The same object has made it inevitable that, at least in passing glimpses, the figures of several whose names are surrounded with hallowed associations should appear in these pages. I could not otherwise bring out the truths which it was my aim to set forth. But in this matter I do not think that any serious reader will accuse me of irreverence. Onesimus, Pudens, Claudia, and a few others, must be regarded as imaginary persons, except in name, but scarcely in one incident have I touched the Preachers of early Christianity with the finger of fiction. They were, indeed, men of like passions with ourselves, and as St. Chrysostom says of St. Paul, ‘Even if he was Paul, he was yet a man;’ but recognising their sacred dignity, I have almost entirely confined their words to words of revelation. Even if I had done more than this, I might plead the grave sanction and example of Dante, and Milton, and Browning. But the small liberty which I have dared to use has only been in directions accorded by the cycle of such early legends as may be considered to be both innocent and hallowed. F. W. FARRAR. CONTENTS I. THE SOLILOQUIES OF AGRIPPINA II. AGRIPPINA AND NERO III. INSTRUMENTA IMPERII IV. THE CRIME V. THE MOCKERY OF DEATH VI. THE ACCESSION OF NERO VII. SENECA AND HIS FAMILY VIII. SENECA AND HIS VISITORS IX. NERO AND HIS COMPANIONS X. PRINCE BRITANNICUS XI. ‘A FOREIGN SUPERSTITION’ XII. ONESIMUS XIII. THE ADVENTURES OF A RUNAWAY XIV. MOTHER AND SON XV. EMPEROR AND ÆSTHETE XVI. EVENTS IN THE VILLA POLLUX XVII. AMUSEMENTS OF AN EMPEROR XVIII. VESPASIAN’S FARM XIX. OTHO’S SUPPER AND WHAT CAME OF IT XX. BROTHER AND SISTER XXI. AMONG THE CHRISTIANS XXII. BRITANNICUS AND HIS SONG XXIII. PERILS OF BRITANNICUS XXIV. BRITANNICUS UNDERGOES A NEW EXPERIENCE XXV. LOCUSTA XXVI. A BANQUET AND A CONVERSATION XXVII. DEATH IN THE GOBLET XXVIII. THE LAST OF THE CLAUDII XXIX. AGRIPPINA AT BAY XXX. A PRIVATE TRIAL XXXI. THE INTERIOR OF A SLAVE-PRISON XXXII. WANDERINGS OF AN OUTCAST XXXIII. TITUS AND THE VESTAL XXXIV. AN EVIL EPOCH XXXV. THE MATRICIDE XXXVI. SELF-AVENGED XXXVII. VICTOR OVER THE PUBLIC SERVITUDE XXXVIII. THE GLADIATORS’ SCHOOL XXXIX. THE FIGHT IN THE ARENA XL. THE SPOLIARIUM XLI. THE KING OF THE GROVE XLII. A MASSACRE OF SLAVES XLIII. A NOTABLE PRISONER XLIV. A SUPPER AT VESPASIAN’S XLV. POPPÆA VICTRIX XLVI. THE DEATH OF OCTAVIA XLVII. A FETTERED AMBASSADOR XLVIII. ENSLAVED AND FREE XLIX. THE DEPTHS OF SATAN L. A CITY IN FLAMES LI. AN INFERNAL SUGGESTION LII. ALITURUS AMONG THE CHRISTIANS LIII. ‘HE WHO SAW THE APOCALYPSE’