按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the palace in the morning； with his equestrian sword girt on him；
for it was the custom that the tribunes should ask for the
watchword with their swords on； and this was the day on which
Cherea was； by custom； to receive the watchword； and the
multitude were already come to the palace； to be soon enough for
seeing the shows； and that in great crowds； and one tumultuously
crushing another； while Caius was delighted with this eagerness
of the multitude； for which reason there was no order observed in
the seating men； nor was any peculiar place appointed for the
senators； or for the equestrian order； but they sat at random；
men and women together； and free…men were mixed with the slaves。
So Caius came out in a solemn manner； and offered sacrifice to
Augustus Caesar； in whose honor indeed these shows were
celebrated。 Now it happened； upon the fall of a certain priest；
that the garment of Asprenas； a senator； was filled with blood；
which made Caius laugh； although this was an evident omen to
Asprenas； for he was slain at the same time with Caius。 It is
also related that Caius was that day； contrary to his usual
custom； so very affable and good…natured in his conversation；
that every one of those that were present were astonished at it。
After the sacrifice was over； Caius betook himself to see the
shows； and sat down for that purpose； as did also the principal
of his friends sit near him。 Now the parts of the theater were so
fastened together； as it used to be every year； in the manner
following： It had two doors； the one door led to the open air；
the other was for going into； or going out of； the cloisters；
that those within the theater might not be thereby disturbed； but
out of one gallery there went an inward passage； parted into
partitions also； which led into another gallery； to give room to
the combatants and to the musicians to go out as occasion served。
When the multitude were set down； and Cherea； with the other
tribunes； were set down also； and the right corner of the theater
was allotted to Caesar； one Vatinius； a senator； commander of the
praetorian band； asked of Cluvius； one that sat by him； and was
of consular dignity also； whether he had heard any thing of news；
or not？ but took care that nobody should hear what he said； and
when Cluvius replied； that he had heard no news； 〃Know then；〃
said Vatinius； 〃that the game of the slaughter of tyrants is to
be played this dav。〃 But Cluvius replied 〃O brave comrade hold
thy peace； lest some other of the Achaians hear thy tale。〃 And as
there was abundance of autumnal fruit thrown among the
spectators； and a great number of birds； that were of great value
to such as possessed them； on account of their rareness； Caius
was pleased with the birds fighting for the fruits； and with the
violence wherewith the spectators seized upon them： and here he
perceived two prodigies that happened there； for an actor was
introduced； by whom a leader of robbers was crucified； and the
pantomime brought in a play called Cinyras； wherein he himself
was to be slain； as well as his daughter Myrrha； and wherein a
great deal of fictitious blood was shed； both about him that was
crucified； and also about Cinyras。 It was also confessed that
this was the same day wherein Pausanias； a friend of Philip； the
son of Amyntas； who was king of Macedonia； slew him； as he was
entering into the theater。 And now Caius was in doubt whether he
should tarry to the end of the shows； because it was the last
day； or whether he should not go first to the bath； and to
dinner； and then return and sit down as before。 Hereupon
Minucianus； who sat over Caius； and was afraid that the
opportunity should fail them； got up； because he saw Cherea was
already gone out； and made haste out； to confirm him in his
resolution； but Caius took hold of his garment； in an obliging
way； and said to him； 〃O brave man！ whither art thou going？〃
Whereupon； out of reverence to Caesar； as it seemed； he sat down
again； but his fear prevailed over him； and in a little time he
got up again； and then Caius did no way oppose his going out； as
thinking that he went out to perform some necessities of nature。
And Asprenas； who was one of the confederates； persuaded Caius to
go out to the bath； and to dinner； and then to come in again； as
desirous that what had been resolved on might be brought to a
conclusion immediately。
14。 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 （5） 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 happ