absent their feare was greater many openly and more priuily obseruing the names and countenances cheerefulnes and heauines of the lookers on Whereupon punishments were inflicted vpon the poorer sort foorthwith the hatred against noble men dissembled for the time shewed it selfe within a short space after And it is reported that Vespasian was rebuked by Phoebus a freede man as though he had beene somewhat drousie with sleepe and was hardly defended by the intreatie of the better sort and afterward escaped imminent ruine by a greater chance II. The death of Poppaea Banishment and death of others AFter the pastime was ended Poppaea died by a sudden anger of her husbands striking her with his foote being with childe Neither do I beleeue that she was poisoned although some writers do so report of hatred rather than truth for he was desirous of children and blinded with the loue of his wife Her bodie was not burnt as the Roman manner was but embalmed according to the custome of forreine Kings stuffed with sweete odors and buried in the tombe of the Iulians Yet publicke funerals were solemnised and he himselfe praised her beautie before the people assembled that she had beene the mother of a diuine daughter and other gifts of fortune he commended in steed of vertues The death of Poppaea as in shew sorrowfull so to the remembrers of her loose life and crueltie ioyfull Nero made more odious by giuing new matter of hatred by hindering C. Cassius from being present at her exequies which was the first token of his ruine not long deferred And Silanus bare him companie for no crime committed but because Cassius for his auncient riches and grauitie of manners Silanus for noblenes of birth and modest youth were woorthie praise aboue the rest Hauing therefore sent an oration to the Senate declared that they were both to be remooued from the common-wealth And layd to Cassius charge that among the images of his auncestors he had done honour also to the image of C. Cassius which had this written vnder it To the Captaine of the parts For seedes of ciuill warre and a reuolt from the house of Caesars might haue beene intended by those words And least he should vse the memorie only of a hatefull name to ground a quarrell on he ioyned L. Silanus a yoong man of a noble stocke rash and headie vnder a pretence and colour of mouing newe broiles Further he rebuked Silanus for the same matters as before he had done his vncle Torquatus as though he did alreadie dispose of the cares of the Empire and giue his freed men charge of the accounts requests and secretariships things both vaine false For Silanus was warie fearfull and by the death of his vncle circumspect in his actions After this he induced some vnder the name of accusers which falsly charged Lepida Cassius wife Silanus aunt of incest with her brothers sonne and with certaine execrable rites of sacrifices There were drawen in as priuie thereto Vulcatius Tullinus and Marcellus Cornelius Senators and Calpurnius Fabatus a gentleman of Rome who appealing to the Prince and disappointing the present condemnation anon after Nero being busied about some great mischiefes were forgotten as men of small reckoning Then banishment was decreed against Cassius and Silanus by order of Senate and that Caesar himselfe should dispose of Lepida Cassius was exiled to the Iland Sardinia * exspecting their further order from the Lords of the Senate Silanus conueighed to Hostia as though he should be carried to Naxus was after shut vp in a towne of Apulia called Barium And there wiselie bearing his most vnwoorthie aduersitie a Centurion sent to kill him laying hands on him perswaded him to cut his vaines who answered that he had a minde resolute readie to die but he would not permit an executioner to haue the glorie of the seruice But the Centurion although seeing him vnarmed yet strong and more inclining to anger than feare commaunded his souldiers to dispatch him Neither did Silanus omit to resist and lay on blowes as well as he was able with naked hands vntill he fell downe ouermatched with the Centurions wounds on his face as it had beene in a skirmish With no lesse courage died L. Vetus and Sexia his mother in law and his daughter Pollutia hatefull to the Prince as though by liuing they should vpbraid him with the murder of Rubellius Plautus L. Vetus sonne in law But the first discouerer of his crueltie towards them was one Fortunatus a freed man of Vetus who hauing pilfred away his masters goods and fearing an enquirie began to accuse him associating Claudius Demianus with him who emprisoned by Vetus Proconsull of Asia for his misdeeds Nero deliuered in recompence of the accusation Which being vnderstood by the partie accused and that there was no difference made betwixt him and his freed man hedeparteth to Eormianum where a secrete guarde of souldiers watched him His daughter was with him who besides the imminent danger through long griefe fell and cruell as soone as she had seen the murderers of her husband Plautus grew to further extremitie and hauing cast herselfe about his necke embrued with blood kept still the blood and her apparell besprinkled with it remaining a widow drownd in continuall griefe vsing no other foode than was necessarie to keepe off death Then her father exhorting her she goeth to Naples And because she was kept from the speech of Nero lying in waite for his going abroad she cried alowde that it would please him to heare the innocent and not commit one who had beene his companion in the Consulship to the disposition of a freed man sometime with a womanish lamentation sometimes going beyond her sexe with angrie and bitter termes vntill the Prince shewed himselfe inflexible and no way mooued either with praiers or hatred he might incurre And warneth her father to cast away hope and resolue himselfe to the present necessitie Withall newes came that the matter should be heard before the Lords of the Senate and a cruell sentence intended Thereupon some aduised him to pronounce 〈…〉 ar his heire for the most part of his goods and so helpe his nephewes with the rest which he refused least he should dishonour with this last seruile acte his life past almost in libertie and gaue all his money among his bondmen and if any thing could be carried away that euerie one might serue himselfe three beds onely reserued for his funerall obsequies Then in the same chamber with the same knife they cut their vaines and with speed each one couered with a simple garment for modestie sake they were put into bathes The father looking on the daughter the grandmother on her neece she on both praying a-uie for a speedie end to leaue the others aliue though to follow incontinently after And fortune herein kept the order the eldest dying first then the next in age And being accused after their buriall and ordayned they should be punished according to
guard about him seeing his sonne alreadie taken and the Romans on euerie side of him rushing in among their weapons with the losse of his life escaped captiuitie And that was the end of that warre Dolabella desiring the honour of triumphe Tiberius denied it him and gaue it Seianus least his vncle Blaesus commendation should be obscured But Blaesus was neuer the more esteemed and the denying of the honour to Dolabella augmented his honour bicause that with a lesser armie he had taken manie notable prisoners slaine the Captaine and caried away the fame of ending the warre The Ambassadors of the Garamantes a people seldome seene in the citie came after the death of Tacfarinas all astonied as being of the conspiracie to satisfie the people of Rome After this Tiberius vnderstanding of Ptolemaeus diligence in his warres renuing the old custome sent one of the Senators to him with an Iuorie staffe and embrodered or wrought gowne which were woont to be the auncient gifts of the Lords of the Senat and to giue him the greater honor called him King companion and friend of the people of Rome VII A rebellion of bond-slaues suppressed Serenus accused by his owne sonne THe same sommer beginnings of warre attempted in Italie by bond-men were suppressed by meere chaunce The beginner of this tumult was T. Curtisius sometimes a souldier of a Pretorian band who at the first in secret conuenticles in Brundisium and townes adioyning then by writings publikly spread abroad tolled to libertie the rude and fierce bond-slaues dispersed in the woods when by the fauour of the gods there arriued three Galleies for the vse of passengers in that sea And Curtius Lapius rent gatherer in those countries vnto whom by lot fell the Prouince Cales according to the auncient custome hauing in a readines a power of sea souldiers discomfited the conspirators who then did but begin their enterprise Caesar sent out of hand Staius a Tribune with a strong Power who brought the Captaine himselfe and the ringleaders of this bold attempt to the citie greatly afeard of the multitude of bond-men which increased to a huge number the free borne decreasing dayly more and more The same men being Consuls there happened a bloodie example of calamitie and crueltie the sonne accusing the father both called Q. Vibius Serenus both brought before the Lords of the Senat the father out of banishment deformed poore and vnhandsome bound in chaines and his sonne pleading against him who finely and featly attired with a cheerefull countenance affirmed that secret practises had beene wrought against the Prince and certaine firebrands of war sent into Gallia to raise a rebellion himselfe being both accuser and witnes He charged Caecilius Cornutus once Pretor to haue furnished them with money who through the wearisomnes of trouble accounting the danger his bane hastened his owne death But contrarily the defendant stoutly turning towards his sonne shaking his irons called the gods to reuenge praying that they would send him to exile againe to lead his life far from such customs and inflict condigne punishment vpon his son And affirmed constantly that Cornutus was innocent and frighted with a false accusation which should easily be perceiued if some others were appeached also for himselfe could not practise the death of the Prince and an innouation with one only companion Then the accuser named Gn. Lentulus and Seius Tubero Caesar himselfe being ashamed to heare the chiefe of the citie and his deerest friends Lentulus very aged and Tubero of a weake body accused of raising a rebellion and disturbing the common-wealth and therefore both were incontinently acquited The fathers bondmen were put to the racke which made against the accuser who through the wickednes of his fact growing halfe frantick and terrified with the speech of the people which threatned either to cast him headlong from the Robur or draw him in peeces or punish him as a parricide departed the citie but brought back from Rauenna was forced to end his accusation Tiberius nothing at all dissembling the old grudge he bare Serenus the banished For after Libos condemnation by letters he vpbraided Caesar that his seruice only was vnrecompensed with some other things more peremptorily then safely to prowd eares and readie to take offence Eight yeeres after Caesar cast this in