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[99]
So Cherea's associates placed themselves in order, as the time would
permit them, and they were obliged to labor hard, that the place which
was appointed them should not be left by them; but they had an indignation
at the tediousness of the delays, and that what they were about should
be put off any longer, for it was already about the ninth 1
hour of the day; and Cherea, upon Caius's tarrying so long, had a great
mind to go in, and fall upon him in his seat, although he foresaw that
this could not be done without much bloodshed, both of the senators, and
of those of the equestrian order that were present; and although he knew
this must happen, yet had he a great mind to do so, as thinking it a right
thing to procure security and freedom to all, at the expense of such as
might perish at the same time. And as they were just going back into the
entrance to the theater, word was brought them that Caius was arisen, whereby
a tumult was made; hereupon the conspirators thrust away the crowd, under
pretense as if Caius was angry at them, but in reality as desirous to have
a quiet place, that should have none in it to defend him, while they set
about Caius's slaughter. Now Claudius, his uncle, was gone out before,
and Marcus Vinicius his sister's husband, as also Valellus of Asia; whom
though they had had such a mind to put out of their places, the reverence
to their dignity hindered them so to do; then followed Caius, with Paulus
Arruntius: and because Caius was now gotten within the palace, he left
the direct road, along which those his servants stood that were in waiting,
and by which road Claudius had gone out before, Caius turned aside into
a private narrow passage, in order to go to the place for bathing, as also
in order to take a view of the boys that came out of Asia, who were sent
thence, partly to sing hymns in these mysteries which were now celebrated,
and partly to dance in the Pyrrhic way of dancing upon the theatres. So
Cherea met him, and asked him for the watchword; upon Caius's giving him
one of his ridiculous words, he immediately reproached him, and drew his
sword, and gave him a terrible stroke with it, yet was not this stroke
mortal. And although there be those that say it was so contrived on purpose
by Chorea, that Caius should not be killed at one blow, but should be punished
more severely by a multitude of wounds; yet does this story appear to me
incredible, because the fear men are under in such actions does not allow
them to use their reason. And if Cherea was of that mind, I esteem him
the greatest of all fools, in pleasing himself in his spite against Caius,
rather than immediately procuring safety to himself and to his confederates
from the dangers they were in, because there might many things still happen
for helping Caius's escape, if he had not already given up the ghost; for
certainly Cherea would have regard, not so much to the punishment of Caius,
as to the affliction himself and his friends were in, while it was in his
power, after such success, to keep silent, and to escape the wrath of Caius's
defenders, and not to leave it to uncertainty whether he should gain the
end he aimed at or not, and after an unreasonable manner to act as if he
had a mind to ruin himself, and lose the opportunity that lay before him.
But every body may guess as he please about this matter. However, Caius
was staggered with the pain that the blow gave him; for the stroke of the
sword falling in the middle, between the shoulder and the neck, was hindered
by the first bone of the breast from proceeding any further. Nor did he
either cry out, (in such astonishment was he,) nor did he call out for
any of his friends; whether it were that he had no confidence in them,
or that his mind was otherwise disordered, but he groaned under the pain
he endured, and presently went forward and fled; when Cornelius Sabinus,
who was already prepared in his mind so to do, thrust him down upon his
knee, where many of them stood round about him, and struck him with their
swords; and they cried out, and encouraged one another all at once to strike
him again; but all agree that Aquila gave him the finishing stroke, which
directly killed him. But one may justly ascribe this act to Cherea; for
although many concurred in the act itself, yet was he the first contriver
of it, and began long before all the rest to prepare for it, and was the
first man that boldly spake of it to the rest; and upon their admission
of what he said about it, he got the dispersed conspirators together; he
prepared every thing after a prudent manner, and by suggesting good advice,
showed himself far superior to the rest, and made obliging speeches to
them, insomuch that he even compelled them all to go on, who otherwise
had not courage enough for that purpose; and when opportunity served to
use his sword in hand, he appeared first of all ready so to do, and gave
the first blow in this virtuous slaughter; he also brought Caius easily
into the power of the rest, and almost killed him himself, insomuch that
it is but just to ascribe all that the rest did to the advice, and bravery,
and labors of the hands of Cherea.
1 Suetonius says Caius was slain about the seventh hour of the day, the ninth. The series of the narration favors Josephus.
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