the antiquities of the jews-1-第222章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


them；　insomuch　that　he　even　compelled　them　all　to　go　on；　who
otherwise　had　not　courage　enough　for　that　purpose；　and　when
opportunity　served　to　use　his　sword　in　hand；　he　appeared　first　of
all　ready　so　to　do；　and　gave　the　first　blow　in　this　virtuous
slaughter；　he　also　brought　Caius　easily　into　the　power　of　the
rest；　and　almost　killed　him　himself；　insomuch　that　it　is　but　just
to　ascribe　all　that　the　rest　did　to　the　advice；　and　bravery；　and
labors　of　the　hands　of　Cherea。

15。　Thus　did　Caius　come　to　his　end；　and　lay　dead；　by　the　many
wounds　which　had　been　given　him。　Now　Cherea　and　his　associates；
upon　Caius's　slaughter；　saw　that　it　was　impossible　for　them　to
save　themselves；　if　they　should　all　go　the　same　way；　partly　on
account　of　the　astonishment　they　were　under；　for　it　was　no　small
danger　they　had　incurred　by　killing　an　emperor；　who　was　honored
and　loved　by　the　madness　of　the　people；　especially　when　the
soldiers　were　likely　to　make　a　bloody　inquiry　after　his
murderers。　The　passages　also　were　narrow　wherein　the　work　was
done；　which　were　also　crowded　with　a　great　multitude　of　Caius's
attendants；　and　of　such　of　the　soldiers　as　were　of　the　emperor's
guard　that　day；　whence　it　was　that　they　went　by　other　ways；　and
came　to　the　house　of　Germanicus；　the　father　of　Caius；　whom　they
had　now　killed　（which　house　adjoined　to　the　palace；　for　while　the
edifice　was　one；　it　was　built　in　its　several　parts　by　those
particular　persons　who　had　been　emperors；　and　those　parts　bare
the　names　of　those　that　built　them　or　the　name　of　him　who　had
begun　to　build　its　parts）。　So　they　got　away　from　the　insults　of
the　multitude；　and　then　were　for　the　present　out　of　danger；　that
is；　so　long　as　the　misfortune　which　had　overtaken　the　emperor　was
not　known。　The　Germans　were　the　first　who　perceived　that　Caius
was　slain。　These　Germans　were　Caius's　guard；　and　carried　the　name
of　the　country　whence　they　were　chosen；　and　composed　the　Celtic
legion。　The　men　of　that　country　are　naturally　passionate；　which
is　commonly　the　temper　of　some　other　of　the　barbarous　nations
also；　as　being　not　used　to　consider　much　about　what　they　do；　they
are　of　robust　bodies　and　fall　upon　their　enemies　as　soon　as　ever
they　are　attacked　by　them；　and　which　way　soever　they　go；　they
perform　great　exploits。　When；　therefore；　these　German　guards
understood　that　Caius　was　slain；　they　were　very　sorry　for　it；
because　they　did　not　use　their　reason　in　judging　about　public
affairs；　but　measured　all　by　the　advantages　themselves　received；
Caius　being　beloved　by　them　because　of　the　money　he　gave　them；　by
which　he　had　purchased　their　kindness　to　him；　so　they　drew　their
swords；　and　Sabinus　led　them　on。　He　was　one　of　the　tribunes；　not
by　the　means　of　the　virtuous　actions　of　his　pro　genitors；　for　he
bad　been　a　gladiator；　but　he　had　obtained　that　post　in　the　army
by　his　having　a　robust　body。　So　these　Germans　marched　along　the
houses　in　quest　of　Caesar's　murderers；　and　cut　Asprenas　to
pieces；　because　he　was　the　first　man　they　fell　upon；　and　whose
garment　it　was　that　the　blood　of　the　sacrifices　stained；　as　I
have　said　already；　and　which　foretold　that　this　his　meeting　the
soldiers　would　not　be　for　his　good。　Then　did　Norbanus　meet　them；
who　was　one　of　the　principal　nobility　of　and　could　show　many
generals　of　armies　among　his　ancestors；　but　they　paid　no　regard
to　his　dignity；　yet　was　he　of　such　great　strength；　that　he
wrested　the　sword　of　the　first　of　those　that　assaulted　him　out　of
his　hands；　and　appeared　plainly　not　to　be　willing　to　die　without
a　struggle　for　his　life；　until　he　was　surrounded　by　a　great
number　of　assailants；　and　died　by　the　multitude　of　the　wounds
which　they　gave　him。　The　third　man　was　Anteius；　a　senator；　and　a
few　others　with　him。　He　did　not　meet　with　these　Germans　by
chance；　as　the　rest　did　before；　but　came　to　show　his　hatred　to
Caius；　and　because　he　loved　to　see　Caius　lie　dead　with　his　own
eyes；　and　took　a　pleasure　in　that　sight；　for　Caius　had　banished
Anteius's　father；　who　was　of　the　same　name　with　himself；　and
being　not　satisfied　with　that；　he　sent　out　his　soldiers；　and　slew
him；　so　he　was　come　to　rejoice　at　the　sight　of　him；　now　he　was
dead。　But　as　the　house　was　now　all　in　a　tumult；　when　he　was
aiming　to　hide　himself；　he　could　not　escape　that　accurate　search
which　the　Germans　made；　while　they　barbarously　slew　those　that
were　guilty；　and　those　that　were　not　guilty；　and　this　equally
also。　And　thus　were　these　＇three＇　persons　slain。