his dish many waies carping his actions in the meane space although contrary to his expectation through the constancie of his bondmen the rack could extort nothing against him When all had giuen sentence that Serenus should be punished according to the auncient custome Tiberius to bleare their eyes and dissemble his grudge would not allow of the sentence Gallus Asinius was of opinion that he should be confined in Gyarum or Donusa which he misliked also saying that both those Ilands wanted water and that to whome life was graunted things necessary for life ought to be graunted whereupon Serenus was caried backe to Amorgum And because Cornutus had slaine himselfe it was propounded in Senat whether the informers should loose their rewards if any arraigned only of treason and not condemned slew himself Which they had all followed if Caesar had not sharply and openly contrary to his accustomed manner complained in defence of the informers saying that by that meanes the lawes would be brought to nothing and the common wealth run to ruine and that it were more tollerable to abolish the lawes themselues then take away the keepers of them By this meanes the promooters a race of men found out for a common ouerthrow and destruction and neuer duly punished were allured with rewards These continuall causes of sorrow were sauced with some small contentment for C. Cominius a gentleman of Rome conuicted of scandalous verses against Tiberius was pardoned at the intreatie of his brother a Senator A strange case that knowing what was best for sottish or senseles he was not and what fame followed clemencie yet he desired rather cause of heauines and sorrow Neither is it a matter of deepe insight to know the peoples affection when they extoll Princes actions from the hart and when from the teeth outward And Tiberius himselfe at other times cunningly premeditating his words and with staggering and stammering deliuering his minde yet when he meaneth good in deed vnto any findeth his toong readie and loose But when P. Suilius somtimes rent gatherer to Germanicus was conuict for taking of money for giuing iudgment therfore expulsed Italie his opinion was that he should be banished into some Iland and that with such vehemencie that he bound it with an oath to be profitable for th ecommon wealth Which for the present time was taken for a rigorous sentence but after Suilius returne turned to his commendation whome subsequent times sawe mightie but a slaue to money a long time as he lusted but neuer as he ought vsing Prince Claudius friendship The same punishment was ordained against Catus Firmius a Senator as falsly accusing his sister of treason Catus as I
perceiued that he had a care of things to come for not going about the bush but in plaine termes he vpbraied Macro that he turned his backe to the West and looked alwaies toward the sun-rising And hapning by chāce that some speech was had of L. Sulla whom C. Caesar was wont to scoffe laugh at Tiberius foretold him that he should haue all his vices but not so much as one of his vertues And withall imbracing the yongest of his nephewes with weeping teares the other looking on with an enuious eye sayd vnto him thou shalt kill him and another shall kill thee Yet his sicknes growing more and more vpō him he omitted not any part of his wāton vncleane lusts counterfeiting and putting on a face of courage euen in his weaknes and infirmitie and was wont to mock at the Phisitiōs skill that after 30. yeers space they wanted other mens counsell to know what was good or hurtfull for their own bodies In the meane time at Rome there were certaine seedes of murders sowen to take effect after Tiberius death Laelius Balbus had accused Acutia somtimes the wife of P. Vitellius of treason who being cōdemned when a recompence was to be ordained for the accuser Iunius Otho Tribune of the people withstood it wherupon they two growing to a iarre Otho was sent into banishment Then Albucilla infamous for loose loue with many once wife to Satrius Secundus the detector of the conspiracie was accused of certaine impieties and inchantments against the Prince with her as confederats her adulterers Gn. Domitius Vibius Marsus L. Arruntius Of Domitius nobilitie I haue spoken before Marsus also was of an ancient stock and endued with many good vertues But the memoriall sent vnto the Senate doth testifie that Macro had charge of the examinatiō of the witnesses torture of the bondmen and the Emperours letters gaue no token of suspition against them either because he was weake feeble or bicause he knew nothing of it many crimes were forged by Macro knowen enimie to Arruntius Domitius therefore premeditating his defence Marsus as though he had purposed to pine away by famishing himselfe prolonged their liues Arruntius whilest his friends perswaded him not to be too hastie but linger on answereth them That the same things do not beseeme all men alike that for his own part he had liued long ynough and had no other thing to repent him of but that he had among so manie vaine mockeries perils prolonged his heauie and carefull old age hauing bin long hated of Seianus now of Macro alwais of som one of the mightiest not through any fault of his but bicause he could not endure wickednes True it is he might linger out during the short time the Prince hath to liue but how should he escape the yoong Prince which is to come If Tiberius after such long experience in affaires by the force of rule and dominion hath changed and altered is it to be hoped that C. Caesar who is yet scarse out of his childhood vnexpert and vnacquainted with al things or brought vp trained in the lewdest shuld follow a better course hauing Macro for his guide who being chosen to oppresse Seianus bicause he was woorse than he afflicted the common-wealth with greater calamitie I foresee said he a heauier seruitude and therfore I will flie as well from that which is alreadie past as that which is at hand Speaking these things as it had bin in maner of a Prophesie he cut his vaines It shal appeere by those things which insued that Arruntius died in good time Albucilla hauing wounded herselfe with a blow giuē without effect was carried to prison The ministers of her whoredom Grasidius Sacerdos who had been Pretor was banished into an Iland and Pontius Fregellanus condemned to be put from the Senate the saide punishments were decreed against Laelius Balbus by these themselues which were glad of it bicause Balbus was thought to vse his eloquēce cruelly as one alwais at hād ready against the innocēt XII Tiberius death ABout the same time Sext. Papinius descended of a Consularie familie chose a sudden euilfauoured death by casting himselfe headlong from a high place The cause was attributed to his mother who hauing bin long before put away from her husband by flattering speeches lasciuious wantōnes induced the yoong man vnto that villanie that to auoid the discredit with her he could finde no remedie but death She being accused in Senate albeit she prostrated hirselfe at the Lords feet long shewed her common griefe womens weaknes in such desires and other lamentable and pitifull monings witnessing hir dolour and griefe yet was banished the citie ten yeers vntil her yoongest son was past the vnconstant slipperines of his youth Now Tiberius bodie strength began to forsake him but not yet his dissimulation He had the same courage vigour of minde his countenance and voice was strong desiring somtimes to be pleasant cloked his manifest decay of strength And often changing at last setled himselfe in a promontorie of Misenum in a house which somtimes Lucullus had bin Lord of where it was known that his death was at hand by this means There was a Phisition verie skilfull in his arte called Charicles yet neuer accustomed to gouerne the Prince in his sicknes but to assist him with his counsell This Phisition departing from Tiberius as it had bin about some busines of his own vnder colour of dutie taking him by the hand felt the pulse of his vains but yet he could not vse the matter so cunningly but the emperor perceiued him Whether Tiberius were offended with him or not it was vncertaine if he were so much the more suppressing his anger caused meat to be made readie otherwise than his custome had bin sitteth downe as it had been in honor of his friends farewell Charicles neuerthelesse assured Macro that his spirits decayed and that he coulde not liue aboue two daies Whereupon great debating of matters passed among those which were present and messengers posted away to the lieutenants armies The 17. of the Kalends of April his breath being stopped he was thought to haue ended this mortall life Then C. Caesar with a great multitude flocking about him and congratulating his good fortune went forth to take vpō him the Empire when newes came on the sudden that Tiberius was come to his speech sight again that meate was called for to put him out of his swouning vpon this they were all stroken into a great feare and dispersed themselues some one way some another euerie man counterfeiting a sad cheere and ignorance of all this And C. Caesar stroken dumbe in the top of his hope expected his last doome Macro resolute and stout commanded the old man to be smoothered by casting many clothes on him and euerie man to depart from the doore And so Tiberius ended his life the 78. yeere of
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
content with the accusation yet denied conference with Firmius the accuser saying that by the same messenger Flaccus their speech might passe from one to the other In the meane season he honoreth Libo with the Pretorship inuiteth him to his table neuer changed his countenance towards him nothing passionate in words so skilfull he was in concealing his anger and although he could haue preuented both his words and enterprises yet he desired rather to know the manner of his proceedings vntill one Iunius sollicited to conuince and raise infernall spirits by inchantments vttered the matter to Fulcinius Trio one amongst the promoters compted quick and readie witted and carelesse of discredit This Trio accused immediately the partie went to the Consuls and required that the Senators would heare the matter The Senators were assembled and giuen to vnderstand that they were to deliberate of an important and waightie affaire Libo in the meane time changing his attire went with certaine noble women from one house to an other intreated his cosens and craueth their good word in his extremitie but all of them refused some pretending one excuse some another fearing least they should be thought partakers of the same crime The day come that the Senate sate being through feare or as some report faining himselfe sick weake and weary was brought to the court gates in a chariot leaning on his brother and holding vp his hands craued pardon of Tiberius who receiued him neuer once changing countenance Then Caesar read the libels alowd their authors so moderating himselfe that he was not thought either to mitigate or aggrauate any way the crimes Besides Trio and Catus there stepped foorth two other accusers Fonteius Agrippa and C. Liuius striuing which had best right to pleade against