NOTORIOUS NERO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 76, 30 March 1935, Page 6 (Supplement)

NOTORIOUS NERO.

One of the first of Nero's tasks on becoming Emperor of Rome was to rid himself of his mother, Agrippina. He tried to poison her, but she took antidotes daily. She was not to b» trapped, either,' \vitli a 'false cciling n.eant to crush her to death as she lay in bed. Nero cunningly lured her into a wonderful ship of loose parts and springs, which- fell to pieces as soon as it had put to sea, but Agrippina swam ashore. Then, in exasperation,, he had 'her stabbed to death, and told the world she had committed suicide.

Ruler of the greatest emp-ve the world had known, Nero roved the streets of Rome by night disguised as a slave, beating and stabbing people in taverns. He executed those who recognised him, and apologised *or hitting back. In another mood he would float on a banqueting raft on Lake Agrippa, rowed to and fro in a striped gold and ivory boat, manned by courtiers whose debaucheries were unparalleled in the history of the world. His first wife was killed by opening her veins, and her head was borne to his secou 1 wife, whom Nero killed with a bruf.al kick. He would fish with a golden net, drawn by scarlet silk cords; was never attended by fewer than 1000 carte and carriages, drawn by mules with silver shoes; gamble £3000 on a sing'o point; encourage his friends to give £.'!0,000 banquets. His actors were sometimes equipped with wands and masks covered with genuine pearls. Nero himself loved to play "Hercules slaying the lion," with a drugged lion!

But when Rome burned Nero was mean enough to forbid people lo touch the ruins of their own houses because of the rich spoil he hoped to obtain by ■lifting the ashes. When, to a Roman, his only honourable course was suicide, a had to •drive home the dagger.