File:History of Nero (1881) (14586319409).jpg

Identifier: historyofnero00abbo (find matches)
Title: History of Nero
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Abbott, Jacob, 1803-1879
Subjects: Nero, Emperor of Rome, 37-68 Emperors
Publisher: New York : Harper
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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ully the gracesof her person ; her long hair waving looselyin the wind. She had in her hand a symbol,or badge, called the thyy^siis^ which was anornamented staff, or pole, surmounted with acarved rej)resentation of a bunch of grapes,and with other ornaments and emblems. Thethyrsus was always used in the rites and fes-tivities celebrated in honor of Bacchus. Siliushimself, dressed like the rest in a fantasticand theatrical costume, danced by the side ofMessalina, in the center of a ring of dancinggirls which was formed around them. In the mean time, while this gay partywere thus enjoying themselves in the palacegardens at Rome, a very different scene wasenacting at Ostia. Cal^jurnia, in her secretinterview with Claudius, seizing upon a mo-ment which seemed to her favorable for herpurpose, kneeled down before him and madethe communication with which she had beencharged. She told him of Messalinas con-duct, and informed him particularly how shehad at last crowned the dishonor of her hus-
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A.D. 48.) Fate of Messalina. 91 Claudius is exceedingly terrified. band bj openly marrying Silius, or at leastpretending to do so. Your friends believe,she added, that she and Silius entertain stillmore criminal designs, and that your life vdlibe sacrificed unless you immediately adoptvigorous and decided measures to avert thedanger. Claudius v\as very much amazed, and wasalso exceedingly terrified at this communica-tion. He trembled and turned pale, then lookedwild and excited, and began to make inqui-ries in an incoherent and distracted manner.Calpurnia called in Cleopatra to confirm herstory. Cleopatra did confirm it, of course, inthe fullest and most unqualified manner.The eflect which was produced upon the mindof the emperor seemed to be exactly what theconspii-ators had desired. He evinced no dis-position to justify or to defend Messalina, orto be angry with Calpurnia and Cleopatra formaking such charges against her. His mindseemed to be wholly absorbed with a senseof the danger

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