Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

THE TRAGEDY OF BAIAE 89the expedient that was adopted. He offered tosupply a vessel so constructed that at a givensignal the roof of the principal cabin mightbe made to fall in, and the ship itself to sinkthrough the opening of a hole in the bottom.The contrivance being approved, Nero wrote aletter to his mother couched in terms of humilityand submission, in which he prayed for a reconciliation,and invited her to meet him at Baiae.Agrippina went rejoicing, was received withloving effusion, nobly entertained, placed aboveher son at table, treated at first with the affectionatelightness, ease, and familiarity natural to ayoung man in conversation with his mother, andafterwards to her yet greater satisfaction gravelyconsulted on matters of State, until the hour cameat last for her departure. Then Nero embracedher with extraordinary warmth, and seemed unableto detach his gaze from her countenance.It was a fine starlight night, and the sea wascalm when Agrippina went on board the gailydecorated ship that had been prepared for her.She was sitting in her cabin with a maid andGallus, one of her suite, when, soon after the shiphad left the harbour, part of the ceiling fell inand crushed Gallus to death. The empress andher attendant, Acerronia, however escapedallhurt ; and, the mechanism through which aleak was to have been simultaneously sprunghaving failed to act, those of the sailors whowere in the secret endeavoured to capsize theboat by bringing all weight to bear on one side.Agrippina and Acerronia were thrown into the sea,