Poppaea Puts Pressure on Nero

Translation

In the consulships of Gaius Vipstanus and C. Fonteius, Nero did not postpone any longer the crime which he had long contemplated, since his daring had increased because of the duration of his power and was daily more ardent because of his love for Poppaea, who, having no hope for marriage to herself and a divorce from Octavia while Agrippina was unharmed, began to rebuke the emperor with frequent accusations sometimes in jest and to call him a ward since he was submissive to the commands of others and was not only being deprived of supreme power, but even of his freedom. For why was her marriage being put off? Of course, her beauty and ancestors who had been awarded a triumph displeased him. Or was it her fertility and her loyal heart? Was it feared that as his wife she might at the very least reveal the senators' sense of injustice and the anger of the people against the pride and greed of his mother? But if Agrippina could not bear a daughter-in-law apart from one who was hostile to her son, she should be restored to her marriage with Otho: she would go anywhere in the world, where she would rather hear insults against the emperor than be involved in his dangers and see them. No one prevented these and the like which were impressive because of the tears and skill of the adulteress, as everyone wanted the mother's power to be broken and no one believed that the son's hatred would harden as far as murdering her.