The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-05-29

0oiioA1 0APCoViho W Huu polSon III every
cup, or dagger at every corner. The
Roman historians recount transactions il
Illustrative of the depravity of these two
creatures too revolving to be related
In the ear of modern civilization. Nero
adopted the following plan to drown bis
mother. Addressing her in the most af-
fectionate terms of filial endearment be
invited her to accompany him in pleas
ure excursion by water, to Baine, sea
port near Naples. He had o magnificent
barge constructed for her and suite. 1t
was, however, iugeniously SO arranged,
that by withdrawing few bolts, when at
sea, it would fall to pieces There were
many other regal barges 60 accompany the
tlotilla. but none of splendor SO imperial
as that provided for Agrippina. A rich
banquet preceded the embarcation. The
occasion passed off very joyously, and
then the atfectionate son accompanied his
loving mother to her barge, which was to
convey her to her rural palace at Antium.
He kissed her and babe her adieu.
1t was past midnight A more serene
and beautiful night never illumined, with
moon and stars, the blue waves of the
Mediterranean. The barge equipped with
three banks Of oars, was driven with ra-
pldity over the waves. Agrippina had re-
tired to her couch. 1t was surmounted
by gorgeous canopy, heavily loaded with
lead and iron, that, like trap, it might
fall and crush her. At a given signal
the bolts were withdrawn, the canopy fell,
killing instantly an attendant who was at
the feet Of 1Agrippina. Two timbers,
however, CHANGED to fall in such way as
to protect Agrippina, though she was
slightly bruised. The boat Immediately
began to sink. Many we're drowned, a
few swan to the shore. The agents of
Nero on board, who had made provision
for their own escape, supposed that they
had effectually accomplished their pur-
pose, and that Agrippina, with every bone
crushed, had gone down, like lead, to the
bottom of the sea-. 49,.
Agrlppina, conscious that she had
more to fear from the assassins than the
waves, chung silently to fragment of the
wreck, and in the morning was picked up
by boat. Though fully aware of the
treachery which had been practiced upon
her, she pretended to regard it all as an
accident. A courier was immediately
despatched to inform her son, that through
the mercy of the gods, she had escaped
fearful peril, and begging him not to allow
his affectionate heart to be too much
alarmed, for though slightly bruised, she
would soon be well again,
Nero was thunderstruck. He knew his
mother too well to believe that she was
deceived, and he doubted not her revenge
would induce her to strike an immediate
and desperate blow. Nh time was to be
lost. He called one of his most efficient
assassins before him and said, sI wish you
to take sufficient force, hasten to the
palace of Agrippina, and kill her thorough
H." Stealthily at midnight the assassins,
armed to the teeth, erept towards the pal
ace. The doors fell before the battering
axes. The trembling slaves fled. Agrip-
pima was in her chamber asleep, with a
torch dimly burning The noise awoke
her. As the murderers rushed in she
raised her head, when blow from a blud-
geon, followed by innumerable dagger
thrusts, deluged the bed with her blood.
The mission of the assassins was accom-
p1ished to the entire satisfaction of Nero.
The scenes Of cruelty aud loathsome
vice which .ensued, it would require vol
ume to describe. and the recital could only
be read with disgust. Christianity was
strengthening against this corruption, and
Nero and his boon companions marshalled
all the energies of Roman Empire to drive
the religion Of Jesus from the world
The city of Rome then contained four mil
lions Of inhabitants. Nero, in a. druaken
freak, thought it would be amusing to see
how a city. would look all insfames, with
four millions Of people, men, women and
children, flying in every direction from
their burning dwellings. The houses
we're mostly Of wood, and the world has not
seen such conAagration before OF. since.
It is recorded, that Nero, upon, "a tower,
gazed delighted upon the ocean Of flame
in which thousands Of human beings mis-
erably persisted. 2aiatgr a24 IolIrraa
The cries Of execration and rage which
this crime extorted, induced him to en-
deavor to avoid obloquy from himself by
accusing Christians of the deed, aud pun
ishing them with the most ,merciless se-
verify. No language can describe the I
horrors Of the persecution to which Che |
Christians were now subjected. But at
length human nature could endure the