A disaster
followed, whether accidental or treacherously contrived by the emperor, is
uncertain, as authors have
given both accounts, worse, however, and
more dreadful than any which have ever happened to this city by the violence
of fire. It had its beginning in that part of the circus which adjoins the
Palatine and
Cælian
hills, where, amid the shops containing inflammable wares, the conflagration
both broke out and instantly became so fierce and so rapid from the wind
that it seized in its grasp the entire length of the circus. For here there
were no houses fenced in by solid masonry, or temples surrounded by walls,
or any other obstacle to interpose delay. The blaze in its fury ran first
through the level portions of the city, then rising to the hills, while it
again devastated every place below them, it outstripped all preventive
measures; so rapid was the mischief and so completely at its mercy the city,
with those narrow winding passages and irregular streets, which
characterised old
Rome. Added to this were the
wailings of terror-stricken women, the feebleness of age, the helpless
inexperience of childhood, the crowds who sought to save themselves or
others, dragging out the infirm or waiting for them, and by their hurry in
the one case, by their delay in the other, aggravating the confusion. Often,
while they looked behind them, they were intercepted by flames on their side
or in their face. Or if they reached a refuge close at hand, when this too
was seized by the fire, they found that, even places, which they had
imagined to be remote, were involved in the same calamity. At last, doubting
what they should avoid or whither betake themselves, they crowded the
streets or flung themselves down in the fields, while some who had lost
their all, even their very daily bread, and others out of love for their
kinsfolk, whom they had been unable to rescue, perished, though escape was
open to them. And no one dared to stop the mischief, because of incessant
menaces from a number of persons who forbade the extinguishing of the
flames, because again others openly hurled brands, and kept shouting that
there was one who gave them authority, either seeking to plunder more
freely, or obeying orders.