she had already made when, in the presence of Claudius, 
she had accused Narcissus of avarice and embezzlement. 
But he had dared to defend himself eloquently and, in 
turn, attacked Agrippina. On the other hand, it seems 
that Narcissus’ position became increasingly weaker. For 
example, he had tried in vain to save Domitia Lepida, 
whose trial was directed from behind the scenes by 
Agrippina. Tacitus reports that Narcissus felt increas- 
ingly unsafe and considered his fall inevitable. In this 
duel between Narcissus and Agrippina he who would 
make the first mistake would be the loser. Agrippina 
had the poison ready, and Narcissus is reported to have 
said to his closest friends: 
‘“‘convictam Messalinam et Silium: pares iterum accusandi causas 
esse. **, si Nero imperaret ; quamquam ne impudicitiam quidem nune 
abesse Pallante adultero, ne quis ambigat decus pudorem corpus, 
cuncta regno viliora habere.’’ (Tacitus, Ann., XII, 65, 2, H. Fuchs 
ed.) (4) 
‘*Messalina and Silius had received their condemnation and there 
was again similar material for a similar charge . . . (Though), even 
now, infidelity was not far to seek, when she had committed adultery 
with Pallas, in order to leave no doubt that she held her dignity, her 
modesty, her body, her all cheaper than a throne!’’ (Tacitus, Ann. 
ibid., transl. by J. Jackson, p. 411) 
These words show that Narcissus, too, was prepared 
to strike. In addition, security measures for the Emperor 
were rigid: 
“|. . he never attended a banquet unless with an escort of javelin- 
bearing Guards, and waited upon by soldiers. Before entering a sick- 
room he always had it carefully gone over: pillows and mattresses 
were prodded, and bedclothes shaken out. Later, he even required 
all visitors to be searched when they came to pay him a morning call, 
and excused no one. Indeed it was not until the end of his reign that 
he reluctantly gave up the practice of having women, boys, and girls 
pawed about during these routine examinations, and of removing the 
stylus-case from every caller’s attendant or secretary.’’ (Suetonius, 
Divus Claudius, transl. by R. Graves, p. 202) 
Agrippina was in a very difficult situation. She had 
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