yet remember Agrippina exiled by Tiberius and Iulia banished by Claudius was fresher in memorie but both besides the strength of age had tasted of some pleasure and comforted their present cruell hap with the remembrance of a better estate Vnto this woman her first day of marriage was in stead of a graue being brought into a house in which she could finde nothing but what was dolefull and lamentable her father poisoned and her brother anon after Then the maid greater then the mistres and Poppaea married for no other end but to ruine her and last of all a crime obiected more grieuous then any death But this yong princesse of the age of twentie yeeres being betweene the Centurions and souldiers as it were alreadie depriued of life with the presage of so many miseries yet could not yeeld to death A few daies after she was commanded to be put to death although she protested she was no wife but a widow only and a sister of the Emperours calling to Germanicus ghost to aid her and Agrippinaes likewise in whose lifetime she should indeede haue indured an vnhappie marriage but without danger of death Notwithstanding she was shut vp in prison and all the vaines of her bodie opened but because the bloud stopped with feare issued forth slowly she was killed with the vapor of a very hot bath And a deadlier crueltie also added that Poppaea saw her head cut off and brought to the city for all which it was decreed that gifts should be offered in the temples Which we haue vttered that who soeuer shall either by vs or other writers vnderstand the euents of those times may be assured that as oft as the Prince commaunded either banishment or murder so oft thanks were giuen to the gods and those things which in times past were marks of prosperitie were then badges of publick calamitie Yet neuertheles we will not hold our toong if any decree of Senat hath beene ordained new and strange by flattery or by base and abiect sufferance The same yeere it was thought he empoisoned his chiefest freed men Doryphorus as being against Poppaeas marriage and Pallas because he kept from him infinite wealth by liuing too long Romanus by secret informations accused Seneca as a confederate of Pisoes but he was touched more neere the quick by Seneca for the same fault which droue Piso into a feare and that commencement of great but vnprosperous treasons against Nero. THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Vologeses King of Parthia crovvned King of Armenia by his brother Tiridates is hindered by Corbulo to enioye it and expulsed by Tigranes WHilest these things thus passed Vologeses King of the Parthians vnderstanding what successe Corbulo had in his affaires and how Tiridates his brother being expulsed and Tigranes a stranger made King of Armenia resolued to reuenge the contempt offered the greatnes of the Arsacides yet considering the great power of the Romans and alliance a long time continued was diuersly perplexed as one of his owne disposition slow and lingering and then intangled with many warres by the reuolt of the Hyrcanians a strong and mightie nation And as he thus wauered he was further exasperated by the newes of fresh iniurie for Tigranes gone out of Armenia had wasted and spoiled the Adiabenians a nation bordering farther and longer than any rodes of enemies heretofore Which grieued not a little the chiefe noble men of that nation that they were growen to that contempt that they should be forraged and robbed not of a Roman Captaine but by the rashnes of an hostage so manie yeeres held and esteemed no better than a bond-slaue Monobazus gouernour of the Adiabenians augmented their griefe asking them what remedie or from whence Armenia was alreadie gone and the countrey adioyning would goe shortly after and vnlesse the Parthians would defend them those which yeelded to the Romans should find an easier seruitude then those which were taken Tiridates chased out of the kingdome by silence complayning not a little was no small griefe telling them that great Empires were not maintained by cowardlines but they must trie the valour both of men and armes For among great Princes he seemed to haue most reason and right who had most strength And it was the praise of priuate houses to keepe their owne but the glorie of a King to warre for other nations Vologeses being mooued with these speeches calleth a Councell and placed Tiridates hard by him and thus began This man borne of the same father that I am hauing yeelded vnto me the name of the King in regard I am his elder I did put in possession of Armenia which is reckoned the third part of my kingdome For the Medes Pacorus had before possessed making account that in so doing I had taken away the inueterate hatred which raigneth between brothers and fully setled the state of our familie The Romans hinder this and now breake the peace also to their owne ruine which they neuer yet disturbed but to their owne destruction I will not deny but I had rather hold things gotten by my ancestors by equitie then blood by reason then armes If I haue offended by lingering I will amend it with valour Your strength and glorie is intire with fame of modestie which neither ought to be contemned of the highest and is esteemed of the gods Hauing thus said he put the Diademe on Tiridates head and gaue Moneses a noble gentleman a gallant companie of horsemen which vsually followed the King and withall the aide of the Adiabenians and commaunded Tigranes to be chased out of Armenia Whilest he pacifiying the sedition of the Hyrcanians draweth his whole forces togither and vtmost power of warre threatning the Roman Prouinces Whereof Corbulo being aduertised by certaine messengers sendeth two legions with Verulanus Seuerus and Vectius Bolanus to aide Tigranes with a secret charge they should proceed rather orderly and aduisedly then hastily for he had rather entertaine than make warre And wrote to Caesar that it was needfull to haue a Captaine of purpose to defende Armenia and that Syria by Vologeses approach was in greater danger And in the meane time he lodgeth the rest of the legions by the banke Euphrates leuieth and armeth in haste a power of the countrey people and intercepteth the enimies passages with a garrison And bicause the countrey is scarce of water he fortified hard by the fountaines couered certain small brookes with mounds of sand Whilest Corbulo vsed this preparatiō for the defence of Syria Moneses because he would preuent the rumour of his comming marched with all speed but yet found not Tigranes vnaduertised or vnprouided who had put himselfe into Tigranocerta a verie strong towne well manned and walled Besides this the riuer Nicephorius of a reasonable breadth enuironeth part of the wals and a huge ditch cast in length where the riuer was distrusted as not sufficient There were souldiers within to man it and prouision of necessaries for conueiyng
his sisters sonne being very yoong to the pontificall dignitie and Aedilship and M. Agrippa meanly descended but in martiall exploites warlike and a companion in his victories to be twise Consul togither and after Marcellus death chose him to be his sonne in lawe And his owne house not failing he bestowed the title of Emperor vpon Tiberius Nero and Claudius Drusus his wiues children and adopted Caius and Lucius Agrippaes children and making shew to the contrarie yet his earnest desire was they should be called Princes of youth and chosen Consuls elect before they had cast off their praetext or infants garments But when Agrippa was dead and Lucius going into Spaine to take charge of the armie and Caius returning wounded out of Armenia by hastie fate or trecherie of their stepmother Liuia Drusus also dead long before onely Nero was left of all Augustus sonnes in lawe Vnto him all men now crowched and fawned being receiued the adopted sonne of Augustus copartner of the empire associate of the Tribunitian dignitie shewen to the campe as successor not as before by secret deuises and practises of his mother but openly perswading the Emperor thereto For she had so enthralled the sillie olde man that Agrippa Posthumus his onely nephew he had confined in the Iland Planasia in deede badly trained vp in liberall sciences and sottishly bragging of his strength and actiuitie of bodie but yet neuer detected of any notorious vice He gaue Germanicus sonne vnto Drusus charge ouer eight legions by the riuer of Rhene and commanded Tiberius albeit he had a sonne of his owne to adopt him the better to establish the succession with mo staies than one Wars there were none at that time but onely against the Germans not so much in regard of enlarging the empire hope of bootie or reward as to blot out the dishonor receiued when he lost his armie with Quinctilius Varo All was quiet in the citie the old names of the magistrates vnchanged the yoong men borne after the victorie at Actium and the greatest part of the old during the ciuill wars how many were there which had seene the ancient forme of gouernment of the free Common-wealth Thus then the state of the citie turned vpside downe there was no signe of the olde laudable customes to be seene but contrarie equalitie taken away euery man endeuored to obey the prince misdoubting nothing whilest Augustus yet strong in bodie was able to defend himselfe his house and peace But when he grew olde and feeble with sicknes and that the end of his gouernment and hope of a new was not far off some few but in vaine discourst of the commodities of libertie some feared war some desired it but the greatest part vsed lauish speeches and spred rumors against the next coniectured successor Agrippa they accounted by nature cruell and through the indignitie of his late disgrace easily kindled yoong and rawe in state matters vnable for so great a charge In deede Tiberius was of conuenient and ripe yeeres expert in feates of war but possest with the hereditarie pride of the Claudian familie yea manie apparent sparkles of crueltie did burst out in him howsoeuer he went about to suppresse them Besides he was brought vp in a house which knew how to raigne the Consulship was more than once cast vpon him with triumphes During the time that he was at Rhodes cloking his exile vnder colour of retiring himselfe he dreamte of nothing but reuenge dissimulation and secret meanes of licentious lusts withall he had his mother at hand vntolerable in all imperfections incident to the sexe and thereby they were to obey a woman and two yoong men which would in the meane space oppresse and in time rent in peeces the Common-wealth II. The death of Augustus and Tiberius Nero made Emperour WHilest they thus debated the matter Augustus maladie increased and as it was suspected by some through the lewde practise of his wife For not many months before a rumor was spread that Augustus with the priuitie of a few accompanied only with Fabius Maximus had conueyed himselfe to the Iland Planasia to visite his nephew Agrippa both weeping tenderly at their meeting with manifest tokens of loue and a hope conceiued that the yong man should be recalled and restored to his Grandfathers house Fabius disclosed this to Martia his wife and she to Liuia and C. Nauus