against Seianus as rigorously as those against himselfe for they made him beleeue that hee receiued the Counterbuffe of all that was done against him Princes are offended when we blame their fauorites He that blameth the fauour of the Prince blameth his iudgement because it seemes we accuse the weakenesse of their iudgements in the election of a Subiect vnworthy their fauour The workeman is obliged to protect his workemanship the painter is angry if one cast durt on the Table he hath painted They seeke out old faults to serue for new examples of seuerity The Senate had ordained that Seianus his Statue should be erected in Pompeis theatre which Tiberius had caused to be reedified Cordus stung with this iniury done to the memory of Pompey cried out that that was not the way to doe but to vndoe Qui non rumperetur supra cineres Gn. Pompeij constituere Seianum Sen. and to place Seianus aboue the heades of all the Romans and to set vp a simple souldier on the Monument of a renowned Captaine He said true but truth doth not excuse indiscretion which beareh inconsiderately the censure of great ones Seianus remembred it yet accuseth him not for it Novum ac primum auditum crimen Ta. but disposeth Tiberius to looke into his life of which all the parts were found innocent and praiseworthy but his writings are likewise examined and a history which he had penned of Augustus and which Augustus himselfe had read Hee was accused that he had not sufficiently extolled Caesar nor Augustus and that he had to much praised Brutus Plut. and to haue termed Cassius the last man among the Romans Satrius Secundus and Pinarius Natta were his accusers Seianus his creatures Le credit dee accusateurs cest le desespoir del accusées Seiani clientes id perniciabile reo Tac. and this quality made the ruine of the accused vnfallible and put his innocency into despaire The Iudge himselfe made him perceiue by his sad countenance and terrible language that hee was set there not to heare but to condemne him not to make his processe but to appoint his punishment L' innocence des actions doit excuser le faute de parolles Verba mea arguuntur adeo sum factorum innocens neither did Cordus moue for the safety of his life for he was sure to lose it but for the honour of the truth and glory of his workes he spake in this manner My actions are so innocent that they accuse onely my words and yet haue they not offended neither the Emperor nor his mother who onely are comprehended within the law of Maiesty They say I haue praised Brutus and Cassius whose actions are reported by many Ilny a point d'historien qui ne se passione pour l'un ou pour l'autre and there is none who haue reported them without honour Titus Livius to whom is attributed the prize of eloquence and truth did so highly commend Pompey that Augustus called him Pompejan which neuerthelesse made no breach in their friendship Scipio personage digne de toute louange bellique Plut. Afranius Lieutenant de Pompeie contre les Parthes et Arabes Plut. Cassius ennemy de tyrans de fon infance Plut. Brutus bienvolu du peuple aimé des siens estimé de gens du bien hay de nul Voy l'epigramme 30 de Catul. He vseth not the names of Robbers and Parricides which now are imposed vpon Scipio Afranius this Cassius and this Brutus but he often stiles them braue and valiant men The history of Asinius Pollio makes honourable mention of them Messala Corvinus extolled Cassius as being his generall and that did preiudice neither of them but that they were mighty in riches and honours Caesar the Dictator contented himselfe with answering in a written Oration as before his Iudges the booke which Cicero composed raising to the heauens Cato his enemy The Epistles of Antony and speeches of Brutus reproach Augustus with many fals things expressing them with much bitternes and audacity The reading of Bibaculus and Catullus is not giuen ouer though farced with iniuries against the Caesars Iulius and Augustus haue suffered and contemned them Convitia sâ—reta exolescunt si irascare agnita videntur Ta. and it is hard to say whether in that they haue shewne more moderation then wisdome for calumnies being dispised vanishe away but in seeking reuenge are confirmed I doe not speake at all of the Graecians for not onely their liberty but also their temerity escaped vnpunished and if they haue bin chastized by any words haue beene the reuenge of words But it was euer free and without reprehension to speake of them whom death hath infranchised from hate or fauour will they obiect that I haue moued the people to stirre and take armes for ciuill warres while Cassius and Brutus were armed in the Philippian plaine there are sixty and six yeares past since they died as appeares by their statues which the victorious themselues haue not pulled downe Writings also preserue their memories Posterity rendreth to euery one the honour wich to him appertayneth and if I be condemned there will be some that will call to minde not onely Cassius and