lamentation yea priuat murmurings and scarce credible that the grandfather could indure to heare it reade it and publish it were it not that the letters of Actius the Centurion and Didymus his freed man did declare the names of such bondslaues which had either stroken Drusus or put him in a fright as he went out of his chamber Yea the Centurion added his owne words full of crueltie against Drusus as a matter worthy praise and Drusus answere againe as he fainted and drew towards his end in which faining as though he had been distracted of his wits wished Tiberius all ill luck and misfortune and then seeing himselfe past all hope of life cursed him most deadly praying the gods that as he had slaine his daughter in law his brothers sonne and his nephewes and filled all his house with bloud so they would reuenge and punish him for an example to his name his stock predecessors and posteritie The Lords of the Senate were troubled with these speeches making shew of detesting them but they were stricken into a feare and admiration that he who had been so cunning and craftie heretofore in cloking his lewdnes should now become so confident that as though the walles were throwne down he durst shew that his nephew beaten by his Centurion and strooken by his slaues should aske for meate in vaine to saue his life This griefe was scarse gone but the next newes were of Agrippina whom I thinke since Seianus death vntill now liued with hope and seeing that crueltie was no whit remitted willingly ended her life vnlesse that famished for want of sustenance it was falsely giuen out she died that death of her selfe For Tiberius layde grieuous crimes to her charge accusing her of vncleanes of life and that Asinius Gallus was the adulterer and that seeing him dead she loathed any longer to liue But in very deede Agrippina not contented with reason and greedy of rule taking vpon her cares fit rather for men then women had shaken off all vices incident to her owne sexe She died the selfe-same day that two yeeres before Seianus died which Caesar thought worthy of record and vaunted that she had neither been strangled nor throwne headlong from the Gemonies For this he had thanks giuen him by the Senate and order taken that the fifteenth Kalends of Nouember which was the day they both died some gift should be offered vp to Iupiter Not long after Cocceius Nerua who was continually at the Princes elbow a man very expert in diuine and humane lawes being in perfect disposition of body resolued with himselfe to die which when Tiberius vnderstood he went to visit him sate by him and inquired the causes of his intention and intreated him confessing at last that it would be a burden to his conscience and a discredit if the chiefest of his friends should without cause of death shew himselfe weary of life But Nerua disliking his speech would take no more sustenance Those which best knew his meaning gaue out that deepely seeing into what calamities the common wealth was like to fall into moued with anger and feare whilest his credit was vntouched and his person vnattempted would end his life with that honest death Agrippinaes ruine drew with it which is scarse credible Plancinaes destruction She had beene once wife vnto Gn. Piso and reioysed openly at Germanicus death and when Piso was slaine she was saued no lesse by Augustaes prayers then ill will she bare Agrippina As soone as hatred and fauour failed right tooke place and being accused of knowen crimes with her owne hand receiued rather late then vndeserued punishment Among other griefes in a dolefull and sad citie this was one that Iulia daughter vnto Drusus once Neroes wife married againe into Rubellius Blandus familie whose grandfather Tiburtes a gentleman of Rome most men knew In the end of this yeare the death of Aelius Lamia was celebrated with funerals proper to a Censor who at last being discharged of the gouernment of Syria which he had in shew only was made gouernor of the citie He was descended of a noble stock and was a strong liuely old man and the gouernment of the prouince denied him augmented his woorth Then Flaccus Pomponius Propretor of Syria being dead Caesars letters were recited in which he complained that if there were any notable man and fit to rule an armie he refused the charge and therefore he was forced through that necessitie to intreate such as had beene Consuls to take vpon them the rule of the prouinces forgetting that Arruntius had beene hindered ten yeeres from going into Spaine The same yeere died M. Lepidus of whose moderation and wisedome I haue spoken sufficiently in other bookes and his nobilitie needeth no farther proofe for the Aemilian family hath brought foorth many good citizens and although some of them haue beene of corrupt manners yet liued in good and honorable estate VII A Phoenix seene in AEgypt how Getulicus escaped Tiberius crueltie WHen Paullus Fabius and L. Vitellius were Consuls after manie ages were past the birde Phoenix came into AEgypt and ministred matter to the most learned of the countrey and also Greekes of disputing many things concerning that miracle Of which it seemeth good vnto me to laye downe such things as they agree of and manie which rest doubtfull yet notwithstanding worthie the knowledge That that birde is consecrated to the sunne and that it differeth in the beake and varietie of feathers from other birds all do accord which haue described her shape and forme but of the number of her yeeres there are diuers reports The common opinion is that she liueth fiue hundred yeeres some affirme that she liueth a thousand foure hundred threescore and one yeere And the first of these kindes of birdes flew to the citie called Heliopolis with a great multitude of other birdes with her woondering at her new shape in Sesostris time after that in Amasis and Ptolemaeus raigne which of the Macedonians was the third King of Aegypt But antiquitie is darke and obscure Betwixt Ptolemaeus raigne and Tiberius there were scarse two hundred and fiftie yeeres Whereupon some thought that this was no true Phoenix nor come from the land of Arabia and that it had nothing of that which antiquitie hath attributed and confirmed to be in that kind For when they haue ended the number of their yeeres and that their ende approcheth they build their nest in their countrey and in it cast seede of generation of which a yong one doth rise whose first care is being growen to ripenes to burie the olde And that not at all aduentures but hauing taken vp a certaine waight of the stone Murrha and tried the carrieng of it a long iourney when she perceiueth her selfe able to indure and carrie such a burthen and to accomplish the voiage she lifteth vp her fathers bodie and carrieth it to the altar of the sunne and there doth burne and sacrifice it These things are vncertaine and fabulously
blamed the magistrates and Senators that they had not by publike authoritie brideled the insolencie of the people and added withall how farre greater quantitie of corne he had caused to be brought then Augustus and out of what prouinces Whereupon a decree of Senate was enacted to restraine the people according to the auncient seueritie the Consuls being no lesse forward to publish it his owne silence in the cause was not construed to be a point of ciuilitie as he looked it should be but was imputed to his pride In the end of that yeare Geminius Celsus Pompeius Gentlemen of Rome were put to death for conspiracies among which Geminius through prodigalitie and loosenes of life and a friend to Seianus was a man of nothing And Iulius Celsus a Tribune loosing the chaine he was bound with at large then winding it about and forcing himselfe a contrary way brake his owne neck But Rubrius Fabatus despairing of the Roman affaires and fleeing to the Parthians and brought back safe from the streights of Sicilie by a Centurion had keepers appointed him not able to alleage any probable causes of his long voiages yet he escaped vnpunished rather through forgetfulnes then clemencie IIII. Tiberius marrieth his neeces Vsurers accused and the inconuenience that ensued SEr. Galba and L. Sulla being Consuls Tiberius hauing a long time bethought himselfe what husbands he should prouide his neeces whose age now came on made choise of L. Cassius and M. Vinicius Vinicius kindred came out of a small towne himselfe borne at Calles but his father and grandfather were Consuls the rest of his kindred were Gentlemen he was of a milde disposition and very eloquent L. Cassius was descended of one of the common people at Rome but auncient and noble and brought vp vnder the seuere discipline of his father and oftner commended for his courtesie then industrie To him he giueth Drusilla to Vinicius Iulia both Germanicus children and writeth to the Senate touching that matter with a light commendation of the yong men Then hauing yeelded some causes of his absence but very extrauagant came to matters of greater moment and the displeasures and dislikes he had incurred for the common wealth and requested that Macro the Prouost and some few of the Tribunes and Centurions might as oft as he came to the Senate enter into the Curia with him And albeit the Senate made a decree very generall without prescribing any number or qualitie of persons he was so farre from comming to any publick counsell that he neuer came so much as to the citie coasting about it and for the most part in by-wayes and still auoiding his countrey as much as he could In the meane season a great rabble of informers rose vp against such vsurers as tooke more for consideration of their money then they might by the law made by Caesar the Dictator concerning the manner of lending and holding possession within Italie long neglected heretofore because the publicke good is lesse set by then priuate commoditie Vsury in very deede hath beene an old disease in the citie and often a cause of seditions and discords and for that cause hath been restrained in auncient and lesse corrupted times For first it was ordained by the law of the twelue tables that no man should take aboue one in the hundred when as before that time it was as pleased the monied men After that by a Tribunitian law it was brought vnto halfe one in the hundred and in the end vsury was wholy forbidden and many lawes made by the people to cut