The death of Agrippina was closely followed by the accomplishment of her prophecy. Nero threw off the last restraints which a feeble reason and a doubtful humanity had imposed on his frantic cruelty. The events of his subsequent reign are marked in blood; but the brief and graphic historian, who has lent his genius to illustrate them, is in the hands of the educated, from Indus to the Pole; and their recapitulation is unnecessary. The striking circumstance, the warning moral, derivable from the narrative, and deserving to be held forth to all posterity, is the fact, that mankind submitted to this madman; and that, among the base and craven slaves who pandered to his power, were some of the most polished intellects of the age.

Still, Rome was not wholly destitute of men, and of women, too, whose spirit revolted against the ruthless cruelty of Nero, and who were resolved on his destruction at all sacrifices. A conspiracy was formed by Caius Piso, who had rendered himself popular by his private and his public virtues, by his genius, and by the brilliant versatility of his talents. He had already incurred the hate and the suspicion of Nero, as being among the men marked out as his successor to the empire.