22. Clau'dius afterwards married Agrippi'na, the daughter of his brother German'icus, a woman of a cruel and ambitious spirit, whose only aim being to procure the succession of Nero, her son by a former marriage, she treated Claudius with such haughtiness, that he was heard to declare, when heated with wine, that it was his fate to smart under the disorders of his wives, and to be their executioner. 23. This expression sunk deep in her mind, and engaged all her faculties to prevent the blow; she therefore resolved not to defer a deed which she had meditated long before, which was to poison him. She for some time debated within herself in what quantity the poison should be administered, as she feared that too strong a dose would discover the treachery, while one too weak would fail of its effect. 24. At length she determined upon a poison of singular efficacy to destroy his intellects, and yet not suddenly to terminate his life; it was given among mushrooms, a dish the emperor was particularly fond of. 25. Shortly after he had eaten, he dropped down insensible; but this caused no alarm, as it was usual with him to eat till he had stupified his facilities, and been obliged to be carried from the table to his bed. 26. His constitution, however, seemed to overcome the effects of the potion; but Agrippi'na resolving to make sure of him, directed a wretch of a physician, her creature, to introduce a poisoned feather into his throat, under pretence of making him vomit, and thus to dispatch him, which had its intended effect. Thus died Clau'dius the First, the complicated diseases of whose infancy seemed to have affected and perverted all the faculties of his mind. He was succeeded by Nero, the son of Agrippi'na by her first husband. Nero had been adopted by Clau'dius. _Questions for Examination._ 1. What happened on the death of Caligula? 2. Who was appointed his successor? 3. What was the character of Claudius? 4. How did he conduct himself? 5. By what farther acts did he distinguish his accession? 6. Did he adopt any warlike measure? 7. By whom was he persuaded to interfere? 8. Who was sent into that country, and what occurred in consequence? 9. What resolution did Claudius form? 10. Did he perform any memorable exploits? 11. Was his return celebrated? 12. Was the war in Britain now at an end? 13. Did this finish the war? 14. Who were the most formidable adversaries of the Romans? 15. How did he distinguish himself? 16. By what means did he strengthen the courage of his troops? 17. Were his efforts successful? 18. What happened on his arrival in Rome? 19. What was his behaviour before the emperor? 20. Did Claudius continue to govern well? 21. Who was the chief instigator of his cruelties? 22. Who was the second wife of Claudius, and what was her conduct towards him? 23. What was the consequence of this unguarded expression? 24. On what did she at length resolve? 25. What effect did it produce? 26. Did he recover?