Then those also were excited who wished to lay hands on him not to recover liberty but to destroy the entire extant system; they were looking for an opportunity to overcome one who seemed to be absolutely invincible. For, although he had participated up to this time in three hundred and two battles in both Asia and Europe, it appeared that he had never been worsted. Since, however, he frequently came out by himself and appeared before them, the hope arose that he could be taken by treachery. They tried to bring about, somehow, the dismissal of his body guard by flattering him when they addressed him, saying that he ought to be considered sacred in the eyes of all and be called ‘pater patriae’;[108] and by proposing decrees to that effect in the hope that he would be thus misled and actually trust to their affection, and that he would dismiss his spearmen in the belief that he was guarded by the good will of everyone. This actually came to pass, and made their task far easier.[109] 23. The conspirators never met to make their plans in the open, but in secret, a few at a time in each other’s houses. As was natural, many plans were proposed and set in motion by them as they considered how and when they should commit the awful deed. Some proposed to attack him while on his way through the ‘Via sacra’, for he often walked there;[110] others, at the time of the comitia, when he had to cross a certain bridge[111] to hold the election of magistrates in the field before the city. They would so divide their duties by lot that some should jostle him off the bridge and the others should rush upon him and slay him. Others proposed that he be attacked when the gladiatorial shows were held[112] (they were near at hand), for then, because of these contests no suspicion would be aroused in the sight of men armed for the deed. The majority urged that he be killed during the session of the senate, for then he was likely to be alone. There was no admittance to non-members, and many of the senators were conspirators, and carried swords under their togas. This plan was adopted.[113] Fortune had a part in this by causing Caesar himself to set a certain day on which the members of the senate were to assemble to consider certain motions which he wished to introduce. When the appointed day came the conspirators assembled, prepared in all respects. They met in the portico of Pompeius’ theatre, where they sometimes gathered. Thus the divinity showed the vanity of man’s estate--how very unstable it is, and subject to the vagaries of fortune--for Caesar was brought to the house of his enemy, there to lie, a corpse, before