Naturally
enough, according to the custom then prevalent in Rome, he first attempted
the thing by poison. The poison failed: for Agrippina, anticipating tricks
of this kind, had armed her constitution against them, like Mithridates;
and daily took potent antidotes and prophylactics. Or else (which is more
probable) the emperor's agent in such purposes, fearing his sudden
repentance and remorse on first hearing of his mother's death, or possibly
even witnessing her agonies, had composed a poison of inferior strength.
This had certainly occurred in the case of Britannicus, who had thrown off
with ease the first dose administered to him by Nero. Upon which he had
summoned to his presence the woman employed in the affair, and compelling
her by threats to mingle a more powerful potion in his own presence, had
tried it successively upon different animals, until he was satisfied with
its effects; after which, immediately inviting Britannicus to a banquet,
he had finally dispatched him. On Agrippina, however, no changes in the
poison, whether of kind or strength, had any effect; so that, after
various trials, this mode of murder was abandoned, and the emperor
addressed himself to other plans.
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