inuclanus in the
prosecution of what had been agreed among them; for as Cherea entered
into the court, the report runs, that a voice came from among the
multitude to encourage him, which bid him finish what he was about, and
take the opportunity that Providence afforded; and that Cherea at first
suspected that some one of the conspirators had betrayed him, and he
was caught, but at length perceived that it was by way of exhortation.
Whether somebody [3] that was conscious of what he was about, gave a
signal for his encouragement, or whether it was God himself, who looks
upon the actions of men, that encouraged him to go on boldly in his
design, is uncertain. The plot was now communicated to a great many, and
they were all in their armor; some of the conspirators being senators,
and some of the equestrian order, and as many of the soldiery as were
made acquainted with it; for there was not one of them who would not
reckon it a part of his happiness to kill Caius; and on that account
they were all very zealous in the affair, by what means soever any one
could come at it, that he might not be behindhand in these virtuous
designs, but might be ready with all his alacrity or power, both by
words and actions, to complete this slaughter of a tyrant. And besides
these, Callistus also, who was a freed-man of Caius, and was the only
man that had arrived at the greatest degree of power under him,--such
a power, indeed, as was in a manner equal to the power of the tyrant
himself, by the dread that all men had of him, and by the great riches
he had acquired; for he took bribes most plenteously, and committed
injuries without bounds, and was more extravagant in the use of his
power in unjust proceedings than any other. He also knew the disposition
of Caius to be implacable, and never to be turned from what he had
resolved on. He had withal many other reasons why he thought himself in
danger, and the vastness of his wealth was not one of the least of them;
on which account he privately ingratiated himself with Claudius, and
transferred his courtship to him, out of this hope, that in case, upon
the removal of Caius, the government should come to him, his interest
in such changes should lay a foundation for his preserving his dignity
under him, since he laid in beforehand a stock of merit, and did
Claudius good offices in his promotion. He had also the boldness to
pretend that he had been persuaded to make away with Claudius, by
poisonin