to Caesar for not long after Fabius doubtfull whether by his owne procurement or not being deceased his wife Martia among other her lamentations at her husbands funerall was ouer-heard to accuse her selfe as the cause of her husbands death But howsoeuer the matter passed Tiberius had scarse put foote in Illyricum when by letters from his mother he was recalled in post haste not being well knowne when he arriued at Nola whether there were any breath yet left in Augustus or not For Liuia had beset the house with a watchfull and straight gard sometimes giuing out that Augustus was on the mending hand and so hauing made all sure on all hands as the time and occasion required the same rumor which not long before gaue ioyfull newes of Augustus amendment now published that he was dead and Nero in possession of the Empire The first exploit this new Prince did was the murdering of Posthumus Agrippa whom a Centurion resolute and appointed for the purpose and taking him vnarmed and misdoubting nothing yet could hardly dispatch Tiberius made no words of this to the Senate but pretended that it was done by his fathers appointment who as he said had giuen charge to the Centurion which had the garding of him to make him away incontinently after he had intelligence of his death Little doubt but Augustus complaining of the yong mans vntowardly behauior caused his exile to be confirmed by decree of the Senate but yet he neuer persisted long in desiring the death of any of his neither was it credible that to assure the estate to his wiues sonne he would seeke the bloud of his owne nephew But very likely it is that the yong mans death was hastened by Tiberius feare and Liuiaes hatred the one as iealous least he should bandie for the soueraigntie the other through the naturall hatred incident to all stepmothers When the Centurion brought him word as the manner of seruice was that he had fulfilled his commandement he answered presently that he commanded him no such matter and that he should answere it before the Senate When this newes came to Crispus Sallustius eares who being inward in greatest secrets with Tiberius had by letters giuen the Centurion order how to proceede fearing least his owne turne should be next dangerous to him alike to confesse the truth or to stand to a lye aduised Liuia that she should not in any wise diuulgate the secrets of her house the counsell of friends and seruices of souldyers and that Tiberius should beware of weakening the power of soueraigntie in referring all things to the Senate the
hatred to Seneca practised all inuentions to bring him to destruction Natalis confession knowen Sceuinus with the like imbecillitie or beleeuing that all had beene discouered and that no profit could rise by keeping counsell appeached the rest Among which Lucanus and Quinctianus and Senecio long denied the matter And afterward corrupted by promise of impunitie to excuse their backwardnes Lucanus named Atilla his mother Quinctianus Glicius Gallus Senecio Annius Pollio their chiefest friendes And Nero calling to minde in the meane while that Epicharis was in indurance through Volusius Proculus information thinking that a womans bodie was not able to endure much griefe commaundeth her to be rent with tortures but her neither stripes nor fires nor the rage of the tortures which so much the more cruelly racked her least they should be contemned by a woman could ouercome but she denied the crimes obiected and so the first day of torture was contemned The next daie when she was brought to the same tortures in a bearing-chaire for her members out of ioint and broken she could not put foot to ground fastning a lace which she drew from her breast to the bow of the chaire in manner of a sliding knot put her necke into it and weighing downe with the heft of her bodie stopped that little breath she had left A notable example that a freed woman should defend in such great crueltie of torture strangers and almost vnknowen to her when as men and free-borne and gentlemen of Rome and Senators not touched with tortures detected the deerest of their kindred For Lucanus Senecius and Quinctianus stucke not indifferently to bewray their confederates Nero growing more and more fearefull although he had doubled his guard Further he filled the citie and the wals with bands of souldiers and beset both sea and riuer with watch and wards And to and fro by the Forum the houses the fields and townes adioyning footmen and horsmen scoured vp and downe intermingled with Germans whom he best trusted bicause they were strangers XIIII Accusations continued Piso would not take armes his death with Lateranus and Seneca AFter that continuall troupes one after another were drawen to their answere which lay before the gates of the gardens And when they had entered in to defend themselues euerie man triumphed ouer the conspirators If they had spoken togither by chance if met on another on the sudden if at a shew or banket they had beene seene togither it was accounted a crime and besides Neroes and Tigellinus bloodie interrogatories Fenius Rufus not yet detected vrged also vehemently and to winne an opinion that he had not beene consenting to the attempt was cruell against his confederates The same Fenius held backe Subrius Flauius then present and nodding with the head whether in the verie hearing of the matter he should draw his sword and execute the murder and brake his heate euen then putting his hand to his weapon Some there were which seeing the conspiracie detected whilest Milichus was examining and Sceuinus doubteth whether he should confesse or not perswaded Piso to goe to the fort of the guarde or goe vp to the Rostra and found the affection of the souldiers and people saying That if the confederates would ioyne togither the rest which were not priuie would follow them that the fame of an attempt was a great matter and could do much in new enterprises That Nero had made no prouision to withstand him stoutmen were daunted with sudden enterprises much lesse would that stage-player accompanied with Tigellinus and his concubines take armes against him Manie things are done by venturing which to the faint harted seeme hard It was a folly to hope for silence and fidelitie in so many mindes and bodies of partakers by torment or reward all things are made easie And some would come to clap irons on him and put him to a shamefull death How much more commendable were it for him to die embracing the common-wealth and seeking aide for libertie Although the souldier should saile him and the people shrinke frō him if it should cost him his life his death would be glorious as well to his auncestors as his posteritie But nothing mooued with these speeches shewing himself little abroad then keeping within doores confirmeth his minde against death vntill a band of souldiers came which Nero had chosen among the yoong souldiers and such as lately were receiued into seruice suspecting that the old were made on Pisoes side And cutting his vaines yeelded vp the ghost His testament was full of filthie flatteries toward Nero through the loue of his wife whom commendable only for her beautie and nothing sutable to his calling he took from a friend vnto whom she was married Her name was Arria Galla her first husband Domitius Silius he by patience she by vnchastnes spread abroade Pisoes infamie Next followed the death of Plautus Lateranus Consull elect and that with such haste that he suffered him not to imbrace his children nor haue so much as that short time of chosing his death but lead away to a place where slaues were executed was killed by the hand of Statius the Tribune full of constant silence neuer once reproching the guilt of the same fact to the Tribune Then followed the death of Annaeus Seneca most ioiful to the Prince not bicause he had found him manifestly priuie to the conspiracie but bicause he would shew crueltie with the sword seeing poison tooke no effect Onely Natalis this farre did vtter that he was sent to Seneca being sicke to visite him and complaine whie he barred Piso from hauing accesse to him and that it would be better to entertaine their friendship by familiar conuersation And Seneca to haue answered that their interchaung of speech and often communication was profitable for neither of them yet that his safetie did depend on Pisoes welfare These things Granius Siluaenus Captaine of the guarde was commaunded to carrie to Seneca and aske him whether he acknowledged Natalis speeches and bring Senecaes answere Seneca by chaunce or of purpose returned that day from Campania and remained in a countrey house fower miles from the citie Thither came the Tribune the next euening and besetteth the house with a companie of souldiers then openeth vnto him the Emperours charge as he sate at meate with Pompeia Paullina his wife and two other friends Seneca answered that Natalis had been indeede sent to him and complained in Pisoes behalfe that he was forbidden to visit him and that he excused himselfe with sickenes as being desirous of quietnes Why he should preferre the welfare of a priuat man before his owne safetie he had no cause Neither was his inclination much giuen to flatterie as Nero best knew who had oftner tried Senecaes libertie of speech then seruile pleasing When these speeches were brought back by the Tribune in presence of Poppaea and Tigellinus who was of the cruell Princes inward counsell he asketh whether Seneca prepared himselfe any voluntarie death The Tribune
to bewaile and lament alike Neither couldest thou haue discerned the lamentation of kinsfolkes from the stanger nor the women from the men sauing that the fresh griefe of such as went to meete her exceeded the lamentation of her traine alreadie wearied with long continuance of sorrow Caesar had sent two companies of his guarde to meete them and gaue further charge that the magistrates of Calabria the Apuleians Campanians should solemnise the last obsequies in memorie of his sonne The ashes were carried on the Tribunes and Centurions shoulders the ensignes vntrimmed and the fasces or knitch of rods turned downewards went before and when they passed by any colonies the common people in mourning weede and gentlemen in their attire called Trabea according to the wealth of the place burnt garments sweete odors with other accustomed funerall solemnities Yea such whose townes were far off yet met them erected altars offered sacrifices to the infernall gods witnessing their dolour with teares and cries Drusus went to Terracina with his brother Claudius Germanicus children which had remained in the citie The Consuls M. Valerius M Aurelius who began then to enter into office the Senat and a great part of the people filled vp the way scattered hither thither weeping as euery mans affection was Flattery there was none all men knowing that the death of Germanicus ioyfull to Tiberius could badly be dissembled howsoeuer he counterfeited the contrary Tiberius and Augusta abstained from mourning in publicke iudging it a thing vnder their maiestie if they should be seene openly to lament or least the eies of all men obseruing their countenance should espie they did but counterfeit