Brutus but also my selfe He had cause to enrich his discourse with the examples of Caesar and Augustus for in the world there was not any thing which may bee paralel'd to their generous bounty in pardoning obloquies C. Calvo post famosa EpigraÌ„mata de reconciliatione per amicos agenti ultro ac prior scripsit Suet. Valer Catullus perpetuastigmatâ— suis versiculis imposuit Caesari Suet. Caluus the Oratour and Catullus the Poet had outragiously detracted from Caesar the truth placed shame in their foreheads and repentance in their conscience Caesar contented himselfe with that and seeing that Calvus desired his friendshp but durst not require it he offer'd it vnto him by an expresse letter and for Catullus he inuited him to supper the same day that he had published his poeme against him For Augustus I cannot finde his equall Timagenes a noble Historian did write against him his wife Timagenem Caesar monuit ut moderatiùs linguâ uteretur perseveranti domo suâ interdixit postea in contubernio Pollionis affinis consenuit Sen. his daughter and all his house he aduised him both to vse his pen and tongue with greater modesty especially in his owne house and towards his friends for Augustus nourished him Extreame ingratitude he continued his course Augustus being inforced to interrupt him desired him to retire himselfe from his house Asinius Pollio esteeming more the gentlenesse of this spirit then the respect of the Emperor lodged and entertayned him Timagenes wholely declared himselfe the perpetuall enemy of Augustus burnt the faire history which hee compiled of his reigne to make it knowne that he deserued not that he should write of him or that the good he spake of him was but a lie Augustus disgested all this
per vana promissa Piso Ta. but that Seianus had deceiued him through his vaine promises and that he was not slaine by him but that he had sent one to slay him in the night Death freed Piso but Tiberius and Seianus were accompted neuer the more innocent Per noctâ—s creberrimè acelamatum est Redde Germanicum Suet. and one might euery night heare cries about the Pallace Restore to vs Germanicus This death whether it were voluntary or forced diminished the hatred of the people against Piso and increased it against Tiberius and so much the more in that he had saued his wife and hauing brought this miserable man into the pit would not drawe him forth againe If Piso had left his cause to the course of iustice and law and that he had suffered death as one who neuer had feared it one would haue pittied his misery Confidence lesseneth the infamy of punishment There is no life so odious that ending in publique with constancy and modesty changeth not hatred into pitty pitty into fauour and leaueth not some fauourable opinion of innocency Germanicus his death gaue lesse contentment to Seianus than to Tiberius for this Prince held all their resolutions in check Tiberius knew that so long as he liued he should not be Emperor Our enemies constraine vs to liue regularly and to keepe our life vnreproueable as it were in a thinne dyet Plut. Seianus despaired that he euer could be and that he might dispose of the Empire so absolutely as he did afterwards for this Prince kept him short and as it were in a strict dyet The great affection which he held in the hearts of the great ones middle ones and meane ones mightily crossed his ambition But after his death fortune bare him vp the wind so that his pride and insolence split the sayles of his vessell and of his conduct Tiberius beleeued that he had more authority but he was neuer the lesse mistrustfull imagining that so many friends as Germanicus had left so many conspirators there were and therefore he said that he held the Empire but as a wolfe by the eares Lupum auribus teneo fearing least it should escape him being escaped bite him he feared that euery one had a purpose to take it from him He caused the natiuities of the principle men of Rome to be cast and according as it was reported vnto him that their Starres promised some excellency aboue others he suppressed banished and put them to death He vnderstood that Galba might attaine thereunto and therefore meeting with him the day he was married he said vnto him and thou Galba shalt one day tast of the Empire Dion Tac. and yet hee enterprised nothing against him because this dignitie was fatally destined for him Seianus amongst the precepts of his gouernment had this to nourish distrust alwayes in the heart of Tiberius to the end that he trusting none else might put confidence in him The greater housen which were discended from those braue and generous spirits who were sacrificed for preseruing the libertie of their Countrey were suspected of Tiberius who desired to raise the principality aboue the foundation of Augustus and hatefull to Seianus who could not brooke that vertue should oppose his fortune Libi Drusus being discended by his father from Augustus Liboni proavus Pompeius amita Scribonia consobrini Caesares