1. =Nerō=: Claudius Caesar, surnamed Nero, was the son of Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina. His early youth was spent in study under the philosopher Seneca, who remained his counselor for several years. During the first five years of his reign he was mild and just. The later years were filled with all sorts of excesses, and were marked by great cruelty. Creighton, p. 93; _The Early Empire_, Ch. V. 9. =urbem Rōmam incendit=: it is very improbable that Nero was guilty of this crime. Rome was almost destroyed in this conflagration. Of the fourteen districts into which the city was divided, only four remained untouched by the flames. The fire raged for six days and seven nights; and, after it was thought to have been extinguished, it burst forth again, and continued for two days longer. On this occasion Nero appears to have acted with great liberality and kindness. He caused provisions to be sold at a very low price and the imperial gardens to be opened to the people, and temporary shelters to be erected for their accommodation. That he might remove suspicion from himself, Nero caused it to be reported that the Christians had set fire to the city, and a number of them was seized and put to death. This was the first persecution of the Christians by the Romans, 64 A.D. CH. 15. 22. =ā saxō=: sc. _Tarpēiā_. 23. =lībertī=: his name was Phaon. =Salariam=: the _Via Salaria_ ran north from Rome to Ancona on the Adriatic. 24. =interfēcit=: “At last comes Phaon’s courier with the news that the senate had put a price upon his head; the tramp of the horses tells him that his pursuers are on his track, and fear gives him the nerve to put the dagger to his throat, while, true to the passion of his life, he mutters, ‘What a loss my death will be to art!’” _The Early Empire_, p. 127. 25. =Nerōniānae=: the ruins of the bath may still be seen near the Pantheon. PAGE 69. CH. 16. 1. =Serv. Galba=: Servius Sulpicius Galba was born in the reign of Augustus of a patrician family. He was in Spain when Julius Vindex, the proconsular governor of Gaul, rose against Nero. Galba joined him, and Otho, governor of Lusitania, followed his example. He was saluted as emperor by the soldiers, and the senate was forced to ratify their choice. The emperors from this time on were set up and overthrown at the will of the army. He was very parsimonious in his dealings and so lost the good will of the soldiers, who were ready to aid any revolt against him. He ruled for only seven months. Creighton, p. 96; _The Early Empire_, Ch. VI. CH. 17. 12. =Otho=: Marcus Salvius Otho was Roman emperor from January 15 to April 16, 69 A.D. He was the husband of the beautiful but infamous Poppaea Sabina, whom Nero took from him and made his own. He was afterwards sent to Lusitania, where he governed with justice and moderation. Creighton, p. 96; _The Early Empire_, Ch. VII. 14. =mollis=: ‘effeminate.’