him vntill Liuius because they would not yeeld the one to the other and Libo came without any aduocate promised that he himselfe would set downe seuerally euery crime by him committed Then he produced such sottish declarations that among other things they contained how Libo had consulted with the Magicians whether he should euer haue money enough to be able to couer the Appian way from Rome to Brundusium with many such simple friuolous matters and more mildly to tearme them pitifull Yet the accuser enforced one thing more that in one writing of Liboes owne hand there were added certaine dangerous and vnknowne characters to the names of the Caesars and Senators And the partie arraigned denying it it was thought good that his bondmen which knew his hand should be examined vpon the rack And because that by an ancient decree of Senate it was not lawfull to torture a bondman against the life of his Lord Tiberius a subtile deuiser of new lawes commaundeth them all to be sold to a publick Actor that without preiudice of the decree they might be tortured as not being Liboes bondmen Whereupon Libo desired that the matter might be deferred to the next day And being at his house intreated his neere kinsman P. Quirinius to make the last intercession for him to the Prince who had answere giuen him that he should intreate the Lords of the Senate In the meane season his house was beset with a gard of souldiers who in the entry made such a noise that they might easily be both heard and seene When as Libo loathing the very sight of the dainties ministred for his last comfort began to call for some one to murder him and taking his bond-mens right hands and putting a sword in them whilest they trembling with feare and refusing to do it ran from one place to another ouerthrew the light on the table in that mortall and deadly darknes he thrust himselfe twise in the guts At the grone when he fell his freed men came running about him but the souldiers seeing the murder stoode aloofe Notwithstanding the accusation was prosecuted with like asseueration and Tiberius swore that if he had not voluntarily hastened his owne death he would haue begged his life although he had beene guiltie His goods were distributed among the accusers and Pretors roomes were extraordinarily giuen to such as were of the Senate Then Cotta Messallinus gaue his opinion that Liboes image should not be carried in the funerals of his posteritie C. Lentulus that none of the Scribonian familie should take vpon him the surname of Drusus By the aduise of Pomp. Flaccus certaine daies of generall processions were ordained L. P. and Gallus Asinius and Papius Mutilus and L. Apronius were of opinion that gifts should be offered to Iupiter Mars and the goddesse of Concord and that the Ides of Septemb. when Libo killed himselfe should be kept holy day The dignities and flatteries of these men I haue thought good to register that it might be knowne that that was alwayes an old disease in the common-wealth VIII An expulsion of Mathematicians Areformation of abuses DEcrees of Senate were ordained for the expulsing of Astrologers and Magicians out of Italie among whom L. Pituanius was throwen headlong from the Tarpeian rocke and the Consuls punished P. Martius without the Esquilin gate with the sound of trumpets according to the auncient custome At the next meeting of the Senate L. Haterius once Consull and Octauius Fronto who had beene Pretor spake much against the superfluous excesse of the citie Where it was decreed that they should not serue at their tables vessell of beaten gold nor men weare silke aboue their degree Fronto went further and demaunded that there might be an order set downe touching their plate houshould stuffe and number of seruants for it was yet a thing in vse for the Senators to lay downe that for a decree which they thought expedient for the common wealth Gallus Asinius spake to the contrary saieng that with the greatnes of the Empire priuate mens wealth was increased which was no new matter but of old times receiued likewise that the wealth in Fabricius time differed from that in Scipioes and yet all referred to the common wealth which being but in meane estate the citizens houses were thereafter But now that it is growen to that magnificence the estate of particular men is bettered also Neither is there anything too much or too little either in plate number of seruants or other furniture of houshold but in respect of the qualitie of the owner The reuenewes of a Senator were distinguished from a gentlemans not bicause they differed in nature but as they were preferred in place degrees and dignities th'one before th'other These things are procured for the recreation of the minde or health of bodie Vnles peraduenture they would that the most noble should take most cares vpon them and hazard their persons in most dangers and yet want those pleasures and comforts which best serued to lenifie and make them more easie The acknowledging of vices vnder honest termes and the likenes of affections in the hearers mindes caused Gallus to haue an easie assent Tiberius added that that was no time for
looseth anker and moderated his course to returne the sooner if Germanicus death should open him a way to Syria Germanicus being a little amended and in some hope then growing feeble againe when his end was at hand he spake to his friends about him in this manner If I should die a naturall death yet should I haue iust cause of griefe against the gods that by an vntimely death they shuold take me in my youth from my kinsfolks children and countrey But now being brought to this passe by the lewde practise of Piso and Plancina I leaue in your breasts for my last prayers that you signifie vnto my father and my brother with what crueltie torne with what fraude circumuented I haue ended my miserable life with a most naughtie death If the hopes conceiued of me haue moued any if neerenes in bloud any yea if enuie towards me when I liued they will weepe that he who hath sometimes flourished and escaped so many battels should now end his life by the guile and treachery of a woman you shall haue occasion to complaine to the Senate and demaund the execution of lawes This is not the chiefest dutie of friends to shew their affection towards the dead by a slow and dull complaint but remember and execute that which they commanded Yea such as knew not Germanicus wil weepe for him If you did rather loue me then my fortune you will reuenge my death Shew the people of Rome Augustus neece and the same my wife and my children which are sixe in number the accusers themselues will haue compassion and those which pretend wicked commaundements shall either not bee beleeued or not pardoned His friends taking him by the right hand swore they would rather lose their life then omit reuenge Then turning to his wife intreated hir by the memorie of him and by the children common betweene them that she would lay aside all haughtines and submit her courage to raging fortune lest returning to the citie she stirred not with emulation of greatnes more powerable then her selfe against her Thus much he vttered openly and other things in secret whereby it was coniectured he stoode in feare of Tiberius Not long after he yeelded vp the ghost with great lamentation of the Prouince and countries about forren nations and Kings lamented also so great was his courtesie to his allies and mildnes to his enimies He was no lesse venerable to those which sawe him than to those which heard of him and did so well temper the greatnes of high estate grauitie that he auoided both enuie arrogancie His funerals although he had neither images nor pompe yet by the commendation and memorie of his vertues were honoured of all men Some there were which compared his fauour his age and manner of death by reason of the vicinitie of the places wherein they died vnto Alexander the great For being both of a comely stature noble parentage not much aboue thirtie yeeres of age they died in strange countries by the trecherie of their owne people But this man was courteous towards his friends moderate in pleasures his children certaine begotten in marriage by one woman Neither was he to be counted a lesse warrior then the other although he were not rash hindered to reduce vnder the yoke of seruitude the Germans daunted with so many victories And if he alone had had the supreme managing of affaires and power a name of a King so much the sooner he would haue carried away the prise renowne of warfare by how much he did excel him in clemencie temperancie other good vertues His bodie before it should be burned was laid naked in the market place of Antioche which was the place appointed for his buriall Whether he shewed any tokens of being poisoned or not it is vnknowen for diuers did diuersly interpretit either as they were inclined to pitie Germanicus or suspected to fauour Piso This being done the Lieutenants the Senators which were present cōsulted amōg themselues whom they should make gouernor of Syria the rest not greatly contending it was long debated betwixt Marsus Gn. Sentius in the end Marsus yeelded to Sentius being his elder prosecuting the suite more eagerlie He sent to Rome one Martina a woman infamous in that Prouince for empoisoning but deerly beloued to Plancina at the suite of Vitellius Veranius others which framed their acusations as against one already guilty of the fact But Agrippina wasted with sorrow feeble of body yet impatient of delaying reuenge took shipping with Germanicus ashes with her and her children all men taking compassion that a woman so nobly descended and who not long since in regarde of her stately marriage was honored and reuerenced by all men should now carrie in her lap those lamentable relickes of her husband incertaine of reuenge doubtfull of herperson so oft exposed to fortunes mercy by her vnluckie fruitfulnes XVIII Piso is doubtfull vvhether he should returne to Syria or not And prepareth an armie against Sentius IN the meane season a messenger ouertaketh and aduertiseth Piso at the Iland Cous that Germanicus was departed Which tidings he receiued intemperately offered sacrifices visited the temples nothing moderating his ioy and Plancina growing more insolent then first changed the mourning weede she ware for the death of hir sister into a ioifull attire The Centurions flocking about him told him that he had the good will of the legions at his deuotion that it was his best to returne to the prouince wrongfully taken from him and now voide of a gouernour Whereupon taking aduise what was best to be done his sonne M. Piso was of opinion that he shoulde make all haste to the citie that there was nothing yet done which might not be answered and that weakesuspicions and vaine reports were not to be feared The variance betweene him and Germanicus was woorthie perhaps of some rebuke but not punishment and by taking the prouince from him his enimies were satisfied But if he should returne Sentius being against him a newe ciuill warre would begin Neither would the Centurions and souldiers continue on his side with whom the fresh memory of their captaine and the loue deepely printed in their harts towards the Caesars woulde preuaile Domitius Celer one of his inwardest friends perswaded the contrarie That he ought to take the time when it was offered that Piso and not Sentius was made gouernour of Syria vnto him were the fasces and dignitie of Pretor giuen to him the legions committed If any violence should be offered by the enimie who should more iustly oppose his armes against them then he who hath receiued the authoritie of a Lieutenant and speciall commission Rumors grow stale and vanish away with time and often the innocent are borne downe with fresh enuie but if he had a power at hand and his forces increased many things which could not be foreseene by meere chaunce might turne to the better Do
