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[114]
Thus did Caius come to his end, and lay dead, by the many wounds
which had been given him. Now Cherea and his associates, upon Caius's slaughter,
saw that it was impossible for them to save themselves, if they should
all go the same way, partly on account of the astonishment they were under;
for it was no small danger they had incurred by killing an emperor, who
was honored and loved by the madness of the people, especially when the
soldiers were likely to make a bloody inquiry after his murderers. The
passages also were narrow wherein the work was done, which were also crowded
with a great multitude of Caius's attendants, and of such of the soldiers
as were of the emperor's guard that day; whence it was that they went by
other ways, and came to the house of Germanicus, the father of Caius, whom
they had now killed (which house adjoined to the palace; for while the
edifice was one, it was built in its several parts by those particular
persons who had been emperors, and those parts bare the names of those
that built them or the name of him who had begun to build its parts). So
they got away from the insults of the multitude, and then were for the
present out of danger, that is, so long as the misfortune which had overtaken
the emperor was not known. The Germans were the first who perceived that
Caius was slain. These Germans were Caius's guard, and carried the name
of the country whence they were chosen, and composed the Celtic legion.
The men of that country are naturally passionate, which is commonly the
temper of some other of the barbarous nations also, as being not used to
consider much about what they do; they are of robust bodies and fall upon
their enemies as soon as ever they are attacked by them; and which way
soever they go, they perform great exploits. When, therefore, these German
guards understood that Caius was slain, they were very sorry for it, because
they did not use their reason in judging about public affairs, but measured
all by the advantages themselves received, Caius being beloved by them
because of the money he gave them, by which he had purchased their kindness
to him; so they drew their swords, and Sabinus led them on. He was one
of the tribunes, not by the means of the virtuous actions of his pro genitors,
for he bad been a gladiator, but he had obtained that post in the army
by his having a robust body. So these Germans marched along the houses
in quest of Caesar's murderers, and cut Asprenas to pieces, because he
was the first man they fell upon, and whose garment it was that the blood
of the sacrifices stained, as I have said already, and which foretold that
this his meeting the soldiers would not be for his good. Then did Norbanus
meet them, who was one of the principal nobility of and could show many
generals of armies among his ancestors; but they paid no regard to his
dignity; yet was he of such great strength, that he wrested the sword of
the first of those that assaulted him out of his hands, and appeared plainly
not to be willing to die without a struggle for his life, until he was
surrounded by a great number of assailants, and died by the multitude of
the wounds which they gave him. The third man was Anteius, a senator, and
a few others with him. He did not meet with these Germans by chance, as
the rest did before, but came to show his hatred to Caius, and because
he loved to see Caius lie dead with his own eyes, and took a pleasure in
that sight; for Caius had banished Anteius's father, who was of the same
name with himself, and being not satisfied with that, he sent out his soldiers,
and slew him; so he was come to rejoice at the sight of him, now he was
dead. But as the house was now all in a tumult, when he was aiming to hide
himself, he could not escape that accurate search which the Germans made,
while they barbarously slew those that were guilty, and those that were
not guilty, and this equally also. And thus were these [three] persons
slain.
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