Domitia
the spirits resided in the power of his staff on which he st
the rod, so that when he leaned on it, it gave way and resolved itself into
re his own vices and follies. Its power was at an end and his
June all was dissolved in the dust of decay; he was prostrate, helpless, bereft of the shadow of au
e C?sars distributing among them bread gratis,
e would serve as condiments to the bread and not as substitutes. Then a vessel arrived in port, and the hungry people believed that she was laden with the wished-for corn. When, how
and Gaul, was marching into Italy, and that none of the troops of Nero s
its load of sand, and escape to Egypt. They contemptuously refused, and disbanded. Then, in an agony of fear, Nero left the Palatine, and f
d at the door, and to act as porter because he had offended him. Guards, freedmen, court
knocking at every door, and n
murk and close, but at intervals
serted. Trembling, despairing, Nero crouched on his bed, bit his nails till [pg 72]he had gnawed them to the quick, then started up and hu
he least noise, wrapping a kerchief about a finger where blood came, he looked wit
man, Phaon by name, who was coming along the pass
that he might not be left alone; that Phaon wo
but my assistance at this hour is unavailing. I am but one man, a stranger,
earn my livelihood on the stage. Of
a hundred enemies. All will pursue, like a pack of hounds baying for the blood of him who murdered their kinsfolk. Even now I
timidly about him, terrified
e a horse. I cannot run, I am too fat; b
e of his slaves,
escape. Prepare to die as a man. Slay yourself. It is not hard to
do it only when everything fails. I have m
e besmeared with color, that they are less li
gainst becoming freckled. That will shade my face. F
ppeared in
ro entreated him to look out in his wardro
Senate has been assembled-it has been convoked
will mount the Tribune. I will ask to be given the gov
with people. They will tear you
hire me a swift galley, and I will [pg 74]take refuge with Tiridate
ot be possible for
Powers that rule the fate of men! shall I ever eat turnips again? Phaon, hide me for a season. Men's minds are c
arian and the Nomentane Roads.
I hear horse-hoofs
ten cloak. The wardrobe had been plunde
rough the empty corridors: "
m. He will betray us!" said Ne
ays previously he had ventured to correct a false quantity in some verses by his master, and Nero, in a burst of
edman. "May it please my lord to mount
his throat, drew the broad-brimmed hat over his head, enveloped hi
e entangled and is so knotted that I cannot stir. I have been th
y about with me the key of thy shackles?" Then to those who followed, "
pright posture, but falling again, owing to the tangle in the li
an Bridge, where stands now that of St. Angelo, cr
an earthquake made the city rock as if drunk; the b
field and lighted up the mausoleum of Augustus,
orward and begin the ascent of the Quirinal. The advance was slow; and Nero's fears became greater as the road [pg 76]approached the Pr
amp? Surely the Pr?torians would rally ab
and have proclaimed Galba. They would
the flanks of his steed. At tha
rtals! I am
to go a lit
Senate declare me an
fare in the cus
is
hand to his brow and in his a
dman pic
e cleft of a forked stick and you will be beaten, lashed
endure pain. I have a spring n
we will turn our horses loose, and by a
rived followed by two servants. He found the secretary in a heap at the door, vainly writhing
fled," said Epaphroditus, "if you will release
he h
e. Whither I alone can say. The pr
ere I can f
d a servant to bring hammer and chisel. They were speedily pro
the secretary gathered up a handful of th
he way," said he,
and waded through a marsh, and had at last found a temporary shelter in a g
he gardeners carried citron trees to and from the conserv
tried to eat some oat-cake that had bee
d with, and to pick or b
he cried. "The
Sire, pla
him a couple
one to his breast, shr
t, it will not
e other and
sharp. It cu
r opened and Lamia and
ut and cover
both! kill yourselves a
is not difficult. Do you need a swor
, who accepted it with tremulous han
ment! I f
said: "Si
ing out of his fingers, poin
e gasped, "my
chain, brought the weighted fist against the haf
back on
the moth-eaten cloak, and threw
g