I finde not in any author or diurnall register that his mother Antonia did any thing woorthie memorie in that sole 〈…〉 when as besides Agrippina Drusus and Claudius the rest of his bloud are by name written of either hindered by sicknes or in minde ouercome with sorrow coulde not endure the sight of so heauie a griefe I should easlier haue beleeued that Tiberius and Augusta which kept within doores made hir do the like that their griefe might be iudged equall and that the grandmother and vncle should seeme to haue kept in by the example of the mother The day that the ashes were put in Augustus tombe was sometimes with silence desolate and still and on the sudden vnquiet with weeping all passages of the citie were full Campus Martius shined with burning torches There the soldier with his weapons the magistrates without the markes of their dignitie and calling and the people gathered into tribes and companies cried that the common-wealth was fallen to ground and no hope left and that so openly and boldly that thou wouldest haue beleeued they did not remember by whom they were gouerned Yet nothing went so neere Tiberius hart as the ardent affection men bare Agrippina calling hir the honour of their countrey the onely bloud of Augustus the patterne of antiquitie and turning towards the heauen and the gods praied that hir issue might long continue and ouerliue the wicked Some desired that the funerals might be celebrated with publike pompe comparing the magnificence and honors that Augustus had vsed for Drusus Germanicus father And that he in the hardest time of winter went as farre as Ticinum and how neuer once departing from the bodie accompanied it to the citie That about the coffin were the images of the Claudians and Iulians that he was bewailed in the place of publike assemblies praised with an oration before the people and all honors done him which either our auncestors or later times could inuent But Germanicus had not so much as the vsuall solemnities done for him his body through distance of place was in some sort burnt in strange lands but by so much the more honours shoulde nowe haue beene bestowed vpon him bicause fortune had denied him the first His brothers went to meete him but one daies iourney his vncle not so farre as to the gate Where are the auncient customes become why was not his image put before the Beere and verses sung in memorie of his vertues why was he not praised and bewailed with the vsuall representation of mourning All this was well known to Tiberius and to suppresse the speech of the common people he admonished them by edict That although many notable Romans had died for the common-wealth yet none had euer beene bewailed with such an ardent affection Which was to him and vnto others also honorable so as there were a meane vsed For the selfe same things are not seemly for noble men the Emperor and the common people It was conuenient that small houses or cities shoulde mourne and lament in fresh griefe and after their griefe take comfort againe but now it was time to confirme the minde as Iulius Caesar hauing lost his onely daughter and Augustus his nephewes did cast off all sorrow It was needlesse to alleage auncient examples to shew how oft the people of Rome had suffered constantly the losse of armies death of captaines and the vtter ouerthrow of noble families That princes are mortall and the common-wealth euerlasting Therefore that they should take their solemnities againe and bicause the shew of the Megalensian plaies was at hand returne to their pleasures II. Piso commeth to Rome vvhere he is accused and killeth himselfe THe vacation ended euery man returned to his busines and Drusus went to the armie of Illyricum the people bent to demaund a reuenge of Piso complained that he in the meane time now here now there in the pleasant countrey of Asia and Affrike with a prowd and subtill delay did shift off the proofes brought against his lewdnes For it was commonly rumored that Martina as I haue before said a woman infamous for poisoning was sent to Rome by C. Sentius and being suddenly dead at Brundisium had no token vpon her that she had taken her owne bane and that the poison was found hidden in a knarle of her haire But Piso hauing sent his sonne before him to the citie with lessons how to pacifie the Prince went towards Drusus not hoping to finde him cruell in his behalfe for the death of his brother but rather fauorable as being rid of such a concurrent Tiberius to make a shew of vpright dealing hauing entertained the yong man courteously vsed the like liberalitie towards him as he was accustomed to do to the noble mens children of such as he was familiar with Drusus answered him that if the accusations layd against him were true the greatest griefe should be his and for his owne part he could wish they should be false and vaine and that Germanicus death might be preiudiciall to none These words were openly vttered and not in secret neither was it doubted at all but that Tiberius had before hand taught him his lesson when as being plaine simple and yong yet shewed the cunning of the old man Piso hauing past ouer the Dalmatian sea and left his ships at
ceremonies Dolabella Cornelius onely whilest he went about to exceed others falling into absurd flatterie thought it meete that he should from Campania enter into the citie ouant Wherupon Caesar wrote that he was not so needie of renowne that hauing vanquished most stout and prowde nations and receiued or refused in his youth so many triumphes he would in his old age hunt after a vaine reward of a voiage neere the citie X. Lepidus maketh an oration in defence of C. Lutorius accused of treason ABout the same time he made request vnto the Senat that Sulpitius Quirinius death might be solemnised with publicke funerals Quirinius was not of the auncient patritian familie of the Sulpitians but borne at Lanuuium a free towne a valiant warrior and forwards in all his charges was Consull vnder Augustus of famous memorie Then hauing won by assault the fortresse of the Homonadensians in Cilicia the markes of triumphe were awarded him then giuen as a guide to C. Caesar in the regiment of Armenia and when Tiberius was at Rhodes shewed him all duties of loue which Tiberius did open in Senat praising his dutifulnes towards him and accused M. Lollius to haue perswaded C. Caesar to seditions and lewdnes But vnto the rest the memorie of Quirinius was nothing pleasing by reason as I haue saide of the danger he brought Lepida into and miserable niggishnes and powerable old age In the end of the yeere a cari-tale accused C. Lutorius Priscus a gentleman of Rome who had composed notable funerall verses vpon Germanicus death and receiued money of Caesar for them obiecting that he had made them in honour of Drusus being sicke to the ende that if he had died they should haue beene published for greater reward Those verses Lutorius vpon vaine glorie had read in P. Petronius house in the presence of Vitellia his mother in lawe and many other noble women As soone as the pickthanke had shewed himselfe the rest forced by feare to giue witnes onely Vitellia stood to it that she had heard nothing But more credit being giuen to such as testified to his ouerthrow sentence of death was pronounced against him by Haterius Agrippa Consull elect Against whom M. Lepidus began to speake in this manner If we consider Lords of the Senat with what a wicked toong Lutorius Priscus hath polluted his minde and mens eares neither prison nor halter nor any seruile torments could suffice to punish him But if lewd and heinous facts be without meane yet the moderation of a Prince your own and your auncestors examples do mollifie the punishments and remedies of them vaine things do differ from wicked and words from villanous deedes And therefore iudgment may be giuen by which neither this mans offence goe scot-free we not repent vs either of our clemencie or seueritie I haue often heard our Prince complaine if any by killing himselfe hath preuented his clemēcy Lutorius life is yet in safety who being kept aliue will neither breed danger to the cōmon-wealth nor put to death serue for example to others As his studies were full of follie and without sence so they are likewise vaine and quickly at an end Neither is there any cause to feare any great or serious matter in him who bewraying his owne imperfections doth creepe not into mens but womens breasts Yet let him be expulsed the citie Which I iudge to be all one as if he had been conuicted of treason Among all the Consuls onely Rubellius Blandus agreed with Lepidus the rest following Agrippaes opinion Priscus was lead to prison and immediately depriued of his life The fact Tiberius with his accustomed ambiguitie of words blamed in Senate extolling the zealous affection of seuere punishments of princes iniuries though small yet entreated them that they woulde not so rashlie punish wordes praised Lepidus and rebuked not Agrippa Whereupon a decree of Senate was made that their orders shoulde not be caried to the treasurie before ten daies were expired and that so long the condemneds life should be prolonged But the Senators had no licence to repent and reuoke their sentence and Tiberius not to be pacified by tract of time XI Tiberius letter touching reformation of abuses THe yeere following C. Sulpitius and D. Haterius were created Consuls all being quiet from forrein troubles but seueritie against superfluities suspected at home which was growen to exceeding excesse in all things wherein money is lauishly spent Some of their expences although more vnreasonable yet were cloaked by dissembling their prices but gluttonie and belly-cheere euerie man commonly speaking of put them in feare least the prince shoulde rigorouslie proceed according to the ancient prouident frugalitie For C. Bibulus beginning the other Aediles shewed also that the law cōcerning excesse of expences was nought set by and the sumptuousnes of moueables which was forbiddē daily increased and that it coulde not be redressed by any reasonable meanes And the Lordes of the Senate being demanded their aduise referred the whole matter to the prince But Tiberius often pondered with himselfe whether such exorbitant lustes coulde bebrideled or not whether the brideling of them would not bring more hurt then benefit to the common-wealth how vnseemely and dishonorable it would be to vndertake that which could not be effected or if it could with the ignominie or infamie of noble men and in the end he sent letters to the Senate to this purpose It would be peraduenture conuenient Lords of the Senate that in other matters I should be demaunded my opinion in your presence and speake what I thought to be behouefull for the common wealth but in this relation it was better to withdraw mine eyes least that you noting the countenāce and the feare of euery one of such which should be deprehended of this shamefull lauishing I should also see them and take them as it were in the fault If the Aediles vigilant and carefull men had before hand asked my aduise I know not whether I should rather haue perswaded them to let passe strong and rooted vices then go so far that it should be knowne how vnable we be to redresse some kinde of abuses But they truly haue done their dutie and I wish that other magistrates would also fulfill theirs To me it is neither honest to hold my tongue nor easie to speake because I haue neither the office of an Aedile Pretor nor Consull Some greater matter is required of a Prince and of greater importance and when as euery man attributeth to himselfe the prayse of things well done the faults of all men in generall redounde to the dislike of the Prince alone What shall I begin first to forbid and reduce to the auncient custome your huge and spacious countrey houses the number of your seruitours of diuers nations the quantitie of siluer and gold your painted tables and brasen images of maruellous and exquisite workemanship superfluousnes of apparell both in men and women and those things which are proper vnto women as pretious
