for going _incognito_ to the theatre, where he took sufficient interest in
the public performances, to send a message to a favorite actor. At times,
even in this hopeless situation, his native ferocity returned upon him,
and he was believed to have framed plans for removing all his enemies at
once--the leaders of the rebellion, by appointing successors to their
offices, and secretly sending assassins to dispatch their persons; the
senate, by poison at a great banquet; the Gaulish provinces, by delivering
them up for pillage to the army; the city, by again setting it on fire,
whilst, at the same time, a vast number of wild beasts was to have been
turned loose upon the unarmed populace--for the double purpose of
destroying them, and of distracting their attention from the fire. But, as
the mood of his frenzy changed, these sanguinary schemes were abandoned,
(not, however, under any feelings of remorse, but from mere despair of
effecting them,) and on the same day, but after a luxurious dinner, the
imperial monster grew bland and pathetic in his ideas; he would proceed to
the rebellious army; he would present himself unarmed to their view; and
would recall them to their duty by the mere spectacle of his tears. Upon
the pathos with which he would weep he was resolved to rely entirely. And
having received the guilty to his mercy without distinction, upon the
following day he would unite _his_ joy with _their_ joy, and would chant
hymns of victory (_epinicia_)--"which by the way," said he, suddenly,
breaking off to his favorite pursuits, "it is necessary that I should
immediately compose." This caprice vanished like the rest; and he made an
effort to enlist the slaves and citizens into his service, and to raise by
extortion a large military chest. But in the midst of these vascillating
purposes fresh tidings surprised him--other armies had revolted, and the
rebellion was spreading contagiously. This consummation of his alarms
reached him at dinner; and the expressions of his angry fears took even a
scenical air; he tore the dispatches, upset the table, and dashed to
pieces upon the ground two crystal beakers--which had a high value as