Agrippina to Nero

I do not wonder that barren Silana has no sense of maternal affection.One who has never borne a son naturally would not know how to bear the loss of one.Na⁃ture’ renders either hateful or indifferent those objects that we do not ourselves experience… I am amazed that e⁃ven the most skillful sorcery of words could make you pay the least attention to such barbarous inhumanity…

Don’ t you know，my son，the affection all mothers naturally bear their children？Our love is unbounded，in⁃cessantly fed by that tenderness unknown to all but our⁃selves.Nothing should be more dear to us than what we have bought with the risk of our lives；nothing more pre⁃cious than what we have endured such grief and pain to procure.These are so acute and unbearable that ff it were not for the vision of a successful birth，which makes us forget our agonies，generation would soon cease.

Do you forget that nine full months I carried you in my womb and nourished you with my blood？How likely is it，then，that I would destroy the dear child who cost me so much anguish to bring into the world？It may be that the just gods were angry at my excessive love of you，and used this way to punish me.

Unhappy Agfippina！You are suspected of a crime of which nobody could really think you guilty.… What doesthe title of empress mean to me，if I am accused of a crime that even the basest of women would abhor？Unhappy are those who breathe the air of the court.The wisest of people are not secure from storms in that harbor.There even a calm is dangerous.But why blame the court？Can that be the canse of my being suspected of parricide？…

Tell me，why should I plot against your life？To plunge myself into a worse fate？That’ s not likely.What hopes could induce me to build upon your downfall？I know that the lust for empire often corrupts the laws of na⁃ture；that justice has no sword to punish those who offend in this way；and that ambition disregards wrong so long as it succeeds in its aim… Nay，to what deity could I turn for absolution after I had committeed so black a deed？

…

What difficulties have I not surmounted to crown your brow with laurels？But I insult your gratitude by reminding you of my services.My innocence ought not to defend itself but to rely wholly on your justice.

Farewell