Petulancy, lewdness, luxury, avarice, and cruelty, he practised at first with
					reserve and in private, as if prompted to them only by the folly of youth, but,
					even then, the world was of opinion that they were the faults of his nature, and
					not of his age. After it was dark, he used to enter the taverns disguised in a
					cap or a wig, and ramble about the streets in sport, which was not void of
					mischief. He used to beat those he met coming home from supper; and, if they
					made any resistance, would wound them, and throw them into the common-sewer. He
					broke open and robbed shops; establishing an auction at home for selling his
					booty. In the scuffles which took place on those occasions, he often ran the
					hazard of losing his eyes, and even his life; being beaten almost to death by a
					senator, for handling his wife indecently. After this adventure, he never again
					ventured abroad at that time of night, without some tribunes following him at a
					little distance. In the day-time he would be carried to the theatre incognito in
					a litter, placing himself upon the upper part of the proscenium, where he not
					only witnessed the quarrels which arose on account of the performances, but also
					encouraged them. When they came to blows, and stones and pieces of broken
					benches began to fly about, he threw them plentifully amongst the people, and
					once even broke a praetor's head. His vices gaining strength by degrees, he laid aside his jocular amusements, and
					all disguise; breaking out into enormous crimes, without the least attempt to
					conceal them. His revels were prolonged from mid-day to midnight, while he was
					frequently refreshed by warm baths, and, in the summer time, by such as were
					cooled with snow. He often supped in public, in the Naumachia, with the sluices
					shut, or in the Campus Martius , or the
					Circus Maximus, being waited upon at table by common prostitutes of the town,
					and Syrian strumpets and gleegirls. As often as he went down the Tiber to Ostia , or coasted through the gulf of Baiae , booths furnished as brothels and
					eating-houses, were erected along the shore and river banks; before which stood
					matrons, who, like bawds and hostesses, allured him to land. It was also his
					custom to invite himself to supper with his friends: at one of which was
					expended no less than four millions of sesterces in chaplets, and at another
					something more in roses. Besides the debauch of married women, he comnmitted rape upon Rubria, a Vestal
					Virfin. He was upon the point of marrying Acte, Acte was a
						slave who had been bought in Asia ,
						whose beauty so captivated Nero that he redeemed her, and became greatly
						attached to her. She is supposed to be the concubine of Nero mentioned by
						St. Chrysostom, as having been converted by St.
							Paul during his residence at Rome . The Apostle speaks of the " Saints in Caesar's
						household." Phl. iv..22. his freedwoman, having suborned some men of
					consular rank to swear that she was of royal descent. * * * Thomson omits some material here * * * That he
					entertained an incestuous passion for his mother, It is
						said that the advances were made by Agrippina, with flagrant indecency, to
						secure her power over him. See Tacitus, Annal. xiv. 2, 3. but was
					deterred by her enemies, for fear that this haughty and overbearing woman
					should, by her compliance, get him entirely into her power, and govern in every
					thing, was universally believed; especially after he had introduced amongst his
					concubines a strumpet, who was reported to have a strong resemblance to
						Agrippina. Olim etiam, quoties
							lectica cum matre veheretur, libidinatum inceste, ac maculis vestis
							proditum, affirmant.