In the dead of night, they began to clamour aloud for the
purple standard placed in the quarters of Germanicus, and, rushing
tumultuously to his gate, burst the doors, dragged the Prince out of his
bed, and, with menaces of present death, compelled him to deliver the
standard. Then, as they roved about the camp, they met the deputies, who,
having learnt the outrage, were hastening to Germanicus: upon them they
poured a deluge of contumelies, and to present slaughter were devoting
them, Plancus chiefly, whom the dignity of his character had restrained
from flight; nor in this mortal danger had he other refuge than the
quarters of the first legion, where, embracing the Eagle and other
ensigns, he sought sanctuary from the religious veneration ever paid them.
But, in spite of religion, had not Calpurnius, the Eagle-bearer, by force
defeated the last violence of the assault, in the Roman camp had been
slain an ambassador of the Roman People, and with his blood had been
stained the inviolable altars of the Gods; a barbarity rare even in the
camp of an enemy. At last, day returning, when the General, and the
soldiers, and their actions could be distinguished, Germanicus entered the
camp, and commanding Plancus to be brought, seated him by himself upon the
tribunal: he then inveighed against the late "pernicious frenzy, which in
it, he said, had fatality, and was rekindled by no despite in the
soldiers, but by that of the angry Gods.
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