South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-11-03
The Death Of Nero.

One night Nero, dressed in women's
clothes, was in one of the palaces of
Rome, surrounded by his boon COM
panlons, male and female, indulging In
the most loathsome orgies, when a great
uproar was heard in the streets. A mes
senger was sent to ascertain the cause.
He returned with the appalling tidings
that Galba, at the head of an avenging
army, was marching rapidly into Rome (;
that insurrection had broken out i'll
the streets, and that a countless mob,
breathing t~hreatenings and slaughter,
were surging toward the palace.
The wretched tyrant, as cowardly as
he was infamous, was struck with dis
may. He spran9 from the table so sud-
denly as to -everturn it, dashing the
most costly vases in fragments, he cried,
81 am ruined 1 am ruined p and called
for a cup of poison. Suicide was the
common resort in those days of the
cowardly in the hours of wretchedness.
Nero took the poisoned cup, but dare
not drink it. He called for a dagger,
examined its polished point, but had not
nerve to press that to his heart. He
then rushed from the palace in his wo-
mans grab, and with his long hair fut-
tering in the wind. Thus disguised, he
almost flew through the dark and narrow
streets, Intending to plunge into the
Tiber. When he reached the bank and
gazed upon its gloomy wav again his
courage failed.
Several of his companions had accom-
panied him. One of them suggested
that he should flee to a country seat,
about three miles from Rome, and there
conceal himself. Insane with terror,
bareheaded, in his shameful grab, he
covered his face with a handkerchief,
leaped upon a horse, and succeeded,
through a thousand perils, in gaining
his retreat. Just before he reached the
villa, some alarm so frightened him that
he leaped from his horse and plunged
into a thicket by the roadside. Through
briers and thorns, with torn clothes and
lacerated flesh, he reached the insecure
asylum he sought.
In the meantime, the Roman senate
had hurriedly assembled. Embroidered
by the insurrection, and by the approach
of Ga1ba, they passed a decree declaring
Nero to be the enemy of his country,
and doomed him to death. more ma
jorun-that is, according to ancient
custom. Some one of Nero's eompan-
ions brought him the tidings In his hid
ing place. Pallid and trembling, he in
CURED, land what Is death more ma
jorUS ?" The appalling reply was !:
"It is to be stripped naked, to have the
head fastened in the piliory, and be
scourged to death =
The monster who had amused himself
in with essing the torture of others re-
cooled with horror from the dreadful
affection. Selling a dagger he again
endeavored to nerve himself to plunge
it into his heart. A pick from the sharp
point was all he could summon resolu-
ton TO infict. He threw the dagger
aside and groaned- in terror. He then
strove to talk himself into courage.
"OaghtN Nero" said he, "to be afraid?
Shall the emperor be a coward? No !
Let me die courageouslyP
Again he grasped the dagger, anxious
ly Examined its keen edge, and again
threw it aside with a groan of despair.
just then the clatter of horsemen was
heard, and a party of dragons was seen
approaching. His retreat was discovered,
and in a few moments Nero woald be
helpless in the hands of his enemies.
Then there would be no possible escape
from the ig~nominIous and agonizing
death. In the delirium Of despair he
ordered a freeman to hold a sharp sword
so that he might throw himself violently
against 1t. He thus succeeded in sever
ing the jugular vein, and hislife blood
spurted forth. As he sank upon the
ground the soldiers came up. He look
ed at them with a malignant scowl. say
ing, "You are too late y and died.
Thus persisted this monster OF de
pravity. 1t is said that this event took
place on the 18th of June, A. D. IS.
Many Christians at the time supposed
Nero to be the Anti Christ. The wretch
had reignad thirteen years, and died in
the th~irty-second year Of his age.