Tac. and by his mother from Pompey the great was one of the principall yong men of Rome and as this birth giuing hope to his courage gained him respect amongst the great ones so the same was the cause of his fall His youth being forward and without iudgement Defertur moâ—ri res novas Ta. carryed him to thoughts higher then the times permitted them and hee was for this cause alwayes so suspected by Tiberius that being at the sacrifices hee commanded the Master of the Ceremonies to giue to Libo one of the Sacrificers a knife of lead to the end that he should attempt nothing against his person Another time he demaunding audience in secret he caused his sonne Drusus to come thether and feining to haue neede to be supported in his walking hee held fast Liboes right hand who spake to him carrying his eye firmely vpon all his motions This young man had one of the Romane Senators his entire friend who plotted his ruine considering that to aduance his fortune the shortest way Iuvenis improvidus faciliâ— inanibus Ta. was to ruinate those that shadowed that of Sejanus Hee possessed this light spirit that there was some great matter written in heauen for him hee lead him to debauched courses which drew on excessiue expences and he conducted him into those discommodities Hortatur ad luxum aes alienum socius libidinum necessitatum quo pluribus indicijs indagaret Ta. that this naughty friend did nothing but lull him a sleepe with nothing but vaine hopes Necessitie made him dreame to what hee should come and put him into the curiosity to informe himselfe of Astrologers of that which the starres had promised him the ordinary refuge of weake minds that seeke patronage To know more also his friend caused him to conferre with Magicians who demanded of their Deuils that which they knew and who told him nothing true for a little after all his hopes were turned into despaire Tib. non vultu alienatus non verbis commotior cuncta eius dicta factaque cum prohibere posset scire malebat Ta. The Senator reported all this to Tiberius who was glad to see this yong man falne into the pit and yet neuerthelesse he forbore not to shew him good countenance to giue him the estate of a Praetor and sent for him often to his Table Vpon a suddaine he causeth him to be accused to the Senate as of a great enormious and important matter Behold him brought now into the state of an accused man he changeth his garments Reus obsoletiùs vestiebatur Cic. the chiefe Ladies of the Citie being a kinne to him sollicite for him there 's no man will meddle with his defence for when the question is of conspiracy against the Prince all intercessions are suspected and fauours It was not permitted to sicke persons to goe in their Litter but to the dore of the Senate crimes He goeth to the Pallace in a Lectica for this blow being not fore-seene had abated the vigor of his health and sustained by the hand of his brother he entreth the Senate house and when he saw Tiberius a great way off he held vp his hands imploring mercy with great humility This Tigre laid hold with his teeth on all the excellent Spirits of his times A Poet hauing vttered some free words against him Quod in Tragoediâ Agamemnonem probris lacessisset Suet. was put to death not for that but because in a certaine Tragedy he had disgraced Agamemnon and transgressed against the respect due to Kings Tiberius punished the offences
make his power but a shadow and to quench the liuely light of maiestie The State hath intrest that liberality should acknowledge merit and fauour should sustaine seruices the condition of a Prince should be very hard Dubium an fato principum inclinatio in hos offensio millos an sit aliquid in nostris consilijs Ta. if amongst so great a number of seruants he might not chose some one worthy of a more entire confidence according the happinesse of the election or the force of the merit It is no matter if this fauour procure the iealousie of great ones the enuy of equalls or the hatred of inferiors so it trouble not the order of affaires that particular intrest swallow not vp the publique Vt paucis illustrentur mundus euertitur unius honor orbis excidium est Sal. for when this shall come to passe and that to enrich a few of these fauourites the State is impouerished and all put in disorder the Prince which so indiscretly distributeth his fauour is dispised as hauing neither iudgement nor iustice in his elections Multum grauius supplicium odio publico Sen. and the fouourite findes by experience that there is no greater punishment than the publique hatred If it please the Prince he may cast him downe as low as he hath exalted him Fluxa fama potentiae no suis viribus nixae Ta. and there needs but a blast to lay flat such powers as are not sustained by their owne forces Tiberius was somewhat startled at this great power of Seianus but the good will which all the people beare to the house of Germanicus doth more afflict him and Seianus who sees his imagination perplexed therewithall