[7] JULIA WAS SENSELESS ON THE FLOOR. For the death of Julia, see Suet. _Dom._ 22. What is there related, is so ill adapted for artistic description, that we have replaced this act of brutality with a less loathsome one. Our invention can appeal to historical analogies. Thus Nero, from whom I borrow various traits for my Domitian’s character, killed his wife Poppaea, during a quarrel, by a kick. See Suet. _Ner._ 35; Tac. _Ann._, XVI, 6. [8] IT WAS DOMITIAN'S BIRTHDAY, THE 24TH OF OCTOBER. The Caesars' birthdays were great and universal holidays. At the time of this story, the month of October was called “Domitianus” (See Mart. _Ep._ IX, 1.) The vain ruler had hoped by this change, following the example of Julius Caesar and the emperor Augustus, to perpetuate his name forever. But while “Julius” (July) for the month Quintilis, and “Augustus” (August) for the month Sextilis, still exist at the present day, neither “Germanicus” for September, nor “Domitianus” for October, bestowed by Domitian, remained even a single day after the tyrant’s reign. The emperor called himself “Germanicus” on account of his campaign against the Chatti. (See Mart. II, 2), where the flatterer compares the prince to Scipio Africanus, and asserts that the surname “Germanicus” would be far more illustrious than that of “Africanus.” [9] THE USUAL CEREMONIOUS RECEPTION TOOK PLACE OF MAGISTRATES, SENATORS, AND KNIGHTS. Vespasian had abolished this custom, which flourished, especially under Claudius, even during the civil war. See Suet. _Vesp._ 12. [10] A DULL ATMOSPHERE OF SUSPICION BROODED LIKE A VAPOR AND SEEMED TO FILL THE SPLENDIDLY-DECORATED ROOM. See Plin. _Paneg._ 48: “Menaces and terror hovered around the doors, and those admitted had as much cause to fear, as those who were not.” [11] ATRA CURA, AS SUNG BY HORATIUS FLACCUS. See Hor. _Od._ III, 1, 40. [12] WHY, THE VERY MORNING DEW, DISGUSTED AT THE CRIME, DID ITS BEST TO WASH THEM AWAY. A flattering flowery turn of speech in perfect harmony with the spirit of the times. (See numerous passages in Martial’s _Epigrams_.) [13] OUR HEART IN ITS TENDER MERCY. See Suet. _Dom._ 11: “He never uttered a harsh sentence, without a preface about his mildness.” [14] TOGA VIRILIS. Donning the _toga virilis_, by which the boy was regarded as a man, was an important family festival. [15] RHEA GAVE BIRTH TO ZEUS. Zeus, according to Greek tradition, was born of Rhea, in a cave on Mt. Ida, at Crete. [16] PYLIAN NESTOR. Nestor, king of Pylos, was considered in ancient times the type of vigorous old age.