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and they perceived that the opposite party were strongest；
the people as yet being not got together in a full body； they
began first of all to gain time by speeches in accusation of
some of their fellow…magistrates； and at length adjourned the
assembly till the day following。
Tiberius then went down into the marketplace amongst the
people； and made his addresses to them humbly and with tears
in his eyes； and told them； he had just reason to suspect；
that his adversaries would attempt in the night time to break
open his house； and murder him。 This worked so strongly with
the multitude； that several of them pitched tents round about
his house； and kept guard all night for the security of his
person。 By break of day came one of the soothsayers； who
prognosticate good or bad success by the pecking of fowls；
and threw them something to eat。 The soothsayer used his
utmost endeavors to fright the fowls out of their coop； but
none of them except one would venture out； which fluttered
with its left wing； and stretched out its leg； and ran back
again into the coop； without eating anything。 This put
Tiberius in mind of another ill omen which had formerly
happened to him。 He had a very costly headpiece； which he
made use of when he engaged in any battle； and into this
piece of armor two serpents crawled； laid eggs； and brought
forth young ones。 The remembrance of which made Tiberius
more concerned now； than otherwise he would have been。
However； he went towards the capitol； as soon as he
understood that the people were assembled there； but before
he got out of the house； he stumbled upon the threshold with
such violence； that he broke the nail of his great toe；
insomuch that blood gushed out of his shoe。 He was not gone
very far before he saw two ravens fighting on the top of a
house which stood on his left hand as he passed along； and
though he was surrounded with a number of people； a stone；
struck from its place by one of the ravens； fell just at his
foot。 This even the boldest men about him felt as a check。
But Blossius of Cuma； who was present； told him； that it
would be a shame； and an ignominious thing； for Tiberius； who
was the son of Gracchus； the grandson of Scipio Africanus；
and the protector of the Roman people； to refuse； for fear of
a silly bird； to answer； when his countrymen called to him；
and that his adversaries would represent it not as a mere
matter for their ridicule； but would declaim about it to the
people as the mark of a tyrannical temper； which felt a pride
in taking liberties with the people。 At the same time
several messengers came also from his friends； to desire his
presence at the capitol； saying that all things went there
according to expectation。 And indeed Tiberius's first
entrance there was in every way successful； as soon as ever
he appeared； the people welcomed him with loud acclamations；
and as he went up to his place； they repeated their
expressions of joy； and gathered in a body around him； so
that no one who was not well known to be his friend； might
approach。 Mucius then began to put the business again to the
vote； but nothing could be performed in the usual course and
order； because of the disturbance caused by those who were on
the outside of the crowd； where there was a struggle going on
with those of the opposite party； who were pushing on and
trying to force their way in and establish themselves among
them。
Whilst things were in this confusion； Flavius Flaccus； a
senator； standing in a place where he could be seen； but at
such a distance from Tiberius that he could not make him
hear； signified to him by motions of his hand； that he wished
to impart something of consequence to him in private。
Tiberius ordered the multitude to make way for him； by which
means； though not without some difficulty； Flavius got to
him； and informed him； that the rich men； in a sitting of the
senate； seeing they could not prevail upon the consul to
espouse their quarrel； had come to a final determination
amongst themselves； that he should be assassinated； and to
that purpose had a great number of their friends and servants
ready armed to accomplish it。 Tiberius no sooner
communicated this confederacy to those about him； but they
immediately tucked up their gowns； broke the halberts which
the officers used to keep the crowd off into pieces； and
distributed them among themselves； resolving to resist the
attack with these。 Those who stood at a distance wondered；
and asked what was the occasion； Tiberius； knowing that they
could not hear him at that distance； lifted his hand to his
head； wishing to intimate the great danger which he
apprehended himself to be in。 His adversaries； taking notice
of that action； ran off at once to the senate house； and
declared； that Tiberius desired the people to bestow a crown
upon him； as if this were the meaning of his touching his
head。 This news created general confusion in the senators；
and Nasica at once called upon the consul to punish this
tyrant； and defend the government。 The consul mildly
replied； that he would not be the first to do any violence；
and as he would not suffer any freeman to be put to death；
before sentence had lawfully passed upon him； so neither
would he allow any measure to be carried into effect； if by
persuasion or compulsion on the part of Tiberius the people
had been induced to pass any unlawful vote。 But Nasica；
rising from his seat； 〃Since the consul；〃 said he； 〃regards
not the safety of the commonwealth； let everyone who will
defend the laws； follow me。〃 He； then； casting the skirt of
his gown over his head； hastened to the capitol； those who
bore him company； wrapped their gowns also about their arms。
and forced their way after him。 And as they were persons of
the greatest authority in the city； the common people did not
venture to obstruct their passing； but were rather so eager
to clear the way for them； that they tumbled over one another
in haste。 The attendants they brought with them； had
furnished themselves with clubs and staves from their houses；
and they themselves picked up the feet and other fragments of
stools and chairs； which were broken by the hasty flight of
the common people。 Thus armed； they made towards Tiberius；
knocking down those whom they found in front of him； and
those were soon wholly dispersed； and many of them slain。
Tiberius tried to save himself by flight。 As he was running；
he was stopped by one who caught hold of him by the gown； but
he threw it off； and fled in his under…garments only。 And
stumbling over those who before had been knocked down； as he
was endeavoring to get up again； Publius Satureius； a
tribune； one of his colleagues； was observed to give him the
first fatal stroke； by hitting him upon the head with the
foot of a stool。 The second blow was claimed； as though it
had been a deed to be proud of； by Lucius Rufus。 And of the
rest there fell above three hundred； killed by clubs and
staves only； none by an iron weapon。
This； we are told； was the first sedition amongst the Romans；
since the abrogation of kingly government； that ended in the
effusion of blood。 All former quarrels which were neither
small nor about trivial matters； were always amicably
composed； by mutual concessions on either side； the senate
yielding for fear of the commons； and the commons out of
respect to the senate。 And it is probable indeed that
Tiberius himself might then have been easily induced； by mere
persuasion； to give way； and certainly； if attacked at all；
must have yielded without any recourse to violence and
bloodshed； as he had not at that time above three thousand
men to support him。 But it is evident； that this conspiracy
was fomented against him； more out of the hatred and malice
which the rich men had to his person； than for the reasons
which they commonly pretended against him。 In testimony of
which； we may adduce the cruelty and unnatural insults which
they used to his dead body。 For they would not suffer his
own brother； though he earnestly begged the favor； to bury
him in the night； but threw him； together with the other
corpses； into the river。 Neither did their animosity stop
here； for they banished some of his friends without legal
process； and slew as many of the others us they could lay
their hands on； amongst whom Diophanes； the orator； was
slain； and one Caius Villius cruelly murdered by being shut
up in a large tun with vipers and serpents。 Blossius of
Cuma； indeed； was carried before the consuls； and examined
touching what had happened； and freely confessed； that he
had done； without scruple； whatever Tiberius bade him。
〃What；〃 replied Nasica； 〃then if Tiberius had bidden you burn
the capitol； would you have burnt it？〃 His first answer was；
that Tiberius never would have ordered any such thing； but
being pressed with the same question