represents the perill vnto him to be more then it is Choler is ordained as companion to reason and Basile calls it the nerue of the soule and reuiues in the heart of the Empresse the ancient rancor she bore against Agrippina this remembrance driues her into choler and this anger that is the nerue which giues the suddainest motion vnto the soule makes her thinke she shall neuer be any thing so long as her enemy is something To make this apprehension penetrat the deeper into her minde he employes Mutilia Prisca her confident and to gaine her he practizeth with Iul. Posthumus who made loue vnto her Regibus aequa ne dum infirmia insolita sunt Ta. the Empresse was presently moued with Agrippinaes hopes and her feare not onely of taking place beneath her but of being equalled with her Facilis foeminarum credulitas ad gaudium Ta. furnished her with deuices enough to make her yet more odious vnto Tiberius then she was before Moreouer Seianus had some suborned persons that entertained Agrippina with vanities and infused into her minde the sweet hopes of Gouernment and as pleasing things doe more easily enter into womens beleife she sought for accusations the more freely to administer iealousie vnto Tiberius and contentment to the people Tiberij seculo magna pietas fuit nihil impie facere Sen. But as that age was so corrupted that it was then a vertue to doe no euill and pietie not to be impious Tiberius resolued to doe no good to Agrippina feared notwithstanding to be blamed for impietie and ingratitude if he did her any ill whereupon his indignation not dareing to ayme directly at her he first set vpon her friends and kindred Claudia Pulchra her cosen was accused of adultery with Furmus and of charmes and poyson against Tiberius Domitius Afer quoque crimine clarescere properius Ta. Domitius Afer who at any price would make his fortune was the accuser he was one of that number which Seianus entertained and serued him as a petty instrument to stirre and moue great workes withall vpon this accusation Agrippina inflamed with choler as well for the iniury as for the perill of her cosen came to see Tiberius and finding him offering a sacrifice vnto her father she said You should not thus imolate your sacrifices nto Augustus and persecute his posterity the spirit of that great Prince is not in his dumbe statues Non in effiigies mutas divinus spiritus infusus Ta. but his true image which is borne of his celestiall bloud vnderstands well the difference by the bad vsage which is offered her being reduced to the miserable state of one accused there is nothing intended to Pulchra it is to me I am sole cause of her ruine she hath committed no other offence Pulchrae sola exitij causa quod Agrippinam stulte prorsus ad cultum delegerit Ta. but that shee made no shew of affection but to the seruice of Agrippina and that improuidently for shee should call to minde that Sosia Galla was banished for that cause This discourse did so incense Tiberius that hauing lost his dissimulation he brought from the bottome of his heart a bitter speech and strange to his humour which was neuer accustomed to be so forward for after telling her that she should moderate her passion he added a Greeke verse importing thus much Thou beleeuest daughter that thou hast wrong done thee if thou command not If Agrippina did vnderstand the Greeke tongue this speech passed not without a reply and it is certaine that Princes of her ranke were learned Augustus quadam epistola Agrippinae neptis ingenium collaâ—davit scripta Suet Agrippina her daughter composed a history Augustus commended the wit of this Agrippina who remained for a sufficient time in Athens and in other Cities of Greece with her husband Germanicus to vnderstand some words And it is without doubt that this speech pricked to the quick her ambition and giuing fire to her choler she could not refraine from speaking these words immediatly or in retiring Behold we are well seeing the hopes of a woman bring iealousie to Tiberius and feare to Seianus if I haue any ambition it is not for my selfe my sexe wrongs my courage If I haue a desire to raign it is but in my Children where doe they finde that I should loue them lesse then I doe Mihi nunquam persuadebunt vt meos amari a me unius vnquaÌ„ putem Plin. Agrippina semper Atrox Tac. Pervicax irae Tac. Aequi impatiens Tac. I haue part in that which the heauens reserue for them and I will that they know that if I affected not their greatnesse I should not be a mother Let him call me fierce proud impatient as much as he will I cannot be otherwise against this hare-brained man whom he names his companion and would be so with my children who is allied to the Claudians placeth his Statues amongst them of the Caesars puls downe those of Pompey who carries his authority aboue that of the Senate who caused my Husbands death persecutes my kindred and friends yes I am angry that I doe not command for I would be ashamed to command so vniustly and wickedly Weaknesse and choller doe not well agree