off all fraud which often repressed reuiued againe by strange sleights and deuises But then Gracchus being Pretor vnto whom the examining of that question fell constrained by the multitude of such as were indangered thereby propounded the matter before the Lords of the Senate who daunted thereat for there was not one of them free from that fault craued respite of the Prince he graunted them a yeere and sixe moneths within which time euery man according to the prescript of law should settle his estate and make vp his domesticall accompts Hereupon euery man calling in his debts on a sudden ensued a great want scarcitie of money and by reason so many were condemned and their goods sold all the money ready coined wēt either to the princes or publick treasury Besides this the Senat ordained that two parts of the vsurie money should be bestowed vpō lands in Italie but the creditors disliked that and vrged the paiment of the whole as a matter impayring the credit of the parties conuented to goe from their word So at the first there was great running hither and thither and entreaties then they flocked about the Pretors tribunall and those things which were founde for a remedie as selling and buying of such mens goods turned to a contrarie effect bicause the Vsurers had hoorded vp all their money to buie land And bicause the multitude of sellers was cause that the value of landes was rated at a verie lowe and vile price how much the more a man was indebted the loather he was to sell And manie were thrust out of all they had and the decaie of their wealth carried their credit and fame headlong after vntill Tiberius relieued them by putting a hundred million sesterces in bancke and lent it for three yeeres space without consideration or interest if the debtor could giue securitie to the people of Rome in landes double the value of the debt By that meanes their credit was restored and other particular creditors by little and little found neither was the buying of landes practised according to the forme of the decree of Senat hotly at the beginning pursued as almost all such things are but in the ende carelesly neglected V. C. Caesar marieth Claudia daughter vnto M. Silanus what proofe Tiberius made of Trasullus skill AFter that the olde feares returne againe Considius Proculus being accused of treason who celebrating his birth day not doubting any thing was drawen to the Curia and at the same time condemned and put to death and his sister Sancia banished Q. Pomponius being accuser who being of an vnquiet and busie disposition pretended he had done this and that and all to currie fauour with the Prince thereby to steed his brother Pomponius Secundus who was then in danger Banishment is likewise decreed against Pompeia Macrina whose husband and father in law the one of Argos and the other of Lacedaemon men of marke and reputation among the Achaeans Caesar had alreadie afflicted and brought to ruine Her father likewise a famous gentleman of Rome and her brother who had beene Pretor seeing that their condemnation was at hand slewe themselues It was imputed vnto them for a fault that Gn. Magnus made reckoning as of a speciall friend of Theophanes Mytilenaeus their great grandfather and that the Grecian flatterie after his death had giuen him diuine honour After these Sext. Marius the richest man of all Spaine was accused
his age He was Neroes sonne and on both sides extracted frō the Claudian familie although his mother went by adoption into the Liuian familie and after that into the Iulian. He had doubtfull fortunes from his first infancie for being a banished man he followed his father who was proscribed and being brought into Augustus house as his son in law was greatly maligned al the time that Marcellus and Agrippa and afterward Caius Lucius Caesar liued Yea his brother Drusus was better beloued then he of the citizens but after he had married Iulia his slipperie estate was tied to two great inconueniences which was either to indure the incontinencie of his wife or go from her After that returning from Rhodes he liued twelue yeeres in the Princes house which had no children then possessed the Empire almost 23. yeeres He changed his manners diuersly according to the times Whilest he was a priuat man he was of good life and credite and had commendations vnder Augustus He was close and craftie in counterfeiting vertues whilest Germanicus and Drusus liued and whilest his mother liued he kept a meane somtimes good and somtimes bad For crueltie he was infamous but in lasciuious lusts as long as he loued or feared Seianus secret In the end he burst into all wickednes dishonestie and reproch after that hauing cast away shame and feare he gouerned himselfe wholy according vnto his owne disposition and nature THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Asiaticus and Poppaea * The beginning of this Booke is wanting FOr he beleeued that Valerius Asiaticus who had beene twise Consull had in times past committed adultery with Poppaea withall greedily gaped after those gardens which he bought of Lucullus and beawtified and trimmed most stately Suilius was suborned to accuse them both Sosibius Germanicus bringer vp was ioyned with him who vnder colour of friendship counselleth Claudius to beware of such as were strong and rich as men dangerous vnto the state and that Asiaticus the principall author of murdering Caesar feared not to auouch it in a full assemblie of the people of Rome and challenge the glory of the fact vnto himselfe He was famous in the citie for it and a rumor spread throughout the prouince that he prepared a voyage toward Germanicus armie because that being borne at Vienna and strengthened with strong and great kindred he thought it an easie matter to stirre vp his countrey men But Claudius making no farther enquirie sent Crispinus the captaine of the gard with a band of readie souldiers as though it had bene to suppresse a warre who finding him at Baias layd yrons vpon him and drew him to the citie where he was not licensed to be heard of the Senate but in the Emperours chamber in the presence of Messallina There Suilius accused him that he had corrupted the souldiers and wonne them by money and loose life to all wickednes Then charged him with adultery with Poppaea and vnnaturall dishonestie of bodie At that although he were commaunded to silence he burst forth and sayd O Suilius aske thy children and they will confesse me to be a man And entering into his defence Claudius being wonderfully moued drew teares likewise from Messallinaes eyes who going out of the chamber to wipe them giueth Vitellius warning not to suffer the partie arraigned to escape She maketh haste to ouerthrow Poppaea sending some through the terror of prison to perswade her to kill her selfe Caesar being so ignorant therof that a few dayes after he asked her husband Scipio as he sate at table with him why he had sate downe without his wife who made him answere that she was dead But whilest Claudius consulted of Asiaticus deliuerance Vitellius with teares declaring how long time their friendship had continued and how they two did reuerence honor Antonia the Princes mother then running ouer briefely his seruices towards the common wealth and that so lately done in Britannia and what else might seeme to moue compassion left it in the end to his owne choise what death he would choose Claudius yeelding him the like clemencie with like words After this some perswading him that to die with famine and abstinence was an easie death he answered that he reiected such fauour and therefore hauing done those exercises he was vsually wont to do washed his body and fed daintily saying that it had bene a more commendable death to haue died by Tiberius slienes and cunning or C. Caesars violence then now by the treachery of a woman and Vitellius vncleane mouth cut his vaines and hauing first seene the fire wherein his bodie was to be burned commaunded it to be remoued to another place least the thick tuffed trees should be marred with the smoke so small reckoning did he make of death II. Certaine Romaines accused for a dreame A treatise of aduocates AFter this the Lords of the Senate were called together and Suilius goeth on and accuseth certaine noble and renowned gentlemen of Rome surnamed Petra The cause of their death was because they had lent their house vnto Mnester and Poppaea when they had any cause of conference But there was a dreame also obiected against one of them which was that he dreamed he had seene Claudius crowned with a crowne of eares of corne and the eares turned backwards interpreting that vision to signifie a dearth of corne Some report it to haue beene a garlande of vine braunches with white leaues which he sawe in his dreame and interpreted it to foretell that the death of the Prince shoulde follow at the end of Autumne Whatsoeuer the dreame was it is not to be doubted but that he and his brother were both put to death Crispinus had giuen him by decree of Senate fifteen hundred thousand sesterces and ornaments of the Pretor Vitellius added ten hundred thousand sesterces to be giuen to Sosibius bicause he had beene Britannicus Schoole-master and Claudius Counseller Scipio being demanded his opinion said Seeing I do thinke of Popaeus faults that which all you do thinke perswade your selues that I do say that which all you do say which was an excellent moderation and mean shewing the loue he bare hir as his wife and necessitie of giuing sentence being a Senator Suilius neuer ceased from accusations but prosecuted them with al crueltie and many followed his audacity for the Prince drawing vnto himselfe all the duties of lawes and magistrates opened the way to robberie Neither was there any marchandise more publikely bought and solde then the perfidiousnes of aduocates insomuch that Samius a woorthy gentelman of Rome hauing giuen Suilius fowre hundred thousand sesterces to pleade his cause and after perceiuing his preuarication and collusion ran vpon his sword in Suilius owne house Then C. Silius Consull elect of whose authoritie and fall I will speake in conuenient time beginning to speake the rest of the Senators rose vp and demanded earnestly that the lawe Cincia might be set
