im in destroying the noblest
families, imitating Busiris and Antaeus of old, and Phalaris, so that he
seemed to want nothing but the bull of Agrigentum.

47. After these and other similar transactions had taken place, a
certain matron named Hesychia, who was accused of having attempted some
crime, becoming greatly alarmed, and being of a fierce and resolute
disposition, killed herself in the house of the officer to whom she was
given in custody, by muffling her face in a bed of feathers, and
stopping up her nostrils and so becoming suffocated.

48. To all these calamities another of no less severity was added. For
Eumenius and Abienus, two men of the highest class, having been accused,
during Maximin's term of office, of adultery with Fausiana, a woman of
rank, after the death of Victorinus, under whose protection they were
safe, being alarmed at the arrival of Simplicius, who was as full of
audacity and threats as Maximin, withdrew to some secret hiding place.

49. But after Fausiana had been condemned they were recorded among the
accused, and were summoned by public edict to appear, but they only hid
themselves the more carefully. And Abrenus was for a very long time
concealed in the house of Anepsia. But as it continually happens that
unexpected accidents come to aggravate the distresses of those who are
already miserable, a slave of Anepsia named Apaudulus, being angry
because his wife had been flogged, went by night to Simplicius, and gave
information of the whole affair, and officers were sent to drag them
both from their place of concealment.

50. The charge against Abrenus was strengthened by another charge which
was brought against him, of having seduced Anepsia, and he was condemned
to death. But Anepsia herself, to get some hope of saving her life by at
least procuring the delay of her execution, affirmed that she had been
assailed by unlawful arts, and had been ravished in the house of
Aginatius.

51. Simplicius with loud indignation reported to the emperor all that
had taken place, and as Maximin, who was now at court, hated Aginatius
for the reason which we have already explained, and having his rage
increased against him at the same time that his power was augmented,
entreated with great urgency that he might be sentenced to death; and
such a favour was readily granted to this furious and influential
exciter of the emperor's severity.

52. Then fearing the exceeding unpopularity which would fall upo