The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

VIII. Nero singeth on the stage. The fall of the same stage. Torquatus Silanus death. Nero attired like a woman weddeth Pythagoras.

C. Lecanius, and M. Licinius being Consuls, Nero more and more desired to frequent the stage without any respect: for as yet he had not song but in his house, and gardens in plaies of youth, which now he despised as not frequen∣ted, and too meane for such a voice. Yet he durst not begin at Rome, but chose Naples as a Greeke citie, thinking that that might serue for a commencement to goe to Achaia, where hauing obtained the famous, and in times past reputed sacred crownes, & by that meanes grown in credit, he thought he should stur a great desire in the citizens of Rome to heare him. The cōmón rabble flocked together, or such as the fame of those plaies had drawne frō the next colonies & townes, and such as fol∣lowed him either to do him honor, or sundrie other occasions; yea companies of souldiers filled the Theater of Naples. There hapned as most men thought, a dole∣full chance, but yet as he construed it, foretokening good luck, and sent by the fauo∣rable prouidence of the gods. For the people were no sooner gone, and the Theater emptie, but it fell downe, without hurt done to any. Therfore with songs composed for the purpose, thanking the gods, and celebrating the fortune of the late chance, going to the Adriatike sea, he stayed in the meane time at Beneuentum, where, by Vatinius was exhibited a notable play of Fencers. Vatinius was one of the shame∣lest monsters of his court, brought vp in a coblers shop, mishapen of bodie, and a scurrile iester: and therefore first emploied in that practise; then by pickthanking and informing against the better sort, grew to such authoritie, that in credit and wealth, and power of doing hurt, he was worse then the worst. Nero then comming to the play he had set forth, no not at their pastime did they abstaine from doing of mischiefe. For the selfesame daye Torquatus Silanus was constrained to dye, be∣cause that besides the noblenes of the Iunian familie, he sayd, that he was in the fourth degree lineally descended from Augustus of famous memorie. The accusers were commaunded to lay to his charge, that he was prodigall in gifts, and that all his hope lay in the alteration of the state. And that he had noble men about him which he called his Secretaries, maisters of requests, & Auditors, which were names of imperiall dignitie, and deseignments of great attempts. Then the chiefest of his freed men were bound and caried away. And when Torquatus condemnation was at hand, he cut the vaines of his armes, and Nero as his manner was, made an ora∣tion after: that although he had beene culpable, and worthily distrusted his pur∣gation, yet he should haue had his life graunted him, if he would haue expected the Iudges clemencie. Not long after forsaking Achaia for the present (the causes were vncertaine) he came againe to Rome, hammering greatly with himselfe of going to the prouinces of the East, and especially Aegypt. Then by an edict witnessing his absence should not be long, and that all should go well with the common wealth, he went to the Capitol to worship the gods. And as he entered the temple of Vesta, taken suddenly with a shaking ouer all his bodie, either the goddesse of the place terrifying him; or the remembrance of his villanies alwaies accompanying him with feare, he changed his determination; affirming, that all cares, were nothing to him, in regard of the loue of his countrey; that he had seene the sad countenances of the citizens, heard their secret complaints, why he should go about so great a iourney, whose short and reasonable absence they could not indure; as men wont to be

comforted with the sight of the Prince against all crosses and aduersities. Therefore as in priuat friendships, the neerest pledges and kindred are most deerest; so the people of Rome had great power ouer him, and that he must obey them, seeing they kept him from going. These and the like speeches were pleasing to the people, de∣sirous of pastimes, and which was their chiefest care fearing want of corne if he should be absent. The Lords of the Senate and the nobilitie knew not whether he were more cruell farre off, or neere: then as the nature of all great feare is, they beleeued that which hapned to be worst. He to win an opinion that he was no where so merrie as in the citie, made bankets in publick places, and vsed the whole citie as it had beene his owne house. Those bankets were most spoken of for riot and fame, which Tigellinus prepared, which I will lay downe as a parerne of all, least the same wastfulnes should be often repeated. In Agrippaes lake therefore he built a boate, whereon the banket was drawne with other boates. The boates were beset with gold and Iuory. The rowers were stale Catamites, placed accor∣ding to their age and skill of vnnaturall vncleannes. He had prepared Fowle, and wilde beasts out of diuers countries, and out of the Ocean. On the brinke of the poole were brothell houses, filled with noble women: and ouer against them were common strumpets naked, vsing filthie gestures and behauiour. And when the night was come, all the wood and houses about rang with singing, and shi∣ned with lightes. Nero himselfe defiled with lawfull, and vnnaturall lusts, left no wickednes vndone, because he would be most corrupt. And a few dayes after, he was wedded as it had been solemnely to one of that polluted crew, called Pytha∣goras. The Emperour was couered with a yellow vaile. There went before him those which gaue him in marriage, the wedding bed was prepared, and wedding torches: all was seene, which euen the night doth hide in a married woman.