ther device which he looked upon
as both honourable and safe; and not to lose his hold of the handle thus
put in his way for obtaining a large estate, he demanded the daughter of
Anepsia, who was the stepdaughter of Victorinus, as a wife for his son;
and this marriage was quickly arranged with the consent of the woman.

36. Through these and other atrocities equally lamentable, which threw a
gloom over the whole of the eternal city, this man, never to be named
without a groan, grew by the ruin of numerous other persons, and began
to stretch out his hands beyond the limits of lawsuits and trials: for
it is said that he had a small cord always suspended from a remote
window of the praetorium, the end of which had a loop which was easily
drawn tight, by means of which he received secret informations supported
by no evidence or testimony, but capable of being used to the ruin of
many innocent persons. And he used often to send his officers, Mucianus
and Barbarus, men fit for any deceit or treachery, secretly out of his
house.

37. Who then, as if bewailing some hardship which as they pretended had
fallen upon them, and exaggerating the cruelty of the judge, with
constant repetition assured those who really lay under execution that
there was no remedy by which they could save themselves except that of
advancing heavy accusation against men of high rank; because if such
men were involved in such accusations, they themselves would easily
procure an acquittal.

38. In this way, Maximin's implacable temper overwhelmed those yet in
his power; numbers were thrown into prison, and persons of the highest
rank were seen with anxious faces and in mourning attire. Nor ought any
one of them to be blamed for bowing down to the ground in saluting this
monster, when they heard him vociferating with the tone of a wild beast,
that no one could ever be acquitted unless he choose.

39. For sayings like that, when instantly followed by their natural
result, would have terrified even men like Numa, Pompilius, or Cato. In
fact things went on in such a way that some persons never had their eyes
dried of the tears caused by the misfortunes of others, as often happens
in such unsettled and dangerous times.

40. And the iron-hearted judge, continually disregarding all law and
justice, had but one thing about him which made him endurable; for
sometimes he was prevailed upon by entreaties to spare some one, though
this too is affirmed to be nearly