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THE MATRICIDE 299
ticisms with the younger nobles to beguile her into laughter.
His conduct was a consummate piece of acting, which would
not have disgraced Paris or Aliturus, and Agrippina
fell into
the snare. At first the shadowy foreboding flitted every now
and then across her soul, but now she dismissed it.
Surely
all those blandishments were sincere! After all, was not she
his mother ? was not he her son ? What was more natural
than such a reconciliation between two who were so dear to
each other ? The hours sped by almost unnoticed, and the
exhilaration of the rich wine of which, on an occasion so joyful,
she freely partook, added to the hope and bliss which for
four weary summers had been strangers to her heart.
But at last it was time to leave, for the banquet and its
amusements had prolonged themselves far into the evening.
Even Nero, frivolous, corrupt, abandoned as he was, felt the
awful solemnity of the moment when he would for the last
time behold in life the mother to whom he owed so immense a
debt. He strained her again and again to his heart ;
he gazed
long and earnestly into the eyes which were so soon to be closed
forever ;
he covered her hands and her cheeks and even her
eyes with his passionate kisses. Almost he wished that the
terrible deed had never been contemplated, that the sham reconciliation
had indeed been real. Farewell, dear mother,'
'
he
said, almost with a sob, which came easily to a nature so
superficially emotional. '
Take care of your health for my
sake.' And then, handing her to the charge of Anicetus, he
turned hastily away.
With deep obeisances, but with a smile in his evil eye, the
admiral, who had once been a slave, conducted her on board
the fatal ship, along the planks which had been covered with
purple for her proud footsteps. He led her to the stern,
where a canopy of purple silk, fringed with golden broiderings,
overshadowed the sumptuous couch on which she was
now glad to rest. There were but two attendants with her,
her lady-in-waiting, Acerronia Polla, and Crepereius Gallus.
Little did those three dream that it was to be their last night
on earth !
The night was as enchanting as only a night of the spring
on the shores of Italy can be. Overhead, in the deep blue
vault, numberless stars seemed to hang like golden cressets,
raining their large lustre over that unequalled scene. Beneath