ONCE the highest heads in Rome inclined before Acre, the former favorite of
Nero. But even at that period she showed no desire to interfere in public
questions, and if on any occasion she used her influence over the young ruler, it
was only to implore mercy for some one. Quiet and unassuming, she won the
gratitude of many, and made no one her enemy. Even Octavia was unable to
hate her. To those who envied her she seemed exceedingly harmless. It was
known that she continued to love Nero with a sad and pained love, which lived
not in hope, but only in memories of the time in which that Nero was not only
younger and loving, but better. It was known that she could not tear her thoughts
and soul from those memories, but expected nothing; since there was no real
fear that Nero would return to her, she was looked upon as a person wholly
inoffensive, and hence was left in peace. Poppaea considered her merely as a
quiet servant, so harmless that she did not even try to drive her from the palace.
But since Caesar had loved her once and dropped her without offence in a quiet
and to some extent friendly manner, a certain respect was retained for her. Nero,
when he had freed her, let her live in the palace, and gave her special
apartments with a few servants. And as in their time Pallas and Narcissus,
though freedmen of Claudius, not only sat at feasts with Claudius, but also held
places of honor as powerful ministers, so she too was invited at times to Caesar's
table. This was done perhaps because her beautiful form was a real ornament to
a feast. Caesar for that matter had long since ceased to count with any
appearances in his choice of company. At his table the most varied medley of
people of every position and calling found places. Among them were senators,
but mainly those who were content to be jesters as well. There were patricians,
old and young, eager for luxury, excess, and enjoyment. There were women with
great names, who did not hesitate to put on a yellow wig of an evening and seek
adventures on dark streets for amusement's sake. There were also high officials,
and priests who at full goblets were willing to jeer at their own gods. At the side of
these was a rabble of every sort: singers, mimes, musicians, dancers of both
sexes; poets who, while declaiming, were thinking of the sesterces which might
fall to them for praise of Caesar's verses; hungry philosophers following the
dishes with eager eyes; finally, noted charioteers, tricksters, miracle-wrights, tale-
tellers, jesters, and the most varied adventurers brought through fashion or folly
to a few days' notoriety. Among these were not lacking even men who covered
with long hair their ears pierced in sign of slavery.
The most noted sat directly at the tables; the lesser served to amuse in time of
eating, and waited for the moment in which the servants would permit them to
rush at the remnants of food and drink. Guests of this sort were furnished by
Tigellinus, Vatinius, and Vitelius; for these guests they were forced more than
once to find clothing befitting the chambers of Caesar, who, however, liked their
society, through feeling most free in it. The luxury of the court gilded everything,
and covered all things with glitter. High and low, the descendants of great
families, and the needy from the pavements of the city, great artists, and vile