16。　But　when　the　rumor　that　Caius　was　slain　reached　the　theater；
they　were　astonished　at　it；　and　could　not　believe　it；　even　some
that　entertained　his　destruction　with　great　pleasure；　and　were
more　desirous　of　its　happening　than　almost　any　other　faction　that
could　come　to　them；　were　under　such　a　fear；　that　they　could　not
believe　it。　There　were　also　those　who　greatly　distrusted　it；
because　they　were　unwilling　that　any　such　thing　should　come　to
Caius；　nor　could　believe　it；　though　it　were　ever　so　true；　because
they　thought　no　man　could　possibly　so　much　power　as　to　kill
Caius。　These　were　the　women；　and　the　children；　and　the　slaves；
and　some　of　the　soldiery。　This　last　sort　had　taken　his　pay；　and
in　a　manner　tyrannized　with　him；　and　had　abused　the　best　of　the
citizens；　in　being　subservient　to　his　unjust　commands；　in　order
to　gain　honors　and　advantages　to　themselves；　but　for　the　women
and　the　youth；　they　had　been　inveigled　with　shows；　and　the
fighting　of　the　gladiators；　and　certain　distributions　of
flesh…meat　among　them；　which　things　them　pretense　were　designed
for　the　pleasing　of　multitude；　but　in　reality　to　satiate　the
barbarous　cruelty　and　madness　of　Caius。　The　slaves　also　were
sorry；　because　they　were　by　Caius　allowed　to　accuse　and　to
despise　their　masters；　and　they　could　have　recourse　to　his
assistance　when　they　had　unjustly　affronted　them；　for　he　was　very
easy　in　believing　them　against　their　masters；　even　when　they　the
city；　accused　them　falsely；　and　if　they　would　discover　what　money
their　masters　had；　they　might　soon　obtain　both　riches　and
liberty；　as　the　rewards　of　their　accusations；　because　the　reward
of　these　informers　was　the　eighth　（6）　part　of　the　criminal's
substance。　As　to　the　nobles；　although　the　report　appeared
credible　to　some　of　them；　either　because　they　knew　of　the　plot
beforehand；　or　because　they　wished　it　might　be　true；　however；
they　concealed　not　only　the　joy　they　had　at　the　relation　of　it；
but　that　they　had　heard　any　thing　at　all　about　it。　These　last
acted　so　out　of　the　fear　they　had；　that　if　the　report　proved
false；　they　should　be　punished；　for　having　so　soon　let　men　know
their　minds。　But　those　that　knew　Caius　was　dead；　because　they
were　partners　with　the　conspirators；　they　concealed　all　still
more　cautiously；　as　not　knowing　one　another's　minds；　and　fearing
lest　they　should　speak　of　it　to　some　of　those　to　whom　the
continuance　of　tyranny　was　advantageous；　and　if　Caius　should
prove　to　be　alive；　they　might　be　informed　against；　and　punished。
And　another　report　went　about；　that　although　Caius　had　been
wounded　indeed；　yet　was　not　he　dead；　but　alive　still；　and　under
the　physician's　hands。　Nor　was　any　one　looked　upon　by　another　as
faithful　enough　to　be　trusted；　and　to　whom　any　one　would　open　his
mind；　for　he　was　either　a　friend　to　Caius；　and　therefore
suspected　to　favor　his　tyranny；　or　he　was　one　that　hated　him；　who
therefore　might　be　suspected　to　deserve　the　less　credit；　because
of　his　ill…will　to　him。　Nay；　it　was　said　by　some　（and　this　indeed
it　was　that　deprived　the　nobility　of　their　hopes；　and　made　them
sad）　that　Caius　was　in　a　condition　to　despise　the　dangers　he　had
been　in；　and　took　no　care　of　healing　his　wounds；　but　was　gotten
away　into　the　market…place；　and；　bloody　as　he　was；　was　making　an
harangue　to　the　people。　And　these　were　the　conjectural　reports　of
those　that　were　so　unreasonable　as　to　endeavor　to　raise　tumults；
which　they　turned　different　ways；　according　to　the　opinions　of
the　bearers。　Yet　did　they　not　leave　their　seats；　for　fear　of
being　accused；　if　they　should　go　out　before　the　rest；　for　they
should　not　be　sentenced　according　to　the　real　intention　with
which　they　went　out；　but　according　to　the　supposals　of　the
accusers　and　of　the　judges。

