as if he had not regarded what she had often told him of beforehand. Which words of hers were taken in a different sense, even at that time; and are now esteemed equally ambiguous by those that hear of them, and are still interpreted according to the different inclinations of the people. For some said the words denoted, that she had advised him to leave off his mad behaviour, and his barbarous cruelty to the citizens; and to govern the public with moderation and virtue; lest he should perish by the same way, upon their using him as he had used them. But some said, that as some words had passed concerning the conspirators, she desired Caius to make no delay, but immediately to put them all to death; and this whether they were guilty or not; and that thereby he would be out of the fear of any danger: and that this was what she reproached him for, when she advised him so to do; but he was too slow and tender in the matter. And this was what Cesonia said; and what the opinions of men were about it. But when she saw Lupus approach, she showed him Caius's dead body; and persuaded him to come nearer, with lamentation and tears. And as she perceived that Lupus was in disorder, and approached her in order to execute some design disagreeable to himself, she was well aware for what purpose he came; and cheerfully stretched out her naked throat, bewailing her case, like one that utterly despaired of her life, and bidding him not to hesitate in finishing the tragedy they had resolved upon relating to her. She then boldly received her death's *wound at the hand of Lupus; as did the daughter after her and Lupus made haste to inform Cherea of what he had done.

This was the end of Caius; after he had reigned †four years,

* Suetonius confirms what Josephus here says, that Cesonia, Caius's wife, as well as her daughter, were slain at this time, in Caius, chap. LIX. as does also Dio, in Xiphiline, page 143.

+ Authors do not exactly agree in the length of the reign of Caius. Dio, page 669, giving him three years nine months and twenty-eight days, and Suetonius in Caius, chap. LIX. three years ten months and eight days; with whom agrees Clement of Alexandria, Strom. I. page 339. I agree with these, and suppose that Josephus agreed with them also: for although his present copies give him here two months less, yet does he elsewhere esteem his reign three years and ten months, and supposes him slain Jan. 24. chap. I. as before.

within four months. He was, even before he came to be emperor, ill natured; and one that had arrived at the utmost pitch of wickedness. A slave to his pleasures, and a lover of calumny. Greatly affected by every terrible accident; and on that account of a very cruel disposition, where he durst show it. He enjoyed his exorbitant power to this only purpose, to injure those who least deserved it, with unreasonable insolence: and got his wealth by murder and injustice. He laboured to appear above regarding either what was divine, or agreeable to the laws but was a slave to the commendations of the populace. And whatsoever the laws determined to be shameful, and punished, that he esteemed more honourable than what was virtuous. He was unmindful of his friends, how intimate soever; and though they were persons of the highest character. And if he were once angry at any of them, he would inflict punishment upon them, on the smallest occasions: and e esteemed every man that endeavoured to lead a virtuous life his enemy: and in whatsoever he commanded, he would not admit of any contradiction. Whence it was that he had criminal conversation with his own *sister. From which occasion chiefly it was also that a bitter hatred first sprang up against him among the citizens: that sort of incest not having been known of a long time and so this provoked men to distrust him, and to hate him that was guilty of it And for any great or royal work that he ever did, which might be for the present and for future ages, nobody can name any such; but only the haven that he made about Rhegium and Sicily, for the reception of the ships that brought corn from Egypt. This was indeed a work very great in itself, and of great advantage to the navigation: yet was it not brought to perfection by him : but the one half of it was left imperfect; by reason of his want of application to it. The cause of which was, that he employed his studies about useless matters and

*Spanheim here notes from Suetonius, that the name of Caius's sister, with whom he was guilty of incest, was Drusilla; and that Suetonius adds, he was guilty of the same crime with all his other sisters. He notes farther, that Suetonius omits the mention of the haven for ships, which our author esteems the only public work, for the good of the present and future ages, which Caius left behind him; though in an imperfect condition.

that by spending his money upon such pleasures as concerned no one's benefit but his own, he could not exert his liberality in things that were undeniably of great consequence. Otherwise he was an excellent orator; and thoroughly acquainted with the Greek tongue; as well as with his own country or Roman language. He was able readily to give answers to compositions made by others, of considerable length, and accuracy. He was also more skilful in persuading others to very great things than any one else: and this from a natural affability of temper, which had been improved by much exercise. For he was the *grandson of the brother of Tiberius, whose successor he was; this was a strong inducement to his acquiring of learning; because Tiberius aspired after the highest pitch of that sort of reputation; and Caius aspired after the like glory for eloquence; being induced thereto by the letters of his kinsman, and his emperor. He was also among the first rank of his own citizens. But the advantages he received from his learning did not countervail the mischief he brought upon himself in the exercise of his authority. So difficult it is for those to obtain the virtue that is necessary to a wise man, who have the absolute power to do what they please, without control. At the first he got himself such friends as were in all respects the most worthy, and was greatly beloved by them: while he imitated their zealous application to the learning, and to the glorious actions, of the best men. But when he became insolent towards them, they laid aside the kindness they had for him; and began to hate him. From which hatred arose that plot, which they raised against him, and by which he perished.

CHAP. III.

OF THE SEIZURE OF CLAUDIUS BY THE SOLDIERY, AND THE AMBASSAGE SENT TO HIM BY THE SENATE.

NOW Claudius, as I have already said, went out of that way along which Caius was gone. And as the family was in great

* This Caius was the son of that excellent person, Germanicus, who was the son of Drusus, the brother of Tiberius, the emperor.

VOL. III.

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