and that when he was thence in danger
of perishing, he was saved by Caius being dead himself, before he had
put him to death.

2. Nay, Caius's madness came to this height, that when he had a daughter
born, he carried her into the capitol, and put her upon the knees of the
statue, and said that the child was common to him and to Jupiter, and
determined that she had two fathers, but which of these fathers were
the greatest he left undetermined; and yet mankind bore him in such
his pranks. He also gave leave to slaves to accuse their masters of any
crimes whatsoever they pleased; for all such accusations were terrible,
because they were in great part made to please him, and at his
suggestion, insomuch that Pollux, Claudius's slave, had the boldness to
lay an accusation against Claudius himself; and Caius was not ashamed to
be present at his trial of life and death, to hear that trial of his
own uncle, in hopes of being able to take him off, although he did not
succeed to his mind. But when he had filled the whole habitable
world which he governed with false accusations and miseries, and had
occasioned the greatest insults of slaves against their masters, who
indeed in a great measure ruled them, there were many secret plots
now laid against him; some in anger, and in order for men to revenge
themselves, on account of the miseries they had already undergone from
him; and others made attempts upon him, in order to take him off before
they should fall into such great miseries, while his death came very
fortunately for the preservation of the laws of all men, and had a great
influence upon the public welfare; and this happened most happily for
our nation in particular, which had almost utterly perished if he had
not been suddenly slain. And I confess I have a mind to give a full
account of this matter particularly, because it will afford great
assurance of the power of God, and great comfort to those that are under
afflictions, and wise caution to those who think their happiness will
never end, nor bring them at length to the most lasting miseries, if
they do not conduct their lives by the principles of virtue.

3. Now there were three several conspiracies made in order to take off
Caius, and each of these three were conducted by excellent persons.
Emilius Regulus, born at Corduba in Spain, got some men together, and
was desirous to take Caius off, either by them or by himself. Another
conspiracy there was laid by them, unde