a proposal.

Of course the connection of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, with such
a sovereign as this, while it gave her a very high social position
in the Roman community, could not contribute much to her happiness.
In fact all who were connected with Caligula in any way lived in
continual terror, for so wanton and capricious was his cruelty, that
all who were liable to come under his notice at all were in constant
danger. Agrippina herself at one time incurred her brother's
displeasure, though she was fortunate enough to escape with her
life. Caligula discovered, or pretended to discover, a conspiracy
against him, and he accused Agrippina and another of his sisters
named Livilla of being implicated in it. Caligula sent a soldier to
the leader of the conspiracy to cut off his head, and then he
banished his sisters from Rome and shut them up in the island of
Pontia, telling them when they went away, to beware, for he had
swords for them as well as islands, in case of need.

At length Caligula's terrible tyranny was brought to a sudden end by
his assassination; and Agrippina, in consequence of this event was
not only released from her thraldom but raised to a still higher
eminence than she had enjoyed before. The circumstances connected
with these events will be related in the next chapter.

CHAPTER II.

THE ASSASSINATION OF CALIGULA.

A.D. 40-41

Plots against Caligula.--Cassius Chaerea.--Chaerea's bravery.--His legion
mutinies.--Chaerea escapes the mutineers.--His appearance.--His just
dealings displease the emperor.--Passwords given by Caligula to
Chaerea.--Accusation of Propedius.--Quintilia's testimony.--Chaerea
alarmed.--Quintilia's private signal.--Quintilia is put to the
torture in vain.--Anger of Chaerea.--His determination to destroy
Caligula.--Conspiracy formed.--The confederates.--Various
opinions.--Various plans proposed for destroying Caligula.--Final
determination.--The three days festival.--Brief conversation.--The
recess.--Chaerea's duty.--The plan seems likely to fail.--Chaerea's
ambuscade.--Minucianus.--Adroit management of the conspirators.--The
Asiatic boys.--Chaerea strikes Caligula down.--End of a despot.--General
joy in the palace.--Savage exultation of the conspirators.--Caesonia and
her child.--They are murdered.--Supposed necessity for destroying the
child.

The emperor Caligula came to his death in the following manner:

Of course his wanton and remorseless tyranny often awa