The compleat courtier: or, The morals of the famous historian Cornelius Tacitus concerning flattery, &c. In above one hundred essays. Paraphras'd and illustrated with useful observations by the Sieur Amelo de la Houssaie and M. D'Ablancourt. Done out of French.

ESSAY. LXVIII.

AFter he found that all his Crimes were applauded as Egregious Acts, he turns Octavia out of doors, pretending Sterility, and Marries Poppaea.

Says D'Ablancourt; The Emperour fin∣ding that all his Crimes were consecrated by the Senate, Divorc'd Octavia, as being Bar∣ren, and Espouses Poppaea.

Tacitus tells us, That when the Head of Plautus was brought to Nero, he thus discours'd to himself! What fear'st thou Nero, now that Plautus and Sylla are dead? Why dost thou not forthwith Espouse Poppaea, and send Octavia home again, tho' she be

truly Complaisant and Modest, but yet a bur∣then to thee, for the sake of her Father's Me∣mory, and the affection of the People?

Nero dur'st not repudiate her while Sylla her Father-in-Law was alive, and Plautus her near Kinsman, who might have reveng'd her Quarrel. But so soon as these Obstacles were remov'd, he ne∣ver scrupl'd to dissolve a Marriage that had advanc'd him to the Empire. So true it is, that bad Princes cannot en∣dure the sight of those to whom they are too deeply oblig'd. Now Nero could not see Octavia, without recalling to mind those Obligations which he had receiv'd from her Father, who had preferr'd him before Britannicus his only Son; and therefore it was that the Memory of Claudius was offensive to his Mind. More∣over the Marriage of Nero with Poppaea, is a clear demonstration, that when once a bad Prince is rid of his Fears, he lays aside his Shame as soon.