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
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
augmented But that that birde is seene sometimes in Aegypt is not doubted But murders continuing at Rome Pomponius Labeo whom as I haue said was gouernor of Moesia by cutting his vaines let out with his blood his life and Paxaea his wife followed his example The feare they had of dying by the hand of the hangman did cause them thus so readily to kill themselues bicause such as were condemned lost their goods and wanted buriall but their bodies which slew themselues were buried and their testaments stood good which was the gaine and reward of making haste But Caesar sent letters vnto the Senat declaring it to be a custome among the auncients that when they intended to breake off friendship with any they forbad them their house and that then the friendship ended which he had done to Labeo who blamed for euill gouernment in the Prouince and other matters couered his fault by accusing others vainely putting his wife in feare who was out of danger though not without fault After this Mamercus Scaurus was accused againe of a noble house and a great orator yet of reprochfull life His friendship had with Seianus did nothing hurt him but the hatred which Macro bare him was his ouerthrow who practised the same artes that Seianus had done but more couertly The accusation was an argument of a Tragedie written by Scaurus contayning verses which might be wrested against Tiberius But Seruilius and Cornelius his accusers obiected against him that he had abused his bodie with Liuia and offered magicall sacrifices Scaurus as a thing worthie of the auncient AEmilian familie preuenteth his condemnation by killing himselfe at the incouragement of his wife Sexitia who was both an encourager and partaker of his death Notwithstanding if occasion were giuen he punished the accusers likewise as Seruilius and Cornelius famous by the death of Scaurus bicause they had taken money of Varius Ligur to desist from the accusation were perpetually banished into certaine Ilands And Abudius Ruso once Acdile whilest he went about to procure danger vnto Lentulus Getulicus vnder whom he had charge of a legion bicause he had purposed to marrie his daughter to Seianus sonne was condemned without accusation and driuen out of the citie Getulicus at that time had charge ouer the legions of higher Germanie and had gotten exceeding loue for his clemencie and small seueritie and of the next army welbeloued by meanes of L. Apronius his father in law Whereupon the constant report was that he was so bould as to write vnto Caesar That the affinitie betwixt him and Seianus was begun not of his owne motion and desire but through Tiberius counsell and that as well he as Tiberius might be deceiued and that the selfe same errour could not be to him alone dangerlesse and to others vtter ruine for his part that his loyaltie was trustie and sure and so would continue if snares had not beene laide to intrap him that he would accept of a successor in his charge no otherwise than of a messenger of death and therefore that they should strike as it were an agreement by which the Prince should be master of the rest and that he would keepe and hold the Prouince Although these things seeme verie strange yet were they beleued bicause he alone of all Seianus liesmen escaped without danger and continued in great fauour and grace The reason why was bicause Tiberius thought with himselfe being now aged and hated of all men that his estate would rather continue by fame then force VIII The Parthians complained on Artabanus in whose roome Tiberius placeth Phrahates Pharasmanes gaineth a battell against Orodes King of Armenia WHen C. Cestius and M. Seruilius were Consuls certaine noble men of Parthia came to Rome without the priuitie of Artabanus their King He for feare of Germanicus was faithfull to the Romans and iust towards his subiects but after Germanicus death became proude towards vs and cruell towards his subiects confident by reason of prosperous successe in warres had against his borderers and despising Tiberius as weake old and vnfit for warres and greedy also of Armenia into which after the death of King Artaxia he put his eldest son Arsaces as gouernor iniuring them with contumelious speeches Then sent to redemaund the treasurie and riches left in Syria and Cilicia by Vonones and withall vaine-gloriously bragged and threatned that he would inuade and conquer the ancient bounds and limits of the Persians and Macedonians and recouer all that had beene possessed by Cyrus and Alexander But the principall author and perswader of sending secret messengers to Rome was Sinnaces a man both noble and wealthie and next vnto him Abdus an Eunuch a matter of no disgrace among the Barbarians nor barre to credit and authoritie These two drawing the principall noble men of the countrey to them because they could haue none of the blood of the Arsacides to be their King most of them being slaine by Artabanus or vnder yeeres demaunded Phrahates King Phrahates sonne which was at Rome for saide they there needed no more but the name and consent of Caesar and one of the blood of Arsacis to shew himselfe vpon the bankes of Euphrates That did Caesar desire and prouided for him accordingly with preparations and necessaries to seat him in his fathers kingdom holding still his secret drift by entertayning forraine countries by sleights and pollicie in warre to keepe all quiet at home In the meane space Artabanus vnderstanding what was wrought against him at the first was slow and lingered for feare then boyled with desire of reuenge For barbarous people count temporizing and delay as base and seruile and to goe through presently their deseignments a royall pointe Yet profit tooke place and thereupon sending for Abdus vnder colour of amitie to a banket gaue him a lingring poison and entertained Sinnaces with fained friendship and gifts and busied him in other imployments But Phrahates arriued in Syria and laying aside the Romans manner of liuing in which he had beene so manie yeeres nourished giuing himselfe to the Parthian vsage and vnable to brooke it fell sicke and died Yet Tiberius held on his determination and chose Tiridates one of the same stocke and an enimie to Artabanus and incited Mithradates Hiberus to recouer Armenia and reconciled him to his brother Pharasmanes which then possessed that Empire and maketh L. Vitellius general ouer all this preparation of the Orient I am not ignorant what a sinister report ranne of him in the citie with what infamous matters he was touched yet in gouerning of the Prouinces he demeaned himselfe according to the vertue of auncient times But returning frō thence through the feare of Caesar familiarity of Claudius being changed into a base abiect seruilitie became a patterne vnto posteritie of shamefull flatterie and so his first vertues gaue place to his latter vices and the vertuous acts of his youth his infamous old age defaced Of these pettie Kings Mithradates first induced
of good luck but take it away againe but hauing made a bridge with vessels and pasled ouer his armie the first which came to the camp was Ornospades with many thousand of horsemen This Ornospades once a banished man brought no small ayde to Tiberius when he made warre in Dalmatia and for that seruice was made citizen of Rome After this entering anew into the kings fauour he made him ruler of all that countrey which lieth betweene two famous riuers Euphrates and Tigris and thereof tooke the name of Mesopotamia Not long after Sinnaces augmented his forces and Abdageses the stay of that side ioyned vnto them the wealth and preparation of the king Vitellius thinking it inough only to haue shewen the Romās power aduertised Tiridates and the chiefe nobles of Parthia but especially Tiridates that he would alwaies haue in minde as things worth remembrance Phrahates his grandfather Caesar his bringer vp the nobles to be dutifull to their king shew a reuerence vnto vs and euery man to haue a care of his credit and fidelitie and from thence turned back with the legions into Syria I haue ioyned together things done in two sommets to recreate the minde of the reader wearied with domesticall aduersities But Tiberius although three yeeres were past and gone since the death of Seianus could not be appeased neither by time nor prayers no nor by punishing his fill things wont to mollifie other men but would punish vncertaine and stale things gone and past as manifest offences and newly committed Whereupon Fulcinius Trio fearing this dealing and not able to indure the accusers which were now bruing matter against him in his last will and testament composed many cruell things against Macro and certaine of the chiefe of Caesars freed men obiecting against himselfe that he had a fickle and vnconstant head through age and that by his cōtinuall absence he differed little from a banished man Which things being concealed by Trios heires Tiberius commaunded publickly to be recited shewing thereby patience in another mans libertie and small regard of his owne infamie or else because he was ignorant of Seianus villanies vntill that time and content that all things howsoeuer they were spoken should come to light and haue the truth knowne which flattery often hindereth rather to his owne shame and reproch then not at all The same time Granius Martianus a Senator being accused of treason by C. Gracchus slew himselfe Tatius Gratianus likewise who had been Pretor and condemned to die by the same law Not vnlike deaths vnto the former had Trebellienus Rufus and Sext. Paconianus for Trebellienus killed himselfe with his owne hands and Paconianus was strangled in prison because he had there composed certaine verses against the Prince Tiberius did not receiue these newes deuided from Italie by sea or by messengers a farre off as he was wont to do but neere vnto the citie where he might the same day or the next morning answere the Senators letters as it were looking vpon the bloud of the citizens flowing in their houses and the hand of the executioners In the end of this yeere Poppaus Sabinus gaue vp his ghost a man of meane parentage yet through the fauour of Princes had beene Consull and triumphed and gouernor ouer the greatest prouinces foure and twentie yeeres not for any excellent skill that was in him yet able to discharge the office and no more X. The Clites rebell against Archelaus King of Cappadocia Tiridates King of Parthia his