Book 3
58.1
Suicide of Appius and Sp. Oppius.Caius Claudius, through detestation of the crimes committed by the decemvirs, and the anger which he, more than any one, felt at the tyrannical conduct of his nephew, had retired to Regillum, his ancestral home. Though advanced in years, he now returned to the City, to deprecate the dangers threatening the man whose vicious practices had driven him into retirement.
58.2
Going down to the Forum in mourning garb, accompanied by the members of his house and by his clients, he appealed to the citizens individually, and implored them not to stain the house of the Claudii with such an indelible disgrace as to deem them worthy of bonds and imprisonment. To think that a man whose image image —Effigies of the distinguished scions of a house, in the form of painted waxen masks, were preserved in the hall, and to each was attached an inscription setting forth the offices, etc., held by the deceased. On the occasion of a funeral these masks were worn by persons who represented the deceased ancestors, and were decorated with all the insignia of the offices they had filled. would be held in highest honour by posterity, the framer of their laws and the founder of Roman jurisprudence, should be lying manacled amongst nocturnal thieves and
