The wretched tyrant, as cowardly as he was cruel, was completely unmanned. He sprang from the table at which he had been feasting and drinking, overturning it in his blind terror, and dashing the most costly wares to fragments. Like one beside himself, he rushed hither and thither, beating his forehead, and crying, “I am lost! I am lost!” He had not, like the faithful Paul, a powerful, compassionate God to rely upon in his hour of peril. He knew that if taken prisoner he would be subjected to insult and torture, and he considered how he might end his miserable life with as little pain as possible. He called for poison, but when it was brought, he dared not take it; he called for a sword, but after examining its sharp edge, he laid it also aside. Then, disguised in woman’s clothing, he rushed from his palace, and fled through the dark, narrow streets to the Tiber; but as he looked into its murky depths, his courage again failed. One of the few companions who had followed him, suggested that he escape to a country-seat a few miles distant, where he might find safety. Concealing his face, he leaped upon a horse, and succeeded in making his escape. {LP 316.3}

Den stakkels tyran, der var så fej som han var grusom, var helt ubemandet. Han faldt fra bordet, som han havde festet og drukket på, væltede i sin blinde rædsel, og slog de kostbareste krukker i stykker. Lige som een ved siden af ham selv, rullede han hid og did, slog sin pande, og råbte: "Jeg er fortabt! Jeg er fortabt!" Han havde ikke, som den trofaste Paulus, en kraftfuld og medfølende Gud til at stole på i sin farestund. Han vidste at hvis han havde taget fanger, ville han underlægges forhån og tortur, og han tænkte på hvordan han ville ende sit elendige liv med så lidt smerte så mulig. Han bad om noget gift, men da det blev bragt, turde han ikke tage det; han bad om et sværd, men efter at undersøge dets skarpe æg, lagde han også dette til side. Så skyndte han sig, i kvindeklæder, fra sit palads, og flygtede gennem mørke snævre gader til Tiber; men da han så dets mørke dybder, mistede han igen modet. En af de få ledsagere som fulgte ham, foreslog at han flygtede til et landsted nogle få kilometer derfra, hvor han kunne finde sikkerhed. Idet han skjulte sit ansigt, sprang han på en hest, og det lykkes ham at flygte.