Nero (for as to Claudius, he came too late to the throne to indulge any
propensities of this nature with so little discretion) was but a variety
of the same species. He also was an amateur, and an enthusiastic amateur
of murder. But as this taste, in the most ingenious hands, is limited and
monotonous in its modes of manifestation, it would be tedious to run
through the long Suetonian roll-call of his peccadilloes in this way. One
only we shall cite, to illustrate the amorous delight with which he
pursued any murder which happened to be seasoned highly to his taste by
enormous atrocity, and by almost unconquerable difficulty. It would really
be pleasant, were it not for the revolting consideration of the persons
concerned, and their relation to each other, to watch the tortuous pursuit
of the hunter, and the doubles of the game, in this obstinate chase. For
certain reasons of state, as Nero attempted to persuade himself, but in
reality because no other crime had the same attractions of unnatural
horror about it, he resolved to murder his mother Agrippina. This being
settled, the next thing was to arrange the mode and the tools.
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