13.07.2015 Views

Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

io8the exulting tyrant.Senate made no directSENECAAn imperial message to themention <strong>of</strong> the deaths <strong>of</strong>Plautus and Sulla, but spoke vaguely <strong>of</strong> theirfactious disposition and the emperor's constantwatchfulness over the public safety. They werethereupon expelled from the Senate and the usualsupplications decreed.These crimes were followed by the murder<strong>of</strong> the innocent and unhappy Octavia. Thisprincess, whose brief life had been but one series<strong>of</strong> calamities unredeemed by a single gleam <strong>of</strong>happiness, was adored by the people, who commiseratedher misfortunes and detested her rivalPoppaea. Nero began by divorcing her on theground <strong>of</strong> sterility, and removed her first toa house once inhabited by Burrhus and afterwardsinto Campania, where she was placed undera military guard. She was next charged withadultery with an Egyptian slave ;but the heroicconstancy <strong>of</strong> her waiting-maids, who continuedunder torture to declare her innocence, made itnecessary to abandon this charge, and the emperor,intimidated by popular clamour, decided to recallher. Great rejoicings followed ;the statues<strong>of</strong> Poppaea were thrown down, and those <strong>of</strong>Octavia adorned with flowers. The multitudeadvanced towards the palace to express theirgratitude to the emperor, but they were met bya charge from the soldiers and dispersed withbloodshed. Poppaea, assisted by Tigellinus, usedall her wiles to restore Nero's resolution and tocompassAnicetus,the ruin <strong>of</strong> Octavia. The services <strong>of</strong>the murderer <strong>of</strong> Agrippina, were again

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!