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382 DARKNESS AND DAWN
had been interpreted to indicate a change in the Empire, and
Nero recommended Plautus, though he was only living the
quiet life of an ordinary citizen, to retire to his estates in Asia.
He obeyed without a murmur, living in simple duties with
his wife Antistia, and devoting his thoughts to philosophy.
Soldiers were now despatched to murder him. A faithful freedman,
at imminent risk of his life, made his way to Asia, arrived
before Nero's centurion, and warned Rubellius of his impending
doom. He was the bearer of a letter from his father-in-law,
Antistius Vetus, urging Rubellius not tamely to submit. Only
sixty soldiers were coming to carry out the iniquitous mandate
of Nero ;
let him repulse them, throw himself under the protection
of Corbulo, and all would be well. But Rubellius was
sickened by the thought of doubtful hopes. He wished, if
possible, to avert, by submission, the future ruin of the wife
and children whom he loved. Further than this, his philosophic
teacher, Cceranus, persuaded him that a firm death was
preferable to troubled and uncertain life. He therefore took
no step in self-defence. The centurion found him at mid-day,
stripped of his clothes, taking athletic exercise in his gymnasium,
and butchered him on the spot, in the sight of the worthless
eunuch. Pelago, whom Nero, as though he were some Asiatic
despot, had sent to keep watch over the officer and soldiers.
According to the ghastly fashion of the times his head
'
was carried back to Nero. Why did you want to be a
'
'
Nero ? said the brutal jester. Gods ! what a nose the man
'
had !
Thus it was reserved for a Domitius Ahenobarbus to put
to death Rubellius Plautus, the last descendant of Tiberius,
as he afterwards put to death L. Junius Silanus, the last
descendant of Augustus.
But there was an influence over Nero which was more
powerful than that of all the other wretches of his Court. It
was the influence of Poppsea. His infatuation for this beautiful,
evil, astute woman had taken complete possession of
him. She had led him on step by step,
now alluring, now
repelling him, keeping him ever in a maddening fever of
passion, on which she played as on an instrument. Already
she had sufficiently established her empire over him to permit
of his sending Otho to Lusitania. Nor had she hesitated to
leave her home and to become an inmate of Nero's Palace.