1
[
236]
NOW Claudius, though he was sensible after what an insolent manner
the senate had sent to him yet did he, according to their advice, behave
himself for the present with moderation; but not so far that he could not
recover himself out of his fright; so he was encouraged [to claim the government]
partly by the boldness of the soldiers, and partly by the persuasion of
king Agrippa, who exhorted him not to let such a dominion slip out of his
hands, when it came thus to him of its own accord. Now this Agrippa, with
relation to Caius, did what became one that had been so much honored by
him; for he embraced Caius's body after he was dead, and laid it upon a
bed, and covered it as well as he could, and went out to the guards, and
told them that Caius was still alive; but he said that they should call
for physicians, since he was very ill of his wounds. But when he had learned
that Claudius was carried away violently by the soldiers, he rushed through
the crowd to him, and when he found that he was in disorder, and ready
to resign up the government to the senate, he encouraged him, and desired
him to keep the government; but when he had said this to Claudius, he retired
home. And upon the senate's sending for him, he anointed his head with
ointment, as if he had lately accompanied with his wife, and had dismissed
her, and then came to them: he also asked of the senators what Claudius
did; who told him the present state of affairs, and then asked his opinion
about the settlement of the public. He told them in words that he was ready
to lose his life for the honor of the senate, but desired them to consider
what was for their advantage, without any regard to what was most agreeable
to them; for that those who grasp at government will stand in need of weapons
and soldiers to guard them, unless they will set up without any preparation
for it, and so fall into danger. And when the senate replied that they
would bring in weapons in abundance, and money, and that as to an army,
a part of it was already collected together for them, and they would raise
a larger one by giving the slaves their liberty, - Agrippa made answer,
"O senators! may you be able to compass what you have a mind to; yet
will I immediately tell you my thoughts, because they tend to your preservation.
Take notice, then, that the army which will fight for Claudius hath been
long exercised in warlike affairs; but our army will be no better than
a rude multitude of raw men, and those such as have been unexpectedly made
free from slavery, and ungovernable; we must then fight against those that
are skillful in war, with men who know not so much as how to draw their
swords. So that my opinion is, that we should send some persons to Claudius,
to persuade him to lay down the government; and I am ready to be one of
your ambassadors."
[
245]
Upon this speech of Agrippa, the senate complied with him, and he
was sent among others, and privately informed Claudius of the disorder
the senate was in, and gave him instructions to answer them in a somewhat
commanding strain, and as one invested with dignity and authority. Accordingly,
Claudius said to the ambassadors, that he did not wonder the senate had
no mind to have an emperor over them, because they had been harassed by
the barbarity of those that had formerly been at the head of their affairs;
but that they should taste of an equitable government under him, and moderate
times, while he should only he their ruler in name, but the authority should
be equally common to them all; and since he had passed through many and
various scenes of life before their eyes, it would be good for them not
to distrust him. So the ambassadors, upon their hearing this his answer,
were dismissed. But Claudius discoursed with the army which was there gathered
together, who took oaths that they would persist in their fidelity to him;
Upon which he gave the guards every man five thousand
2
drachmae a-piece, and a proportionable quantity to their captains, and
promised to give the same to the rest of the armies wheresoever they were.
[
248]
And now the consuls called the senate together into the temple of
Jupiter the Conqueror, while it was still night; but some of those senators
concealed themselves in the city, being uncertain what to do, upon the
hearing of this summons; and some of them went out of the city to their
own farms, as foreseeing whither the public affairs were going, and despairing
of liberty; nay, these supposed it much better for them to be slaves without
danger to themselves, and to live a lazy and inactive life, than by claiming
the dignity of their forefathers, to run the hazard of their own safety.
However, a hundred and no more were gotten together; and as they were in
consultation about the present posture of affairs, a sudden clamor was
made by the soldiers that were on their side, desiring that the senate
would choose them an emperor, and not bring the government into ruin by
setting up a multitude of rulers. So they fully declared themselves to
be for the giving the government not to all, but to one; but they gave
the senate leave to look out for a person worthy to be set over them, insomuch
that now the affairs of the senate were much worse than before, because
they had not only failed in the recovery of their liberty, which they boasted
themselves of, but were in dread of Claudius also. Yet were there those
that hankered after the government, both on account of the dignity of their
families and that accruing to them by their marriages; for Marcus Minucianus
was illustrious, both by his own nobility, and by his having married Julia,
the sister of Caius, who accordingly was very ready to claim the government,
although the consuls discouraged him, and made one delay after another
in proposing it: that Minucianus also, who was one of Caius's murderers,
restrained Valerius of Asia from thinking of such things; and a prodigious
slaughter there had been, if leave had been given to these men to set up
for themselves, and oppose Claudius. There were also a considerable number
of gladiators besides, and of those soldiers who kept watch by night in
the city, and rowers of ships, who all ran into the camp; insomuch that,
of those who put in for the government, some left off their pretensions
in order to spare the city, and others out of fear for their own persons.