bondmen L. Varius somtimes Consull was restored to his dignitie remoued before for couetous dealing and extortion And Pomponia Graecina a noble woman and wife to Plautius who returned with a small triumph out of Britannia and accused of strange superstition was remitted to the iudgement of her husband and he according to the auncient custome in the presence of her neerest kindred heard her cause of life and death and pronounced her innocent This Pomponia liued long and in continuall sorrow for after that Iulia Drusus daughter was murdered by Messallinaes trecherie she was not seene for forty yeers but in mourning apparel and very sad doleful Which she might lawfully do whilest Claudius raigned afterward turned to her glory Many citizens were accused that yeere of which number P Celer being one at the information of the inhabitants of Asia because Caesar could not acquit him he prolonged his cause till he died of age For Celer as I haue alreadie sayd hauing besturred himselfe in the murdering of Silanus the Proconsull cloaked all other villanies vnder the greatnes of that lewd action The Cilicians accused Cossutianus Capito criminally noted and discredited with many vices thinking he had had the same priuilege of vsing insolent behauiour in the prouince as he had done in the citie But turmoiled and molested with an ouerthwart accusation in the end letting fall his defence was condemned of extorsion Great suings preuailed so much for Eprius Marcellus of whom the Lycians demaunded restitution that some of the accusers were banished as though they had indangered an innocent man VIII A liberalitie of Nero towards certaine decaied gentlemen The warre of Armenia renewed Tiridates departeth the countrey WHen Nero was the third time Consull Valerius Messalla entered the same office whose great grandfather Coruinus an orator some old men remember to haue beene companion in office with Augustus of famous memorie Neroes great grandfathers father But the honor of this noble familie was bettered by giuing Messalla by yeare fiue hundred thousand sesterces to relieue his harmelesse pouertie To Aurelius Cotta likewise and Haterius Antoninus the Prince graunted that an annuall sum of money should be giuen although they had wasted riotously the wealth their ancestors had left them In the beginning of that yeere the warre which was drawne at length with soft and milde beginnings vntill then betweene the Parthians and the Romans for obtaining of Armenia was nowe hotly pursued because Vologeses would neither suffer his brother Tiridates to be depriued of the kingdome in which he had inuested him nor that he should enioy it as a gift from another Lord and Corbulo thought it woorthie of the greatnes of the people of Rome to recouer that which by Lucullus and Pompey had beene once gotten The Armenians being doubtfull and faithfull to neither side inuited both yet by the site of their countrey and conformitie of conditions being more neere vnto the Parthians and intermingled with them by mariages and not knowing what libertie was inclined rather to that seruitude But Corbulo had more adoe with the slothfulnes of the souldiers then perfidiousnes of the enimies for the legions remoued from Syria by a long peace grown lazie and idle could hardly endure the labor and paines of the Roman discipline Certaine it was there were old souldiers in that campe which had neuer kept watch nor ward a rampire or trench they gazed at as at a new and strange deuise without head-peeces without curasses neate and fine hunting after gaine hauing spent all their seruice in townes Whereupon the olde and feeble being dismissed he desired a supplie which was had out of Galatia and Cappadocia And to them was added a legion out of Germanie with wings of horsemen and all the armie kept in campe although the winter were so hard and the earth so couered with yce that they could not pitch their tents vnlesse they had first digged the ground Manie of their limmes grew starcke with extremitie of cold and many died in keeping the watch And there was a souldier noted carriyng a faggot whose hands were so stiffe frozen that sticking to his burden they fell from him as though they had beene cut from his armes Corbulo slightly apparailed bare headed was with them when they marched when they laboured praised the stout comforted the feeble and gaue example vnto them all Then bicause many refusing to endure the hardnes of the season such rigor of discipline forsooke him he sought a redresse by seueritie for he did not pardon the first and second fault as in other armies but he suffered death presently who forsooke his ensigne which by experience proued more profitable then clemencie For fewer forsooke that campe then where there was much mercie shewen In the meane season Corbulo hauing kept the legions in campe vntill the spring and disposed the aydcohorts in conuenient places charged them not to giue the onset The charge of the garrisons he committed to Pactius Ophitus once Captaine of the first ensigne who although he wrote to Corbulo that the Barbarians were carelesse and disordered and a fit occasion offered of atchieuing some exploite yet he was commaunded to keepe within his garrison and expect greater power But breaking his commandement when he saw a few troupes of horsemen issue out of a castle hard by and vnskilfully demaund battell he encountered the enimie and went away with the losse And those which should haue seconded them terrified with that discomfiture fled as fast as they could euerie man to his hold which to Corbulo was an exceeding griefe Who rebuking Pactius and the Captaines and the souldiers commaunded them all to pitch their tents out of the campe and there kept them in that disgrace vntil they were deliuered by the intercession sute of the whole armie But Tiridates besides his own followers succoured by his brother Vologeses not now by stelth but with open warre molesteth Armenia spoiling all such he thought faithfull to vs and if any forces were brought against him he deluded them by flying hither and thither terrifiyng more by fame then fight Corbulo therefore seeking occasion to ioyne battell but in vaine and constrained to make war now in one place now in another as the enimy did seuered his forces to the end that the Lieutenants Captaines might inuade diuers places at once Withall he aduertised King Antiochus to set on the gouernment next adioyning to him For Pharasmanes his sonne Rhadamistus being slaine as a traitor towardes him to testifie his loyaltie towards vs shewed more willingly his inueterate hatred against the Armenians Then the Isichians a nation neuer before confederate with vs being nowe brought to our side inuaded the hardest passages of Armenia whereby all Tiridates deseignments were crossed He sent Embassadors to expostulate in his owne and the Parthians name Why hauing of late giuen hostages and renewed amitie which opened the way to new benefites he should be driuen from the auncient possession of Armenia therefore
forbearing from rest turned all the waters which rose in the mountaines into the vnder grounds whereupon the plaine being drownd and so much of the worke ouerthrowne as they had cast vp the Romaine souldier was put to a double labour XIIII The Romans escape a great danger through the good conduct of Caecina CAEcina had then in qualitie of a soldier of commander fortie yeere receiued pay and therefore being acquainted as well with the changeable euents of fortune as prosperous successes fell nothing at all in courage but pondering in his minde what might follow found nothing more expedient then to inclose the enimie in the wood vntill the wounded and the cariages were gotten before For betwixt the hils and the marshes there stretched out a plaine capable of a small armie The legions were so placed that the fift shoulde be in the right flancke the one and twentieth in the left the first to lead and the twentieth to defende if they were pursued The night was vnquiet for diuers respects the barbarous enimie in feasting and banketting songs of ioie and hideous outcries filled the valleies and woods which redoubled the sounde againe The Romans had small fires broken voices laie neere the trenches went from tent to tent rather disquieted and not able to sleepe then watchfull The generall had that night a heauie dreame which droue him into a feare for he thought that he had seene Quinctilius Varus rising out of those bogs embrued all in bloud calling him by name and stretching out his hand towards him which he thrust backe refusing to follow At daie breaking the legions appointed for the flankes either for feare or contempt abandoned their standings and seased on the fielde adioining beyond the marshes Arminius although hee might safely haue assaulted them yet forbare a time But he no sooner perceiued their bag and baggage to sticke in the mire and ditches and the souldiers troubled about it disbanded and out of order and the ensignes confusedly disordered as it falleth out in such times euery man busie to helpe himselfe and deafe to harken what was commanded but he encharged the Germaines to breake in crieng aloud Behold Varus and the legions once againe vanquished by the same destinie Hauing thus saide accompanied with a choise band of horsemen breaketh the rankes of the Romans and especially woundeth their horses which slipping by reason of their owne bloud and moisture of the bogs ouerthrowing their masters either trode vnderfeete or scattered all they met Much a doo they had about the ensignes which they could neither beare vp the shot came so thicke nor pitch on the ground it was so mirie Whilest Caecina maintaineth battell his horse was killed vnder him from which being fallen he had been taken by the enimie if the first legion had not opposed herselfe The greedines of the enimie was some helpe vnto them being more thirstie of pillage then bloud whereby the legions had leisure towards the euening to win the open firme land And yet their miseries did not thus end They had defences to make and stuffe wherewithall to seeke their tooles to cast vp earth or cut turfes were almost all lost tentes they had none to couer them nor medicaments to heale the wounded and diuiding their meate partly stained with bloud or beraied with dirt they bewailed that vnfortunate darknes and that onely daie left for so many thousands to liue By meere chance a horse brake