conquests Artabanus being recalled driueth out Tiridates QVintus Plautius and Sext. Papinius were Consuls the yeere following This yeere the people of Rome were so inured to calamities that they thought it not hard dealing that L. Aruseius and others were put to death but they were greatly dismayed to see Vibulenus Agrippa a gentleman of Rome immediatly after the accusers had ended their oration in the Curia to draw poison out of his bosome and drinke it and being fallen downe and yeelding vp his ghost yet to be in all haste caried by the sergeants to prison and already halfe dead incontinētly to be strangled No not Tigranes who had been sometimes King of Armenia but then arraigned could with his royall title escape the same punishment that was inflicted vpon bare citizens C. Galba sometime Consull and two of the Blaesi died of a voluntarie death Galba bicause by Caesars hard rigorous letters he was forbidden to cast lots for the gouernment of the prouince the Blaesi because that the priesthoodes which were destined vnto their house whilest it was in prosperitie and now being decayed deferred and bestowed vpon others when they were vacant which they construed as a prognosticate of death and therefore did execute it themselues Aemilia Lepida whom as I haue before told you was married vnto yong Drusus charging him with diuers crimes although she were most lewde and wicked yet escaped scotfree and vnpunished whilest Lepidus her father liued but afterwards she was conuinced of manifest adulterie with one of her bondmen and therefore laying aside all defence ended her life with her owne hands At the same time the Clites being a people of Cappadocia and subiect to Archelaus because they were according vnto our custome constrained to bring in the value of their yeerely reuenewes and pay tributes fled to the hill Taurus and there by the strong site of the place defended themselues against the weake forces of their King vntill M. Trebellius Lieutenant sent thither by Vitellius Lord president of Syria with foure thousand legionaries and certaine choise ayd-souldiers had compassed and enuironed with engins and works two hils which the barbarians possessed the lesser called Cadra the other Dauara killing those which durst issue out with the sword and forcing the rest to yeeld for want of water But Tiridates ayded by the Parthians recouered Nicephorium and Anthemusias and other townes which lying in Macedonia yet are called by Greeke names and Halum and Artemita townes of Parthia striuing who had best cause to reioyce Artabanus being odious vnto them for his crueltie as brought vp among the Scythians and hoping that Tiridates would be courteous and gentle as trained vp and fashioned after the Romaine behauiour and education The Seleucians vsed great flatterie their citie is very strong enuironed with walles and not corrupted with barbarous fashions but retained such as their founder Seleucus gaue them Their manner is to choose three hundred either for wealth or wisedome and of them make as it were a Senate The people kept their part in gouernment and as long as they agree among themselues the Parthian they feare not but falling to iarres and contentions whilest each side calleth for aide against his aduersary he who is called by one of the parties mastereth both That hapned of late vnder Artabanus who for his owne commoditie made the people subiect to the chiefe gentlemen where the people beare the sway that gouernment approcheth neerest vnto libertie but the rule of a few
he should be readie to obey Messallinaes commaundements Alleaging that others had offended for rewards and hope of aduancement but he of necessitie and that no mans case should haue beene harder than his if Silius had become Emperour Caesar mooued with these speeches and proue to mercie yet the freed men altered his minde affirming that seeing so manie notable personages had beene put to death he should not spare a stage player and that it was all one whether constrayned or voluntarily he had committed so lewd a fact Traulus Montanus a gentleman of Romes defence was not receiued This yoong man being of modest behauiour and comely feature of bodie not thinking on any such matter was sent for by Messallina who inioying him onely one bare night would afterward no more of him being of nature as readie to loath as to like and lust Suilius Cesoninus and Plautius Lateranus onely had pardon graunted them This in regard of his vncles great merits Cesoninus through his impuritie and vnnaturall abusing of his bodie All this while Messallina in Lucullus gardens prolonged her life made her supplications sometimes with hope and sometimes with anger so proudly she shewed her selfe euen in her extreamest danger And if Narcissus had not hastened her death she had turned the mischiefe vpon the accusers head For Claudius being returned home againe and his choler well cooled in a banket after he had waxt warme with wine commaunded that one should goe and tell that wretch for that terme they say he vsed that shee should appeere the next day to plead her cause Which being vnderstoode and fearing least his anger should relent and his loue if they should defer the matter that night which was alreadie come the remembrance of his wiues chamber should reuiue and returne Narcissus rusht out and told the Centurions and the Tribune which were present that they should put her to death and that the Emperour had so commaunded and Euodius one of his freed men was appointed to assist and see it executed Who hastening to the gardens found her along on the earth and Lepida her mother sitting by her alwaies at iarre with her daughter whilest she flourished in prosperitie yet in her last extremities ouercome with compassion perswaded her not to tarrie for the executioner that her life was past that she should looke for no other honor then by killing her selfe But her minde corrupted with filthy sensualitie there was no sparke of honesty left her teares and lamentations were in vaine Then the doores being violently broke open the Tribune stoode in amaze and in a great dumpe without one word speaking the freed men rebuked her with many seruile reproches Messallina then first of all considering of her estate tooke a sword which in vaine through trembling feare she put to her throat then to hir breast which at last was thrust through with a blow which the Tribune lent her and her bodie graunted her mother Then word was brought Claudius as he was a banquetting that Messallina was dead not telling him whether by her owne hand or any mans else neither did he aske so much but called for the cup and went forward as he was woont to do at his banket Neither the daies following gaue he any tokens of hate ioie anger sorrow or of any other humane affection not when he saw the accusers ioyfull not when his children sad The Senate helped him to forget her by giuing order that her name and image should be pulde downe from all publicke and priuate places It was ordained that the ornaments of the Questorship should be bestowed vpon Narcissus the lightest point of his authoritie seeing he was the chiefest after Gallus and Calistus an honest degree and priuiledge but of which rose very many lewd actions which escaped vnpunished THE TWELFTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Three of Claudius freedmen deliberat vpon a wife for him THe Emperours house being diuided through the death of Messallina his freed men fell into contention which of them should choose Claudius a wife alreadie thundering against a single life and thrall to his wiues will The women on their side burnt with no lesse ambition eache of them comparing their nobilitie beautie and wealth set foorth themselues and vaunted they were woorthie of so great a match But the chiefest doubt was betwixt Lollia Paullina daughter to M. Paullinus once Consull and Iulia Agrippina Germanicus daughter Pallas fauoured her and Calistus the other AElia Petina of the house of the Tuberoes was fauoured of Narcissus The Emperour himselfe was easily carried now hither now thither according as he had heard euerie of their perswasions and disagreeing the one from the other calleth them to a consultation and commaundeth each of them to vtter and yeelde a reason of his opinion Narcissus beginneth with his old marriage and familie common to them both for he had had Antonia by Petina and that he should haue no new chaunge in his house if his olde wife should returne againe who would not with the eie of a step mother looke vpon Britannicus and Octauia the neerest pledges vnto her owne children Calistus sheweth that being reiected by a long diuorsement if she should be taken againe she would become prowd and haughtie therefore it were far better to take Lollia seeing she was without emulation and children and therefore would be in steed of a mother to hir husbands children But Pallas extolled in Agrippina aboue other qualities that she should bring with her Germanicus nephewe woorthy in all regards of the imperiall highnes extracted of a noble race and Claudian familie which should vnite their posteritie least a woman fruitfull in child-bearing and in the flowre of her youth should carrie with her the glorie of the Caesars to another house This perswasion with some helpe of Agrippinaes allurements suncke deepest who often comming to visit him vnder colour of kindred so wonne her vncle that being preferred before all others though yet not his wife tooke vpon her the authoritie of his wife For as soone as she was assured of the marriage she beganne to laie plots for greater matters and vndertooke a match betweene Domitius whom shee had had by Gn. AEnobarbus and Octauia Caesars daughter which without shame and discredit could not be accomplished because Caesar had betrothed Octauia to L. Silanus a yoong man besides other vertues of noble parentage and on whom Caesar had bestowed the markes of triumphe and licenced to set foorth a playe of fencers withall pompe and magnificence to win the loue and fauour of the people But nothing seemed hard to the Princes minde who had neither iudgment nor malice but what was put into him or commaunded Vitellius therefore cloking vnder the name of a Censor base and seruile deuises fore seeing into whose handeling rule and dominion would shortly come to winne Agrippinaes fauour began to intermedle and thrust himselfe into her counsels and carrie tales against Silanus who had a