Brother whom the hatred of Tiberius had already much shaken should be beaten downe Drusus was of a fierce spirit for besides his desire to command and the emulation which is ordinarily betwixt brethren hee was desperately iealous that Agrippina his Mother loued Nero better then him Seianus had no better heart nor bore any greater affection to Drusus then to the other but knowing that he had courage and durst carry himselfe stoutly in danger he supposed it would be more easie for him to lay some ambush to entrap and ruine him All Germanicus friends were sought after and persecuted one friend betraied another the firmest friendship went not so farre as the Altar Multis simulationum involueris tegitur natura vnius cuiusque frons oculi vultus persaepe mentiuntur Cic. but couered such in humane disloialties as they shewed how dangerous it was for man to trust man whose forehead is a lyar his eye a traitor and his countenance a deceiuer Sabinus accused with Silius remained not any long time but that he saw himselfe to be at the same cliffe from whence he was precipitated but it was by a notable treason Foure Pretors followed the Consulat Si consulem videro aut praetorem omnia quibus â—onor haberi solet faciam equâ— deâ—liam caput aperiam semita cedam Sen. the supreame honour of our Romane ambition twelue vshers marched before the Consul he that sate downe rose vp and he that was on horseback or in his Coach alighted each man was vncouered and many put by their swords to doe them reuerence These men hauing no meanes to obtaine it but by the fauour of Seianus which could not be acquired by any iust nor honourable waies knew not what to resolue to giue him money he hath no need of it he hath the disposall of the riches of the Empire and of the treasure of the Emperour which amounts vnto more then 7200. millions their nature is too violent and peruerse to furnish him with pleasures and for honours he is greater then the Emperour Seiani voluntas nisi scelere quaerebatur Ta. for his will is a law to them of his faction his Statues are raised as high as those of Caesars to purchase the fauour of the Oracle he makes a sacrifice of the heads of his enemies Of this number was Titus Sabinus a Roman knight who thinking that the friend that falters was neuer any continued after the death of Germanicus his affection towards his children The friendship that ceaseth was neuer friendship Sectator domi comes in publico post tot clientes unus Ta. assisting them in their affaires at home and bearing them company through the streets abroad glorying in the constancy of his fidelity in such a time when their most faithfull friends were become fearefull and the most obliged ingratefull Eo apud bonos laudatur gravis iniquis Ta. This being pleasing to honest men and incensing the mischieuous was quickly perceiued by Seianus who esteemed it a brauado and contempt that a man of that degree should set so litle by his power Compositum inter ipsos ut Latiaris strueret dolum caeteri testes adessent as openly to declare himselfe for his enemy These men haue notice of the wound in his heart and go about to plucke out the arrow which stucke in it Latiaris to betray Seianus becomes the spie and the rest witnesses he had some former acquaintance with him he now renewes improues and reinforces it with a more strict familiarity beginnes to praise him that he remained so constant in his friendship towards the family of Germanicus after that others flinched away Florentis domus amici ad strictam deserunt Ta. he spoke of this Prince with honour of his wife with pity and of his children with hopes Sabinus thinking to haue found a man truly confident for to poure into his heart his griefes Molles in calamitate mortaâ—um animi Ta. Effudit lachrimas iunxit questus audentius onerat Seianum saevitiaÌ„ superbiam spes eius Ta. as mens hearts are alwaies tender in feeling of calamities he let drop his teares then his plaints followed them and after that reproaches and iniuries against Seianus he speakes of his cruelties his pride and his designes and as it is difficult to bridle a discourse when choller and passion haue scope many franke words escaped him against Tiberius This secret passion so euaporated Species arctae amicitiae inter eos qui sermonibus vetita miscuere and his minde so freely discharged he beleeued that he was well assured of the amity and freedome of Latiaris because they haue mixed together their bold complaints and words dangerous and prohibited And as afflicted soules know and seeke out one another Sabinus went euery day towards Latiaris still to open him some new wound in his heart Dolores quasi ad fidissima afferuetur and that so much the more confidently by how much hee held him for a most trusty friend the pore man should spend more time and iudgement to try him Latiaris related this discourse of Sabinus to three other Senators but because the proofe of one man alone was not enough to condemne