Nero's Panic and Final Plot

Translation

Meanwhile, it was reported to Nero, who was waiting for news of the accomplishment of the crime, that Agrippina had escaped, though wounded by a light blow and having encountered danger to such an extent that the instigator was undoubted. Then, petrified with fear and protesting that she would be there at any moment now, eager for revenge, whether she was arming slaves or inflaming the soldiery or making her way to the Senate and the people, charging him with the shipwreck, the wound and her slaughtered friends: what help did he have against her? Apart from anything Burrus and Seneca might be able to do; waking them up, he had summoned them immediately, though it was uncertain whether they were aware of the situation previously. And so, both were silent for a long time, lest they might try to dissuade him without effect, or they believed that the situation had deteriorated to the point where Nero would have to die unless Agrippina was forestalled. Next Seneca acted more readily up to this extent that he looked back at Burrus and enquired whether the soldiery should be ordered to murder her. He replied that the praetorians were bound by oath to the whole house of the Caesars, and, remembering Germanicus, would not dare to do anything violent against his offspring: Anicetus should fulfil his promises. He, without any delay, demanded complete control of the crime. At that utterance, Nero acknowledged that supreme power was being given to himself on that day and that a freedman was the instigator of such a great gift. He should go quickly and take those who were most ready to do his orders. He himself, when he heard that Agerinus had come as a messenger sent by Agrippina, of his own accord prepared a 'crime scene' and threw a sword between his feet while Agerinus was carrying out his instructions, then ordered chains to be cast upon him, as if he had been caught red-handed, so that he might pretend that his mother had attempted the destruction of the emperor and had chosen death voluntarily in her shame that the crime had been detected.