letters were written to Caenina Tuschus to come and take charge of the guard but that Burrhus credit was saued and kept in his office by Senecaes meanes Plinie and Cluuius seeme there was no doubt made of Burrhus loyaltie and in verie deede Fabius inclineth much to the commendation of Seneca as one of his preferment But our meaning is to follow the consent of authors and if any affirme contrarie we will deliuer it vnder their names Nero trembling for feare and exceeding desirous of the death of his mother could not indure the delay vntill Burrhus had promised to performe it if she were conuicted of the crime But euerie man might alleage what he could for his defence much more a mother Neither were there any accusers present and nothing to ground on but one mans report out of an enimies house He was to cōsider that it was night and that spent in banqueting and therefore all would seeme to smell of rashnes and folly The Princes feare somewhat lightened by these speeches and the day come one went to Agrippina to let her vnderstand of the accusation to purge her selfe or looke to suffer Burrhus was to do the message in presence of Seneca with some freed men as witnes of the speeches Then Burrhus hauing declared the accusation and the authors of it vsed threatning termes and Agrippina not forgetting her old fiercenes returned him his answere saying I maruell not if Silana neuer hauing had childe know not what the affections of mothers are neither are children changed by their parents as adulterers by shamelesse women Neither if Iturius and Caluisius hauing wasted their substance bestow this their last labour in vndertaking this accusation therefore am I to sustaine the infamie of parricide or Caesar haue scruple of conscience that I would commit it as for Domitia I would thanke her for the hate she beareth me if she would likewise in good will and loue towards my Nero striue with me Now by her concubine Atimetus and Paris the stage player she doth as it were compose fables for the stage She was busie about her fish pooles of Baia when by my counsels Neroes adoption proconsularie authoritie election to be Consull and other steps to mount to the Empire were procured Or else let some one be brought foorth to make it appeere that I haue practised with the citie-cohorts corrupted the loyaltie of the Prouinces or sollicited bond-men or freedmen to rebellion I might haue liued if Britannicus had beene soueraigne but if Plautus or some other should get the rule of the common-wealth forsooth there should want accusers to laye to my charge not wordes sometimes vnaduisedly escaped thorough feruencie of loue but such crimes also from which I could not be acquited but as a mother by hir son The assistance moued with these speeches and endeuoring to appease her anger she requireth to speake with her sonne before whom she spake nothing in defence of her innocencie as if she had distrusted or of her benefits as to vpbrayd him but obteined reuenge of her accusers and rewards for hir friends The charge and office of prouision of corne was giuen to Senius Rufus the commission of plaies which Caesar was a preparing to Aruntius Stella Aegypt to C. Balbillus Syria was appointed to P. Anteius then abused with diuers deuises and in the ende detained in the citie But Silana was banished Caluisius also and Iturius Atimetus was executed Paris being in greater credit by reason of pleasures ministred to the Prince then that he should be put to death Plautus was sent away for the time with silence Pallas after this and Burrhus were accused to haue practised to call Cornelius Sylla for noblenes of birth and affinitie with Claudius whose sonne in lawe he was by marriage of Antonia to the Empire The author of that accusation was one Paetus a man infamous by causing debters to forfeit their goods and then manifestly conuicted of vanitie and falshoode Neither was Pallas innocencie so gratefull as his pride insupportable for when some of his freed men were saide to haue beene priuie to the practise he made answer that in his house he appointed nothing to be done but with a nod of his head or hand or by writing if he had much to say least if he shoulde haue spoken vnto them he should seeme to haue made them his fellowes Burrhus although accused yet gaue sentence among the iudges Paetus the accuser was banished and the writings burnt by which he went about to renewe the recordes of the treasurie alreadie cancelled In the end of the same yeere the gard of the soldiers which was woont to be at the plaies was taken away for a greater shew of libertie and bicause the souldier being absent from the disorder of the Theater shoulde be lesse corrupt and the people shewe by proofe whether they would vse modestie if the guarde were away The prince hallowed and purged the citie with sacrifices by aduise of the southsaiers bicause Iupiters and Mineruaes temples were set on fire with lightning VI. Neroes disorders the case of the franchised debated an order for certaine magistrates Q. Volusius and P. Scipio being Consuls there was peace abroad filthie lasciuiousnes at home during which Nero gadded vp down the streetes to infamous brothell houses by-corners in slaues attire to be vnknown accompanied with such as snatched away wares from mens stales wounded such as met them and with such small regard whome that Nero himselfe hath receiued and carried away blowes and marks on the face And when it was knowne to be Caesar which played those pranks the disorder grew greater against both men and women of accompt and with like licentiousnes abusing Caesars name many practised the same insolencies gathered together in particular companies and so spending the night as it had been in taking a towne and captiuitie One Iulius Montanus a Senator who had not yet taken vpon him the dignitie by chaunce coping with the Prince in the darke and rudely thrusting him backe as he offered him violence then knowing him and crauing pardō was inforced to die as though therby he had reproched him of folly Nero more wary and fearefull after that went not without a rabble of souldiers and fencers which medled not at the first and whilest the prince made his party good but after if he were ouermatched by such as he abused they layd hands immediately on their weapons He turned the disordered licence at plaies and part-taking in fauor of stage players almost to a mutinie by giuing impunitie and rewards himselfe priuily or for the most part openly looking on vntill the people growing to sedition and fearing greater stirres no other remedie was found then to expell the stage-players out of Italie and place a gard of souldiers againe on the theater At the same time the deceit and vngratefull behauior of freed men was debated in Senat and instant sute made that the patrons might haue authoritie to reuoke the
conspiracie more grieuous to Neroes eares who as readie and prompt to all mischiefes so vnaccustomed to heare of that he had done The punishment of Flauius was committed to Veianus Niger Tribune He in the next field commaunded a pit to be digged which Flauius finding fault with as not deepe inough sayd to the souldiers standing by This is not according to the order of seruice And being willed to stretch out his neck stoutly I would to God said he thou wouldest strike so stoutly Who quaking very much when he had scarse cut off his head at two blowes bragged to Nero of his crueltie saying that he was killed with halfe a blow The next example of constancie the Centurion Sulpitius Asper did shew for Caesar asking him why he had conspired his death answered briefely That so many his villanies could not otherwise be redressed Then he sustained the punishment commanded Neither did the rest of the Centurions degenerate in bearing their punishments But Fenius Rufus had not the like courage but set downe his griefes and lamentations in his testament Nero expected that Vestinus the Consull should also be drawen into the action iudging him violent and an enemie to him but the conspirators would not communicate their deseignments with him some by reason of old grudges but more because they thought him rash headie and insociable Furthermore Neroes hatred against Vestinus proceeded of their inward familiaritie the one contemning the Princes knowne cowardlines and the other fearing the fell courage of his friend often iesting at him with bitter skoffes which when they carry much truth with them leaue behinde them a biting memorie Besides there was a fresh cause of malice betweene them because Vestinus had married Statilia Messallina not ignorant that Caesar kept vnlawfull companie with her Therefore no crime no accuser appearing because he could put on no shew of accusation he fled to his absolute power sendeth Gerelanus the Tribune with a band of souldiers inchargeth him to preuēt the Consuls deseignmēts seise vpō his house which was as it were his fortresse and slew his chosen cōpanie of youth because Vestinus had his house looking ouer the market place and handsome slaues all of one age He had fulfilled that day all the duties of a Consull and making a banquet fearing nothing or else dissembling his feare the souldiers entred in and when word was brought him that he was called by the Tribune he rose without any delay had all things prepared him in a trice shut himself vp in his chamber had his Phisition at hand which cut his vaines and being yet lustie was caried to a bath put in hot water not once vttering a word which could argue either griefe or compassion on himselfe Those which were at table with him were in the meane time beset with a gard and not dismissed till the night was farre spent and then Nero imagining and laughing at the feare they were in as looking for their imminent ruine sayd they had paied enough for the Consuls good cheere XVI Lucanus and Quinctianus death Neroes liberalitie to the souldiers Who Nymphidius was The Senators flattery toward Nero. AFter that he commanded the death of M. Annaeus Lucanus who perceiuing as his bloud went out his feete and hands to waxe cold and his spirites by little and little to forsake the exterior parts of his bodie his hart yet strong his wit fresh remembring verses made by himselfe in which he represented a souldier wounded and dead with the like kinde of death rehearsed the verses themselues which were the last words he spake After that Senecio and Quinctianus not according to their former effeminat life and the residue of the conspirators were put to death neither speaking nor doing any thing worthie memorie But in the meane time the citie was filled with funerals the Capitoll with sacrifices one hauing his brother another his sonne put to death or friend or neere kindred gaue thanks to the gods deckt his house with Bayes fell downe at the Emperors knees and wearied his right hand with kisses And he thinking it to be done for ioy rewardeth with impunitie Antonius Natalis and Ceruarius Proculus speedie detection and Milichus enriched with recompences tooke vnto him a name which in the Greeke signifieth a sauiour And Granius Siluanus the Tribune although quit yet slew himselfe Statius Proximus frustrated the pardon which he had receiued of the Emperour by the vanitie of his death After this Pompey Cornelius Martialis Flauius Nepos and Statius Domitius were depriued of the Tribuneship not because they hated the Prince but yet supposed so to do Nouius Priscus for the friendship he had with Seneca and Glitius Gallus and Annius Pollio diffamed rather then conuicted were sent into banishment Antonia Flacilla Priscus wife followed him Egnatia Maximilla did the like with Gallus at the first all their wealth which was great left them then taken away both which increased their glorie Rufus Crispinus was banished also vnder colour of the conspiracie but hated of Nero because he had beene Poppaeas husband Verginius Rufus great reputation was cause of his exile for Verginius furthered the studies of youth with eloquence and