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cause those burdens had been doubled, and had rather indulged his own mild disposition, than performed Caius's command; nay, indeed, he provoked Caius to anger by his sparing men, and pitying the hard fortunes of those from whom he demanded the taxes, and Caius upbraided him with his sloth and effeminacy in being so long about collecting the taxes. And indeed he did not only affront him in other respects, but when he gave him the watch-word of the day, to whom it was to be given by his place, he gave him feminine words, and those of a nature very reproachful; and these watch-words he gave out, as having been initiated in the secrets of certain mysteries, which he had been himself the author of. Now, although he had sometimes put on women's clothes, and had been wrapt in some embroidered garments to them belonging, and done a great many other things, in order to make the company mistake him for a woman; yet did he, by way of reproach, object the like womanish behaviour to Cherea. But when Cherea received the watch-word from him, he had indignation at it, but had greater indignation at the delivery of it to others, as being laughed at by those that received it; insomuch that his fellow-tribunes made him the subject of their drollery; for they would foretel that he would bring them some of his usual watch-words, when he was about to take the watch-word from Cæsar, 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 Quinctilia for a witness to them; a woman she 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 Quinctilia, 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 Quinctilia, 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 tor

VOL. III.

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tures; for that she would bear them with magnanimity. Cherea tortured this woman after à 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 Quinctilia, 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 an honourable amends, and comfort her for that maiming of her body which she had suffered, and for her glorious patience under such unsufferable torments.

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 Papinius was a tribune,) "To be sure, O Clement, we have no way fail"ed 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 shewed 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 in"deed 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 us 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 con66 sent; 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 exe"cutioners, 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 preserva"tion, who hath enslaved both their bodies and their minds;

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"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 em"ploy 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 re- · "gard to justice, but to his own pleasure,) we shall also our"selves 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 exe"cuted, 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

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possible for any one to suggest what is more for thy repu"tation?" 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 puttings 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 promised to conceal what he heard, but who had already opened his mind to him, he was much more encouraged, and desired of 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 Lepi

dus; 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 mutual hatred against Caius, and on that account were not averse to a mutual kindness one towards another.

9. When Minucianus and Cherea had met together, and saluted one another (as they had been used in former conversations to give the upper hand to Minucianus, both on account of his eminent dignity, for he was the noblest of all the citizens, and highly commended by all men, especially when he made speeches to them,) Minucianus began first, and asked Cherea, What was the watch-word he had received that day from Caius? for the affront, which was offered Cherea in giving the watch-words, was famous over the city. But Cherea made no delay, so long as to reply to that question, out of the joy he had that Minucianus would have such confidence in him as to discourse with him. "But do thou," said he, "give me the watch-word of liberty. And I return "thee my thanks, that thou hast so greatly encouraged me "to exert myself after an extraordinary manner; nor do I "stand in need of many words to encourage me, since both "thou and I are of the same mind, and partakers of the 66 same resolutions, and this before we have conferred to"gether. I have indeed but one sword girt on, but this one "will serve us both. Come on, therefore, let us set about "the work. Do thou go first, if thou hast a mind, and bid "me follow thee, or else I will go first, and thou shalt assist ' me, and we will assist one another, and trust one another. "Nor is there a necessity for even one sword to such as "have a mind disposed to such works, by which mind the "sword uses to be successful. I am zealous about this ac❝tion, nor am I solicitous what I may myself undergo; for "I am not at leisure to consider the dangers that may come "upon myself, so deeply am I troubled at the slavery our "once free country is now under, and at the contempt cast (6 upon our excellent laws, and at the destruction which "hangs over all men by the means of Caius. I wish that I "may be judged by thee, and that thou mayest esteem me "worthy of credit in these matters, seeing we are both of "the same opinion, and there is herein no difference be"tween us."

10. When Minucianus saw the vehemency with which Cherea delivered himself, he gladly embraced him, and encouraged him in his bold attempt, commending him, and embracing him; so he let him go with his good wishes; and some affirm, that he thereby confirmed Minucianus in the prosecution of what had been agreed among them; for, as Cherea entered into the court, the report runs, that a voice came from among the multitude to encourage him, which bid him finish what he was about, and take the opportunity that Providence afforded; and that Cherea at first suspected that some one of the conspirators had betrayed him, and he was caught, but at length perceived that it was by way of exhortation. Whether somebody,* that was conscious of what he was about, gave a signal for his encouragement, or whether it were God himself, who looks upon the actions of men, that encouraged him to go on boldly in his design, is uncertain. The plot was now communicated to a great many, and they were all in their armour; some of the conspirators being senators, and some of the equestrian order, and as many of the soldiery as were made acquainted with it; for there was not one of them who would not reckon it a part of his happiness to kill Caius, and on that account they were all very zealous in the affair, by what means soever any one could come at it, that he might not be behind-hand in these virtuous designs, but might be ready with all his alacrity or power, both by words and actions, to complete this slaughter of a tyrant. And besides these, Callisthus also, who was a freed-man of Caius, and was the only man that had arrived at the greatest degree of power under him; such a power, indeed, as was in a manner equal to the power of the tyrant himself, by the dread that all men had of him, and by the great riches he had acquired; for he took bribes most plenteously, and committed injuries without bounds, and was more extravagant in the use of his power in unjust proceedings than any other. He also knew the disposition of Caius to be implacable, and never to be turned from what he had resolved on. He had withal many other reasons why he thought himself in danger, and the vastness of his wealth was not one of the least of them; on which account he privately ingratiated himself with Claudius, and transferred his courtship to him, out of this hope, that in case, upon the removal of Caius, the government should come to him, his interest in such changes should lay a foundation for his preserving his dignity under him, since he laid in before

Just such a voice as this is related to be, came, and that from an unknowa original also, to the famous Polycarp, as he was going to martyrdom, bidding him "play the man;" as the church of Smyrna assures us in their account of that his martyrdom, sect. 9.

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