Julius Kanus was a man of remarkable greatness. Even the fact that he lived in our terrible times can't diminish our admiration for him. He had a long argument with Gaius, and when he was leaving, that monster of a man said to him, "Don't fool yourself with false hopes — I've ordered your execution." Kanus replied, "Thank you, most excellent prince." I'm not sure what he meant by this. Many explanations come to mind. Was he trying to shame Gaius? Was he showing him how cruel he must be if death had become a mercy? Or was he mocking Gaius for his usual madness? After all, even people whose children were killed and whose property was seized used to thank him. Or maybe Kanus welcomed death as freedom? Whatever he meant, it was a noble answer. Someone might say, "After this, Gaius could have spared his life." But Kanus had no fear of that happening. Everyone knew how faithfully Gaius carried out orders like these.
Julius Kanus, a man of peculiar greatness, whom even the fact of his having been born in this century does not prevent our admiring, had a long dispute with Gaius, and when as he was going away that Phalaris of a man said to him, "That you may not delude yourself with any foolish hopes, I have ordered you to be executed," he answered, "I thank you, most excellent prince." I am not sure what he meant: for many ways of explaining his conduct occur to me. Did he wish to be reproachful, and to show him how great his cruelty must be if death became a kindness? or did he upbraid him with his accustomed insanity? for even those whose children were put to death, and whose goods were confiscated, used to thank him: or was it that he willingly received death, regarding it as freedom? Whatever he meant, it was a magnanimous answer. Some one may say, "After this Gaius might have let him live." Kanus had no fear of this: the good faith with which Gaius carried out such orders as these was well known.