Musonius with precepts of Philosophie Cluuidienus Quietus Iulius Agrippa Blitius Catulinus Petronius Priscus Iulius Altinus as it were an armie to make vp a number were banished to the Iles of the Aegaean sea But Cadicia Sceuinus wife and Cesenius Maximus were banished Italie knowing by the punishment only that they were called in question Annaeus Lucanus mother Atilla though not acquited yet was let go without punishment These things done by Nero calling the soldiers together to an oration he bestowed by pole vpon euery souldier vnder bands two thousand Nummi and corne without any price which they had before according to the rate it was sould Then as though he would declare some exploit done in war assembled the Lords of the Senate bestowed the ornament of triumphe vpon Petronius Turpilianus Consull Cocceius Nerua Pretor elect Tigellinus captaine of the gard and so extolling Tigellinus and Nerua besides their triumphall images in the Forum he placed their images also in the Pallace He gaue Nymphidius also the ornaments of a Consull of whome I will speake a little because now is the first occasion offered for he also was part of the Roman miseries He therefore sonne of a freed woman which had abandoned and made common her comely bodie to Princes bonde and freede men affirmed he was begotten by C. Caesar because by some chance he was tall of personage and of a sterne grim countenance or else C. Caesar being desirous of light-women had abused his mother also But Nero the Senators assembled and an oration made among them published an Edict to the people and added the informations and confessions of the condemned because he was often diffamed in the peoples mouth as though he had executed innocent persons for enuie or feare Neuerthelesse those which had a care
of knowing the truth did neither then doubt but the conspiracie was begun growne to ripenes and set on foote againe as those which returned to the citie after Neroes death confessed But in the Senate all of them according to each mans griefe abiecting themselues to flatterie Alienus Clemens bitterly inueighed against Iunius Gallio amazed with the death of his brother Seneca and intreating for his owne life calling him enemie and parricide vntill the whole Senate shewed their dislike therein least hee shoulde seeme to abuse publicke calamities and make them occasion of his priuate grudge or drawe the Prince to new crueltie forgotten and tempered with clemencie Then order was taken that gifts and thanks should be rendered the gods and peculiar honor done to the Sunne vnto whome there is an old temple in the Cirque in which the enterprise should haue beene accomplished who disclosed by his diuine power the secrets of the confederacie and that the Circensian pastime in honor of Ceres should be exhibited with more horse races and that the moneth of Aprill should beare the surname of Nero that a Temple should be built to Salus in the place from whence Sceuinus had taken the rapier which he himselfe had offered vp in the Capitol and wrote vnder it To Iupiter the reuenger Which presently was not noted but after that Iulius Vindex had taken armes it was interpreted as a foretelling and presage of future reuenge I finde in the commentaries of the Senate that Cerealis Anicius Consull elect gaue his censure that a Temple should be built with all speede at the common charge to diuine Nero which he thought conuenient as though exceeding the highest mortall degree he had deserued to be worshipped of men which after was knowen to be a token and foretelling of his end For the honor of the gods was neuer giuen the Prince vntill he were dead and gone out this mortall life THE SIXTEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Nero consumeth much in seeking out a hidden treasure which Cesellius Bassus dreamt of The death of Bassus Nero contendeth on the Stage for the prise of playing on the Harpe AFter that time Fortune began to delude Nero through his own vanitie taking hold of a promise made by Cesellius Bassus who being an African borne and busie headed built an assured hope vpon the shadow of a dreame which he had in the night And come to Rome hauing bought accesse to the Prince declareth that there was a caue in his ground of a huge depth wherein was contained great quantitie of gold vncoyned and vnwrought in a masse as in old time it was wont to be hidden For there lay a wall of very heauie bricks on the one side and on the other pillers standing vpright all which had laine hidden many yeeres to increase the wealth of the present time And as coniecture doth shewe Dido the Fenissian fleeing from Tyrus after she had built Carthage hid that treasure there least the newe people with ouer-great wealth should become wanton and riotous or the King of the Numidians their olde enemie for greedines of their gold sometime be incensed to make warre against them Whereupon Nero not well assured of the credit of the Author or certaintie of the busines nor any sent to view and learne whether a truth were reported of himselfe encreaseth the rumour and sendeth some to bring away all as it were a pray alreadie gotten Galleies and choise vessels were appointed to helpe to hasten the matter the people hauing no other speech in their mouth but that treasure through the credulousnes of the discouerer though not reporting of it all alike And it fell out by chaunce that the Quinquennale pastime which euerie fift yeere being represented was then the second time celebrated which ministred the orators their chiefest subiect to commend the Prince saying That the earth did not now bring forth only the vsuall fruits nor gold mingled with other mettals but a new plentie and that the gods themselues bestowed wealth in all aboundance and manie other things with great eloquence and no lesse seruile and base flatterie they fained being assured of easie beliefe in the hearer Riotuousnes in the meane time grew greater by vaine hope and the old wealth was consumed as though the other had beene offered prodigally to waste many yeeres Yea from thence largesses were bestowed and the expectation of that wealth was a cause in part of the publicke pouertie For Bassus hauing digged his ground and large fields round about auouching boldly this or that to be the promised caue not onely souldiers followed him but the countrey people were taken to dig and labour at length leauing his sottishnes and maruelling that his dreames neuer prooued false before and that he was neuer deceiued vntill then ridde himselfe of shame and feare by killing himselfe Some haue reported that he was imprisoned and set at libertie againe incontinently his goods first taken to the Princes treasure In the meane time the Senate the Quinquennale pastime drawing neer to shadow his shame offereth him the victorie of singing and withall the crowne of eloquence to colour the reproch of his singing on the Stage But Nero saying that he needed not the authoritie and fauour of the Senat in that respect as able of himself to make his partie good with his concurrents little doubting but that by the vprightnes of the iudges he should obtaine his deserued praise sang first of all a verse on the Stage then the people instantly crauing that he would publish all his studies for those were their words he entereth the Theater and obserueth all the orders of the Harpers as that being wearie yet he should not sit downe that he should not wipe off his sweate but with the garment he wore that no excrements should be seene at his mouth or nose And last of all kneeling and shewing a reuerence to the assembly with his hand expected the iudges sentence with a counterfeite feare And the citie-people accustomed also to approoue the gestures of the players answered him with a certaine measure and artificiall applause Thou wouldest haue thought they had reioyced and perhaps they did for the iniurie of the publick discredit But those which from townes farre off retaining as yet the auncient seueritie and custome of Italie and from remote Prouinces vnacquainted with dissolute behauiour came either as Ambassadors or for priuate busines could neither indure that sight nor applaude any way so dishonorable a labor but awearie with their vnskilfull clapping of hands and troubling the skilfull were often beaten by the souldiers placed in thicke aray least any moment of time should be lost by an vntuned and disproportionable crie or slothfull silence It is certaine that many horsemen which laboured to passe through the crowd and thicke multitudes were troden vnder feete and others whilest they continued day and night in their places were striken with deadly sicknes And yet if they should haue beene
the auncient manner Nero was against it suffering them to make choise of their manner of death for such kinde of scoffes were vsed after the murders committed P. Gallus a gentleman of Rome because he was inward with Fenius and not an enemie to Vetus was banished the freed man and accuser rewarded for his paines and a place giuen him in the Theater among the beadles of the Tribunes And the month of May which followed Aprill and called Nero was changed into the name of Claudius and Iuly into Germanicus and Cornelius Ofitus whose censure that was saide that therefore the month of Iune was past ouer because two of the Torquatus alreadie executed for their misdemeanors had made the name of Iune vnluckie A yeere continued with so many lewd actions the gods haue marked and made notorious by tempests and diseases Campania was destroied with boisterous stormes of windes which did euerie where beat downe houses woods and graine and brought the violence of it to places adioyning to the citie Where the rage of the pestilence spared none although there was no manifest shew of corruption of the aire to be seene Yet the houses were filled with dead bodies and the waies with funerals no sexe no age free from danger as well bond as free borne indifferently perished amidst the lamentations of their wiues and children who whilest they sat by them and bewailed were often burnt in the same funerall fire The death of gentlemen and Senators although in different with others lesse lamented as though they had by a common mortalitie preuented the Princes crueltie The same yeere they mustered in Gallia Narbonensis Affrick and Asia to supplie the legions of Illyria which worne out either with yeeres or sickenes were freede from their oath The Prince relieued the oalamitie of Lugdunum with fortie hundred thousand sesterces to recouer the losses of their citie which summe of money the Lugdunenses had before bestowed in troubled times III. The death of certaine noble men for desire of their wealth or other iealousies C. Suetonius and L. Telesinus being Confuls Antistius Sosianus banished as I haue sayd before for making slanderous verses against Nero vnderstanding that pickthankes were so honored and the Prince so forward to murders busie minded and not slow in taking hold of occasions insinuateth himselfe through conformitie of fortune into the fauour of Pammenes a banished man of the same place and for his skill in the Chaldean arte supported by the friendship of many This Antistius supposing that messages and