hat of the rigor of their taxes imposed upon them; but he
would not hear their petition; and when their clamors increased, he sent
soldiers some one way and some another, and gave order that they should
lay hold on those that made the clamors, and without any more ado bring
them out, and put them to death. These were Caius's commands, and those
who were commanded executed the same; and the number of those who were
slain on this occasion was very great. Now the people saw this, and bore
it so far, that they left off clamoring, because they saw with their
own eyes that this petition to be relieved, as to the payment of their
money, brought immediate death upon them. These things made Cherea
more resolute to go on with his plot, in order to put an end to this
barbarity of Caius against men. He then at several times thought to fall
upon Caius, even as he was feasting; yet did he restrain himself by some
considerations; not that he had any doubt on him about killing him,
but as watching for a proper season, that the attempt might not be
frustrated, but that he might give the blow so as might certainly gain
his purpose.

5. Cherea had been in the army a long time, yet was he not pleased with
conversing so much with Caius. But Caius had set him to require the
tributes, and other dues, which, when not paid in due time, were
forfeited to Caesar's treasury; and he had made some delays in requiring
them, because those burdens had been doubled, and had rather indulged
his own mild disposition than performed Caius's command; nay, indeed,
he provoked Caius to anger by his sparing men, and pitying the hard
fortunes of those from whom he demanded the taxes; and Caius upbraided
him with his sloth and effeminacy in being so long about collecting the
taxes. And indeed he did not only affront him in other respects, but
when he gave him the watchword of the day, to whom it was to be given
by his place, he gave him feminine words, and those of a nature very
reproachful; and these watchwords he gave out, as having been initiated
in the secrets of certain mysteries, which he had been himself the
author of. Now although he had sometimes put on women's clothes, and had
been wrapt in some embroidered garments to them belonging, and done a
great many other things, in order to make the company mistake him for a
woman; yet did he, by way of reproach, object the like womanish behavior
to Cherea. But when Cherea received the watchword from him, he had