him Turpis latebra detestanda fratâ— Ta. they agreed to hide themselues betweene the boards and the feeling to heare him in the meane while Latiaris should make him continue and renue this discourse he findes him in the market place brings him to his house and tells him hee had newes to tell him the chamber being shut he represents vnto him the danger past and the present miseries wherein those times were but too much abounding Praeterita instantia quorum affatim copia ac novos terrores cumulat Ta. he raises vpon the old plaints new feares not so much to let him know that all was desperate as to make him sing and speake to his owne guise Sabinus who yet beleeued more answered that matters were in that state as there can be nothing said nor pronosticated but ill that there was no expectation of any goodnesse in a gouernment so tyranicall and insolent Maesta ubi semel prorupere difficilius reticentur and as we cannot easily retaine plaints and iniuries when once they haue found a passage and it is difficult to conceale that which hurts vs he made Seianus the instrument of all the calamity priuate and publique We doe hardly retayne that which hurtes vs. Missis ad Caesarem literis ordinem fraudis suumque ipsi dedecus narravere Ta. All this discourse came thorow the holes of the boards into the eares of the three Senators who as soone as Sabinus was departed perfected the treason Tacitus saith that at the very instant by expresse letters they certified all vnto Caesar expressing vnto him the treason and their infamy Tosiano charixomenos Dion and Dion saith that this was done to gratifie Seianus he should adde thereunto that it concerned themselues for besides
to make a shew thereof he went on very slowly and against the aduice of wise men who are of opinion that great matters should be sooner done then consulted This delay proceeded from prudence and affection for it vexed him to vndoe a man who began to serue him before he began to raigne Notwithstanding I doe beleeue that if there had beene but this hee would dissemble it The good Courtier should know the complexion of his Prince and would neuer rid himselfe of him for hee was very proper for his humours knowing them most perfectly agreeing to his desires soothing his opinions drew him so dexterously from dangers and vntwined his perplexities he had cut off all the principall heads which brought him either feare or iealousie and reposing himselfe on the vigilancy of a seruant so faithfull and approued hee did not intermeddle but with great occurrents but liued at ease in his Isle And although it be difficult to found the hearts of Princes and the motiues of sodaine prosperities See vpon this subiect an excellent Treatise of M. du Refuge Counceller of State yet it is certaine that there is not a neerer way to purchase his good will then to serue him in such things as are either agreeable or profitable to conduct his pleasures and mannage his purse all that is honest and profitable should please but the passion of pleasure ouercomes the consideration of honour and profit Rationem felicitatis nemo reddit Auson To be beloued of a Prince we must serue him in his pleasures Seianus was stored with all things that were befitting to entertain the Prince with pleasures and banish the necessity of affaires and did so command his heart that he gaue it what motion he listed to loue feare or hate He hath done him great seruices and although the consideration of this be not alwayes plausible in the mindes of Princes for there are some who the more they are bound the lesse they loue The Prince should beare respect to seruices to the end he may be the better serued yet Tiberius would haue great men vnderstand what they may hope for in seruing him well but there is no likelihood that if he had not great gifts both of spirit and courage he should not continue so long neere Tiberius a Prince hard to be pleased seuere skilfull and mistrustfull the History represents vs with two seuerall portraitures the one set forth by the pencill of Tacitus Seianus laboris capacissimus sufficiente vigore animi compage corporis actu ociosis simillimus Vell. who layes him downe a wicked person the other by the hand of Velleius Paterculus who flatters him and giues him all the properties of a perfect Courtier He saith that The vigour of his body was answerable to the strenght of his spirit which wrought without paine and did all things as if hee had done nothing and in his greatest actions seemed to be at repose and as if hee had neither beene busied nor pressed that he ranne not after occasions nor ascribed vnto himselfe the honour Infra aliorum aestimationes se metiens vultu vitaque tranquillius animo ex somnis Vell. atchieued all and yet put himselfe beneath the esteeme that was had of him one that neuer made shew of trouble or emulation in his countenance his spirit alwayes watchfull and who neuer slept But howsoeuer it was Seianus was indeede an able man and hauing lasted almost as long