loose in the campe and praunsing vp and downe affrighted with noise ouerthrew all he met in his waie which stroake such a feare and terror in the souldiers harts that thinking the Germans had broken vpon them ran all to the gates of the campe and especially to the Decumana which was farthest from the enimie and safest to flee awaie Caecina being assured that it was but a vaine feare yet not being able either by his authoritie entreatie or forcible meanes to staie their fleeing cast himselfe a crosse the gate and so mooued them to pitie stopping the passage bicause they would not tread on their captaines bodie The Tribunes and Centurions shewed them withall that their seare was false and without cause Then assembling them in the Principia and commanding silence admonished them of the time and necessitie they stoode in That their safetie onely consisted in their weapons which yet they were to moderate by discretion keeping still within their trench vntill the enimie with hope to breake vpon them should drawe neere and that then they shoulde rush out on euerie side and so get to the riuer of Rhene Whereas if they should flie they should passe through more woods finde deeper bogs and the enimie more cruell then euer but by conquering they shoulde purchase glorie and renowme putting them in mind of those things which were esteemed deere at home and of credit in campe not once mentioning their disgraces and aduersities This done he assigned to the most couragious a horse beginning with his owne then with the Tribunes and Centurions not respecting calling or quality to the end that they should first inuade the enimie and the footemen follow The Germains what with hope what with greedines of praie what with disgreeing opinions of captaines were as much disquieted as the Romaines Arminius thought it best to suffer them come out of their fort and set on them in the bogs and marshes but Inguiomerus aduise though more cruell was most pleasing to the barbarians which was that they should besiege the campe perswading that by that means the assault would be easier more captiues taken and the bootie entire and vntouched Assoone then as it was day they beate down the trenches filled them vp with hurdles grappled vp to the toppe of the trench fewe souldiers resisting them and those all stocke still in amaze The cohorts within had the alarum giuen the cornets and trumpets sounded and with a great clamour sallied out couragiouslie and hemmed the enimie in casting in their teeth that heere there were neither woods nor quagmiers but the places and the gods indifferent to both The enimies imagining it but an easie conquest and that there were but a fewe to resist and those but halfe armed hearing the sound of the trumpets and seeing the glittering of the armour which seemed so much the greater by how much the lesse they were esteemed on a sudden were beaten downe and slaine as men in prosperitie greedy and in aduersitie vncircumspect Arminius and Inguiomerus fled th'one not hurt and the other greeuously wounded The common sort were slaine as long as the daie and anger lasted the legions returned at night to their forte And although there were more wounded then the day before and no lesse want of victuales yet with the victorie they thought they had recouered strength courage health and all other necessaries XV. The danger the legions vvere in vnder Vitellius Tiberius renevveth the lavv of treason IT was noised abroad in the meane season that the legions were besieged and that the
Ancona went by Picenum and after by the Flaminian way ouertooke the legion which was brought from Pannony to Rome to lye in garrison in Affricke being common in euery mans mouth how in the campe and in the way he did often shew himselfe to the souldiers From Narnia whether it were to auoide suspition or because such as stand in feare are irresolute in their determinations being conueyed by Nare and anon after by Tiber he increased the euill will of the people towards him because he landed neere the Caesars tombe on a day when the shore was full of people many followers after him and Plancina accompanied with a traine of women both pleasant and cheerefull in countenance Among other causes of enuie and hart-burning Pisoes house was one looking on the market place trimmed to feast and banket in where nothing could be hidden The next day Fulcinius Trio accused Piso before the Consuls Vitellius and Veranius and the rest which had followed Germanicus alleaged that that was their office and that Trio had no part therein and that as witnesses and openers of the cause and not as accusers they were to report that which Germanicus had giuen them in charge Trio relinquishing the accusation obtained licence to accuse his former life and the Prince intreated to receiue the hearing of the cause to himselfe which the defendant refused not as misdoubting the Senators and peoples good will and contrary being well assured that Tiberius regarded not rumors but would leane to his mothers conscience and that the truth or things beleeued and wrested to the worst might easilier be discerned by one iudge whereas hatred and enuie beare the sway where there are many Tiberius was not ignorant how waightie a cause he vndertooke and how diuersly he was censured and therefore calling some of his familiar friends about him hearing the menaces of the accusers then the request of the partie arraigned referred the whole cause to the Senate In the meane season Drusus returning from Illyrium although the Senators had decreed that for receiuing of Maroboduus and exploits done the sommer past he should enter the citie ouant or with a small triumph yet deferring that honor for the time he entered priuately After that Piso had demauded T. Arruntius Fulcinius Asinius Gallus Aeserninus Marcellus Sext. Pompeius for his aduocates and all of them alleaging diuers excuses M. Lepidus L. Piso and Liueneius Regulus vndertooke his defence the whole citie being attentiue to know how Germanicus friends would stick vnto him what hope the partie arraigned had whether Tiberius were able to maister his affections or would shew himselfe All these things were greedily expected of the people neuer shewing themselues more attentiue nor at any time licencing themselues a more secret speech of the Prince or suspicious silence The day that the Senat met Caesar made a premeditate oration tempered in this sort saying That Piso had beene his fathers Lieutenant and friend and giuen by him to Germanicus as a coadiutor by the authoritie of the Senate in the administration of the affaires of the East but whether he had there exasperated the yong Prince through disobedience and contention and whether he had shewed himselfe glad of his death or villanously had made him away that they should iudge of that with vpright consciences For if being Lieutenant he hath gone beyond the bounds of his office and shaken off his dutie to his lord generall and reioysed in his death and my griefe I will hate him and estrange him from my house and reuenge not the Princes but priuat grudges If any villanous deede be detected in him worthie of reuenge euen in the death of any priuat person affoord your selues and Germanicus children and vs his father reasonable and iust comfort And examine also whether seditiously and mutinously Piso hath stirred vp the armie whether by ambition he hath sought to win the fauour of the souldiers whether he returned into the prouince by force of armes or whether these things be false and made greater then they are by the accusers with whose ouergreat affection I haue iust cause to be offended For to what purpose should his body be shewen naked be handled of the common people and bruted abroade among strangers as though he had beene empoisoned if these things be yet vncertaine and are to be inquired of I lament truely and am greeued for my sonne and alwaies shall But I hinder not the defendant to alleage all he can for the purgation of his innocencie or if Germanicus had any fault woorthie of reprehension And I beseech you not to take the crimes as already prooued bicause the cause is ioined with my sorrow If either his neernes in bloud or his owne faithfulnes hath yeelded him anie to defende his cause helpe him as much as in you lieth either by your eloquence or care in this his extremitie To the same labour and constancie I exhort the accusers Germanicus this onely priuiledge we will affoord aboue the lawes that his death shall be rather inquired of in the Curia then in the Forum before the Senat then other Iudges Let all the rest be debated with like modestie nothing regarding Drusus teares or my griefe or if anie slaunders be forged against me After that the accusers had two daies giuen them to bring in their accusations after sixe daies were past the defandāt had three more to iustifie himselfe Then Fulcinius began with stale and friuolous matters as that he had gouerned Spaine ambitiously and couetously Whereof being conuicted he could not be interessed if he could purge himselfe of the later crimes nor if he could defend himselfe from that accusation yet was he not acquitted if greater matters were laide to his charge After him Seruaeus and Veranius and Vitellius with like affection but Vitellius with greater eloquence obiected that Piso for hatred to Germanicus and desire of innouation had so farre corrupted the common soldier with licentiousnes and iniuries towards the confederates that of the lewdest sort he was called the father of the legions Further that he had vsed crueltie against euery good man and especially against Germanicus followers friends in the end that he had killed him with poison and inchantments Then that he and Plancina vsed wicked ceremonies and sacrifices that he had borne armes against the common-wealth that he woulde neuer haue appeared in iudgement had he not been ouercome in battell In manie things his defence was weake for he coulde not denie but that he had woone the soldier by ambition or that he had not exposed the prouince as a praie to the lewdest sort nor the iniurious speeches against the generall Onely he seemed to haue purged himselfe of the empoisoning which indeed the accusers did not sufficiently prooue accusing him to haue empoisoned Germanicus meate with his hand which was infected as he sate aboue him at a banquet For it seemed absurd that he should dare so bold an attempt amongst other mens seruants
