The lictors probably would have beaten him with their rods before the executioner, with a sharp swing of the sword, removed his head.

When the Teuton matrons heard of this stipulation they first begged the consul that they might be set apart to minister in the temples of Ceres and Venus; and then when they failed to obtain their request and were removed by the lictors, they slew their little children and next morning all were found dead in each other''s arms having strangled themselves in the night.

6) An account of such literal, and therefore false, perception was given by Publius, who raved at the memory of "Ceasar march[ing] captive kings, with their hands bound, and ladies with their arms a-cross, furious wild beasts, great giants, and little dwarfs, with lictors, and pictors, and a number of priests" (Orgel--Strong 1973, 2: 455).