Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 324

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PAUL BEFORE NERO . 317 Like one beside himself, he rushed hither and thither,beatinghis forehead,and crying," I am lost! I am lost!" He had not,like the faithful Paul, a powerful, compassionateGod to rely upon inhishourofperil. He knew thatiftaken prisonerhe would be subjectedto insultand torture,and he consideredhow he might end his miserablelifewith aslittlepain aspossible. He calledfor poison,but when it was brought,he dared not take it; he called for a sword , but afterexamining itssharp edge,he laidit also aside. Then,disguisedin woman's clothing,he rushedfromhispalace,and fledthroughthedark, narrow streetsto the Tiber; but as he looked intoitsmurky depths,his courageagain failed. One of the few companions who had followed him ,suggested that he escape to a country-seat a few milesdistant,where he might findsafety. Concealinghisface,he leapedupon a horse,and succeededin making hisescape. While theemperor was thus ingloriouslyfleeing for hislife,the Roman senate, emboldened by the insurrectionand theapproachof Galba, passeda decreedeclaringNero to be the enemy of his country,and condemning him to death. The news of thisdecisionbeing broughttoNero by one of hiscompanions,the monarch inquired what manner of death he was to suffer, and was toldthathe was to be strippednaked,to be fastenedby hishead inthe pillory,and tobe scourgedto death. The monster who had delightedto inflictupon Christiansthe most inhuman torture, shrank with horror at the mere thought of enduringliketorturehimself. He seizeda dagger,and againendeavoredto nerve himselftoplungeitintohisheart;buttheprick