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[28]
Cherea had been in the army a long time, yet was he not pleased with
conversing so much with Caius. But Caius had set him to require the tributes,
and other dues, which, when not paid in due time, were forfeited to Caesar's
treasury; and he had made some delays in requiring them, because those
burdens had been doubled, and had rather indulged his own mild disposition
than performed Caius's command; nay, indeed, be 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 watchword 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 watchwords 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
behavior to Cherea. But when Cherea received the watchword 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
foretell that he would bring them some of his usual watchwords when he
was about to take the watchword 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 he made use of Quintilia
for a witness to them; a woman she was much beloved by many that frequented
the theater, and particularly by Pompedius, on account of her great beauty.
Now this woman thought it a 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, for 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 an
honorable amends, and comfort her for that maiming of her body which she
had suffered, and for her glorious patience under such insufferable torments.
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