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248 DARKNESS AND DAWN
by the height from which she had fallen. True that Agrippina
was guilty. True that every law of the moral world must
have been violated if
impunity were granted her as the sequel
and such various crimes. But there was nothing
of so many
Pharisaic in Pomponia's heart. Familiar with sorrow, she
was sensitive to the influence of compassion, and she had
learnt from the lips of Christian teachers that there may be
even for the most fallen. She had
recovery and forgiveness
gone to the Empress with no desire but to speak gentle and
healing words.
Yet it was that little unnoticed impulse of natural kindness
and Christian charity which saved her fortunes, perhaps even
her life.
For Eegulus was rich, eloquent, unscrupulous, formidable ;
and Nero was intensely timid and suspicious. The notion of
a 'foreign superstition' was mixed up with that of magic;
and magic was supposed to be chiefly practised for treasonable
ends. If a panic were created in Nero's mind, it was certain
that the feeble Senate would interpose no barrier to his suggestions
of punishment.
But at the moment of consternation in the heart of
Pomponia's friends, Agrippina did one of the few good
deeds of her unhappy life. Availing herself of the momentary
resuscitation of her influence, she no sooner heard of the
information laid against Pomponia, than she wrote a letter to
the Emperor strongly urging the innocence and goodness of
the wife of Plautius, and entreating him not to stain with a
deed of needless injustice the annals of his rule. Nero was
struck with his mother's letter, and with the fact that she
should have taken the trouble to intercede for one who had
never pretended to pay court to her, and whose character was
the antithesis of her own. Octavia also ventured to say a few
words of pleading earnestness for her friend. Nero had as yet
no grudge, either against Pomponia, whose sombre robe was
rarely visible in the Palace, or against her brave, loyal, and
simple-minded husband. On the other hand, he did not like
to check the activity of the informers. Domitian said in after
years, The '
prince who does not check informers, encourages
them.' Nero did not dream of checking them. Seneca, who
was a friend of Plautius, and who had been grieved by the
news of this attack upon one whom he and the ladies of his