While the emperor was thus ingloriously fleeing for his life, the Roman senate, emboldened by the insurrection and the approach of Galba, passed a decree declaring Nero to be the enemy of his country, and condemning him to death. The news of this decision being brought to Nero by one of his companions, the monarch inquired what manner of death he was to suffer, and was told that he was to be stripped naked, to be fastened by his head in the pillory, and to be scourged to death. The monster who had delighted to inflict upon Christians the most inhuman torture, shrank with horror at the mere thought of enduring like torture himself. He seized a dagger, and again endeavored to nerve himself to plunge it into his heart; but the prick of the instrument was all that he could endure. As he threw it aside with a groan of despair, horsemen were heard approaching. His retreat was discovered; a few moments, and he would be in the power of his enemies. Terrified alike at the thought of torture and suicide, he still hesitated, and was compelled at last to let a slave help his trembling hand force a dagger into his throat. Thus perished the tyrant Nero, at the early age of thirty-two. {LP 317.1}

Medens kejseren sådan flygtede skammeligt for sit liv, kom den romerske senator, ansporet af Galbas oprør og ankomst, med et dekret der erklærede at Nero skal være sit lands fjende, og dømme ham til døden. Nyhederne om denne afgørelse kom til Nero, med en af hans ledsagere, spurgte monarken hvilken slags død han skulle lide, fik han at vide at han skulle afklædes, fastgøre hans hoved i gabestokken, og piskes til døde. Det umenneske som glæde sig over at påføre kristne den mest umenneskelige tortur, sank sammen i rædsel over tanken over at udholde den samme tortur selv. Han greb et sværd, og prøvede igen at få sig selv til at gennembore det i sit hjerte; men prikken af instrumentet var alt hvad han kunne klare. Idet han kastede det til siden med et fortvivlelsens suk, kunne der høres hestefolk uden for. Hans skjulested blev hurtigt opdaget og da de forfølgende ryttere nærmede sig, kaldte han en slave til hjælp og bibragte sig selv et dødeligt sår. Således omkom tyrannen Nero, to og tredive år gammel.