Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 18, RHI-SCR

Kome.
. 3I4
Miferable
•N ero.
K O M * [
became general. Not only the armies in Spain and Gaul,
but alfo the legions in Germany, Africa, and Lufitania,
declared againft him. Virginias Rufus alone, who com¬
manded an army on the Upper Rhine, for a while con¬
tinued in fjafpenfe j during which his forces, without his
permiffion, falling upon the Gauls, routed them with
great (laughter, and Vindex (lew himfelf. But this ill
iuccefs no way advanced the interefts of Nero ; he was
fo detefled by the whole empire, that he could find none
of the armies faithful to him, however they might dif-
agree with each other. He therefore called for Lo-
Situation of cuita to furnilh him with poifon j and, thus prepared
for the word, he retired to the Servilian gardens, wdth
a refolution of flying into Egypt. He accordingly dif-
patched the freedmen, in whom he had the moil; con¬
fidence, to prepare a fleet at Oflia j and in the mean¬
while founded, in perfon, the tribunes and centurions of
the guard, to know if they were willing to (hare his for¬
tunes. But they all excufed themfelves, under divers
pretexts. One of them had the boldnefs to anfwer him
by a part of a line from Virgil : Ufque adeonc miferum ejl
mori? “ Is death then fuch a misfortune ?” Thus defti-
tute of every refource, all the expedients that cowar¬
dice, revenge, or terror could produce, took place in
his mind by turns. He at one time refolved to take re¬
fuge among the Parthians ; at another, to deliver him-
felf up to the mercy of the infurgents : one while, he
determined to mount the roftrum, to a(k pardon for
what was pall, and to conclude with promifes of amend¬
ment for the future. With thefe gloomy deliberations
he w’ent to bed *, but waking about midnight, he was
furprifed to find his guards had left him. The praeto¬
rian foldiers, in fa£t, having been corrupted by their
commander, had retired to their camp, and proclaimed
Galba emperor. Nero immediately lent for his friends
to deliberate upon his prefent exigence •, but his friends
alfo forfook him. He w^ent in perfon from houfe to
houfe } but all the doors were (hut againft him, and
none were found to anfwer his inquiries. While he was
purfuing this inquiry, his very domeftics followed the
general defe£lion j and having plundered his apartment,
efcaped different ways. Being now reduced to defpe-
ration, he defired that one of his favourite gladiators
might come and difpatch him : but even in this requeft
there was none found to obey. “ Alas! (cried he)
have I neither friend nor enemy ?” And then running
defperately forth, he feemed refolved to plunge headlong
into the Tiber. But juft then his courage beginning to
fail him, he made a hidden (lop, as if willing to recoi¬
led! his reafon •, and alked for fome fecret place, where
he might re-aifume his courage, and meet death with
becoming fortitude. In this diftrefs, Phaon, one of
his freedm^n, ofifered him his country-houfe, at about
four miles diftant, where he might for fome time re-'
main concealed. Nero accepted his offer 5 and, half-
dre(fed as he was, with his head covered, and hiding
his face with a handkerchief, he mounted on horfeback,
attended by four of his domeftics, of whom the wretch¬
ed Sporus was one. His journey, though quite (liort,
was crowded with adventures. Round him he heard
nothing but confufed nodes from the camp, and the
cries of the foldiers, imprecating a thoufand evils upon
his head. A palfenger, meeting him on the way, cried,
4‘ There go men in purfuit of Nero.” Another a(ked
<him, if there was any news of Nero in the city ? His
206 ] ROM
horfe taking fright at a dead body that lay near the Eonif,
road, he dropped his handkerchief j and a foldier that
was near, addreffed him by name. He now therefore
quitted his horfe, and forfaking the highway, entered a
thicket that led towards the back part of Phaon’s houfe,
through which he crept, making the bed of his way
among the reeds and brambles, with which the place
was overgrown. When he was arrived at the back part
of the houfe, while he was waiting till there (hould be
a breach made in the wall, he took up fome water in
the hollow of his hands from a pool to drink j faying,
“ To this liquor is I^Tero reduced.” When the hole
was made large enough to admit him, he crept in upon
all-fours, and took a ihort repofe upon a wretched pal¬
let, that had been prepared for his reception. Being
prefled by hunger, he demanded fomewhat to eat: they
brought him a piece of brown bread, which he refufed j
but he drank a little water. During this interval, the
fenate finding the praetorian guards had taken part with
Galba, declared him emperor, and condemned Nero to
die more majorum; that is, “ according to the rigour of
the ancient laws.” Thefe dreadful tidings were quick¬
ly brought by one of Phaon’s (laves from the city,
Avhile Nero yet continued lingering between his hopes
and his fears. When he was told of the refolution of
the fenate againft him, he alked the meflenger what he
meant by being punifhed “ according to the rigour of
the ancient laws?” To this he was anfwered, that the
criminal Was to be dripped naked, his head Avas to be
fixed in a pillory, and in that pofture he was to be
fcourged to death. Nero was fo terrified at this, that
he feized two poniards which he had brought Avith him,
and examining their points, returned them to their
(heaths, faying, that the fatal moment was not yet ar¬
rived. HoAvever, he had little time to fpare j for the
foldiers Avho had been fent in purfuit of him Avere juft
then approaching the houfe : Avherefore hearing the
found of the horfes feet, he fet a dagger to his throat,
with which, by the afliftance of Epaphroditus, his
freedman and fecretary, he gave himfelf a mortal
wound. He Avas not quite dead when one of the cen-His death
turions entering the room, and pretending he came to
his relief, attempted to flop the blood with his cloak.
But Nero, regarding him Avith a (fern countenance,
faid, “ It is noAV too late. Is this your fidelity ?”—
Upon which, Avith his eyes fixed, and frightfully dar¬
ing, he expired, in the 3 2d year of his age, and the
14th of his reign. ’ ^ I
Galba was 72 years old when he was declared em-Uneafmefi
peror, and was then in Spain Avith his legions. How-of Galba u
ever, he foon found, that his being raifed to the throned®
Avas but an inlet to neiv difquietudes. His firft embar-
raflinent arofe from a diforder in his own army ; for
upon his approaching the camp, one of the Avings of
horfe repenting of their choice, prepared to revolt, and
he found it no eafy matter to reconcile them to their
duty. He alfo narrowly efcaped aflafllnation from fome
(laves, Avho were prefented to him by one of Nero’s
freedmen Avith that intent. The death of Vindex alfo
ferved to add not a little to his difquietudes; fo that,
upon his very entrance into the empire he had fome
thoughts of putting an end to his oAvn life. But hear¬
ing from Rome that Nero Avas dead, and the empire
transferred to him, he immediately aflumed the title and
enfigns of command. In his journey totvards Rome
he
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