[
254]
But as soon as ever it was day, Cherea, and those that were with
him, came into the senate, and attempted to make speeches to the soldiers.
However, the multitude of those soldiers, when they saw that they were
making signals for silence with their hands, and were ready to begin to
speak to them, grew tumultuous, and would not let them speak at all, because
they were all zealous to be under a monarchy; and they demanded of the
senate one for their ruler, as not enduring any longer delays: but the
senate hesitated about either their own governing, or how they should themselves
be governed, while the soldiers would not admit them to govern, and the
murderers of Caius would not permit the soldiers to dictate to them. When
they were in these circumstances, Cherea was not able to contain the anger
he had, and promised, that if they desired an emperor, he would give them
one, if any one would bring him the watchword from Eutychus. Now this Eutychus
was charioteer of the green-band faction, styled Prasine, and a great friend
of Caius, who used to harass the soldiery with building stables for the
horses, and spent his time in ignominious labors, which occasioned Cherea
to reproach them with him, and to abuse them with much other scurrilous
language; and told them he would bring them the head of Claudius; and that
it was an amazing thing, that, after their former madness, they should
commit their government to a fool. Yet were not they moved with his words,
but drew their swords, and took up their ensigns, and went to Claudius,
to join in taking the oath of fidelity to him. So the senate were left
without any body to defend them, and the very consuls differed nothing
from private persons. They were also under consternation and sorrow, men
not knowing what would become of them, because Claudius was very angry
at them; so they fell a reproaching one another, and repented of what they
had done. At which juncture Sabinus, one of Caius's murderers, threatened
that he would sooner come into the midst of them and kill himself, than
consent to make Claudius emperor, and see slavery returning upon them;
he also abused Cherea for loving his life too well, while he who was the
first in his contempt of Caius, could think it a good thin to live, when,
even by all that they had done for the recovery of their liberty, they
found it impossible to do it. But Cherea said he had no manner of doubt
upon him about killing himself; that yet he would first sound the intentions
of Claudius before he did it.
[
263]
These were the debates [about the senate]; but in the camp every
body was crowding on all sides to pay their court to Claudius; and the
other consul, Quintus Pomponhis, was reproached by the soldiery, as having
rather exhorted the senate to recover their liberty; whereupon they drew
their swords, and were going to assault him, and they had done it, if Claudius
had not hindered them, who snatched the consul out of the danger he was
in, and set him by him. :But he did not receive that part of the senate
which was with Quintus in the like honorable manner; nay, some of them
received blows, and were thrust away as they came to salute Claudius; nay,
Aponius went away wounded, and they were all in danger. However, king Agrippa
went up to Claudius, and desired he would treat the senators more gently;
for if any mischief should come to the senate, he would have no others
over whom to rule. Claudius complied with him, and called the senate together
into the palace, and was carried thither himself through the city, while
the soldiery conducted him, though this was to the great vexation of the
multitude; for Cherea and Sabinus, two of Caius's murderers, went in the
fore-front of them, in an open manner, while Pollio, whom Claudius, a little
before, had made captain of his guards, had sent them an epistolary edict,
to forbid them to appear in public. Then did Claudius, upon his coming
to the palace, get his friends together, and desired their suffrages about
Cherea. They said that the work he had done was a glorious one; but they
accused him the he did it of perfidiousness, and thought it just to inflict
the punishment [of death] upon him, to discountenance such actions for
the time to come. So Cherea was led to his execution, and Lupus and many
other Romans with him. Now it is reported that Cherea bore this calamity
courageously; and this not only by the firmness of his own behavior under
it, but by the reproaches he laid upon Lupus, who fell into tears; for
when Lupus laid his garment aside, and complained of the cold
3
he said, that cold was never hurtful to Lupus [i.e. a wolf] And as a great
many men went along with them to see the sight, when Cherea came to the
place, he asked the soldier who was to be their executioner, whether this
office was what he was used to, or whether this was the first time of his
using his sword in that manner, and desired him to bring him that very
sword with which he himself slew Caius.
4
So he was happily killed at one stroke. But Lupus did not meet with such
good fortune in going out of the world, since he was timorous, and had
many blows leveled at his neck, because he did not stretch it out boldly
[as he ought to have done].
[
272]
Now, a few days after this, as the Parental solemnities were just
at hand, the Roman multitude made their usual oblations to their several
ghosts, and put portions into the fire in honor of Cherea, and besought
him to be merciful to them, and not continue his anger against them for
their ingratitude. And this was the end of the life that Cherea came to.
But for Sabinus, although Claudius not only set him at liberty, but gave
him leave to retain his former command in the army, yet did he think it
would be unjust in him to fail of performing his obligations to his fellow
confederates; so he fell upon his sword, and killed himself, the wound
reaching up to the very hilt of the sword.