some and Tiberius at that time to Blaesus That yeere died two notable men Asinius Salonius nephew to M. Agrippa and Pollio Asinius and brother to Drusus and destined to be Caesars neeces husband and Capito Ateius of whom we haue spoken before by the studies of the ciuill lawes risen to the highest dignitie in the citie but his grandfather Sullanus was but a Centurion and his father Pretor Augustus hastened the Consulship vpon him that by the dignitie of that office he might be preferred before Labeo Antistius skilfull in the same studie for that age had at once two ornaments of peace But Labeo was more desirous of incorrupted libertie and therefore held in greater estimation and Capitoes pleasing humor better accepted of Princes To him the iniurie of not being higher than a Pretor was a commendation to this because he gate the Consulship grew of enuie hatred And Iunia whose vncle was Cato and was C. Cassius wife and M. Brutus sister died threescore and fower yeeres after the Philippensen warre Her Testament was much talked of among the people bicause that being verie wealthie when she had named all the peeres and noblemen and bestowed some legacie vpon them she omitted Caesar which he tooke in good part not hindering but that her funerals should be solemnised with an oration before the people assembled with all other ceremonies The images of twentie noble houses were caried before her and the names of the Manlians the Quinctians and others of like nobilitie But Cassius and Brutus did shine aboue the rest bicause their images were not seene THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Seianus beginning his qualities and by what meanes he aspired to the Empire CAsinius and C. Antistius being Consuls Tiberius had nine yeeres managed the affaires and aduanced his house to a flourishing estate for the death of Germanicus he reckoned amongst his prosperities when as fortune began on a sudden to worke alteration in him waxing cruell or giuing authoritie to such as were The beginning proceeded from AElius Seianus Captaine of the guarde of whose power and authoritie I haue before spoken I will now lay downe his beginning and qualities and by what sinister meanes he went about to clime to the soueraignty He was borne at Vulsinium sonne of Seius Strabo gentleman of Rome and in his first youth followed C. Caesar Augustus nephew not without a rumor that for money he had suffered his bodie to be abused by Apicius a rich man and a prodigall Then by sundrie sleights he had so wrought Tiberius that being close and secret towards others yet to himselfe had made him open and vncircumspect Not so much by his cunning and fraude for such deuises were his owne ouerthrow as by the anger of the gods against the state of Rome by whose ruine and rising it fell alike He was of body able to endure labour of mind bold in his owne actions secret an informer against others as proud as flattering in shew modest but inwardly greedie of aspiring for which cause he vsed sometime largesse and lauishing but more oftner industrie and diligence meanes dangerous alike when they are dissemblingly vsed to win a kingdome His forces which at the first were small he augmented by reducing the cohorts into one campe which before were scattered abroade in the citie that they might receiue their charge togither and by their number strength and seeing one another breed a confidence to themselues and a feare to others He pretended that the souldier liuing scattered grew riotous and if any sudden attempt should be enterprised their strength would be greater vnited then separated and that they would liue more seuerely if their garrison were lodged far from the wanton allurements of the citie As soone as his trenches were finished he began to creepe into the souldiers mindes by going vnto them and calling them by their names withall made choise himselfe of Centurions the Tribunes Neither did he abstaine from ambitiously courting the Senators aduauncing his followers with honours and rule of Prouinces Tiberius being so facile and prone to allow of his dooings that not onely in priuat speeches but in Senat also and before the people extolled him as an associat of his labours and suffered his image to be set in the Theaters and publike places of assemblies and ensignes of the legions But Caesars house being full a yoong sonne nephewes of full age hindered his plots And bicause it was not safe making away of so many at once by violence his trecherie required time to accomplish his wickednes He resolued then to vse the couertest way and begin with Drusus against whom through fresh quarrels he was greatly incensed For Drusus being impatient of a concurrent and therefore easily mooued a contention rising by chance betweene them bent his fist to strike Seianus and he his to saue himselfe Drusus dasht him on the mouth Hereupon leauing nothing vntried he thought it the readiest way to addresse himselfe to Liuia Drusus wife She was Germanicus sister in her youth of a hard fauour but afterward excelled in beautie Her Seianus counterfeiting an ardent and burning loue enticed to adulterie and after he had obtained the first breach of honestie for a woman hauing once lost her chastitie what will she refuse to do put her in hope of mariage and fellowship in the Empire and perswadeth her to kill her husband Thus she who was Augustus neece and Tiberius daughter in law and had children by Drusus defiled herselfe her auncestors and posteritie with adulterie by a meane man leauing an honest and present estate for the hope of a wicked and vncertaine Eudemus a friend and Phisition of Liuias was made priuie to these plots who vnder colour of his arte was often vsed in secret conferences He putteth away Apicata his wife by whom he had three children least his lemmon should haue her in iealousie But the greatnes of the enterprise droue them into a feare bred prolongings and sometimes diuers sorts of counsels In the meane space in the beginning of the yeere Drusus one of Germanicus children was come to mans estate and those things renewed vpon him which the Senat had ordained for Nero his brother Tiberius made an oration tending to the great commendation of his sonne bicause he tendered his brothers children with a fatherly affection For Drusus although it be a hard matter for rule and concord to dwell together shewed himselfe indifferent to the yoong men or at the least was not an enimie to them II. A suruey of the legions and souldiers Drusus poisoned by Seianus TIberius old but fained determination of going to the Prouinces is put on foote againe pretending that there were a great number of old souldiers and that the armies were to be supplied with a new muster For voluntarie men now wanted or if there were anie they were not of so vertuous and modest a cariage bicause that for the most part they are needie and vagrant
which was the first time that Tiberius shewed himselfe greedie of other mens money Sosia was driuen into banishment by Asinius Gallus Consull who also aduised that part of the goods should be confiscate part left vnto his children But Lepidus contrarily that the fourth part of the goods should be giuen to the informers according to the law and the residue to his children I finde that this Lepidus was in those dayes a graue and wise man who altered into the better many things which others by cruell flatterie had ordained which he did with such moderation that he kept in with Caesar in no lesse fauour then authoritie Which causeth me to doubt whether it happen as in other things by fatall destinie and natiuitie that Princes are fauorably enclined to some and to others hardly bent or whether anything consist in our counsels to single out a course free from ambition and danger betweene selfewill stubbornes and filthy flattery But Messallinus Cotta being no lesse nobly descended differing from Lepidus was of opinion that by decree of Senat it should be ordained that gouernors of prouinces though faultles themselues yet should be punished for their wiues crimes no lesse then for their owne VI. Calphurnius Piso accused and condemned The last vvarre vvith Tacfarinas and his death AFter this they debated Calphurnius Pisos case a noble man and of a fierce courage He as I haue said seeing what credit pickthanks were in openly protested in Senate that he woulde depart the citie and little regarding the authoritie of Augusta was so bolde as to sommon Vrgulania out of the princes house which Tiberius for the present seemed not to take in euill part But bearing it in minde although the heate of displeasure was cooled yet he forgat it not Granius also accused Piso of secret speeches vsed against the maiestie of the emperour adding that he had poison in his house and that he entered the Senate house with a weapon This of the weapon was past ouer as not credible but for other things aggreuated against him he was arrained but not conuicted bicause he was preuented by death Afterward Cassius Seuerus cause was handeled a banished man of base parentage and lewde life but a great Orator Who had raised so many enimies against him that by the iudgement of the Senate sworne he was confined to Creet where following the like practises drew on his head old and new hatred and at last being depriued of all his goods and banished spent the rest of his life in the Ilande Seriphium About the same time Plautius Siluanus Pretor the cause why not knowen threwe his wife Apronia downe headlong from a high place And being brought before Caesar by L. Apronius his father in lawe as a man troubled in minde answered as though she had killed hir-selfe when he was a sleepe and wholy ignorant of the matter Tiberius goeth foorthwith to his house and searcheth the chamber where he perceiued by the print of hir feete tokens of hir striuing against him and the thrusting of hir foreward which he reported to the Senate And Iudges appointed to examine the fact Vrgulania Siluanus grandmother sent hir nephewe a poniard to dispatch himselfe which some thought to haue beene done by the princes counsell by reason of the league of friendship betwixt Augusta and Vrgulania Siluanus hauing tried in vaine to kill himselfe with the poniard in the end caused his