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THE MATRICIDE 295
19, and were at home from their various schools, adding fresh
mirth to the joyous watering-place. There were exhibitions
of wild beasts, and plays, and poetic and oratorical contests ;
and on the fifth day of the festival, which was called the
Tubilustrium, all the trumpets were blown, and the sacred
implements of the temples lustrated.
By this time Nero had accustomed himself to the thought
of getting
rid of his mother by treacherous violence. His five
years of empire had inspired him with audacity and confidence.
His passion for Poppaea burned with ever fiercer flame. His
hatred for Agrippina, as the main obstacle in the path of his
desires, grew daily more sullen and
; Poppaea had aroused his
fears by persuading him that his mother was plotting against
his life. Since poison had failed, and he shrank from using
the dagger, he had determined to follow the deadly suggestion
of Tigellinus, and to make it appear that the Augusta had
perished in an accident at sea.
To prepare the way for his purpose, he began to express his
'
determination to be reconciled with his mother. The anger
'
of parents,' he said, must be cheerfully borne. It is my duty
as a son to soothe my mother's irritation. I long to be on
good terms with her once more.' Again and again he repeated
these sentiments to various persons, and he took care that they
should reach the ears of his mother. Octavia herself, grateful
for the efforts of Agrippiua on her behalf, told the Augusta
that Nero's feelings seemed to be undergoing a change, and
that perhaps he would restore to her, spontaneously, her
former honours. The hope kindled by this intelligence fell on
the last days of the Empress-mother like a ray of cruel sunshine
out of the thunder-clouds which had so long been gathering
around her. It was natural that in her misery she should
be credulous of good tidings, and perhaps her heart was softened
to her son by the fact that she was now living in the
villa at Antium where she had given him birth, and in which
nearly every room recalled the memories of his childish
brightness, and the winning trustfulness of a heart as yet
unstained, of a beauty as yet unshadowed by evil secrets and
base desires. The villa was full of splendour. The Apollo
Belvedere and the Fighting Gladiator were but two of the
statues which adorned But it. what was art, what was
many
splendour to a mind diseased ? She found more happiness