the midday sun
Whilst more ominous than before came that other cry : `` Death to the tyrant ! Death to the Cæsar ! Death ! '' And whilst the city guard followed closely on the footsteps of their praefect , and men among the crowd prepared for the inevitable fight which they foresaw , the women and those who were feeble and pacific waved fans and cloaks about and threw dead roses across the arena , till the whole place seemed like a great pageant of many-coloured flags , over which the midday sun had thrown its veil of gold . When Taurus Antinor reached the topmost step Caligula caught sight of him , and the intensity of his rage was such that his cheeks turned livid and blotchy and hoarse inarticulate sounds escaped his panting throat . Even at this same moment the group composed of Escanes and the others seemed to sway in a mass toward the tribune of the Cæsar . They appeared to be consulting Hortensius Martius who had nodded encouragingly .