trembling for their lives, and also the people. Petronius was glad now
that Lygia had fled; for he wished no evil to Aulus and Pomponia, and he
wished good to himself and Vinicius; therefore when the cypress, set out
before the Palatine as a sign of mourning, was removed, he went to the
reception appointed for the senators and Augustians to learn how far
Nero had lent ear to reports of spells, and to neutralize results which
might come from his belief.

Knowing Nero, he thought, too, that though he did not believe in charms,
he would feign belief, so as to magnify his own suffering, and take
vengeance on some one, finally, to escape the suspicion that the gods
had begun to punish him for crimes. Petronius did not think that Cæsar
could love really and deeply even his own child; though he loved her
passionately, he felt certain, however, that he would exaggerate his
suffering. He was not mistaken. Nero listened, with stony face and
fixed eyes, to the consolation offered by knights and senators. It was
evident that, even if he suffered, he was thinking of this: What
impression would his suffering make upon others? He was posing as a
Niobe, and giving an exhibition of parental sorrow, as an actor would
give it on the stage. He had not the power even then to endure in his
silent and as it were petrified sorrow, for at moments he made a gesture
as if to cast the dust of the earth on his head, and at moments he
groaned deeply; but seeing Petronius, he sprang up and cried in a tragic
voice, so that all present could hear him,--"Eheu! And thou art guilty
of her death! At thy advice the evil spirit entered these walls,--the
evil spirit which, with one look, drew the life from her breast! Woe is
me! Would that my eyes had not seen the light of Helios! Woe is me!
Eheu! eheu!"

And raising his voice still more, he passed into a despairing shout; but