vaines to be cut Not long after Numantina his first wife accused by charms and witchcrafts to haue put hir husband out of his wits found innocent is quit by the prince That yeare the people of Rome was deliuered of a long warre against Tacfarinas the Numidian For the captaines which till then had beene sent against him hauing obtained the markes of triumph sought no further how to extinguish the enimie For there were now three images in the citie crowned with baies and Tacfarinas still continued spoiling and forraging Affrica and augmented his forces by the aide of the Moores which vnder Ptolemy Iubaes sonne a carelesse youth changed their seruile state and gouerment of freed men into warre The king of the Garamantes was a receiuer and partaker of his booties and pillages not that hee marched with an armie but onely by sending light horsemen which a farre off were thought to be more then indeed they were And in the prouince it selfe some for need and som of a turbulent humor ioined with him bicause Caesar considering how well Blaesus had bestirred himselfe called home the ninth legion as though there had beene no enimies left at all in Affrica And Dolabella Proconsull for that yeere durst not staie them fearing more the commandement of the prince then the incertaintie and danger of the warre Vpon this Tacfarinas gaue it out that the Romans had their hands full were distracted with other nations and therefore purposed by little and little to retire out of Affrike And then that the rest might easilie bee ouercome if all which preferred libertie before seruitude woulde ioine and couragiously bend their forces against them and gathering more strength encampeth before Thubuscum and laieth siege to it But Dolabella drawing all the forces hee could make into one partly the name of the Romans striking a terror into their harts partly bicause the Numidian is not able to indure the force of the footemen at the first encounter leuied the siege fortified the most conuenient places and withall beheaded the chiefest of the Musulani which began to reuolt In the end taught by experience of so many battels that this fleeting enimie was not to be pursued with a maine campe Dolabella sent for King Ptolemy with his countriemen and diuided his forces into fower companies vnder the charge of seuerall Lieutenants and Tribunes The out-riders and forragers were conducted by certaine chosen Moores himselfe at hand to giue direction to all Not long after tydings came that Tacfarinas had encamped and erected cabins at an old ruinous fort which himselfe had once burnt called Auzea trusting to the place being inuironed with mightie great woods Then the light horsemen and wings not knowing whither were lead away withall speed And at the dawning of the day with the sound of trumpets and a dreadfull noise set on the enimies halfe sleeping halfe waking their horses vnreadie or dispersed abroad at pasture The Romans footemen were close ranked the troupes of horsemen in good order all things in a readines for battell The enimie on the other side in all things vnprouided had neither weapons order nor counsell among them but were haled taken and slaine like beasts And euerie souldier irked with the remembrance of his labours and how oft desirous to cope with the enimie he had beene deluded fild himselfe with reuenge and blood Aduertisement was brought from one companie to another to pursue Tacfarinas well knowen to them all and that there would be no ende of that warre if the Captaine were not slaine But he with a chosen
eies whom thou dost inrich whom thou dost aduance to honours who haue greatest power of hurting or helping which Seianus to haue had no man will denie The Princes hidden thoughts or if he go about any secret drift it is not lawfull to sound and dangerous neither shalt thou in the end reach vnto them Thinke not onely Lords of the Senat of Seianus last day but of sixteene yeeres in which we did likewise fawne vpon and court Satrius and Pomponius and to be knowen to his freed men and partners was reckoned as a high fauour What then Shall this defence be generall and not distinguished but a confusion made of times past and his later actions No but let it by iust bounds and termes be diuided Let the treasons against the common-wealth the intentions of murdering the Emperour be punished but as for the friendship duties pleasures and good turnes the same ende shall discharge and quite thee O Caesar and vs. The constancie of his oration one being found to deliuer that which they all thought in their mindes preuailed so much that his accusers by ripping vp their old faults were punished either with exile or death III. The occasion of making a Prefect at Rome an examen of some of the Sibyls bookes AFter that Tiberius sent letters against Sext. Vestilius sometime Pretor and welbeloued of Drusus his brother chosen to be one of his garde The cause of displeasure against Vestilius was either bicause he had composed certaine writings against Caesars vncleane life or falsly fathered vpon him gaue credit to the reporters and therupon being banished the Princes court familiarity hauing first gone about with his owne olde feeble hand to slaie himselfe bound vp his vaines and in the meane space hauing entreated the Princes fauour and receiued arigorous answere did at last open them Then at once were accused of treason Annius Pollio Appius Silanus Scaurus Mamercus Sabinus Caluisius Vicinianus also brought in with his father for companie all of them well descended and some in authoritie The Lords of the Senat quaked for feare for how manie was there which was not either allied or a friend of one of those noble men But Celsus Tribune of the citie-cohort and then an informer deliuered Appius and Caluisius from danger Caesar deferred Pollioes Vicinianus Scaurus cause that himselfe might haue the hearing of it with the Senators hauing giuen out alreadie tokens of heauie displeasure against Scaurus Not so much as women but were partakers of danger and if not attainted for attempting to aspire to the Empire yet brought in question for their teares and Vitia an old woman Fusius Geminus mother was put to death bicause she bewailed the death of her sonne These things were done in Senat. And where the Prince was the like was practised Vescularius Atticus and Iulius Marinus two of his most familiar friends which accompanied him to Rhodes and at Capreas neuer departed from him were put to death Vescularius was the Messenger to and fro when the treacherie was wrought against Libo Marinus was of Seianus counsell when he put Curtius Atticus to death most men being glad to see them taken in the snare they laid for others About the same time L. Piso high Priest died a naturall death which was a rare matter in those times in a man of so great nobilitie He neuer of himselfe propounded any matter which smelled of flatterie or base minds if he were forced thereto he vsed great moderation in doing it His father as I haue alreadie saide had beene Censor he liued to the age of fowerscore hauing in Thrace deserued the triumphall ornaments But his greatest credit rose in that that being newly created Prouost of the citie he did gouerne exceeding moderately all the time of his continuall rule irkesome through vnwontednes of obedience For in times past when the Kings or Consuls went out of the citie least she should be left without gouernment there was one chosen for a time able to giue euery man right prouide for all sudden accidents And it is said that Dentres Romulius had the same charge giuen him by Romulus after that Numa Marcius by Tullus Hostilius and Spurius Lucretius by Tarquinius Superbus Then that the Consuls had the charge of committing this office and a shadow of it continueth vnto this day as oft as the Latine feasts are folemnised one is appointed ouer the rest to exercise the roome of a Consull But Augustus in the time of ciuill warres made Cilnius Maecenas a gentleman Prouost ouer Rome and all Italie Then being Lord and Master of the Empire by reason of the greatnes of the people and slow aide which the lawes affoorded he chose out one of such as had been Consuls to bridle the bondmen and such citizens as through audaciousnes would grow troublesome vnlesse they stood in awe The first that receiued that authoritie but kept it but awhile was Messalla Coruinus as vnable to discharge it Then Taurus Statilus although he were verie aged went through it with great commendation After that Piso was well liked for the space of twentie yeeres and by order of the Senat honoured with publick funerals It was afterward propounded before the Lords of the Senat by Quinctilianus Tribune of the people concerning the Sibyls booke which Caninius Gallus one of the fifteene requested might be receiued among other books of the same prophetesse and demanded it might be so established by decree of Senat which being giuen by common consent Caesar sent letters somewhat reprehending the Tribune as ignorant of the old custome by reason of his youth and vpbraided Gallus that being old and practised in the science and ceremonies neuertheles had demanded the opinion of the Senators not fully assembled the author being vncertain and before the colledge had yeelded their iudgment neither as the custome was the verses hauing been read and waighed by the maisters Withall he aduertised them because that many vaine things were published vnder the name of famous men that Augustus had vnder penaltie set downe a day within which such bookes should be brought to the citie-Pretor and that it was not lawfull for any to haue them in their priuat possession The like decree was established by our predecessors also and after that the Capitol was burnt in the ciuill war their verses were sought in Samum in Ilium Erythrum through Affrike also Sicily and the colonies of Italie whether they were one or many the busines being committed to the Priests to distinguish the true prophecies from the false as neere as might be by the iudgement of man And then also the booke was referred to the examination of the fifteene When the same men were Consuls through a dearth of corne and other prouisions they grew almost to a commotion and many things for many dayes together were in the Theater more licentiously demaunded with great eagernes then the manner had beene to demaund things of the Emperour Whereat being moued he
