click to read pdf file - The Preterist Archive

PERILS OF BRITANNICUS 193
he fixed them on the face of Nero, they seemed to read his
inmost soul.
Nero averted his glance.
He dared not look upon his
victim.
his crime brought the tell-tale his face.
Indeed, under that steady gaze, the consciousness of
crimson over He
was not yet too far gone to blush, though the days were
rapidly approaching in which he would wear a front of brass.
He muttered some hypocritical words of condolence,
which rang false and were overdone. Britannicus spoke
not.
Octavia
'
said, Pardon his silence, Nero ;
he is too weak
to thank you.'
I did not ask you to interfere,' answered Nero brutally.
'
I give you such thanks as are due,' said Britannicus in a
'
faint voice ;
but he tried to withdraw his hand from Nero's
grasp.
Nero rose in a towering passion.
I came to inquire about
'
your illness. You meet me with scowls and ingratitude,'
lie said, flinging away the hand of Britannicus. '
you do
not choose to behave as a brother, I will make you feel that
you are a subject. Octavia and Titus, you may retire.'
'
Oh, do not leave me alone. I am very ill,' pleaded the
poor prince. Indeed, indeed I cannot be left alone.'
'
The terrible thought which had flashed through the mind
of Nero the thought that, if left alone, the boy might be
killed that night had woke its reflection in the mind of
Britannicus. But Nero strode angrily out of the room, and
neither repeated nor withdrew his command.
'
May the spirits of all the good protect thee '
said Octavia,
!
'
as she fondly kissed her brother. I dare not stay ;
it
might
be the worse for thee if I did.'
'
But I will stay, Empress,' said Titus, ' and I will do my
best for him.'
When the young Empress had withdrawn, Titus beckoned
to her faithful freedwoman Pythias, and told her to send for
Onesimus. He came, and Titus, after slipping into his hand
an aureus, which the Empress had left for him as a reward for
his faithful warning, begged him to be on the alert, and to
return in an hour. The Phrygian went to Acte, and told her
all that had occurred. She kept him near at hand, and in a
short time informed him that two of Nero's worst creatures
13