Berenice was at the height of her power and consequently came to Rome along with her brother Agrippa. [Footnote:  This Agrippa, known also as Herodes II, was an intimate friend of the Jewish historian Josephus and a companion of Titus at the siege of Jerusalem.  It was before him, moreover, that the apostle Paul made his defence in A.D. 60.] The latter was accorded pretorial honors, while she dwelt in the Palace and cohabited with Titus.  She expected to be married to him and behaved in all respects as if his wife.  But when he perceived that the Romans were displeased at the situation he sent her away; for various reports were in circulation.  At this time, too, certain sophists of the cynic school managed somehow to slip into the city:  first, Diogenes entered the theatre when it was full of men and denounced them in a long, abusive speech, for which he was flogged; after him Heras, who showed no greater disposition to be obedient, gave vent to many senseless bawlings in the true cynic (dog-like) manner,—­and for this behavior was beheaded.

[Sidenote:  A.D. 79 (a.u. 832)] [Sidenote:—­16—­] About the same period that these events took place it happened that at a certain inn such a quantity of overflowed the vessels that it ran out into the street.  Moreover, Sabinus the Gaul, already mentioned, the person who had once named himself Caesar, had later taken up arms, had been defeated and had hidden himself in the monument, was discovered [Footnote:  The meaning is clear.  Cobet (Mnemosyne, N.S.X). thinks that ephorathae expresses the idea more accurately than the commonly accepted ephanerothae (Boissevain also ephorathae).] and brought to Rome.  With him perished also his wife Peponila, who had previously saved his life.  She had presented her children before Vespasian and had delivered a most pitiful speech in their behalf:  “These little ones, Caesar, I both brought forth and reared in the monument, that we might be a greater number to supplicate you.”  She caused both him and the rest to weep; no mercy, however, was shown to the family.  Meantime the emperor was also the object of a conspiracy on the part of Alienus and Marcellus, although he considered them among his best friends and bestowed honors upon them quite unstintedly.  They did not succeed in killing him, though.  Upon their being detected, Alienus was slain at once, in the imperial residence itself, as he rose from a meal with his intended victim.  Titus issued this order to prevent his carrying his rebellion any further during the night; Alienus had already made arrangements with not a few of the soldiers.  Marcellus was brought to trial before the senate and was condemned, whereupon he cut his own throat with a razor.  Not even benefits, it may be remarked, can subdue those who are naturally vicious, as is shown by the plotting of these men against him who had done them so many kindnesses.