough. You may perceive with what officious face, Satrius, and Natta, Afer, and the rest. Visit your house, of late, to enquire the secrets; And with what bold and privileged art, they rail Against Augusta, yea, and at Tiberius; Tell tricks of Livia, and Sejanus; all To excite, and call your indignation on, That they might hear it at more liberty. AGRIPPINA. You’re too suspicious, Silius. SILIUS. Pray the gods, I be so, Agrippina; but I fear Some subtle practice. They that durst
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