to haue committed incest with his daughter and was cast healong from the Tarpeian rocke And little doubt but his exceeding wealth was his ouerthrow for although his gold mines were confiscated yet Tiberius reserued them for himselfe and by much blood shedding growing more bloody commanded al those to be executed which were in prison and accused of confederacie with Seianus The butcherie was great in all sexes and all ages noblemen common people scattered here and there or gathered into heapes Neither was it lawfull for neere kinsmen and friends to be present to bewaile their case nor yet to come oft to see them but there were watches and spies on euery side intentiue to prie what lamentation euerie man made which followed the putrified bodies vntill they were throwen into the riuer of Tiber. And if any of them were found floting on the water or driuen to the bankes no man durst burne them nor touch them all familiar societie and intercourse of humanitie was lost through feare and violence and how much crueltie increased so far pitie was banished About the same time C. Caesar bearing his grandfather companie from Capreas tooke to wife Claudia daughter of M. Silanus cloking his cruell and bloodie disposition with a counterfeit modestie not once vttering so much as a word of the condemning of his mother the banishing of his brothers but whatsoeuer minde Tiberius had put on of the like habit he shewed himselfe and not much differing from him in words Wherupon a wittie saying of the orator Passienus was commonly applied to him That there was neuer better seruant then he nor woorser master I will not omit Tiberius prophesie of Sergius Galba then Consull who hauing sent for him and sounded him of set purpose with diuers speeches at last in Greeke vttered vnto him this sentence And thou Galba at sometime shalt taste of the Empire Signifiyng that his rule should be long a comming and dure but a short time as learning that skill of the Chaldaeans arte for attayning of which he had idle time at Rhodes and Trasullus for his master whose cunning he tried by this meanes As oft as he would consult with them touching any matter he went vp to the highest part of the house with onely one freede man in his companie vnlearned but of a strong and able bodie whom he caused to leade him the way ouer hard and difficult passages and broken rockes for his house did hang ouer the rockes whose cunning and arte Tiberius did purpose to trie that in returning backe if any ielousie of vanitie or treacherie had entered into his minde he should throw him headlong into the sea which was vnder him least he should bewray his secrets Trasullus being then brought into those rocks moouing Tiberius which mooued him many questions foretelling him verie skilfully future things and that he should be Emperour Tiberius asked him farther whether he had found out the howre of his owne natiuitie and what should happen to himselfe that yeere and that same day Who hauing considered the aspects of the stars and measured their distances beganne first to doubt and then to feare and the more he viewed them so more and more he was surprised with admiration and feare and at last cried out that he was readie to fall into most doubtfull and imminent danger Then Tiberius embracing him reioyced that he had foreseene his owne dangers and promised he should escape them and taking those things which he had saide for oracles held him afterward among the number of his deerest friends When I heare of these and the like things I can giue no certaine iudgement whether the affaires of mortall men are gouerned by fate and immutable necessitie or haue their course and change by chaunce and fortune For thou shalt finde that as well those which were accounted wise in auncient times as such as were imitators of their sect do varie and disagree therein some do resolutelie beleeue that the gods haue no care of mans beginning or ending no not of man at all Whereof it proceedeth that the vertuous are tossed and afflicted with so many miseries and the vitious and bad triumphe with so great prosperities Contrarilie others are of opnion that fate and destinie may well stand with the course of our actions yet nothing at all depend of the planets or stars but proeeede from a connexion of naturall causes as from their beginning And these graunt withall that we haue free choise and election what course of life to follow which being once chosen we are guided after by a certaine order of causes vnto our end Neither do they esteeme those things to be good or bad which the vulgar sort do so call for many which seeme to be oppressed with miserie are happie if they endure their aduersitie with constancie and many which flow in wealth in most miserable estate if they vse their prosperitie vnaduisedly And yet of some it may be saide that their destinies are knowen at their birth and if they fal out otherwise then hath beene foretolde it proceedeth of the ignorance of the deceitfull reporter and so the arte is discredited whose cleere and euident proofes former and present times haue tried for by the sonne of the same Trasullus Neroes Empire was foretold as in conuenient time it shall be declared bicause I will not now digresse from my purpose VI. Tiberius crueltie against Drusus the death of Agrippina and others Iulia daughter vnto Drusus is married vnto Rubellius Blandus THe same men being Consuls Asinius Gallus died and no man doubting but for want of taking sustenance but whether willingly or of necessitie that is vncertaine And Caesar being asked whether he would suffer him to be buried was not ashamed to permit it further to accuse chance fortune that had taken away the criminall person before he had beene openly conuinced as though that in three yeeres space there wanted time of proceeding to iudgement against an old Consull and father of so many Consuls After that Drusus was made away hauing sustained himselfe the space of nine daies with a miserable foode by eating the flocks of his bed Some haue written that Macro had order sent him that if Seianus should attempt to take armes the yong man should be fetcht out of prison for he was kept in the Pallace and made captaine ouer the people but because it was incontinently rumored that Caesar would be reconciled to his daughter in law and nephew he shewed that he desired rather crueltie then be sory for that he had done yea and hauing inueighed against him after he was dead obiected he was loose of life hurtfull and dangerous to his and euilly affected toward the common wealth and withall commaunded all that to be recited which he had caused day by day to be put in writing both of his words and deedes a thing so cruell that nothing more that he should so many yeeres haue appointed spies to obserue his countenance his
they had promised the Tribes came to meete him the Lords of the Senate in their holy-daie robes wiues and children placed according to their age and sexe and all the way he should goe builded with staires as in publicke shewes or triumphes Thereupon puffed vp with pride as a conquerour of publicke seruitude he went to the Capitoll and gaue thanks to the gods letting loose the raines to all lusts and licenciousnes of life which before badly restrained yet the reuerence towards his mother such as it was did in some sort bridle IIII. Neroes exercises IT was an old practise of his neuer to be absent from the race of chariots and no lesse vnseemely was that other delight of his at supper to sing to the harp as minstrels did which he said to haue beene a custome of auncient Kings and Captaines and a thing highly commended by Poets and attributed to the honor of the gods For melodie is sure dedicated to Apollo in that attire he doth stand not only in the cities of Greece but also in the temples at Rome a principall deitie and knowing things to come Neither could he now be remoued seeming good also to Seneca and Burrhus to yeeld him the one least he should persist in both And thereupon a space was inclosed in the valley of the Vatican to mannage his horses and not to be seene indifferently of euery man and not long after of his owne accord he called the people to see it who highly extolled him as the manner of the people is to be desirous of pastimes and very glad if the Prince draw them to it And his shame published abroad brought him not as it was thought it would any loathing therin but a farther prouocation thinking that the discredit would be shaken off if he could dishonor many with the like He brought to the skaffold many descended of noble houses bought for pouertie which because they be dead I will not name as hauing regard vnto their auncestors being rather his fault to giue money for ill doing then least they should commit that which is naught He constrained also the chiefe gentlemen of Rome with mightie gifts to promise their labour in the Theater vnlesse you say that a reward giuen by him who may commaund bringeth a necessitie in obeying Yet least he should be discredited by the publick Theater he instituted Playes called Iuuenalia as it were for the health of youth to which euery man willingly gaue his name not any ones nobilitie not his age or office borne being any hinderance vnto them but that Greekes and Latins exercised the arte of a stage player euen vnto gestures and measures vnseemely for men Yea noble women practised many gestures and vnseemely to their calling And in the wood which Augustus planted about the lake where he represented a sea fight Tauernes and meeting places were built where all prouocations of wanton lusts were sold where money was giuen to the good to spend of necessitie and to the intemperate to glory and brag of From thence sprang all lewdenes and infamie neuer at any time not when there was great corruption in manners in times past more dissolute lasciuiousnes vsed then at those impure assemblies Shame is scarse retained among men of honest example much lesse among such which striued who should haue most vices can chastitie and modestie or any good behauior be maintained Last of all Nero himselfe entereth on the stage tuning and playing on his instrument with great care and premeditating what to say his familiars assisting him and besides them a cohort of souldiers Centurions and