The first of these was some curious
mechanical device, by which a false ceiling was to have been suspended by
bolts above her bed; and in the middle of the night, the bolt being
suddenly drawn, a vast weight would have descended with a ruinous
destruction to all below. This scheme, however, taking air from the
indiscretion of some amongst the accomplices, reached the ears of
Agrippina; upon which the old lady looked about her too sharply to leave
much hope in that scheme: so _that_ also was abandoned. Next, he
conceived the idea of an artificial ship, which, at the touch of a few
springs, might fall to pieces in deep water. Such a ship was prepared, and
stationed at a suitable point. But the main difficulty remained, which was
to persuade the old lady to go on board. Not that she knew in this case
_who_ had been the ship-builder, for that would have ruined all; but
it seems that she took it ill to be hunted in this murderous spirit, and
was out of humor with her son; besides, that any proposal coming from him,
though previously indifferent to her, would have instantly become
suspected. To meet this difficulty, a sort of reconciliation was proposed,
and a very affectionate message sent, which had the effect of throwing
Agrippina off her guard, and seduced her to Baiae for the purpose of
joining the emperor's party at a great banquet held in commemoration of a
solemn festival.
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