moued because Augustus did doubt only whether he should bestow her vpon a gentleman how much more ought we to consider that he gaue her to M. Agrippa and then after vnto me These things I would not hide from thee for the friendship which is betwixt vs but I will not be against thine nor Liuiaes deseignments and will forbeare at this time to speake what I had cast in minde and how neerely I purposed to linke thee vnto me I will only say that there is nothing so excellent but thy vertues and good will towardes me doth deserue it and when opportunitie shall serue I will vtter it either in Senate or before the people Seianus hearing this answere was nothing pleased not so much in regard of the marriage as because he feared Tiberius secret suspitions the rumor of the people and enuie which grew fast vpon him Yet fearing if he should cast off those great troupes which daily came to court him he should weaken his authoritie and by entertaining them minister matter of crime the marke he shot at was to perswade Tiberius to leade his life in some pleasant place far from Rome wherein he foresaw many things as that there could be no accesse to the Prince but by him that all letters being conueied by souldiers which were at his deuotion should passe through his hands that Caesar declining now to age and growen slothfull and effeminat through the quietnes of the place would disburden himselfe of cares of state and commit them to another and that the enuie borne to himselfe should be diminished accesse to the Prince being lesser and by that meanes all vaine shadowes remoued he should grow mightie in true power and authoritie Therefore by little and by little he findeth fault with the busines of the citie the concourse of people the flocking together of multitudes extolleth highly a quiet and solitarie life a life without anguish of minde and free from enuie most fit to thinke on important and waightie affaires And falling out by chance that Votienus Montanus cause was to be heard a man of a readie wit Seianus perceiuing Tiberius not resolued to leaue the citie perswaded him to be a very inconuenient matter to be present at the assemblies of the Senate least he should heare railing and reprochfull speeches but yet true vttered of himselfe in his owne hearing For Votienus being accused of contumelious words against Caesar whilest Aemylius a witnes and a souldier laboured earnestly to prooue his assertion rehearsed from point to point though the hearers buzzed and made a noise about him all Votienus words in which Tiberius heard many spitefull and reprochfull speeches backbitingly vttered in secret against himselfe which so moued him that he cried he would either presently or when the cause was heard purge himselfe and was hardly pacified either with intreatie of his neerest friends or flattery of all and so Votienus was punished as for treason Caesar persisting stifly vsing hard and rough dealing though that was one of the crimes obiected against him condemned to exile Aquilia for adulterie with Varius Ligur although Lentulus Getulicus Consull elect had alreadie condemned her by the Iulian law and put Apidius Merula from his Senators roome because he had not sworne to obserue Augustus actes X. Acontrouer sie betvvixt the Lacedaemonians and Messenians touching the rights of the Temple of Diana Piso Pretor of Spaine slaine by a villagois AFter that were heard the Embasies of the Lacedaemonians and Messenians concerning the right of the Temple of Diana Limenetidis which the Lacedaemonians auowed by the records of their Annales and profices to haue beene dedicated by their predecessors in their countrey but taken from them by Philip of Macedon with whom they warred and afterward restored vnto them by the sentence of C. Caesar and M. Antonius The Messenians on the contrarie side alleaged an old diuision of Peloponesus betweene Hercules successors and that that territorie Dentheliate wherein the Temple was fell to their King whereof there remained auncient monuments engrauen in stones and brasse And if it were necessarie to produce the testimonie of Poets and Chronicles they had more then they of good credit neither had Philip so done by force but according to equitie King Antigonus and the Captaine Mummius gaue the like iudgement So the Milesians being publikely made arbitrators of the cause and last of all Atidius Geminus Pretor of Achaia determined the same Whereupon iudgment was giuen on the Messenians side The Segestani likewise demaunded that Venus Temple built on the hill Eryce and fallen downe with age might be reedified calling to remembrance many things of her beginning pleasing vnto Tiberius eares which mooued him to vndertake willingly the charge as being of her blood After that the Massiliens requests were heard and the example of P. Rutilius allowed who hauing by law been expulsed Rome the Smyrnaeans receiued and made a citizen in their citie By which right also the Massiliens receiued Vulcatius Moschus a banished man who left all his goods to their common-wealth as to his countrey Two noble men Gn. Lentulus and L. Domitius died the same yeere It was to Lentulus a great honour ouer and besides that he was Consull and triumped ouer the Getuli that he endured his pouertie patiently then that hauing gotten great riches without iniuriyng of any he vsed them temperatly Domitius credit grew by his father who was lord of the sea in the ciuill wars vntill he thrust himself into Antonies faction and after that into Caesars His grandfather was slaine in the Pharsalian battell taking part with the nobilitie and himselfe chosen to marrie Antonia Octauius yoongest daughter After that he passed ouer the riuer Albis with his host and entered farther into Germanie than any other before him for which cause he obtained the honour of triumphe L. Antonius of great but vnfortunat nobilitie died likewise for his father Iulus Antonius being put to death for committing adulterie with Iulia Augustus sent him being verie yoong and his sisters nephewe to Marsilles where he cloked the name of banishment with the pretence of studie Notwithstanding he had great honor done him at his funerals and his bones buried in the tombe of the Octauians by decree of the Senat. The same men being Consuls a bloodie fact was committed in hither Spaine by a pesant of Termestine who assayling vpon the way L. Piso Pretor of the Prouince at vnawares and vnprouided as being careles by reason of peace killed him with one stroke then fled in post to the woods and forsaking his horse stealing by dangerous bie-waies beguiled his followers though not long for his horse being taken and brought to the next villages it was knowen whose he was And being found and put to the racke to bewraie his complices cried alowde in his countrey language that that was a vaine question to aske him and that his companions might boldly come and behold him on the torture for no torment or griefe should be
the Rostra by C. Caesar her nephewes sonne who not long after succeeded in soueraigntie But Tiberius omitting no part of his pleasures excused by letters his absence from his mothers obsequies as though he had been hindered by important affaires and vnder colour of modestie cut off many honorable ceremonies which the Lords of the Senate had decreed should be done in memory of her and especially that no diuine ceremonie shuld be ordained for her because said he such was her will And in part of the same letters he found fault with such as went about to win womens fauor good will therein couertly carping the Consull Fusius a man highly in Augustus grace his crafts-master in winning of womens fauor a iesting mate oft accustomed bitterly to skoffe at Tiberius a thing which great potētates keepe long in memory But now Tiberius began to grow worse and worse his rule tyranous for whilest his mother liued there was some refuge left because he had a long time accustomed to shew himselfe dutifull vnto her and Seianus durst not crosse her but then hauing as it were the bridle in their owne hands they brake loose at once and letters were sent against Agrippina and Nero which the common people iudged to haue been sent before but kept back by Augusta for not long after her death they were read in Senate containing bitter and sharp words yet neuer obiected that he had borne armes or stirred any rebellion against him but only vnnatural loues to yong men and incontinēt life But against his daughter in law he durst not obiect so much but only her arrogant and prowd speeches and obstinate minde The Senators were stroken into a feare and silence vntill some few whose hopes depended not on honest meanes but made publick calamities occasion of priuat benefits demaunded that the matter might be referred to voices Cotta Messallinus shewing himselfe most forward with a cruell sentence But the other chiefe gentlemen and especially the magistrates were afraid for although Tiberius had angerly inueighed against them yet he left other things in doubt There was in the Senat one Iunius Rusticus chosen by Caesar to set downe the actes of the Senators and therefore was thought to know best his intent and purpose who either by fatall destinie for before he had giuen no token of his constancie or subtle deuise forgetting imminent perils whilest he feareth vncertainties thrusteth himselfe among the Consuls yet wauering and doubting what to do and aduiseth them not to put the matter to deliberation saying that greatest matters might be turned in a moment and that some space of time ought to be giuen the old man to repent himselfe and the people withall carying Agrippinaes and Neroes images with them enuiron the Senat house and wishing all prosperous fortune to Caesar crie that those letters were false and that the ouerthrow of the Princes house was intended against the Princes will and so there was nothing concluded that day in preiudice of the parties Certaine counterfeit iudgements were spread abroad against Seianus vnder the Consuls names Some men secretly and therefore the more saucily practising their wits as their fancie lead them which yeelded Seianus farther matter of calumniation and kindled his anger saying that the Princes displeasure was nothing regarded that the commons were at iarre with the Senate that new orations and new decrees of Senate were heard and read now adayes What remaineth but to take armes in hand and choose those for their Captaines and Emperours whose images they had followed for their ensignes Whereupon Caesar reiterating his iniurious speeches against his nephewe and daughter in lawe and rebuking the people by edict complained to the Senate that the imperiall maiestie had bene openly deluded and skorned through the fraude of one of the Senators and therefore required that the hearing of the cause might be reserued wholy vnto himselfe They consulted no farther on the matter but condemned the parties but not to death because they were forbidden and protested they were readie to execute reuenge if the Prince had not hindered them * * There wanteth very much of the story in this place which hath perished through time II. The death of Seianus of his friends and children One faineth himselfe to be Drusus Germanicus sonne WHether it be a more lamentable case to be accused for breach of friendship or to accuse his friend I can not well iudge * no mans crueltie or clemencie will I trie * but free and bearing my selfe on my owne conscience I will preuent danger I beseech you that you would not haue me in remembrance rather in mourning and sad then ioyfull manner and cherefull reckoning me in the number of those which haue escaped publick calamities by an honorable end Then talking now with one now another as by chance they were neere vnto him he spent a great part of the day either in entertaining or taking leaue of them And hauing many about him which noted how resolute assured he was in countenance no man dreaming any such matter with a sword which he had hidden vnder his garments slew himselfe and after he was dead Caesar vsed no such reprochfull and iniurious speeches nor obiected any such heinous matter against him as he did against Blaesus After this P. Vitellius and Pomponius Secundus cause was heard Vitellius they accused that he had offered the cofers of the publicke treasury whereof he had charge and the money which was in them for souldiers pay to stirrers vp of new broiles The other Considius who had been once Pretor accused for hauing had great friendship and amitie with Velius Gallus who after that Seianus was punished fled to Pomponius gardens as to a place of safe refuge both of them in their distresse hauing no other comfort left but the constancie of their brothers who became baile for their life Shortly after Vitellius through many delaies betwixt hope feare wearied out vnder colour of vsing it in his studie asking for a penknife lightly prickt a vaine and ended his life with griefe and anguish of minde But Pomponius being a Gentleman of a gallant carriage and excellent wit bearing aduerse fortune patiently ouerliued Tiberius Then was there order taken though the peoples anger were mitigated and many others pacified with the former punishment that the rest of Seianus children should be punished Whereupon they were carried to prison the sonne hauing some feeling of the danger which hung ouer his head but the daughter was so simple that she often asked whither they would leade her and for what that she would do no more so and that it was sufficient to chastice her with the rod like a childe The writers of that time affirme that because it was neuer heard of before that a virgin should be put to death according to the custome of the Triumuiri that she was deflowred by the executioner immediatly before the halter was put about her neck and both strangled The bodies
eies whom thou dost inrich whom thou dost aduance to honours who haue greatest power of hurting or helping which Seianus to haue had no man will denie The Princes hidden thoughts or if he go about any secret drift it is not lawfull to sound and dangerous neither shalt thou in the end reach vnto them Thinke not onely Lords of the Senat of Seianus last day but of sixteene yeeres in which we did likewise fawne vpon and court Satrius and Pomponius and to be knowen to his freed men and partners was reckoned as a high fauour What then Shall this defence be generall and not distinguished but a confusion made of times past and his later actions No but let it by iust bounds and termes be diuided Let the treasons against the common-wealth the intentions of murdering the Emperour be punished but as for the friendship duties pleasures and good turnes the same ende shall discharge and quite thee O Caesar and vs. The constancie of his oration one being found to deliuer that which they all thought in their mindes preuailed so much that his accusers by ripping vp their old faults were punished either with exile or death III. The occasion of making a Prefect at Rome an examen of some of the Sibyls bookes AFter that Tiberius sent letters against Sext. Vestilius sometime Pretor and welbeloued of Drusus his brother chosen to be one of his garde The cause of displeasure against Vestilius was either bicause he had composed certaine writings against Caesars vncleane life or falsly fathered vpon him gaue credit to the reporters and therupon being banished the Princes court familiarity hauing first gone about with his owne olde feeble hand to slaie himselfe bound vp his vaines and in the meane space hauing entreated the Princes fauour and receiued arigorous answere did at last open them Then at once were accused of treason Annius Pollio Appius Silanus Scaurus Mamercus Sabinus Caluisius Vicinianus also brought in with his father for companie all of them well descended and some in authoritie The Lords of the Senat quaked for feare for how manie was there which was not either allied or a friend of one of those noble men But Celsus Tribune of the citie-cohort and then an informer deliuered Appius and Caluisius from danger Caesar deferred Pollioes Vicinianus Scaurus cause that himselfe might haue the hearing of it with the Senators hauing giuen out alreadie tokens of heauie displeasure against Scaurus Not so much as women but were partakers of danger and if not attainted for attempting to aspire to the Empire yet brought in question for their teares and Vitia an old woman Fusius Geminus mother was put to death bicause she bewailed the death of her sonne These things were done in Senat. And where the Prince was the like was practised Vescularius Atticus and Iulius Marinus two of his most familiar friends which accompanied him to Rhodes and at Capreas neuer departed from him were put to death Vescularius was the Messenger to and fro when the treacherie was wrought against Libo Marinus was of Seianus counsell when he put Curtius Atticus to death most men being glad to see them taken in the snare they laid for others About the same time L. Piso high Priest died a naturall death which was a rare matter in those times in a man of so great nobilitie He neuer of himselfe propounded any matter which smelled of flatterie or base minds if he were forced thereto he vsed great moderation in doing it His father as I haue alreadie saide had beene Censor he liued to the age of fowerscore hauing in Thrace deserued the triumphall ornaments But his greatest credit rose in that that being newly created Prouost of the citie he did gouerne exceeding moderately all the time of his continuall rule irkesome through vnwontednes of obedience For in times past when the Kings or Consuls went out of the citie least she should be left without gouernment there was one chosen for a time able to giue euery man right prouide for all sudden accidents And it is said that Dentres Romulius had the same charge giuen him by Romulus after that Numa Marcius by Tullus Hostilius and Spurius Lucretius by Tarquinius Superbus Then that the Consuls had the charge of committing this office and a shadow of it continueth vnto this day as oft as the Latine feasts are folemnised one is appointed ouer the rest to exercise the roome of a Consull But Augustus in the time of ciuill warres made Cilnius Maecenas a gentleman Prouost ouer Rome and all Italie Then being Lord and Master of the Empire by reason of the greatnes of the people and slow aide which the lawes affoorded he chose out one of such as had been Consuls to bridle the bondmen and such citizens as through audaciousnes would grow troublesome vnlesse they stood in awe The first that receiued that authoritie but kept it but awhile was Messalla Coruinus as vnable to discharge it Then Taurus Statilus although he were verie aged went through it with great commendation After that Piso was well liked for the space of twentie yeeres and by order of the Senat honoured with publick funerals It was afterward propounded before the Lords of the Senat by Quinctilianus Tribune of the people concerning the Sibyls booke which Caninius Gallus one of the fifteene requested might be receiued among other books of the same prophetesse and demanded it might be so established by decree of Senat which being giuen by common consent Caesar sent letters somewhat reprehending the Tribune as ignorant of the old custome by reason of his youth and vpbraided Gallus that being old and practised in the science and ceremonies neuertheles had demanded the opinion of the Senators not fully assembled the author being vncertain and before the colledge had yeelded their iudgment neither as the custome was the verses hauing been read and waighed by the maisters Withall he aduertised them because that many vaine things were published vnder the name of famous men that Augustus had vnder penaltie set downe a day within which such bookes should be brought to the citie-Pretor and that it was not lawfull for any to haue them in their priuat possession The like decree was established by our predecessors also and after that the Capitol was burnt in the ciuill war their verses were sought in Samum in Ilium Erythrum through Affrike also Sicily and the colonies of Italie whether they were one or many the busines being committed to the Priests to distinguish the true prophecies from the false as neere as might be by the iudgement of man And then also the booke was referred to the examination of the fifteene When the same men were Consuls through a dearth of corne and other prouisions they grew almost to a commotion and many things for many dayes together were in the Theater more licentiously demaunded with great eagernes then the manner had beene to demaund things of the Emperour Whereat being moued he
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
is neerest vnto the will and pleasure of a King When Tiridates was come among them they honored him with all those inuentions which Kings had been honored with in times past and with such as later ages haue more abundantly inuented Withall they powred out many reprochfull speeches against Artabanus consessing that he was indeede descended of the Arsacides on the mothers side but in other points nothing sutable Tiridates committed the gouernment of the Seleucians to the discretion of the people then consulting what day he should be crowned receiued Phrahates and Hieroes letters which had two the strongest gouernments of that kingdome intreating him that he would defer it for some small time which to satisfie those great men he yeelded vnto In the mean time he went to Cresiphon the royall seare of the kingdom perceiuing that they prolonged from one day to another Surena with the good liking of many in a great assembly crowned Tiridates according to the custome of the countrey And if he had out of hand entered farther within the countrey and other nations those lingerers had been put out of all doubt and all yeelded obedience vnto one But staying too long at the Castell whither Artabanus had conueyed his money and his concubines he gaue him time to leape back from their agreements For if Phrahates and Hiero and some others came not at the day appointed to the coronation some for feare and some for malice and hate to Abdageses who then possessed the new King and was the only fauorit in Court turned to Artabanus whom they found in Hyrcania meanely and euilfauoredly attired killing with his bow foode for his sustenance At the first he was greatly afraid as though some traine had been laid to intrap him but when they had giuen him their credit and faith that their comming was to restore him to his kingdome his spirits were reuiued and inquireth what sudden change had hapned Then Hiero finding fault with Tiridates said that he was but a child and that the Arsacides gouerned not the kingdome but the vaine name and title was in an vnwarlike person softly and tenderly brought vp among strangers that Abdageses was he which ruled and commaunded all Artabanus knowing of old what it was to rule perceiued well that those which found falshood in friendship dissembled not and therefore making no longer delay then he could assemble the Scythians forces aid setteth forward with al speede to preuent the wiles of his enemies and keepe his friends from slipping back yea he did not so much as wipe off the filth and vncleanes of his bodie because he would moue the common people to compassion There was no subtletie no praier nor ought else forgotten whereby he might draw the doubtful to him or confirme assure the willing readie He came then with a strong power vnto the places adioyning to Seleucia when as Tiridates stroken into a feare with the fame and person of Artabanus was distracted in minde whether he should encounter him or draw out the warre by lingering Such as desired battell and quick worke perswaded that the enemie was dispersed stragled and wearied with their long iourney and scarse resolued to obey Artabanus being so lately traitors and enimies vnto him though now his support aid But Abdageses thought it best to returne into Mesopotamia that hauing the riuer as a defence betweene him the enimie calling in the meane space the Armenians Elymaei and the residue which were behind them and their forces augmēted with allies friends such as the Romane captaine would send them then to trie the chance of war That aduise preuailed bicause of Abdageses authoritie Tiridates rawnes in matters of danger yet that retiring differed not much frō fleeing the Arabians first leading the dance the rest drawing to their houses or to Artabanus camp vntill Tiridates returning backe into Syria with a small company acquited them all of the infamie of treason XI Tiberius repaireth with his owne charges part of Rome which was burnt how Macro wonne C. Caesars fauour THe same yeere Rome was greatly damnified with fire that part of the Cirque which ioyned vnto the hill Auentine and al the buildings also vpon Auentine being wasted consumed to ashes which losse Caesar conuerted to his glory by giuing the owners out of his purse as much as the losse of their houses and buildings came vnto which munificence amounted to a hundred millions of sesterces which was so much the more acceptable to the people bicause that in his owne buildings he was alwaies moderate Neither had he euer made aboue two publicke buildings the one a Temple to Augustus the other the stage of Pompeius Theater which being finished yet he left vndedicated either as despising ambitiō or by reason of his age And to make an estimate of euery mans losse Tiberius fower sons in lawe were chosen Gn. Domitius Cassius Longinus M. Vinicius and Rubellius Blandus P. Petronius ioyned with them by the Consuls appointment euery man inuenting newe honours for the Prince as his wit capacity would giue him leaue which whether he accepted or refused was vncertaine by reason of his death which followed shortly after For not long after the last Consuls in Tiberius raign G. Acerronius C. Pontius began their charge when Macroes power credit was growen ouer great which he increased more more with C. Caesar although before he was neuer negligent therin And after Claudiaes death who as I haue alreadie said was married vnto that Caesar he egged and perswaded his owne wife Ennia to allure draw the yoong man to her loue intangle him vnder promise of marriage as one which would do whatsoeuer to laie hold on the soueraigntie For although he were of a turbulent and hot spirit notwithstanding he had as it were sucked out of his grandfathers bosome the arte of cunning dissembling Tiberius knew this verie well and therefore was not resolued which of his nephewes he should first make successor to the state Of which the one was Drusus sonne neerest vnto him in blood whom he tendered best but was vnder age and Germanicus sonne the other in the flower of his youth and of the people welbeloued therefore the woorse liked of his grandfather And bethinking himselfe of Claudius seeing he was of stayed and setled yeeres and desirous of learning yet altered his deliberation bicause he was weake and slender witted And yet if he should seeke for a successor out of his house he feared least the memorie of Augustus the name of Caesars should be had in reproch and contempt For he was not so carefull to winne the fauour of the time present as ambitious of fame with posteritie But in the end irresolute what to conclude and growing weake and feeble of bodie that which was out of the compasse of his power he committed to fate hauing notwithstanding cast out speeches whereby it might be
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
his age He was Neroes sonne and on both sides extracted frō the Claudian familie although his mother went by adoption into the Liuian familie and after that into the Iulian. He had doubtfull fortunes from his first infancie for being a banished man he followed his father who was proscribed and being brought into Augustus house as his son in law was greatly maligned al the time that Marcellus and Agrippa and afterward Caius Lucius Caesar liued Yea his brother Drusus was better beloued then he of the citizens but after he had married Iulia his slipperie estate was tied to two great inconueniences which was either to indure the incontinencie of his wife or go from her After that returning from Rhodes he liued twelue yeeres in the Princes house which had no children then possessed the Empire almost 23. yeeres He changed his manners diuersly according to the times Whilest he was a priuat man he was of good life and credite and had commendations vnder Augustus He was close and craftie in counterfeiting vertues whilest Germanicus and Drusus liued and whilest his mother liued he kept a meane somtimes good and somtimes bad For crueltie he was infamous but in lasciuious lusts as long as he loued or feared Seianus secret In the end he burst into all wickednes dishonestie and reproch after that hauing cast away shame and feare he gouerned himselfe wholy according vnto his owne disposition and nature THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. The death of Asiaticus and Poppaea * The beginning of this Booke is wanting FOr he beleeued that Valerius Asiaticus who had beene twise Consull had in times past committed adultery with Poppaea withall greedily gaped after those gardens which he bought of Lucullus and beawtified and trimmed most stately Suilius was suborned to accuse them both Sosibius Germanicus bringer vp was ioyned with him who vnder colour of friendship counselleth Claudius to beware of such as were strong and rich as men dangerous vnto the state and that Asiaticus the principall author of murdering Caesar feared not to auouch it in a full assemblie of the people of Rome and challenge the glory of the fact vnto himselfe He was famous in the citie for it and a rumor spread throughout the prouince that he prepared a voyage toward Germanicus armie because that being borne at Vienna and strengthened with strong and great kindred he thought it an easie matter to stirre vp his countrey men But Claudius making no farther enquirie sent Crispinus the captaine of the gard with a band of readie souldiers as though it had bene to suppresse a warre who finding him at Baias layd yrons vpon him and drew him to the citie where he was not licensed to be heard of the Senate but in the Emperours chamber in the presence of Messallina There Suilius accused him that he had corrupted the souldiers and wonne them by money and loose life to all wickednes Then charged him with adultery with Poppaea and vnnaturall dishonestie of bodie At that although he were commaunded to silence he burst forth and sayd O Suilius aske thy children and they will confesse me to be a man And entering into his defence Claudius being wonderfully moued drew teares likewise from Messallinaes eyes who going out of the chamber to wipe them giueth Vitellius warning not to suffer the partie arraigned to escape She maketh haste to ouerthrow Poppaea sending some through the terror of prison to perswade her to kill her selfe Caesar being so ignorant therof that a few dayes after he asked her husband Scipio as he sate at table with him why he had sate downe without his wife who made him answere that she was dead But whilest Claudius consulted of Asiaticus deliuerance Vitellius with teares declaring how long time their friendship had continued and how they two did reuerence honor Antonia the Princes mother then running ouer briefely his seruices towards the common wealth and that so lately done in Britannia and what else might seeme to moue compassion left it in the end to his owne choise what death he would choose Claudius yeelding him the like clemencie with like words After this some perswading him that to die with famine and abstinence was an easie death he answered that he reiected such fauour and therefore hauing done those exercises he was vsually wont to do washed his body and fed daintily saying that it had bene a more commendable death to haue died by Tiberius slienes and cunning or C. Caesars violence then now by the treachery of a woman and Vitellius vncleane mouth cut his vaines and hauing first seene the fire wherein his bodie was to be burned commaunded it to be remoued to another place least the thick tuffed trees should be marred with the smoke so small reckoning did he make of death II. Certaine Romaines accused for a dreame A treatise of aduocates AFter this the Lords of the Senate were called together and Suilius goeth on and accuseth certaine noble and renowned gentlemen of Rome surnamed Petra The cause of their death was because they had lent their house vnto Mnester and Poppaea when they had any cause of conference But there was a dreame also obiected against one of them which was that he dreamed he had seene Claudius crowned with a crowne of eares of corne and the eares turned backwards interpreting that vision to signifie a dearth of corne Some report it to haue beene a garlande of vine braunches with white leaues which he sawe in his dreame and interpreted it to foretell that the death of the Prince shoulde follow at the end of Autumne Whatsoeuer the dreame was it is not to be doubted but that he and his brother were both put to death Crispinus had giuen him by decree of Senate fifteen hundred thousand sesterces and ornaments of the Pretor Vitellius added ten hundred thousand sesterces to be giuen to Sosibius bicause he had beene Britannicus Schoole-master and Claudius Counseller Scipio being demanded his opinion said Seeing I do thinke of Popaeus faults that which all you do thinke perswade your selues that I do say that which all you do say which was an excellent moderation and mean shewing the loue he bare hir as his wife and necessitie of giuing sentence being a Senator Suilius neuer ceased from accusations but prosecuted them with al crueltie and many followed his audacity for the Prince drawing vnto himselfe all the duties of lawes and magistrates opened the way to robberie Neither was there any marchandise more publikely bought and solde then the perfidiousnes of aduocates insomuch that Samius a woorthy gentelman of Rome hauing giuen Suilius fowre hundred thousand sesterces to pleade his cause and after perceiuing his preuarication and collusion ran vpon his sword in Suilius owne house Then C. Silius Consull elect of whose authoritie and fall I will speake in conuenient time beginning to speake the rest of the Senators rose vp and demanded earnestly that the lawe Cincia might be set
affaires were in a hurly burly whilest they wauered whom they should receiue for their King Many inclined to Gotarzes sonne to Meherdates sonne to Phrahates who was giuen vs in hostage In the ende Gotarzes preuailed who inioying the Kings seate through crueltie and dissolute life forced the Parthians to send secretly to intreat the Roman Prince to release Meherdates and inuest him in his fathers kingdome IIII. Messalina falleth in loue with Silius THe same men being Consuls the plaies called Seculares were exhibited eight hundred yeeres after the foundation of Rome and threescore and foure yeeres after those which Augustus had caused then to be represented I omit the reasons which moued both these Princes as sufficiently declared in my bookes which I haue composed of the acts of Domitian the Emperour for he likewise did set forth the same plaies which I was present at so much the more carefully because I was then one of the fifteene Priests and Pretor Which I speake not to vaunt or brag thereof but because that charge in times past was committed to the colledge of the fifteene and magistrates did chiefly execute the office of ceremonies Claudius sitting to see the race when the noble mens children represented on horseback the play of Troy and among them Britannicus the Emperours sonne and L. Domitius anon after adopted to the Empire and surnamed Nero. The fauour of the people was more affectionat to him then Germanicus which was taken as a prefage of his future greatnes And it was rumored abroad that in his infancie dragons were found about him in manner of a gard which are fables not vnlike vnto strange miracles for he himselfe who neuer derogated from himselfe was wont to report but of one serpent which was seene in his chamber But that affection of the people was a relick of the memorie of Germanicus who left no other male behinde him but he and the commiseration towards Agrippina his mother was increased by reason of Messallinaes crueltie who alwaies hating her and now more then euer kindled against her was hindered no way from forging of crimes and suborning accusers against her sauing only by a new loue and next cosen vnto madnes For she did so burne in loue with C. Silius the fairest youth of all Rome that to content her lust she caused him to put from him his wife Iunia Syllana an honorable dame to enioy wholy to her selfe the adulterer now vntied from the bands of matrimonie Neither was Silius ignorant how lewd the practice was and what perill he might incurre but if he refused certaine of his destruction and hauing some hope to bleare the eyes of the world and enticed with great rewards he tooke it for the most expedient to expect what might fall and inioy the present She not by stealth but with a great retinue frequented his house was alwayes at his side bestowed wealth and honor bountifully vpon him and at last as though fortune had transferred the Empire slaues freed men and all princely ornamēts and preparations were seene at the adulterers house But Claudius not knowing what rule was at home vsurped the office of a Censor reprehended with seuere edicts the ouergreat licence the people vsed in the Theater vsing opprobrious speeches against P. Pomponius who had bin sometime Consull and gaue verses to the stage and other noble women He made a law to restraine the crueltie of creditors forbidding them to lend money to interest vnto mens sonnes subiect to the fathers power to be payed after their death He brought water to the citie from the Simbruan hils He added and published new letters and characters being a thing most certaine that the manner of the Greekes writing was not begun and perfected at once The Aegyptians first of all expressed the conceptions of their mind by the shape of beasts and the most auncient monuments of mans memory are seene grauen in stones they say that they are the first inuēters of letters Then the Phoenicians because they were strong by sea brought them into Greece and had the glory of inuenting that which they receiued of others For there goeth a report that Cadmus sailing thither in a Phoenicean ship was the inuentor of that arte among the Greekes when they were yet vnexpert and rude Some record that Cecrops the Athenian or Linus the Theban and Palamedes the Grecian at the time of the Troian warre inuented 16. characters then others and especially Simonides found out the rest But in Italie the Etrurians learned them of Corinthius Damaratus and the Aborigenes of Euander the Arcadian and the fashion of the latine letters are like vnto the old greeke letters but we had but a few at the beginning the rest were after added By which example Claudius added three letters which during the time of his raigne were in vse and afterward forgotten and are yet to be seene ingrauen in brasen tables hanged vp in temples and places of assembly to shew the peoples lawes Then he propounded in Senate touching the colledge of southsayers least that the most auncient discipline of Italie should come to naught by slothfulnes seeing that in the hard and aduerse times of the common wealth they haue been sent for and by their aduise the ceremonies haue been renewed and better afterward looked into And the chiefest noble men of Etruria either of their owne motion or at the perswasion of the Lords of the Senate haue continued their science and propagated it to their families which now is very carelesly accomplished by a sloth vsed towards commendable artes and because strange superstitions preuaile and take deeper roote All well for the present thanks were to be rendered to the goodnes of the gods therefore and heed taken that sacred rites in doubtfull times had in reuerence be not in prosperous forgotten Whereupon a decree of Senate was made and order taken that the high Priests should consider what was meete to be retained and established concerning the southsayers V. The Cherusci craue Italus for their King THe same yeere the Cherusci came to Rome to demaunde a King all their nobilitie being extinguished by ciuill warres and one onely left of the blood royall called Italus then being at Rome He was sonne vnto Flauius Arminius brother his mother was the daughter of Catumerus Prince of the Catti and was of a comely personage practised in armes and riding as well according to the maner of our countrey as his owne Caesar therefore hauing furnished him with money and appointed him a guarde encourageth him stoutely to take vpon him the honour of his house and auncestors putting him first in minde that he was borne at Rome where he remained not as an hostage but citizen and that now he was to goe to a strange Empire At the first the Germans were glad of his comming and so much the rather bicause he was not nusled in factions and discords and therefore would beare like affection vnto all He was reuerenced and honoured of all
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
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
an enemie and therefore credited his counsell as faithfull Vologeses therefore was not implacablie head-strong * and demaunded truce vnto some gouerments Tiridates requireth place and day of parley A short time was assigned the place where of late the legions were besieged with Paetus seeing it was chosen by the Barbarians in remembraunce of their ioyfull hap was not refused by Corbulo that the diuersitie of fortune might augment his glorie Neither was Paetus infamie increased which appeered plainely in that he commaunded his sonne who was Tribune to appoint certaine bands to burie and couer the dead bodies of the vnfortunate conflict VII Tiridates speaketh with Corbulo and yeeldeth vp the crovvne of Armenia in the Roman campe THe day appointed Tiberius Alexander a noble gentleman of Rome giuen as an aide to the warre and Viuianus Annius Corbuloes sonne in lawe not yet of age to be Senator but assigned in the place of the Lieutenant of the fift legion came to Tiridates campe to do him honour and that hauing such pledges he should feare no treacherie And then were taken twentie horsemen on each side And the King seeing Corbulo lighted first from his horse and Corbulo did the like immediately and both of them on foote ioyned right hands Then the Roman praised the yoong Prince that leauing dangerous vncertainties he would imbrace sure and wholesome counsell Tiridates hauing spoken much of the noblenes of his stocke in the rest was temperate saying that he would goe to Rome and bring Caesar newe glorie Arsacides humblie intreating the Parthians being daunted with no aduerse encounter Then seemed it good that Tiridates should lay his royall crowne before Caesars image and not take it againe but at the hand of Nero and so the speech was ended with a short salutation A few dayes after with a great pomp on both parts they shewed themselues his horsemen ranged into troupes on one side with the ensignes of his countrey and on the other the armie of the legions marshalled in order with glittering standards and ensignes and images of the gods in manner of a temple In the middle was planted a tribunall and in it a chaire of estate with Neroes image vnto which Tiridates went and sacrifices offered according to the custome taketh the crowne from his head and laide it vnder the image which troubled the minds of such as had yet before their eyes the slaughter and besieging of the Romane armies But now fortune was changed and