treu and bold, and free, which made him not conce sels; so he communicated them to many of his to others, who seemed to him persous of activ gour: Minucianus entered into this conspiracy the injustice done to Lepidus, his particular fri of the best character of all the citizens, who slain, as also, because he was afraid of himself, his wrath tended to the slaughter of all alike: a rea, he came in because he thought it a deed free ingenuous man to kill Caius, and was ash reproaches he lay under from Caius, as though coward; as also because he was himself in d day from his friendship with him, and the observ him. These men proposed this attempt to all were concerned, who saw the injuries that them, and were desirous that Caius's slaughte ceed by their mutual assistance of one anoth might themselves escape being killed by the taki that perhaps they should gain their point, and be an happy thing if they should gain it, to ap selves to so many excellent persons as earnest be partakers with them in their design for th the city, and of the government, even at the ha own lives. But still Cherea was the most zea all, both out of a desire of getting himself the gr and also by reason of his access to Caius's pr less danger, because he was tribune, and could more easily kill him. 4. Now at this time came on the horse race games;] the view of which games was eager the people of Rome; for they came out with the hippodrome [circus] at such times, and emperors, in great multitudes, for what they s of; who usually did not think fit to deny the quests, but readily and gratefully granted the ingly, they most importunately desired that Cai ease them in their tributes, and abate some rigour of the taxes imposed upon them but I hear their petition; and, when their clamours were commanded executed the same; and the numf those who were slain on this occasion was very great. the people saw this, and bore it so far, that they left amouring, because they saw with their own eyes, that -etition to be relieved, as to the payment of their mobrought immediate death upon them. These things Cherea more resolute to go on with his plot, in order t an end to this barbarity of Caius against men. He at several times, thought to fall upon Caius even as he easting; yet did he restrain himself by some considera; not that he had any doubt on him about killing him, s watching for a proper season, that the attempt might e frustrated, but that he might give the blow so as t certainly gain his purpose. Cherea had been in the army a long time, yet was he pleased with conversing so much with Caius. But Caius set him to require the tributes, and other dues, which, ʼn not paid in due time, were forfeited to Caesar's trea; and he had made some delays in requiring them, bee those burdens had been doubled, and had rather ined his own mild disposition than performed Caius's comd: nay, indeed, he provoked Caius to anger by his sparing , and pitying the hard fortunes of those from whom he anded the taxes, and Caius upbraided him with his sloth effeminacy in being so long about collecting the taxes. indeed he did not only affront him in other respects, when he gave him the watch-word of the day, to whom as to be given by his place, he gave him feminine words, those of a nature very reproachful; and these watchds he gave out, as having been initiated in the secrets of ain mysteries, which he had been himself the author of , although he had sometimes put on women's clothes, I had been wrapt in some embroidered garments to them onging, and done a great many other things, in order to ke the company mistake him for a woman; yet did he, way of reproach, object the like womanish behaviour of erea. But, when Cherea received the watch-word from n, he had indignation at it, but had greater indignan at the delivery of it to others, as being laughed at by ose that received it; insomuch, that his fellow-tribunes -do him them whic shain duallasr · for they would fare tell that he would bring them some of his usual watch-words, when he was about to take the watch-word from Caesar, and would thereby make him ridiculous; on which accounts he took the courage of assuming certain partners to him, as having just reasons for his indignation against Caius. Now there was one Pompedius, a senator, and one who had gone through almost all posts in the government, but otherwise an Epicurean, and for that reason loved to lead an inactive life. Now Timidius, an enemy of his, had informed Caius, that he had used indecent reproaches against him, and had made use of Quintilia for a witness to them; a woman who was much beloved by many that frequented the theatre, and particularly by Pompedius, on account of her great beauty. Now this woman thought it an horrible thing to attest to an accusation that touched the life of her lover, which was also a lie. Timidius, however, wanted to have her brought to the torture. Caius was irritated at this reproach upon him, and commanded Cherea, without any delay, to torture Quintilia, as he used to employ Cherea in such bloody matters, and those that required the torture, because he thought he would do it the more barbarously, in order to avoid that imputation of effeminacy which he had laid upon him. But Quintilia, when she was brought to the rack, trod upon the foot of one of her associates, and let him know that he might be of good courage, and not be afraid of the consequence of her tortures i that she would bear them with magnanimity. Cherea tortured this woman after a cruel manner; unwillingly, indeed, but because he could not help it. He then brought her, without