consultations came not to him in vaine vnderstandeth withall that he had money yeerely supplied him by P. Anteius Neither was he ignorant that Anteius through the loue he bare to Agrippina was hatefull to Nero that his wealth as it had beene of others might be a motiue to procure his destruction Whereupon hauing intercepted Anteius letters and stolne his writings wherin the day of his natiuitie and things to come were hidden among Pammenes secrets and withall found those things which had beene composed of the birth and life of Ostorius Scapula writeth to the Prince that he would bring him great newes touching his owne safetie if he might obtaine a short intermission of his banishment for Anteius and Ostorius watch for opportunitie to lay hold on the soueraigntie and searched out their owne and Caesars destinies Therupon swift vessels were sent Sosianus brought with all speed And his accusation diuulged Anteius and Ostorius were reckoned rather among the condemned than accused in so much that no man would haue sealed Anteius testament if Tigellinus had not beene their warrant Anteius was first admonished not to delay the making of his testament but he hauing drunken poison weary of the slow working of it by cutting his vaines hastened his death Ostorius at that time was farre off in the confines of Liguria whither a Centurion was sent to make him away with all speed The cause of the haste proceeded of that that Ostorius being for matter of warre of good reckoning and deserued in Britannie a ciuicall crowne of a mightie strength of bodie and skilfull in armes droue Nero into a feare least he should assaile him alwaies timorous fearfull but then more then euer through the conspiracie lately detected The Centurion therfore when he had beset al escaping places openeth to Ostorius the Emperours cōmandement He conuerted against himself his courage often tried against the enimy And bicause his vaines whē they were opened yeelded but little blood vsing the hand of his slaue only to take out a rapier hold it stedfast he drew his right hand to him and ranne himselfe through the necke If I should haue written of forrein wars and deaths sustained for the common-wealth with diuers other accidents chances yet I should not only haue seemed tedious to my selfe but to others also abhorring the deaths of citizens being dolefull and continuall although honorable But now a seruile patience and so much bloode lost at home doth trouble my minde and oppresse it with griefe Neither do I require any other defence or excuse of those who shall know these things but that they hate them not for dying so cowardly That was certainely the anger of the gods against the Roman state which ought not so easily be runne ouer with once writing as in the ouerthrow of armies or taking of townes Let this prerogatiue be giuen the posteritie of worthie personages that as how they are distinguished from the confuse multitude in the solemnitie of their funerals so in the deliuerie of their last ends that they may receiue and haue a proper and peculiar memorie For within a fewe daies by the same violent course Annaeus Mella Cerialis Anicius Rufus Crispinus and C. Petronius perished Mella and Crispinus were gentlemen of Rome and equall in dignitie with Senators Crispinus once Captaine of the guarde and honored with Consularie ornaments and of late through the conspiracie exiled into Sardinia hauing receiued tydings he should die slew himselfe Mella borne of the same parents as Gallius and Seneca forbare purchasing of dignities by a preposterous ambition to the end that a Roman gentleman might be equalled in authoritie to the Consuls Withall he thought it a shorter course of getting wealth to mannage the affaires of the prince in quality of a Procurator The same Mella was Annaeus Lucanus father which was a great credit to him but after his death seeking out too narrowly his goods stirred vp an accuser against him one Fabius Romanus one of Lucans familiar friends which falsly fathered vpō him the father the priuitie of the conspiracie by counterfeiting of Lucans letters which Nero hauing perused commanded to be caried him gaping after his wealth But Mella which was then the readiest way to death loosed his vaines hauing bestowed in his testament a huge summe of money vpon Tigellinus and on his sonne in law Cossutianus Capito that the rest might stand good He added to his will as it were a complaint
banished because he made shew of his wit though not with any diffamatorie verses VII Soranus daughters oration in Senate and his death IN the meane season Ostorius Sabinus Soranus accuser commeth in and beginneth with his friendship had with Rubellius Plautus and that being Proconsull of Asia he caried himselfe rather as fitting his own nobilitie than the cōmon good by entertayning and nourishiug sedition among the citizens These were stale matters but as if they were fresh he ioined the daughter to the fathers alleaging that she had bestowed money vpon Magicians So it was indeede through the loue and affection Seruilia so was she called bare her father and vndiscretion of age yet she consulted of nothing but of the safetie of their house or whether Neroes wrath would be pacified or the Senators hearing of the cause would be to the preiudice of her father She was called into the Senate and stoode one from the other before the Consuls tribunal the father very aged the daughter vnder twentie yeeres a widow and desolate her husband Annius Pollio of late banished and not so much as looking towards her father whose dangers she imagined she had increased Then the accuser asking her whether she had sould her dowrie ornaments and taken her iewell from her neck to get money to practise magicall superstitions first prostrating her selfe on the ground with a long silence and weeping then imbracing the altars said I haue not called vpon any wicked gods I haue made no diuelish inuocatiōs nor any thing else by my vnhappie praiers then that this my very good father thou ô Caesar you Lords of the Senat would saue aliue So I haue giuen my iewels and apparell and ornaments of my dignitie euen as I would haue done my bloud and life if they had demaunded it Let these men heretofore vnto me vnknowen looke what names they carry what artes they practise I made no mention of the Prince vnlesse it were among the gods Yet my most vnfortunate father knoweth it not if it be an offence I alone haue offended Soranus tooke the words out of her mouth as she was yet speaking and cried that she went not with him into the prouince for her age Plautus could not know her she was not confederate with her husbands crimes she was guiltie only of ouer-great and tender loue and therefore whatsoeuer should sort to his lot he besought them that they would separate his cause from hers withall hastned to cast himselfe in the armes of his daughter which came to meete him if the serieants putting themselues between them had not hindered both By and by the witnesses were heard and how much pitie the crueltie of the accuser had moued so much anger P. Egnatius the witnes sturred This man being a client of Soranus and then hired to oppresse his friende pretended grauitie of the Stoicall sect in demeanor and countenance to represent the patterne of honest exercises but in minde was traiterous and deceiptfull couering auarice and a lewd minde which being discouered and made knowne by money hath taught vs to beware of such as vnder colour of liberall sciences are false in friendship no lesse then of those which are notoriously noted for vice and treacherous dealing The same day was shewed a notable example by Cassius Asclepiodotus who for wealth being the chiefest among the Bithynians vsed the same tokens of kindnes towards Soranus in his aduersitie as before he had done in time of prosperitie for which cause being depriued of all his goods and cast into banishmēt by the iustice of the gods * which lay before vs a precident as well of good as of bad Thrasea Soranus Seruilia had their choise giuen them what death they would haue Heluidius and Paconius were banished Italie Montanus was granted to his father with conditiō that he should beare no charge in the common wealth To the accusers Eprius Cossutianus to each were giuen 5. millions of sesterces to Ostorius 12. hundred thousand the ornamēts of a questor Then toward the euening the Cōsuls Questor was sent to Thrasea being then in his gardēs visited with a great companie of noblemen and women very attentiuely hearing the doctor Demetrius one of the Cynicall sect of whom as it was to be coniectured by his countenance and heard if they speake any thing lowd he demaunded sundrie questions of the nature of the soule and of the separation of the spirit from the bodie vntill Domitius Cacilianus one of his familiarest friends came and declared what the Lords of the Senat had decreed Those which were present bewailing and moning Thrasea with all speede were exhorted to depart least their lot should be to partake the dangers of a condemned person perswadeth his wife Arria who would haue died with him to follow the example of her mother Arria to keepe her selfe aliue and not bereaue their daughter of them both of her only stay and support From thence he went to his gallery where the Questor found him rather cheerefull then sad because he had vnderstood that Heluidius his sonne in lawe was only banished Italie Then hauing receiued the order of the Senate he brought Heluidius and Demetrius into a chamber and stretching out the vaines of both his armes after he saw the bloud gush out sprinkling it on the ground and calling the Questor neerer said Let vs sacrifice to Iupiter the deliuerer Behold yong man yet the gods preserue thee from the like lucke neuerthelesse thou art borne in those times in which it is expedient to strengthen thy minde with constant examples then the slow going out of the bloud causing grieuous torments turning to Demetrius * The rest of the Latin is lost FINIS THE DESCRIPTION OF GERMANIE AND CVSTOMES OF THE PEOPLE BY CORNELIVS TACITVS ALL Germanie is diuided from the Galli the Rhaetians and Pannonians with two riuers Rhene and Danubius from the Sarmatians and Dacians by mutuall feare of one the other or high hils The rest the Ocean doth enuiron compassing broad and wide gulphes and large and spatious Ilands the people and Kings of which hath beene of late discouered by warre The riuer of Rhene hauing his beginning on the top of the inaccessible steep Rhaetian Alpes and winding somewhat towardes the West falleth into the North Ocean Danubius springing from the top of the hill Abnoba not so steepe passing by manie nations falleth by sixe channels into the Ponticke sea the seuenth is lost in the marishes I may thinke that the Germans are home-bred and the naturall people of their countrey and not mixed with others comming from other places bicause such as in times past sought new habitations came by sea and not by land and that huge and spatious Ocean and as I may terme it different from the other is seldome trauelled by our men For besides the daunger of the rough and vnknowen sea who vnlesse it were his natiue soile would leaue Asia or Affricke or Italie and plant