might be spared the dreadful anguish of witnessing the dying struggles of his son. The emperor in reply immediately condemned the father to death for daring to make so audacious 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 Chærea.--Chærea's bravery.--His legion mutinies.--Chærea escapes the mutineers.--His appearance.--His just dealings displease the emperor.--Passwords given by Caligula to Chærea.--Accusation of Propedius.--Quintilia's testimony.--Chærea alarmed.--Quintilia's private signal.--Quintilia is put to the torture in vain.--Anger of Chærea.--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.--Chærea's duty.--The plan seems likely to fail.--Chærea's ambuscade.--Minucianus.--Adroit management of the conspirators.--The Asiatic boys.--Chærea strikes Caligula down.--End of a despot.--General joy in the palace.--Savage exultation of the conspirators.--Cæsonia and her child.--They are murdered.--Supposed necessity for destroying the child. The emperor Caligula came to his death in the following manner: