Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-11-09
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
panions, male and female, INDUCING in
the most loathsome orgies, when great
uproar was heard in the streets. A mes
senger was sent to ascertain the cause.
He returned with the appalling tidinGS
that Cialba, Mt the head Of IN avengin8
army, was marching rapidly into Rome
that instruction had broken out i'll
the streets, and that a countless mob,
breathing threatenings and slaughter,
were suging toward the palace
The wretched tyrant, as cowardly as
he was infamous, was struck with dis
may He spranG from the table 50 sud
denly as to overturn it, dashing the
most costly vases in fragments, he erred,
81 am ruined / am ruined y and called
for n 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 dagger,
examined its polished point, but had not
nerve to press that to his heart. lie
then rushed from the palace in his wo-
mans garb, and with his long hair flut-
tcring 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
gazcd upon its gloomy waves again his
courage failed.
Several of his companions had accom-
pained him. One Of them suggested
that he should flee to country seat,
about three miles from Rome, and there
conceal himself. Insane with terror
bareheaded, in his shameful gorb, nc
covered his face with q handkerchief,
lcaped upon a horse, and succeeded
through 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 tholns, with torn clothes anC
laccratcd flesh, he reached the insecure
asylum he sought.
In the meantime, the Roman senate
had hurriedly assembled. Emboldenct
by the instruction, and by the approach
of Galba, they passed Il decree declaring
Nero to be the enemy Of his country
and doomed him to death, more ma
jorwn,-that is according to ancien
custom. Some one of Ncro's compan
ions brought him the tidings in his hid
mo place. pallid and trembling, he il
CURED, "And what is death mare m'
j0rVm? ?" The appalling reply was
@ ut is to be stripped naked, to have tn
= head fastened in the piliory, and b
= scourged to death !"
> The monster who had amused himse
| in witnessing the torture of Others II
% coilcd with horror from the drendfl
e affection. Selling dagger he aSai
+ endcavored to nerve himself to pllne
G it into his heart. A pick from the shal
/ point was all he could summon rcsol1
t ton to inhct. He threw the dagg,
g aside and groaned in terror He the
I strove to talk himself into courage.
t "Ought Nero" said he, "to be afraiC
IL Shall the emperor be coward? Nc
= Let me due cOnva8cOllSly
= Again he grNsped the dagger, anXiou
e " examined its keen edge, and aga,
n threw it aside with groan of despair.
a Just then the clatter Of horsemen W
e heard and a party of Dragons was SCI
if approaching. Hisretreat was discoyere
d and in few moments Nero would
IF helpless in the hands of his enemiC
n Then there would be no possible escal
1 from the ignominlous and agonizll
IS death In the delirium Of despair
1 ordered Il freeman to hold sharp swo
It SO that he might throw himself violent
y against it. He thus succeeded in seyc
II ing the jugular vein, and his life bio
.c spmted forth. As he sank upon t
is ground the soldiers came mp. He loo
N ed at them with malignant scowl, 50
" ing, You are too late !" and died.
N Thus persisted this monster OF
prayity. 1t is said that this event to
place on the 10Th of June, \. ID,
Many Christians at the time suppOs
= Nero to be the Anti Christ. The wret
IN had reigned thirteen years, and died
10 10 the thirty second year OF his age.