Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-08-21
How Nero killed his Mother.

FOR certain reasons OF state,as Nero attempted
to persuade himself, but in reality because 10
other crime had the same attractions Of unnatural
horror about it, he resolved to murder his moths
er Agrippina. This being settled, the next thing
was to arrange the mode and the tooa. Natu.
fally enough, according to the custom ih0n prov.
alent in Rome, he first attempted the thing BY
poison. The poison failed for Aggrippna,
anticipating tricks of this kind, had armed her
constitution against them like Mithridates and
daily took potent antidotes and prophyactcs. --s
Or else (which is more probable) the emporor'a
agent IN such purposes, fearing his sudden re-,
Pehlahce and remGHe on first hearing Of ha
mothers death, or possibly even Witnessing her
agonles, had composed poison of inferior
st!ehgth. This had certainly occurred in tbe
case Of NBriisan'ess, who had thrown off With
ease tho Eiss. 70 administered to him by nero
\ Upon which ho summoned 70 his presence the
woman employed in the affair, and compelling
her by threats to mingle in his own presence
powerful portion had tried it successfully upon
different animals, until he was satisfied with its
effects; after which, Immediately inviting Britain.
cus to banquet, he had finally dispatched him.
On Agrippna, however, no changes in the
poison, whether in kind or strength, had any eff
feet; so that, after various trials, this mode of
murder was abandoned, and the emperor address,
ed himself to other plans. The first of these
was some curious mechanical device, by which
a false ceiling was to have been suspended by
bolts above her bed, and in the middle of the
night, the bolt being suddenly Withdrawn,
vast weight would have descended to the ruin
GUS destruction of all below. This scheme,
however, taking air from the indscretion of
some amongst the accomplices, reached the ears
of Agrippina; upon which the old lady looked
about her too sharply TO leave much hope in that
scheme so that also was abandoned.
Next, he conceived the idea of an artificial
ship, which, at the touch Of few spings might
fall to pieces in deep water. Such ship was
prepared, and stationed at a suitable point
But the main difficulty remained, which was to
persuade the old lady to go on board. Not that
she knew in this case tcho had been the ship
builder, for that would have ruined all but it
seems that she took it ill to be hunted in this
murderous spirit, and was out of humor with her
son; besides that any proposal coming from him,
though previously Indifferent to her. would have
instantly become suspected To meet thus diff
Guilty, sort of reconciliation was proposed, and
a oAantiopota nnn ob Lr1 Al,
effect of throwing Aggrippina off her guard,
and seduced her to Baip for the purpose of join
ing the emperor's party at great banquet held
1 y enommemogatlop Of q solemn festival. She
tarpsred with the commander of her vessel, and
prevailed upon him to wreck it. What was to
be done! The great lady was anxious to return
TO Rome. and no proper conveyance was at hand.
Suddenly it was suggested, as if by chance, that
ship of the emperor's, new and properly equip
ned. was moored at a neighborng station This
was readily accepted by Agrippina; the empe-
t ror accompanied her to the place of embarka-
r tion took most tender leave Of her, and saw
her set sail. 1t was necessary that the vessel
should get into deep water before the expert
n ment could be made; and with the utmost agi-
S tation this pous son awaited news of the result
e Suddenly d messenger rushed breathess into
> his presence. and Mortified him by the joyful in
= formation that his august mother had met with
an alarming accident: but by the blessing Of
Heaven. had escaped safe and sound, and was
: now on her road to mingle congratulations with
her affectionate son. The chip, it seems, had
> done its office the mechanism had played ad-
mirably; but who can provide for everything
The old lady, it turned out, could swim like a
duck; and the whole result had been to refresh
her with little sea, bathing. Here was wor-
p shlpfu intelligence. Could any mans temper
. be expected to stand such continued sleges p
Money, and trouble, and infinite contrivance,
Il wasted upon one old woman, who would not up
Il on any terms be murdered. Provoking it GER
Il tainly was; and of man like Nero 1t could not
i be expected that he should any longer dissem-
II BILE his disgust or put up with such repeated af
fronts He rushed upon his simple congratua-
10 ting friend, swore that he had come to murder
" him, and as nobody could have suborned him
e but Agrppina, he ordered her off to instant ex-
+ ecuton. And, unquestiOnably if people viii
ID not be murdered quietly and in civil way they
l must expect that such forbearance is not to con
d, tinue forever; and obviously have themselve
I'd only to blame for any harshness or violence
/" which they may have rendered necessary.
y 1t is singular, and shocking at the same time
N- to mention that, for this arocity, Nero did abst
ne lutely receive solemn congratulations from a
III orders Of men.