21. The last day of the games was more splendid than the rest; and Calig'ula seemed more sprightly and condescending than usual. He enjoyed the amusement of seeing the people scramble for the fruits and other rarities by his order thrown among them, being no way apprehensive of the plot formed for his destruction. 22. In the mean time the conspiracy began to transpire: and, had he any friends remaining, it could not have failed of being discovered. A senator who was present, asking one of his acquaintance if he had heard any thing new, and the other replying in the negative, said "you must know, that this day will be represented the death of a tyrant." The other immediately understood him, but desired him to be cautious. 23. The conspirators waited many hours with extreme anxiety; and Calig'ula seemed resolved to spend the whole day without any refreshment. So unexpected a delay exasperated Cher'ea; and, had he not been restrained, he would suddenly have perpetrated his design in the midst of all the people. 24. At that instant, while he was hesitating, Aspore'nus,[20] one of the conspirators, persuaded Calig'ula to go to the bath, and take some slight refreshment, that he might the better enjoy the rest of the entertainment. 25. The emperor, rising up, the conspirators used every precaution to keep off the throng, and to surround him themselves, under pretence of great assiduity. Upon his entering a little vaulted gallery that led to the bath, Cher'ea struck him to the ground with his dagger, crying out, "Tyrant, think upon this." The other conspirators closed in upon him; and while the emperor was resisting, and crying out that he was not yet dead, they dispatched him with thirty wounds. 26. Such was the merited death of Calig'ula, in the 29th year of his age, after a short reign of not four years. His character may be summed up in the words of Sen'eca; namely, "Nature seemed to have brought him forth, to show what mischief could be effected by the greatest vices supported by the greatest authority." _Questions for Examination_. 1. Of what enormities was Caligula guilty? 2. How did he heighten his cruelties? 3. On what did he chiefly value himself? 4. What monstrous wish did he express? 5. What was the consequence of such atrocities? 6. What preparations did he make? 7. How did his disposition display itself on this occasion? 8. How did he sometimes travel? 9. What exploits did he perform? 10. Did he not make a show of some great enterprise? 11. How did it end? 12. Of what farther follies was he guilty? 13. By whom was he assassinated, and by what provocations was his fate hastened? 14. Were others made privy to the design? 15. Relate this incident. 16. Did Quintilia confirm the accusation? 17. What rendered this resolution more remarkable? 18. What was the result? 19. Was the _crisis_ much longer deferred? 20. Was this resolution put in practice? 21. Was Caligula at all apprehensive of what was in agitation?