Tiridates a spectacle to the people how much better then a captiue Corbulo added to his glorie courtesie and feastings and as the King marked any strange thing and asked the cause as the beginnings of the watches brought by the Centurion the banket ended with a trumpet the pile of wood before the Augural altar lighted with a torch Corbulo made him answere extolling euery thing more then it was to draw the new Prince into an admiration of the old custome The last day when he was to take his iourney he desired time to visit his brothers and mother before his departure and left his daughter for an hostage in the meane space and letters of submission to be sent to Nero. And departed thence he found Pacorùs with the Medes and Vologeses at Ecbatanes not vnmindfull of his brother for he had requested of Corbulo by speciall messengers that Tiridates might not shew any token of seruitude or deliuer vp his weapons or be barred from imbracing the gouernors of prouinces or attend at their dores but haue the same honor at Rome that the Consuls had Being accustomed to forren pride he was vnacquainted with our manners with whom the lawe of rule and dominion beareth sway vanities being laid aside The same yeere Caesar honored the nations of the sea Alpes with the rights and priuiledges of the Latians and in the Cirque placed the Gentlemen of Rome before the people For vntill that day they sate indifferently because the lawe Roscian had taken no order but for foureteene orders A shew of Fencers was represented that yeere with like magnificence as others before but many noble women and Senators wiues were discredited in the Theater VIII Nero singeth on the stage The fall of the same stage Torquatus Silanus death Nero attired like a woman weddeth Pythagoras C. Lecanius and M. Licinius being Consuls Nero more and more desired to frequent the stage without any respect for as yet he had not song but in his house and gardens in plaies of youth which now he despised as not frequented and too meane for such a voice Yet he durst not begin at Rome but chose Naples as a Greeke citie thinking that that might serue for a commencement to goe to Achaia where hauing obtained the famous and in times past reputed sacred crownes by that meanes grown in credit he thought he should stur a great desire in the citizens of Rome to heare him The cōmón rabble flocked together or such as the fame of those plaies had drawne frō the next colonies townes and such as followed him either to do him honor or sundrie other occasions yea companies of souldiers filled the Theater of Naples There hapned as most men thought a dolefull chance but yet as he construed it foretokening good luck and sent by the fauorable prouidence of the gods For the people were no sooner gone and the Theater emptie but it fell downe without hurt done to any Therfore with songs composed for the purpose thanking the gods and celebrating the fortune of the late chance going to the Adriatike sea he stayed in the meane time at Beneuentum where by Vatinius was exhibited a notable play of Fencers Vatinius was one of the shamelest monsters of his court brought vp in a coblers shop mishapen of bodie and a scurrile iester and therefore first emploied in that practise then by pickthanking and informing against the better sort grew to such authoritie that in credit and wealth and power of doing hurt he was worse then the worst Nero then comming to the play he had set forth no not at their pastime did they abstaine from doing of mischiefe For the selfesame daye Torquatus Silanus was constrained to dye because that besides the noblenes of the Iunian familie he sayd that he was in the fourth degree lineally descended from Augustus of famous memorie The accusers were commaunded to lay to his charge that he was prodigall in gifts and that all his hope lay in the alteration of the state And that he had noble men about him which he called his Secretaries maisters of requests Auditors which were names of imperiall dignitie and deseignments of great attempts Then the chiefest of his freed men were bound and caried away And when Torquatus condemnation was at hand he cut the vaines of his armes and Nero as his manner was made an oration after that although he had beene culpable and worthily distrusted his purgation yet he should haue had his life graunted him if he would haue expected the
of these yong and tender children were cast into the Gemonies a place where condemned persons were throwne downe headlong About the same time Asia and Achaia were put into a very great fright though it continued not long with a rumor that Drusus Germanicus sonne had beene seene first in the Ilands Cyclades and afterward in the continent But it was a yong man of like age whome some of Caesars freed men by a subtile practise followed bearing men in hand they knew it to be him Such as knew him not were drawne by the fame of his name and the Greekes especially prone to all new and strange wonders It was reported he had escaped out of prison and fled to his fathers armie some both faining and beleeuing withall that he would inuade Aegypt or Syria Youth flocked alreadie to him very cheerefully many signes of loue publickly shewen him feeding themselues with the present vaine hope of what might happen When as Poppaeus Sabinus had tidings thereof who was then occupied in the affaires of Macedonia had charge also ouer Achaia he therefore were the report true or false to preuent all things hastning ouer the Toronaean and Thermaean cut and passing by Euboea an Iland of the Aegean sea and Piraeum a coast of Attique the Corinthian shore and the streights of Isthmum by another sea came to Nicopolis a colonie of the Romaines and there after a carefull examination vnderstandeth who he should be He said he was M. Silanus sonne and that many of his followers hauing forsaken him he embarked himselfe as though he meant to trauell into Italie These things he signified to Tiberius by writing neither haue we found any thing more of the beginning or end of this matter Towards the end of the yeere a quarrell of certaine Consuls burst forth which had beene a long time a breeding For Trio little regarding what enemies he procured and well practised at the barre vnderhand carped Regulus as being careles in oppressing Seianus ministers Regulus vnlesse greatly prouoked of a temperate and cold humor did not only answere and quaile his fellow Consull but brought him within the compasse of conspiracie and to be examined for it And although many of the Lords of the Senate intreated them that they woulde surcease their quarrell which would grow to their owne ouerthrow yet they continued their grudge and menaces one against the other vntill they went both out of office The end of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE ANNALES OF CORNELIVS TACITVS I. Of Tiberius lasciuious life Pursuing of Liuia and Seianus Cotta accused CN Domitius and Camillus Scribonianus entered the Consulship when Caesar hauing passed the streight betwixt Capreas and Surrentum coasted Campania doubtfull whether he should enter into the citie or not perhaps because he had otherwise resolued in his minde though making shew he would come oftentimes approching neere the citie and to the gardens along Tiber and returning back againe to the rocks and deserts of the sea to couer the shame of his lasciuious life which so vnstayedly he wallowed in that as the manner of the kings was he defiled and abused noble mens sonnes vnder age and not only the welfauored and comelyest but the modest and well nurtured and whose modest behauiour shewed the stock from whence they grew serued him for prouocation of filth Then first of all were those vnknowen words of Sellaries and Spintries found out of the filthines of the place and sundrie sorts of sufferance of abuse Some of his slaues had charge to seeke them out and bring them to him alluring such by gifts as shewed themselues willing and readie and threatning such as refused and if either their neere friends or parents went about to detaine them they vsed violence and caried them away perforce and exercised their willes on them as if they had been captiues But at Rome in the beginning of the yeare seuere iudgements were giuen against Liuia and against her images and other memories consecrated in her honor as if her lewdnes had then first come to light and had not been alreadie punished The Scipioes gaue their opinion that Seianus goods should be taken from the publick treasury and put in the Princes priuat cofers The Silanians and Cassians were of the same opinion and vrged it with the same tearmes or not greatly changed when on the sudden and vnlooked for Togonius Gallus among those noble men thrusting himselfe forward being but of base and low calling had the hearing giuen him as a matter to laugh at for he desired the Prince to choose twentie by lot out of a certaine number of Senators to gard and defend his person with weapon as oft as he went to the Senate He beleeued peraduenture that Tiberius had meant good earnest when he required that one of the Consuls might conduct and aide him from Caprea to the citie Tiberius neuerthelesse accustomed sometimes to interlace serious matters with skoffes thanked the Lords for their good will yet demaunded whom he might omit or whom he might choose whether alwaies the same or sometimes others in their steede such as had borne office or yong men priuate persons or magistrates what a goodly sight it would be to see them take a sword in hand at the entrie of the councell house neither would he make such accompt of his life if he were to maintaine it by armes This he answered to Togonius tempering his words and perswaded no farther the disallowing of that opinion But he rebuked Iunius Gallio very bitterly who propounded that the souldiers of the gard after their seruice was ended might haue a roome in the fortieth ranke of seates and asked him as it had been in their presence what he had to do with souldiers for whom it was not lawfull either to receiue commaundement or gift but of the Emperour or whether he had found out that which Augustus of famous memory could not prouide for It was rather a matter of discord and sedition sought for by one of Seianus followers to stirre vp rude mindes vnder title of honor to corrupt the custome of seruice This was the reward which Gallio receiued for his artificiall flatterie and anon after was driuen out of the councell house and then out of Italy And because it was obiected that he could easily indure exile hauing made choise of the famous and noble Ile of Lesbos he was recalled to the citie and kept in the magistrates houses In the same letters to the great contentment of the Lords of the Senate Caesar touched Sestius Pagonianus who had been sometimes Pretor to the quick audacious malignant and prying into all mens secrets beloued of Seianus and by him employed to lay snares to intrap C. Caesar which being once layd open all the hatred a long time hatched against him burst foorth and sentence of death decreed against him if he had not promised to bewray the complices But when Acreus had accused Latinius Latiaris hated both alike it was a most