Valerius Maximus, Facta et Dicta Memorabilia

Vincit huiusce somni dirum aspectum quod insequitur. apud Actium M. Antonii fractis opibus Cassius Parmensis, qui partes eius secutus fuerat, Athenas confugit. ubi concubia nocte cum sollicitudinibus et curis mente sopita in lectulo iaceret, existimauit ad se uenire hominem ingentis magnitudinis, coloris nigri, squalidum barba et capillo inmisso, interrogatumque quisnam esset respondisse kako\n dai/mona. perterritus deinde taetro uisu et nomine horrendo seruos inclamauit sciscitatusque est ecquem talis habitus aut intrantem cubiculum aut exeuntem uidissent. quibus adfirmantibus neminem illuc accessisse, iterum se quieti et somno dedit, atque eadem animo eius obuersata species est. itaque fugato somno lumen intro ferri iussit puerosque a se discedere uetuit. inter hanc noctem et supplicium capitis, quo eum Caesar adfecit, paruulum admodum temporis intercessit.

What follows outdoes the dreadful look of this dream. When the forces of Mark Antony had been broken at Actium, Cassius of Parma, who had followed his side, fled to Athens. There, as he lay in bed at dead of night, his mind lulled to sleep after anxieties and cares, he thought that a man of huge size came to him, black in colour, filthy, with beard and hair grown long, and that when asked who he was he answered: kakon daimona ['an evil spirit']. Then, terrified by the hideous sight and the horrible name, he called out to his slaves and asked whether they had seen anyone of such appearance either entering or leaving the bedroom. When they declared that no one had come in there, he gave himself again to rest and sleep, and the same apparition hovered before his mind. So, sleep put to flight, he ordered a light to be brought in and forbade his slaves to leave him. Between this night and the capital punishment that Caesar inflicted on him only a very little time passed.