click to read pdf file - The Preterist Archive

THE ACCESSION OF NERO 35
conspiracy. Where is my father's will ?
Why
is it not
'
taken to the senate, and there recited ?
The Empress was amazed at the sudden outburst. Was
this the boy who seemed so meek and so helpless ? This must
be seen to !
'
'
Foolish boy,' she said ; you are but a child. You have
not yet assumed the manly garb. How can a boy like you
bear the burden of the world's empire ? Fear not ; your
brother Nero will take care of you.'
'
'
Take care of me !
repeated Britannicus, indignantly, restraining
with difficulty the torrent of wild words which
sprang to his '
'
lips. 'It is a conspiracy
! he cried. You
have robbed me of my inheritance to give it to your son
Aheuobarbus.'
Agrippina lifted up her arm as if she would have struck
him, but Pallas interposed. Firmly, but not ungently, he
laid his hand on the young prince's mouth.
'
'
Hush,' he said, ere you do yourself fatal harm. Boy,
these questions are not for you or me to settle. They are for
the Senate, and the Praetorians, and the Roman people. If
the soldiers have elected Nero, and the senators have confirmed
their choice, he is
your Emperor, and you must obey.'
'It is useless to resist, my brother,' said Octavia, sadly.
'Our father is dead. Narcissus has been sent away. We
have none to help us.'
'None to help you, ungrateful girl !' said Agrippina. 'Are
not you now the Empress ? Have you not the glory of being
'
Nero's bride ?
'
Octavia answered not.
Our father is dead,' she said again.
May we not go, Augusta, and weep by his bedside '
? '
'
Go ! answered Agrippina ;
'
and I for my part will see that
'
he is enrolled among the gods, and honoured with a funeral
worthy of the House of Caesar.' Then, turning to her attendants,
she issued her orders.
'
Put a cypress at the door of the Palace.
Let the body be
dressed in imperial robes, and incense burned in the chamber.
See that every preparation is made for a royal funeral, and
that the flute-players, the wailing-women, the designators,
with their black lictors, be all in readiness.'
But while Agrippina was giving directions to the archimimus
who was to represent the dead Emperor at the funeral,