as Tiberius wee may beleeue that if fortune had not reuolted against his Counsels he had constrained her to submit her selfe to his wisdome Onely I doe wonder that hauing purchased so many friends he had want of friends that amongst so many heads depending vpon his and could not stand firme if his were cut off there was none that would speake freely and sincerely vnto him to preuent his ruine To speake to great men mildly and pleasing Atheneus calleth the same chariglottein But it is the common mishap of great ones all the discourse wee hold with them must be gratefull and soothing they thinke that truth owes them all that obseruance and respect doth lend them if there were Iudges ordained for flattery they would haue no doings for there is none will complaine that they are flattered Seianus was so vnfortunate that hee had not any friend that would say vnto him sincerely and freely Sir moderate your spirit despite not your fortune play not with your Master this time will not last alwaies patience too much wronged turnes to fury And if one would haue said so much Dion saith that if some god were descended and had assured the ruâ—he of Sejanus he would not beleeue for in that time euery man swore by his fortune hee would not haue beleeued it pride did dazell him hee bragged to haue fire and water in his hands and that hee would vse them as hee pleased Tiberius then perceiuing although too late that Seianus built his hopes vpon his tombe and that hee did not onely dreame but verily thinke yea attempt the Empire Not onely to attempt but to thinke or dream against the State is an offence hee resolues to quench the fire of this ambicion with the bloud of the ambicious The first suspicion he had thereof was for his marriage with Liuia Drusus widdow The second was vpon this that the house of Germanicus being ruined Summum ad gradum claritatis cum veneris aegre consistes Laber. there was no stoppe for his insolency that was mounted so high that hee could no longer stand vpon his legges The third was the excesse of his power in affaires of the Senate of the treasure and Commandments Improba blanditia non quae am ciorem sed quae deteriorem facit assentando Alc. The fourth was his great traine of seruants and attendants whose obsequiousnesse impaired his complexion The fift was vpon this that hee held Drusus prisoner and C. Caesar at his deuotion that hee might vpon any occasion produce them and in their names continue the gouernment of the soueraignty Prouidebat Caesarem vrgente iam senecta secretoque loci mollitum munia Imperij facilius transmissurum Tac. The sixt was vpon the trickes hee vsed to diuert the Emperour from soiourning in the City and keeping him as a captiue vnder the pretext of his absence and of his age The seauenth vpon the great and violent pursuit hee made to gaine the power of Tribune The eighth that Seianus should vse certaine words which hee desired rather to be concealed then expressed and when of all this there were but the onely suspicion of aspiring to the State to what end needed any further to seeke for a greater crime But Tiberius is blamed for two acts shewing feeblenesse of courage The first for hauing suffered the encrease of so great a power which cannot be attained with too much pain nor lessened with too much seuerity the tree which at first was but a little
death of Augustus and Germanicus but no body beleeued that in this flourishing condition hee had beene so neare his Ruine and for all this they forbore not to call him Tiberius his Companion not onely in the Consulship but in the vniversall Empire Tiberius to sound their wills and affections wrote often to Seianus and to the Senate one while that he was in good health anon after that he was in the point of death at some other times that his strength was restored that in few daies he hoped to see them and returne to Rome Prudenda miseraÌ„daque orat one P. C. precabatur mitterent alteâ—in conscilâ—bus quâ— suuÌ„ sed solum in conspectum eorum cum aliquâ— militari presidio perducere Sen. these fainings did profit him for according to the joy or affliction that these newes procured or to the hope or feare he perceiued who depended vpon him or who vpon Seianus hee entreats the Senate also to send him one of the Consuls with some Convoy to bring him safely He belieued that the conspiracy was so great against him that he should not be able to resist it and had therefore prepared certaine vessels to take his flight withall and caused Centinels to be placed aloft on the rockes who by fires made signes of what they discouered It must be that the Coniuration was very great and very ready or Tiberius very fearefull abashed so to lay open the trouble of his spirit for feare should neuer lodge in the heart of a Prince who may be well lamented when they who should stand in awe of him doe deterre him But the Favorite began to bee troubled when one told him that he saw the smoake evaporate out of the head of one of his Images he caused