permit them, and they were obliged to labor hard, that the place
which was appointed them should not be left by them; but they had an
indignation at the tediousness of the delays, and that what they were
about should be put off any longer, for it was already about the ninth
[5] hour of the day; and Cherea, upon Caius's tarrying so long, had a
great mind to go in, and fall upon him in his seat, although he
foresaw that this could not be done without much bloodshed, both of the
senators, and of those of the equestrian order that were present; and
although he knew this must happen, yet had he a great mind to do so, as
thinking it a right thing to procure security and freedom to all, at the
expense of such as might perish at the same time. And as they were just
going back into the entrance to the theater, word was brought them that
Caius was arisen, whereby a tumult was made; hereupon the conspirators
thrust away the crowd, under pretense as if Caius was angry at them, but
in reality as desirous to have a quiet place, that should have none in
it to defend him, while they set about Caius's slaughter. Now Claudius,
his uncle, was gone out before, and Marcus Vinicius his sister's
husband, as also Valellus of Asia; whom though they had had such a mind
to put out of their places, the reverence to their dignity hindered them
so to do; then followed Caius, with Paulus Arruntius: and because Caius
was now gotten within the palace, he left the direct road, along
which those his servants stood that were in waiting, and by which road
Claudius had gone out before, Caius turned aside into a private narrow
passage, in order to go to the place for bathing, as also in order to
take a view of the boys that came out of Asia, who were sent thence,
partly to sing hymns in these mysteries which were now celebrated, and
partly to dance in the Pyrrhic way of dancing upon the theatres. So
Cherea met him, and asked him for the watchword; upon Caius's giving him
one of his ridiculous words, he immediately reproached him, and drew his
sword, and gave him a terrible stroke with it, yet was not this stroke
mortal. And although there be those that say it was so contrived on
purpose by Chorea, that Caius should not be killed at one blow, but
should be punished more severely by a multitude of wounds; yet does this
story appear to me incredible, because the fear men are under in such
actions does not allow them to use their reason. And if Cherea was of
that