And for you, my
fellow-soldiers, in whom I behold all the marks of compunction, other
countenances, and minds happily changed; if you mean to restore to the
Senate its ambassadors; to your Emperor your sworn obedience; to me, your
general, my wife and son; be it the first instance of your duty, to fly
the contagious company of incendiaries, to separate the sober from the
seditious: this will be a faithful sign of remorse, this a firm pledge of
fidelity."
These words softened them into supplicants: they confessed that all his
reproaches were true; they besought him to punish the guilty and
malicious, to pardon the weak and misled, and to lead them against the
enemy; to recall his wife, to bring back his son, nor to suffer the
fosterling of the legions to be given in hostage to the Gauls. Against the
recalling of Agrippina he alleged the advance of winter, and her
approaching delivery; but said, that his son should return, and that to
themselves he left to execute what remained further to be executed.
Instantly, with changed resentments, they ran, and seizing the most
seditious, dragged them in bonds to Caius Cretonius, commander of the
first legion, who judged and punished them in this manner.
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