The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-02-07
The Death OF NerU.

'"on II "rcror, Nero, nnd with the
p"'s'rn ion tho Christians suffer, Il
""!e' Il rig". A graphic descrip-
ton of the suiferings to which tho
GA TX i'n> were exposed by this mer-
" - &c pot would but harrow the
,'"I" - 'f the reader. Dcmopiac
"r""u l., was employed in inficting
IT," "'" .rvclting and terrible tor.
~ =. T"c victims were so disguised.
" r"y >owod up in the skins of wild
- =. "r wrapped up in tarred sheets
'' i'' SIT on fire as torclo os to illumine
IT." gardens Of Nero, that they were
''rrir"a of all sympathy, and expos
r' onl TO the dcrision Of the brutal
MOO. Tender Christian maidens pass.
81 through o'deals Of exposure, suf-
l'r.nl "nd death, toe dreadful for us,
i" 'h""c modern days, even to con.
template. The Divine support which
nr's' r'omi>cd his disciples in these
l''d'ctea hours of persecution, sus
t.lncd them.
One night Nero, dressed in wo-
mans clothes, WIS in ono of the pala-
crs IF Rome, surr rounded by his boon
com panions, both male and female,
ndu!ging 10 tho most loathsome orgies
when great uproar was heard in the,
It t.. y messenger was sent to as
r"r,ain the cause. lie returned with
'he appalling tidings that Galba, at
the head Of an avenSing army, was
ma' ching rapidly upon Rome that
i"surrection had broken out in the
streets, ond that u countless mob.
breathing threatening and slaughter,
we sursing toward the palace
The wrctrhed ty,ant, as cowardly
ne Was Infamous, was struck with
aiomay. Flo sprans from the table so
S"dGchl ) rs to ovcrtu,n it, dashing
'hc most costly vas,s in fragments
.r"n tac floor. Boating his forehead
''k" mailman, Lc cried out, 81 nm
r'nca, an ruired," and called for
cup of poison. Suicide was the
c"1nmon resort in those days, of the
vrwarll,, in their hour of wretohcd-
hess. Nc'o took tic poisoned cup,
bat dared not dick it. lie cullod for
4" dagger, and examined its polished
r"i"t, bat had not sufficient nervo to
l'.vAs that to his heart. Hc then
''"he1 from the palace i'll his women's
sarh, and vi II hi, long hair tluttering
1t the wind. Thus disguised, he al
,"o>t fl~w through the dark and mar.
r'w streets, il tending to plunge into
,hc rihcr. AS he reached tho bank
und gazcd upon its gloomy waves,
az in his courage i,ilvd.
Scve.al of his companions had ac-
compauiod him. One of them suy-
rrN,d that he should nte to IL coun-
try scat, about throo milos from Rome,
I'D there conceal himself. Insane
with terror, bear headed, in his
shameful garn, ho covered his face
with hankc' chief, loapcd upon Il
h"r c, and succeeded, through n
thousand pcrils, in gaining his retreat.
Just before he reached tho villa some
alarm so frightened him that he leap
cd from his horse and plunged into n
thicket by the roadside. Through
nriars aud thorns, with torn clothes
and laccratcd flesh, he lcachcd the
Obscure asylum he sought.
In the meantime tho Roman Senate
had hnrriedly assembled. Embold.
eucd by the insurrcction, and BY tho
approach Of G"lba, they passed n
decree, declaring Nero to be the
'ncmy Of his country, and booming
INN todeuth, more majorum, i. c., nc.
rordlng to ancient custom. Some one
OF Nero's companions brought him
.he tidiugs i'll his hiding,place. Pal
'il aud trembling, be inquired :
And what is death more mnjorum 90
The al r,lling reply was: cit is 10 be
s,rlrvcd naked, to have the hoad fas-
tened in the pillory, and to bc scourg-
cd to DEATH"
Tho monstca who had amused him.
'r'f in witnessing the torturcs of 9th.
tr' rccoilcd with horror from
this dreadful inhiction. Siezing
" dagger, he again endcavorcd to
nerve himself to plureo it into his
heart. a prick from It's sharp point
was all he could summon resolution
TO lItslot. lilo threw the dagger aside
and groaned in terror. lie strovo to
talk himself into courage.
Ought Ncro," said he, "to be
afraid : Shall tho Emperor be q
coward No. Let mo dio courage.
ousIy."
Again he gruspcd the dagger, anx
,ous y examined it's keen edge, again
he threw it aside with groan of des.
pair.
DUST then tho clatter Of horsemen
was heard, and q party of dragons
vas seen approaching. Ills retreat
was discovered, and in few moments
Ne'o would be helpless in the hands
"t his enc mics Then there would be
no possible escape from the ignomin-
I"us and agonizing death. In the de-
lr'nm Of despair, he ordered freed
man to hold a sharp sword, so that he
might throw himself yi,lontly ,oo;nst