Tribunes and Burrhus both grieuing and praising him Then also were first inrowled the gentlemen of Rome called Augustani men for their age and strength of body highly esteemed part of them shamelesse and saucy in behauior and part hoping thereby to rise to greater authoritie day and night with clapping of hands made all to ring of them commending the feature and voice of the Prince with termes attributed to the gods and were respected by him as honorable personages for their vertue And yet least the Emperours skill on stage only and musick should be published he desired to be well accompted of for versifying hauing gathered about him such as had any cunning therein much more such as were excellent They sate together * and made those verses hang together which he made there or elsewhere and supplied his words howsoeuer they were vttered which the fashion it selfe of his verses doth declare not running with one and the same vehemencie and vaine of writing He bestowed also some time after meate with Philosophers taking pleasure to heare how euery man defended his owne opinion and ouerthrew the contrarie Neither wanted there some which with their voice and graue countenance desired to be thought pleasant with the Emperour V. A strife betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria and the Pompeians ABout the same time of a light quarrell rose a great murder betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria and Pompeians at a shew of fencers which Liuineius Regulus put from the Senate as before I haue rehearsed represented to the people For first prouoking one another with bitter termes as it is often seene in malapert and saucie townesmen they came to stones and last of all to weapons the Pompeians being the stronger with whom the shew was set forth Many of the Nucerians were brought lame and wounded to the towne and many wept for the death of their children and parents the determining of which the Prince referred to the Senate the Senate to the Consuls And the cause being againe brought to the Senators the Pompeians were forbidden to assemble any such companies for tenne yeeres and their corporations erected against the lawes dissolued Liuineius and such others as raysed the sturre were banished Pedius Blaesus also was put from his Senators roome at the information of the Cyrenensians who layd to his charge that he had robbed the treasure of the god Aesculapius and mustered souldiers for money and suite The same Cyrenensians accused Acilius Strabo sometime Pretor and sent by Claudius as arbitrator of certaine lands which once belonging to King Apio and left to the people of Rome with the kingdome their neighbours possessed and occupied and by long licence and iniurie defended them to be theirs by right and equitie The lands therefore being giuen from them by sentence they enuied the iudge and the Senate answered they were ignorant of Claudius pleasure and that they should aske the Princes aduise The Prince approuing Straboes sentence wrote neuertheles that he would ayde the allies and giue them that which they had vsurped There died not long after Domitius Afer and M. Seruilius two notable personages which flourished with great honors and eloquence he in pleading of causes Seruilius famous for long frequenting the Forum and then for writing the Romane histories carriage of himselfe and neatnes of life which made him more renowned as equall to the other in wit yet
of the iniustice of his death That he died for no causes deseruing punishment but Rufus Crispinus and Anicius Cerialis enioyed their life being the Princes enimies Which words were thought to haue bin forged of Crispinus because he was alreadie slaine of Cerialis because he should be slaine Who not long after killed himselfe lesse pitied than the rest as bearing in minde that he had discouered a conspiracie to C. Caesar IIII. The constant death of C. Petronius and what life he led OF C. Petronius a few things aboue recited are heere againe to be repeated He passed the day in sleepe and the night in delightfull sports or other affaires of life And as others industrie so this man slouth had raised to fame a riotous and wastfull spender he was not accompted like many which run through all but vsing riot to his credit And his words and deedes how much the freer and shewing a certaine carelesnes so much the more gratefully receiued as sauoring somewhat of simplicitie Notwithstanding being Proconsull of Bithynia and anon after Consull he shewed himself quick stout and able to wade through great matters Then falling againe to his vices or else shew of vices was receiued amongst Neroes familiar friends as a iudge and arbitrator of his daintiest delights esteeming nothing pleasant or delightfull vnlesse Petronius had approued it Thereupon grew Tigellinus malice against him as against a concurrent or one more skilfull in pleasures then himselfe whetting Neroes crueltie vnto which all other lusts gaue place against him obiecting the friendship he had with Sceuinus corrupting a slaue to be his accuser taking from him all meanes of defence and the greatest part of his familie drawne into prison By chance about that time Caesar went to Campania and Petronius gone as farre as Cumas was there stayed and not able any longer to indure the lingering betweene hope or feare yet did not rashly kill himselfe but cutting his vaines and binding them vp as pleased him opened them againe and talked with his friends though not of any serious matter or worthie to purchase the glorie of constancie but gaue eare to those which discoursed with him yet nothing of the immortalitie of the soule or opinions of wise men but of light verses and easie songs On some of his slaues he bestowed gifts and on some stripes He went sometimes abroade and gaue himselfe to sleepe that although his death was constrained yet it should be like a casuall death Neither in his testament as most men were wont to do did he flatter Nero or Tigellinus or any other fauorite but wrote down the vncleane life of the Prince vnder fained names of stale catamites abused against nature and of women with the strangenes of the abuse of either of them and sealed vp sent it to Nero and brake his seale least afterward it might serue to breede danger to others And Nero doubting how the inuention of his night pleasures should come to light Silia by being the wife of a Senator not vnknowne and abused in all his licentious lusts and very familiar with Petronius came to his minde whom he thrust into banishment as not hauing kept secret those things she had seene and suffered moued thereto by his owne particular hatred rather then rest occasion He deliuered Numicius Thermus once Pretor to Tigellinus priuie hatred because Thermus freed man had layd some criminall matter to Tigellinus charge which he should pay for by torment of torture and his maister by vndeserued death V. Neroes hatred against Thraseas Paetus and Bareas Soranus SO many worthie men being murdered in the end Nero coueted to destroy vertue it selfe by killing Bareas Soranus and Thraseas Paetus of old enemie to both and new occasions rising against Thraseas because he went out of the Senat as I haue alreadie said when Agrippinaes cause was debated because that in the pastime of youth called Inuenales he shewed not so acceptable indeuor as was expected which grudge pearsed the deeplier because the same Thrasea at Padua where he was borne in the Cestian playes instituted by Antenor the Troian sang in tragicall attire The day also that Antistius the Pretor was condemned for outrages against Nero he gaue a milder sentence and obtained it and when the honor of the goddes was ordained for Poppaea absent of set purpose was not at the conuoy of the funerall Which things Capito Cossutianus did not suffer to be forgotten besides his ouer-readie inclination to naughtines enemie to Thrasea because that by his authoritie countenancing the deputies of Cilicia he lost his cause when they pursued Capito for vsing iniustice and extortion in his office He obiected farther That in the beginning of the yeere Thrasea did auoide the oath was not present with the rest at the offering vp of vowes although he were one of the fifteene Priests yet he neuer offered sacrifice for the health of the Prince or heauenly voice that heretofore he hath beene often present and diligent shewing himselfe a fauorer or an aduersarie to the ordinarie consultations of the Lords of the Senate but hath not once entered the Curia this three yeeres and very lately when euery man ran who first might to punish Silanus and Vetus he attended rather on his clients priuat busines that was now a reuolting and a faction and if many durst do the like it would breede to a warre As in times past sayd he the citie desirous of garboile spake of C. Caesar and M. Cato so now of thee ô Nero and Thrasea and hath his adherents or rather followers which imitating though not his obstinacie of opinions yet his behauior and countenance seuere and sterne do cast thy lasciuiousnes in thy teeth This man only is carelesse of thy health no way procuring thy honor he little regardeth the Princes prosperous successes What is he not filled with thy griefes and sorrowes It proceedeth from the selfesame minde not to beleeue Poppaea to be agoddesse and not sweare to obserue the ordinances of Augustus and Iulius of famous memorie He despiseth holie things abrogateth lawes The diurnals of the people of Rome are curiously read in the prouinces and campe that it might be knowen what Thrasea hath not done Either let vs condiscend to his ordinances if they be better or let the captaine and author be taken away from desires of nouelties This sect brought forth the Tuberones Fauonians vnpleasing names to the auncient common wealth That they may ouerthrow the state they pretend libertie but if they should ouerthrow it they will giue an assault to ouerthrow libertis likewise Invaine thou hast extinguished Cassius if thou wilt suffer the followers of Brutus to grow and take head In fine write thou nothing of Thrasea leaue vs the Senate arbitrator of the cause Nero extolleth Cossutianus stoutnes whet on with choler and ioyneth with him Marcellus Eprius of a quick and liuely eloquēce As for Barea Soranus Ostorius Sabinus a Romaine gendeman had required he might accuse him