s, restrained Valerius of Asia from thinking of such
things; and a prodigious slaughter there had been, if leave had been
given to these men to set up for themselves, and oppose Claudius. There
were also a considerable number of gladiators besides, and of those
soldiers who kept watch by night in the city, and rowers of ships,
who all ran into the camp; insomuch that, of those who put in for the
government, some left off their pretensions in order to spare the city,
and others out of fear for their own persons.

4. But as soon as ever it was day, Cherea, and those that were with him,
came into the senate, and attempted to make speeches to the soldiers.
However, the multitude of those soldiers, when they saw that they were
making signals for silence with their hands, and were ready to begin
to speak to them, grew tumultuous, and would not let them speak at all,
because they were all zealous to be under a monarchy; and they demanded
of the senate one for their ruler, as not enduring any longer delays:
but the senate hesitated about either their own governing, or how they
should themselves be governed, while the soldiers would not admit them
to govern, and the murderers of Caius would not permit the soldiers to
dictate to them. When they were in these circumstances, Cherea was not
able to contain the anger he had, and promised, that if they desired
an emperor, he would give them one, if any one would bring him the
watchword from Eutychus. Now this Eutychus was charioteer of the
green-band faction, styled Prasine, and a great friend of Caius, who
used to harass the soldiery with building stables for the horses,
and spent his time in ignominious labors, which occasioned Cherea to
reproach them with him, and to abuse them with much other scurrilous
language; and told them he would bring them the head of Claudius; and
that it was an amazing thing, that, after their former madness, they
should commit their government to a fool. Yet were not they moved with
his words, but drew their swords, and took up their ensigns, and went to
Claudius, to join in taking the oath of fidelity to him. So the senate
were left without any body to defend them, and the very consuls differed
nothing from private persons. They were also under consternation and
sorrow, men not knowing what would become of them, because Claudius was
very angry at them; so they fell a reproaching one another, and repented
of what they had done. At which juncture Sabinus,