extirpate entirely.  At one time he surrounded the senate-house with his troops, to the great consternation of the senators.  At another, he resolved to amuse himself with their terrors in a different manner. 15.  Having invited them to a public entertainment, he received them all very formally at the entrance of his palace, and conducted them into a spacious hall, hung round with black, and illuminated by a few melancholy lamps, that diffused no more light than was just sufficient to show the horrors of the place.  All around were to be seen coffins, with the names of each of the senators written upon them, together with other objects of terror, and instruments of execution. 16.  While the company beheld all these preparations with silent agony, several men having their bodies blackened, each with a drawn sword in one hand, and a flaming torch in the other, entered the hall, and danced round them. 17.  After some time, when, from the knowledge of Domi’tian’s capricious cruelty, the guests expected nothing less than instant death, the doors were set open, and one of the servants came to inform them, that the emperor gave all the company leave to withdraw.

18.  His cruelties were rendered still more odious by his avarice. 19.  The last part of the tyrant’s reign was more insupportable than any of the preceding.  Ne’ro exercised his cruelties without being a spectator; but a principal part of the Roman miseries, during his reign, was to behold the stern air and fiery visage of the tyrant, which he had armed against sensibility by continued intemperance, directing the tortures, and maliciously pleased with adding poignance to every agony.

20.  But a period was soon to be put to this monster’s cruelties.  Among the number of those whom he at once caressed and suspected, was his wife, Domi’tia, whom he had taken from AE’lius La’ma, her former husband. 21.  It was the tyrant’s method to put down the names of all such as he intended to destroy, in his tablets, which he kept about him with great circumspection.  Domi’tia fortunately happening to get a sight of them, was struck at finding her own name in the catalogue of those destined to destruction. 22.  She showed the fatal list to Norba’nus and Petro’nius, praefects of the praetorian bands, who found themselves among the number of devoted victims; as likewise to Steph’anus, the comptroller of the household, who came into the conspiracy with alacrity.  They fixed upon the eighteenth day of September for the completion of their great attempt. 23.  Upon the emperor’s preparing to go to the bath on the morning of that day, Petro’nius his chamberlain came to inform him that Steph’anus desired to speak upon an affair of the utmost importance.  The emperor having given orders that his attendants should retire, Steph’anus entered with his hand in a scarf, which he had worn thus for some days, the better to conceal a dagger, as none were permitted to approach the emperor with arms. 24.  He began by giving information of a