She came by water in a sort of light frigate, and was to
return in the same way. Meantime Nero tampered with the commander of her
vessel, and prevailed upon him to wreck it. What was to be done? The great
lady was anxious to return to Rome, and no proper conveyance was at hand.
Suddenly it was suggested, as if by chance, that a ship of the emperor's,
new and properly equipped, was moored at a neighboring station. This was
readily accepted by Agrippina: the emperor accompanied her to the place of
embarkation, took a most tender leave of her, and saw her set sail. It was
necessary that the vessel should get into deep water before the experiment
could be made; and with the utmost agitation this pious son awaited news
of the result. Suddenly a messenger rushed breathless into his presence,
and horrified him by the joyful information that his august mother had met
with an alarming accident; but, by the blessing of Heaven, had escaped
safe and sound, and was now on her road to mingle congratulations with her
affectionate son. The ship, it seems, had done its office; the mechanism
had played admirably; but who can provide for every thing? The old lady,
it turned out, could swim like a duck; and the whole result had been to
refresh her with a little sea-bathing.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121