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IN THE CLUTCH OF NEMESIS 561
slaves had fled, after plundering it of all its magnificence, even
to the embroidered purple coverlets and the golden box which
contained Locusta's poison. Recalling the memory of his
murdered mother, he sought everywhere for the amulet
the bracelet containing the serpent's skin found near his
cradle which Agrippina had clasped upon his boyish arm.
But he had once carelessly flung it
away, in a fit of petulance,
and now it could nowhere be seen. Then he sought
for Spicillus, the mirmillo, to stab him ;
but neither he nor
'
any one else could be found to fulfil the office. So,' he said,
with one of the small smart epigrams which showed throughout
these last scenes that the spirit of melodrama had not
'
deserted him So, it seems, I have neither a friend nor an
enemy
!
'
Upon this he set out to fling himself into the Tiber, and
the back door by which he went led through a part of the
circus which had witnessed his disgraceful triumphs. But
when he was half way, his courage failed him, and he told his
attendants that he wanted some quiet hiding-place in which
to collect his thoughts. His freedmau Phaou, one of the very
few who, to their credit, remained true to him in the hour of
his utmost shame, offered him his suburban villa. It was at
the fourth milestone from the city, between the Salarian and
Nomentan roads. It lay on a more remote path called the
Patinarian Way, on the other side of the Anio. On that hot
night of June Nero had gone out only in sandals and a tunic ;
so he threw over his shoulders an old washed-out cloak,
covered his head with the hood, held up a handkerchief to
conceal his face, and mounted the first sorry horse which
could be obtained. Thus, in beggar's guise, he left the gorgeous
scene of his manifold iniquities. None were found
to accompany him except his secretary Epaphroditus, his
freedman Phaon, and Sporus his unhappy favourite. They
started together before the first
gleam of that most miserable
day. The stories that, as he rode, he felt the shock of an
earthquake, and saw a flash of lightning which gleamed on
the ghostly faces of his victims rising
to menace him from
the abyss, are doubtless coloured by the agitation of the witnesses.
But on his way he had to pass through the Colline
gate, and there he heard the shouts of his Praetorians cheering
for Galba and cursing Nero. There were but few stirring on
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