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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 （13） 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。
3。 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。
4。 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。
5。 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 （14） 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。 （15） 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＇。
6。 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 reachin