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THE DEATH OF OCTAVIA
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but live as his widow and his sister, with no thought of returning
to the Palace. She even ventured to remind him that
she had always experienced his mother's protection, and that,
as long as Agrippina lived, her marriage dignity had not been
assailed.
All was now ready. The sailors drew up the anchor, and
the assembled crowd watched the white sails of the trireme
till
they became rosy in the light of sunset, and the vessel
dipped beneath the horizon.
Octavia awaited, in deep anxiety, the answer to her letter.
There were points in it which might perhaps have touched the
heart of Nero if Poppsea and Tigellinus had not been at his
elbow as the evil genii of his degradation. But, when the
tablets of Octavia came, Nero was sitting with the enchantress.
Taking them out of his hands, she turned the letter into such
ridicule, and laughed over it so sweetly and so immoderately,
and mixed her silvery laughter with so many acts of fascination,
that the fear of her ridicule to which, like all vain
persons, Nero was inordinately sensitive quenched in his
heart all thoughts of mercy. She also played upon his fears.
'
'
As long as Octavia lives,' she said, neither you nor I will be
safe. You saw how the people rose in her behalf. You do
not know what assassins she may have in her pay. All that
the spirit of insurrection needs is a leader, and, while Octavia
lives, conspirators have only to provide her with a husband,
and she will bring him the Empire as her dower, as she did to
you. The tomb is the only safe prison. The dead excite no
tumult and tell no tales.'
So the messenger was sent back without an answer, and
Octavia knew that she had only to prepare for her fate. No
day dawned that might not be her last no sail shone on the
;
horizon which might not be bringing her executioners from
Home nay, the orders might even now be in possession of
her military guard, and the tramp of the changing sentries
each morning and evening might be to her the echoing foot-fall
of death. No situation in the world is more harrowing or
more terrific than this. We can confront death when we know
that we stand face to face with him ;
but to have his sword
dangling over our necks by a thread of gossamer, and not to
know at what moment it will fall; to know that somewhere
near us he lies in wait, but not to know where or how he will