of those that govern。 For since Julius Caesar took it into his
head to dissolve our democracy； and； by overbearing the regular
system of our laws； to bring disorders into our administration；
and to get above right and justice； and to be a slave to his own
inclinations； there is no kind of misery but what hath tended to
the subversion of this city； while all those that have succeeded
him have striven one with another to overthrow the ancient laws
of their country； and have left it destitute of such citizens as
were of generous principles； because they thought it tended to
their safety to have vicious men to converse withal； and not only
to break the spirits of those that were best esteemed for their
virtue； but to resolve upon。 their utter destruction。 Of all
which emperors； who have been many in number； and who laid upon
us insufferable hardships during the times of their government；
this Caius； who hath been slain today； hath brought more terrible
calamities upon us than did all the rest； not only by exercising
his ungoverned rage upon his fellow citizens； but also upon his
kindred and friends； and alike upon all others； and by inflicting
still greater miseries upon them； as punishments； which they
never deserved； he being equally furious against men and against
the gods。 For tyrants are not content to gain their sweet
pleasure； and this by acting injuriously； and in the vexation
they bring both upon men's estates and their wives； but they look
upon that to be their principal advantage； when they can utterly
overthrow the entire families of their enemies； while all lovers
of liberty are the enemies of tyranny。 Nor can those that
patiently endure what miseries they bring on them gain their
friendship； for as they are conscious of the abundant mischiefs
they have brought on these men； and how magnanimously they have
borne their hard fortunes； they cannot but be sensible what evils
they have done； and thence only depend on security from what they
are suspicious of； if it may be in their power to take them quite
out of the world。 Since； then； we are now gotten clear of such
great misfortunes； and are only accountable to one another；
（which form of government affords us the best assurance of our
present concord； and promises us the best security from evil
designs； and will be most for our own glory in settling the city
in good order；） you ought； every one of you in particular； to
make provision for his own； and in general for the public
utility： or； on the contrary； they may declare their dissent to
such things as have been proposed； and this without any hazard of
danger to come upon them； because they have now no lord set over
them； who； without fear of punishment； could do mischief to the
city； and had an uncontrollable power to take off those that
freely declared their opinions。 Nor has any thing so much
contributed to this increase of tyranny of late as sloth； and a
timorous forbearance of contradicting the emperor's will； while
men had an over…great inclination to the sweetness of peace； and
had learned to live like slaves； and as many of us as either
heard of intolerable calamities that happened at a distance from
us； or saw the miseries that were near us； out of the dread of
dying virtuously； endured a death joined with the utmost infamy。
We ought； then； in the first place； to decree the greatest honors
we are able to those that have taken off the tyrant； especially
to Cherea Cassius； for this one man； with the assistance of the
gods； hath； by his counsel and by his actions； been the procurer
of our liberty。 Nor ought we to forget him now we have recovered
our liberty； who； under the foregoing tyranny； took counsel
beforehand； and beforehand hazarded himself for our liberties；
but ought to decree him proper honors； and thereby freely declare
that he from the beginning acted with our approbation。 And
certainly it is a very excellent thing； and what becomes
free…men； to requite their benefactors； as this man hath been a
benefactor to us all； though not at all like Cassius and Brutus；
who slew Caius Julius ＇Caesar＇； for those men laid the
foundations of sedition and civil wars in our city； but this man；
together with his slaughter of the tyrant； hath set our city free
from all those sad miseries which arose from the tyranny。〃 （8）
3。 And this was the purport of Sentius's oration； （9） which was
received with pleasure by the senators； and by as many of the
equestrian order as were present。 And now one Trebellius Maximus
rose up hastily； and took off Sentius's finger a ring； which had
a stone； with the image of Caius engraven upon it； and which； in
his zeal in speaking； and his earnestness in doing what he was
about； as it was supposed； he had forgotten to take off himself。
This sculpture was broken immediately。 But as it was now far in
the night； Cherea demanded of the consuls the watchword； who gave
him this word； Liberty。 These facts were the subjects of
admiration to themselves； and almost incredible； for it was a
hundred years since the democracy had been laid aside； when this
giving the watchword returned to the consuls； for before the city
was subject to tyrants； they were the commanders of the soldiers。
But when Cherea had received that watchword； he delivered it to
those who were on the senate's side； which were four regiments；
who esteemed the government without emperors to be preferable to
tyranny。 So these went away with their tribunes。 The people also
now departed very joyful； full of hope and of courage； as having
recovered their former democracy； and were no longer under an
emperor； and Cherea was in very great esteem with them。
4。 And now Cherea was very uneasy that Caius's daughter and wife
were still alive； and that all his family did not perish with
him； since whosoever was left of them must be left for the ruin
of the city and of the laws。 Moreover； in order to finish this
matter with the utmost zeal； and in order to satisfy his hatred
of Caius； he sent Julius Lupus； one of the tribunes； to kill
Caius's wife and daughter。 They proposed this office to Lupus as
to a kinsman of Clement； that he might be so far a partaker of
this murder of the tyrant； and might rejoice in the virtue of
having assisted his fellow citizens； and that he might appear to
have been a partaker with those that were first in their designs
against him。 Yet did this action appear to some of the
conspirators to be too cruel； as to this using such severity to a
woman； because Caius did more indulge his own ill…nature than use
her advice in all that he did； from which ill…nature it was that
the city was in so desperate a condition with the miseries that
were brought on it； and the flower of the city was destroyed。 But
others accused her of giving her consent to these things； nay；
they ascribed all that Caius had done to her as the cause of it；
and said she had given a potion to Caius； which had made him
obnoxious to her； and had tied him down to love her by such evil
methods； insomuch that she； having rendered him distracted； was
become the author of all the mischiefs that had befallen the
Romans； and that habitable world which was subject to them。 So
that at length it was determined that she must die； nor could
those of the contrary opinion at all prevail to have her saved；
and Lupus was sent accordingly。 Nor was there any delay made in
executing what he went about； but he was subservient to those
that sent him on the first opportunity； as desirous to be no way
blameable in what might be done for the advantage of the people。
So when he was come into the palace； he found Cesonia； who was
Caius's wife； lying by her husband's dead body； which also lay
down on the ground； and destitute of all such things as the law
allows to the dead； and all over herself besmeared with the blood
of her husband's wounds； and bewailing the great affliction she
was under； her daughter lying by her also； and nothing else was
heard in these her circumstances but her complaint of Caius； 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 people。 Now some said that the words denoted that
she had advised him to leave off his mad behavior 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
certain 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 stretched out her naked
throat； and that very cheerfully to him； bewailing her case； like
one that utterly despaired of her life； and bidding him not to
boggle at finishing the tragedy they had resolved upon relating
to her。 So she boldly received her death's wound at the hand of
Lupus； as did the daughter after her。 So Lupus made haste to
inform Cherea of what he had done。
5。 This was the end of Caius； after he had reigned four years；
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 murderous disposition where he durst show it。 He
enjoyed his exorbitant power to this only purpose； to injure
those who least deserved it； with unreasonable insolen