r government, and transferred it
to himself; galleries being fixed before the palace, where the Romans
that were patricians became spectators, together with their children
and their wives, and Caesar himself was to be also a spectator; and they
reckoned, among those many ten thousands who would there be crowded into
a narrow compass, they should have a favorable opportunity to make their
attempt upon him as he came in, because his guards that should protect
him, if any of them should have a mind to do it, would not here be able
to give him any assistance.

12. Cherea consented to this delay; and when the shows were exhibited,
it was resolved to do the work the first day. But fortune, which allowed
a further delay to his slaughter, was too hard for their foregoing
resolution; and as three days of the regular times for these shows were
now over, they had much ado to get the business done on the last day.
Then Cherea called the conspirators together, and spake thus to them:
"So much time passed away without effort is a reproach to us, as
delaying to go through such a virtuous design as we are engaged in; but
more fatal will this delay prove if we be discovered, and the design
be frustrated; for Caius will then become more cruel in his unjust
proceedings. Do we not see how long we deprive all our friends of their
liberty, and give Caius leave still to tyrannize over them? while we
ought to have procured them security for the future, and, by laying
a foundation for the happiness of others, gain to ourselves great
admiration and honor for all time to come." Now while the conspirators
had nothing tolerable to say by way of contradiction, and yet did not
quite relish what they were doing, but stood silent and astonished, he
said further, "O my brave comrades! why do we make such delays? Do not
you see that this is the last day of these shows, and that Caius is
about to go to sea? for he is preparing to sail to Alexandria, in order
to see Egypt. Is it therefore for your honor to let a man go out of your
hands who is a reproach to mankind, and to permit him to go, after a
pompous manner, triumphing both at land and sea? Shall not we be justly
ashamed of ourselves, if we give leave to some Egyptian or other, who
shall think his injuries insufferable to free-men, to kill him? As for
myself, I will no longer bear your stow proceedings, but will expose
myself to the dangers of the enterprise this very day, and bear
cheerfully whatsoe