On an ebony bed decorated br with coral eagles, sound asleep lies br Nero --- unconscious, quiet, and blissful; br thriving in the vigor of flesh, br and in the splendid power of youth. br br But in the alabaster hall that encloses br the ancient shrine of the Aenobarbi br how restive are his Lares. br The little household gods tremble, br and try to hide their insignificant bodies. br For they heard a horrible clamor, br a deathly clamor ascending the stairs, br iron footsteps rattling the stairs. br And now in a faint the miserable Lares, br burrow in the depth of the shrine, br one tumbles and stumbles upon the other, br one little god falls over the other br for they understand what sort of clamor this is, br they are already feeling the footsteps of the Furies.br br Constantine P.