being in the least moved at what she had suffered, into the presence of Caius, and that in such a state as was sad to behold; and Caius, being somewhat affected with the sight of Quintilia, who had her body miserably disordered by the pains she had undergone, freed both her and Pompedius of the crime laid to their charge. He also gave her money to make her honourable amends, and comfort her for that maiming of her body which she had suffered, and for her glorious patience under such unsufferable torments. for 6. This matter sorely grieved Cherea, as having been the cause as far as he could, or the instrument of those miseries to men, which seemed worthy of consolation to Caius himself; on which account he said to Clement and to Papinius, (of whom Clement was general of the army, and Pa pinius was a tribune,) "To be sure, O Clement, we have no way failed in our guarding the emperor; for, as to those that have made conspiracies against his government, some have been slain by our care and pains, and some have been by us tortured, and this to such a degree that he hath himself pitied them. How great then is our virtue in submitting to conduct his armies ?" Clement held his peace, but showed the shame he was under in obeying Caius's orders, both by his eyes and his blushing countenance, while he thought it by no means right to accuse the emperor in express words, lest their own safety should be endangered thereby. Upon which Cherea took courage, and spake to him without fear of the dangers that were before him, and discoursed largely of the sore calamities under which the city and the government then laboured, and said, "We may indeed pretend in words, that Caius is the person unto whom the cause of such miseries ought to be imputed; but, in the opinion of such as are able to judge uprightly, it is I, O'Clement, and this Papinius, and before as thou thyself who bring these tortures upon the Romans, and upon all mankind. It is not done by our being subservient to the commands of Caius, but it is done by our own consent; for whereas it is in our power to put an end to the life of this man, who hath so terribly injured the citizens and his subjects, we are his guard in mischief, and his executioners, instead of his soldiers, and are the instruments of his cruelty. We bear these weapons not for our liberty, not for the Roman government, but only for his preservation who hath enslaved both their bodies and their minds; and we are every day polluted with the blood that we shed, and the torments we inflict upon others; and this we do till somebody, becomes Caius's instrument in bringing the like miseries upon ourselves. Nor does he thus employ us, because he hath a kindness for us, but rather because he hath a suspicion of us, as also because, when abundance more have been killed (for Caius will set no bounds to his wrath, since he aims to do all, not out of regard to justice, but to his own pleasure,) we shall also ourselves be exposed to his cruelty; whereas we ought to be the means of confirming the security and liberty of all, and at the same time to resolve to free ourselves from dangers." 7. Hereupon Clement openly commended Cherea's intentions; but bid him "hold his tongue; for that in case his words should get out among many, and such things should be spread abroad as were fit to be concealed, the plot would come to be discovered before it was executed, and they should be brought to punishment; but that they should leave all to futurity, and the hope which thence arose that some fortunate event would come to their assistance that, as for himself, his age would not permit him to make any attempt in that case. However, although perhaps I could suggest what may be safer than what thou, Cherea, hast contrived and said, yet how is it possible for any one to suggest what is more for thy reputation ?" So Clement went his way home, with deep reflections on what he had heard, and what he had himself said. Cherea also was under a concern, and went quickly to Cornelius Sabinus, who was himself one of the tribunes, and whom he otherwise knew to be a worthy man, and a lover of liberty, and on that account very uneasy at the present management of public affairs, he being desirous to come immediately to the execution of what had been determined, and thinking it right for him to propose it to the other, and afraid lest Clement should discover them, and besides looking upon delays and putting off to be next to desisting from the enterprise. 8. But as all was agreeable to Sabinus, who had himself, equally with Cherea, the same design, but had been silent for want of a person to whom he could safely communicate that design; so having now met with one, who not only pro mised to conceal what he heard, but who had already opened his mind to him, he was much more encouraged, and desired Cherea, that no delay might be made therein. Accordingly, they went to Minucianus, who was as virtuous a man, and as zealous to do glorious actions as themselves, and suspected by Caius on occasion of the slaughter of Lepidus; for Minucianus and Lepidus were intimate friends, and both in fear of the dangers that they were under; for Caius was terrible to all the great men, as appearing ready to act a mad part towards each of them in particular, and towards all of them in general; and these men were afraid of one another, while they were yet uneasy at the posture of affairs, but avoided to declare their mind and their hatred against Caius to one another, out of fear of the dangers they might be in thereby, although they perceived by other means their |