it to be broken to know the cause We ought not proudly to despise prodegies this neglect lost Alexander App. Perseus Iustin Luc. Crassus D. Hal. and from thence a great Serpent was seene to issue foorth hee despised not this prodigie and made a Sacrifice to himselfe for hee was accustomed so to doe and there was a cord found about the necke of the sayd Statue Tiberius judged that the Destinies had conspired to ruine him with their vengeance but hee continued his dissimulations bruiting it abroad that hee meant to raise him to the greatest Office of the Empire Dion saith that to Accuse and intrap Seianus Tiberius caused it to be bruited in the Senate that hee would conferre vpon him the dignity of Tribune but at the same time he sent away Nevius Sertornis Macro with commaundment to present his Letters to the Senate to seize vpon Seianus and to let Drusus being in prison at libertie that hee might gather his friends together against the Common enemy if then were any opposition Nihil noÌ„ aggresuri sunt homines si magna conatis magna pramia proponantur Liu. The place of Colonell of the Guards which Tiberius bestowed on Macro animated this execution Princes that will bee well serued ought alwayes to make the quality of the service to bee seene by the Recompence thereof Hee came secretly to Rome and communicated the Cause of his arrivall to the Consul Memnius Regulus and not to his Colleague for he was Seianus creature and vnto Gracinus Laco Knight of the Watch he found them disposed to sacrifice this wicked man to the publike hatred The Consul Convoked the Senate for the next day to the Temple of Apollo The Senate did not sit but in Temples or in sacred places and caused these wordes to bee fixed to one of the pillars of the Gate In a good houre Memnius Regulus This word was bonum factum to which may all things prosper shall to morrow at breake of day keepe the Senate at the Temple of Apollo Let the fathers Conscript bee there there are matters of weight to bee handled The penaltie of the absent is no excuse To giue example vnto others hee was himselfe one of the first that came Pruna luce Cic. hee entred with the badges of his Dignitie his purple Robe twelue Sergeants marching before him making cleere the passage at his entry hee sacrificed Wine and Honey takes his place in the Ivorie chaire Hocillis Curis templum Virg. the other Senatours doe the like and ranke themselues in their places Macro meetes with Seianus who was not as yet entred Qualem quisque sortem statumque habeat in mea manu profitum est quod cuique mortalem fortuna datum villis meo ore pronunciat Sen. and seeing him a little troubled that hee brought him no Letters from Tiberius hee rounded him in the eare that he had some better thing for him I bring you the power of Tribune this stayed him and his friends were presently acquainted with all and rejoyced at it hoping that all which Fortune would bestow on the Romaines should passe through the hands or from the mouth of their Master Macro presents his Letters and retired causeth his Souldiers to bee assembled vnder colour of Imparting vnto them the Emperours Commandements and by this meanes left for the Guard of the Temple the Souldiers of the Watch the rest that followed Seianus went to the Campe and to their Ensignes beeing there hee assured them of the Emperours willingnesse to acknowledge theyr services and to gratifie them with some Present These were presents of Armes Pikes Ensignes scarfes chaines of Crownes There were not any but listened hereunto and promised to bee ready in all things hee chose a competent number of them to keepe the advenues and the Temple of Apollo this done hee presents his Letters to the Senate and told them his charge and with-drawing himselfe leaues Laco there and goes to giue order for the other parts of the Towne The Princes authority is at the lowest ebb when he dares not declare openly vnto his subiects the cause of his discontent His Letters are Read and doe shew the patterne of a troubled and trembling Spirit which dares not expresse but with halfe wordes that which hee conceiues against the ingratitude and treacherie of his Servant they were mingled with diuers affaires without order the beginning with indifferent the residue with other things of greater Importance This was pursued with complaints of the vnmeasurable power of Seianus then hee descends to other occurrents praying the Senate to make processe of two Senators Seianus his inward friends and in the end commands them This tragicke end of Seianus is well represented in the French Tiberius of Monsiour Le Maistre chiefe mederin of Monsieur but faintly to watch ouer Seianus his actions there was not one word of putting him to Death so much bee feared least the Credit he had euery-where should oppose it selfe and that in case things should not succeed according to his desire hee might alwayes haue the libertie of expressing himselfe But as feare beleeues all that it Imagineth Aliquisque panendo