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and said； 〃Leave off； sir； these low thoughts of saving yourself；
while you ought to have greater thoughts； even of obtaining the
empire； which the gods； out of their concern for the habitable
world； by taking Caius out of the way； commit to thy virtuous
conduct。 Go to； therefore； and accept of the throne of thy
ancestors。〃 So they took him up and carried him； because he was
not then able to go on foot； such was his dread and his joy at
what was told him。
2。 Now there was already gathered together about Gratus a great
number of the guards； and when they saw Claudius carried off；
they looked with a sad countenance； as supposing that he was
carried to execution for the mischiefs that had been lately done；
while yet they thought him a man who never meddled with public
affairs all his life long； and one that had met with no
contemptible dangers under the reign of Caius； and some of them
thought it reasonable that the consuls should take cognizance of
these matters； and as still more and more of the soldiery got
together； the crowd about him ran away； and Claudius could hardly
go on； his body was then so weak； and those who carried his
sedan； upon an inquiry that was made about his being carried off；
ran away and saved themselves； as despairing of their Lord's
preservation。 But when they were come into the large court of the
palace； （which； as the report goes about it； was inhabited first
of all the parts of the city of Rome；） and had just reached the
public treasury； many more soldiers came about him； as glad to
see Claudius's face； and thought it exceeding right to make him
emperor； on account of their kindness for Germanicus； who was his
brother； and had left behind him a vast reputation among all that
were acquainted with him。 They reflected also on the covetous
temper of the leading men of the senate； and what great errors
they had been guilty of when the senate had the government
formerly； they also considered the impossibility of such an
undertaking； as also what dangers they should be in； if the
government should come to a single person； and that such a one
should possess it as they had no hand in advancing； and not to
Claudius； who would take it as their grant； and as gained by
their good…will to him； and would remember the favors they had
done him； and would make them a sufficient recompense for the
same。
3。 These were the discourses the soldiers had one with another by
themselves； and they communicated them to all such as came in to
them。 Now those that inquired about this matter willingly
embraced the invitation that was made them to join with the rest；
so they carried Claudius into the camp； crowding about him as his
guard； and encompassing him about； one chairman still succeeding
another； that their vehement endeavors might not be hindered。 But
as to the populace and senators； they disagreed in their
opinions。 The latter were very desirous to recover their former
dignity； and were zealous to get clear of the slavery that had
been brought on them by the injurious treatment of the tyrants；
which the present opportunity afforded them； but for the people；
who were envious against them； and knew that the emperors were
capable of curbing their covetous temper； and were a refuge from
them； they were very glad that Claudius had been seized upon； and
brought to them； and thought that if Claudius were made emperor；
he would prevent a civil war； such as there was in the days of
Pompey。 But when the senate knew that Claudius was brought into
the camp by the soldiers； they sent to him those of their body
which had the best character for their virtues； that they might
inform him that he ought to do nothing by violence； in order to
gain the government； that he who was a single person； one either
already or hereafter to be a member of their body； ought to yield
to the senate； which consisted of so great a number； that he
ought to let the law take place in the disposal of all that
related to the public order； and to remember how greatly the
former tyrants had afflicted their city； and what dangers both he
and they had escaped under Caius； and that he ought not to hate
the heavy burden of tyranny； when the injury is done by others；
while he did himself willfully treat his country after a mad and
insolent manner； that if he would comply with them； and
demonstrate that his firm resolution was to live quietly and
virtuously； he would have the greatest honors decreed to him that
a free people could bestow； and by subjecting himself to the law；
would obtain this branch of commendation； that he acted like a
man of virtue； both as a ruler and a subject； but that if he
would act foolishly； and learn no wisdom by Caius's death； they
would not permit him to go on； that a great part of the army was
got together for them； with plenty of weapons； and a great number
of slaves； which they could make use of； that good hope was a
great matter in such cases； as was also good fortune； and that
the gods would never assist any others but those that undertook
to act with virtue and goodness； who can be no other than such as
fight for the liberty of their country。
4。 Now these ambassadors； Veranius and Brocchus； who were both of
them tribunes of the people； made this speech to Claudius； and
falling down upon their knees； they begged of him that he would
not throw the city into wars and misfortunes； but when they saw
what a multitude of soldiers encompassed and guarded Claudius；
and that the forces that were with the consuls were； in
comparison of them； perfectly inconsiderable； they added； that if
he did desire the government； he should accept of it as given by
the senate； that he would prosper better； and be happier； if he
came to it； not by the injustice； but by the good…will of those
that would bestow it upon him。
CHAPTER 4。
What Things King Agrippa Did For Claudius； And How Claudius When
He Had Taken The Government Commanded The Murderers Of Caius To
Be Slain。
1。 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。〃
2。 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