17。　But　now　a　multitude　of　Germans　had　surrounded　the　theater
with　their　swords　drawn：　all　the　spectators　looked　for　nothing
but　death；　and　at　every　one　coming　in　a　fear　seized　upon　them；　as
if　they　were　to　be　cut　in　pieces　immediately；　and　in　great
distress　they　were；　as　neither　having　courage　enough　to　go　out　of
the　theater；　nor　believing　themselves　safe　from　dangers　if　they
tarried　there。　And　when　the　Germans　came　upon　them；　the　cry　was
so　great；　that　the　theater　rang　again　with　the　entreaties　of　the
spectators　to　the　soldiers；　pleading　that　they　were　entirely
ignorant　of　every　thing　that　related　to　such　seditious
contrivances；　and　that　if　there　were　any　sedition　raised；　they
knew　nothing　of　it；　they　therefore　begged　that　they　would　spare
them；　and　not　punish　those　that　had　not　the　least　hand　in　such
bold　crimes　as　belonged　to　other　persons；　while　they　neglected　to
search　after　such　as　had　really　done　whatsoever　it　be　that　hath
been　done。　Thus　did　these　people　appeal　to　God；　and　deplore　their
infelicity　with　shedding　of　tears；　and　beating　their　faces；　and
said　every　thing　that　the　most　imminent　danger　and　the　utmost
concern　for　their　lives　could　dictate　to　them。　This　brake　the
fury　of　the　soldiers；　and　made　them　repent　of　what　they　minded　to
do　to　the　spectators；　which　would　have　been　the　greatest　instance
of　cruelty。　And　so　it　appeared　to　even　these　savages；　when　they
had　once　fixed　the　heads　of　those　that　were　slain　with　Asprenas
upon　the　altar；　at　which　sight　the　spectators　were　sorely
afflicted；　both　upon　the　consideration　of　the　dignity　of　the
persons；　and　out　of　a　commiseration　of　their　sufferings；　nay；
indeed；　they　were　almost　in　as　great　disorder　at　the　prospect　of
the　danger　themselves　were　in；　seeing　it　was　still　uncertain
whether　they　should　entirely　escape　the　like　calamity。　Whence　it
was　that　such　as　thoroughly　and　justly　hated　Caius　could　yet　no
way　enjoy　the　pleasure　of　his　death；　because　they　were　themselves
in　jeopardy　of　perishing　together　with　him；　nor　had　they　hitherto
any　firm　assurance　of　surviving。

18。　There　was　at　this　time　one　Euaristus　Arruntius；　a　public
crier　in　the　market；　and　therefore　of　a　strong　and　audible　voice；
who　vied　in　wealth　with　the　richest　of　the　Romans；　and　was　able
to　do　what　he　pleased　in　the　city；　both　then　and　afterward。　This
man　put　himself　into　the　most　mournful　habit　he　could；　although
he　had　a　greater　hatred　against　Caius　than　any　one　else；　his　fear
and　his　wise　contrivance　to　gain　his　safety　taught　him　so　to　do；
and　prevailed　over　his　present　pleasure；　so　he　put　on　such　a
mournful　dress　as　he　would　have　done　had　he　lost　his　dearest
friends　in　the　world；　this　man　came　into　the　theater；　and
informed　them　of　the　death　of　Caius；　and　by　this　means　put　an　end
to　that　state　of　ignorance　the　men　had　been　in。　Arruntius　also
went　round　about　the　pillars；　and　called　out　to　the　Germans；　as
did　the　tribunes　with　him；　bidding　them　put　up　their　swords；　and
telling　them　that　Caius　was　dead。　And　this　proclamation　it　w