<TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:py="http://codespeak.net/lxml/objectify/pytype" py:pytype="TREE"><text xml:lang="eng"><body><div xml:lang="eng" type="translation" n="urn:cts:latinLit:phi1348.abo022.perseus-eng2"><div type="textpart" n="16" subtype="chapter"><p>The day before his death, he ordered some dates, <note anchored="true">Columella
						(R. R x.i. 2.) enumerates dates among the foreign fruits cultivated in
						Italy, cherries, dates, apricots, and almonds; and Pliny, xv. 14, informs us
						that Sextus Papinius was the first who introduced the date tree, having
						brought it from Africa, in the latter days of Augustus. </note> served up at
					the table, to be kept till the next day, adding, "If I have the luck to use
					them." And turning to those who were nearest him, he said, "To-morrow the moon
					in Aquarius will be bloody instead of watery, and an event will happen, which
					will be much talked of all the world over." About midnight, he was so terrified
					that he leaped out of bed. That morning he tried and passed sentence on a
					soothsayer sent from Germany, who being consulted about the lightning that had
					lately happened, predicted from it a change of government. The blood running
					down his face as he scratched an ulcerous tumour on his forehead, he said, "
					Would this were all that is to befall me!" Then, upon his asking the time of the
					day, instead of five o'clock. which was the hour he dreaded, they purposely told
					him it was six. Overjoyed at this information, as if all danger were now passed,
					and hastening to the bath, Parthenius, his chamberlain, stopped him, by saying
					that there was a person come to wait upon him about a matter of great
					importance, which would admit of no delay. Upon this, ordering all persons to
					withdraw, he retired into his chamber, and was there slain.</p></div></div></body></text></TEI>