THE POWERFUL FAVOURITE, OR, The life of AELIUS SEJANUS.  
By P.M.  
Nec tibi regnandi veniat tam dira Cupido.  Virg. 1. Georg. 
Printed at Paris. 1628.   

The life of AELIUS SEJANUS  By P.M. 
SEeing that Princes dispose soveraignely of their hearts; 
The heart of the Prince is free, and is not guided but by the hand of God.  and that they form in them love and hatred, to whom and how they please; We had need therefore to desire that their affections to particular men might be just and well regulated. For if they be disordered they draw with them public ruin: 
Excalc●●ntur & ad staturam suam rede●nt. Sen.  they render Princes hateful, and their Favourites miserable; when the play is done, and that they are unshod of their high shoes that elevated them above others, they are despoiled of the habits of these personages they represented, they return to their first form and they come to know that we must not measure the Statue by the basis that susteynes it, nor judge of a man by his dignity or fortune.  
The heavens being provoked against the Roman Empire, permitted this deviating in the mind of Tiberius, through the excess of favour which he bore to Aelius Sejanus, uniting in his person those charges which should have been parted amongst many, and making him so great that it was difficult for him to unmake him. In the end the ruin of the estate which was the foundation of his greatness, was likewise the cause of his fall. He was the son of Seius Strabo, a Knight of Rome, borne in Vulsinus, a country of Tuscany. In his youth he served Caius Caesar the nephew of Augustus. He shared in the inordinate and abominable vices of Apicius, 

The expenses of Apicius his Kitchen, amounted to more than 2. millions of gold. H.S. Millies in culinam congessit. Sen.  
Illi tam pravae mentis homini ultima potio saluberrima fuit. Sen.   that rich prodigal, that famous glutton, who having eaten up his estate, and finding by his account that he had no more than 200000. crowns remaining, thought himself poor, and that this sufficed not to maintain his luxury: whereupon he conceived such an extreme apprehension, that death seemed more supportable to him then his poverty: and took down a glass of poison, he never drank a better draught than this last which stopped the furious course of his dissoluteness. Sejanus having attained some name in the profession of Arms, Strabo his father presented him to Tiberius, to permit that he might associate him in the charge of Colonel of the Praetorian Guards; and from henceforward the Prince began to take pleasure in his watchfulness and vivacity, and believed that this Spirit might one day by his discipline become an instrument apt to do any thing. He followed Drusus the Prince whom the Emperor had made General of the Army to reduce unto obedience those who were revolted in Austria and Hungary. 
Rector iweni & caeteris periculorum praemiorumque ostentator.   
The first demonstration of Tiberius' affection to him was to elect him for Tutor to this Prince, and to give to others the example of merit to attain rewards, and of valour to expose themselves to danger. He knew the inward disposition of Tiberius, and conformed his own so perfectly thereunto, 
Tiberium obscurum adversus alios, sibi uni incautum intectumque effecit. Tacitus.  that both their hearts seemed to have but one motion. This conformity entertained the affection, and from thence grew that entire confidence that Tiberius who disinherited all men, disinherited not Sejanus, nor withheld any thing secret or hidden from him.  
This favour attracted all hearts, all eyes followed this new light; the Senate communicated to him their weighty affairs; and from his mouth received their most important dispatches: 
Turba salutatrix.  every where one might see ceremonious troops which searched or attended for him to do him reverence. The great ones held themselves honoured by his commands; if he speaks he obligeth them, if he regard, they are contented: they wait in the morning at the gates of his house; they are there at his rising and going to bed; others endure the affronts of his doorekeepers whom they bribe to be at the first opening or admission. 
Duras fores expers somni colit. Sen.  And when they present themselves to the Idol which they adore, happy is he that can feign the greatest admiration to praise him, or servitude to flatter him. To speak after the mind of some great man, to consent to all that is said, to admire all that is done, to approve all that he will, these are the principal pieces of compliment; and admiration is ever one continual part in the office of flattery. 
Incipiente potentia bonis consilijs innotescendum. Tacit.   
In the growing of his grace he was desirous to have it conceived that he was founded in a firm resolution to advance the service of the Prince, and the good of the weal public, and only to admit justice in his actions, 
Palam compositus pudor, intus summa adipiscendi libido. Tacit.  prudence in his counsel, and modesty in his fortune: he carried in outward appearance moderation, but inwardly ambition: but he flew out in his wasteful expenses and prodigalities, in the magnificence of his household furniture and pictures, in the excess of his sumptuous feasts as if they had been sacrifices, 
Industria & vigilantia haud minus noxiae, quoties parando regno finguntur. Tac.  and in the pride of his Palaces gilded as if they had been Temples: he was industrious and vigilant to attain to his ends: he had a ready understanding to discover and to apprehend all sorts of forms, accommodating himself to plainness or severity according to the occasions.  
Being sole captain of the Praetorian guards, he caused them to lodge within a quarter of a mile of the city, that when there was occasion he might have them ready at his disposing, representing to Tiberius that soldiers being dispersed lived without discipline; 
Lascivit miles deductus. Tac.  and that seeing them every day assembled together in one place, the number might breed security to themselves, and fear to others, and that keeping them fare from the debauchements of the City, they might the better be kept in order.  

Vallum statuatur procul urbis illecebris. Tac.  This being assented unto, and a lodging assigned, he began by little and little to gain credit and respect in the hearts of the soldiers visiting them in their Corpse du Guard, calling them by their names, endearing the Captains and Tribunes, 
Neque ambitu Senatorio abstinebat, clientes suos honoribus aut provincijs ornando. Tac.  feeding the one with hopes, the other with gifts, and all with good words, whereof he was nothing covetous or sparing.  
To strengthen his party he dressed his speeches and intelligences in the Senate, and procured that his friends should be provided of Commissions, and honoured with charges and governments, knowing that it was not sufficient to hold authority with the soldiery, if he wanted it with the Senate and justiciars, who held so great estimation among the people.  
In all his designs he found in Tiberius so great facility and affection to his desires, that he needed only to ask and give thankes; he never denied him any thing, and oftentimes he prevented his request, and avowed that he deserved much more. Wherefore not only in private, but also in the Senate he called him companion of his labours, 

Sejanus socius laborum Tiberij. Tac.  
Effigies prae theatra, fora & in principia legionum. Tac.   and commanded that his portraiture should be honoured together with his in the streets, respected in the theatres, and carried in the standards of his armies. This is for a Prince to annihilate himself to please his servant: for it cannot go well when the people perceive that favour transferreth sovereign honours of superiors upon an inferior, and that the Prince suffereth a companion in the kingdom to assist him to govern. 
Firmius Herculaea cervise pependit. Claud.  Hercules saw well that Atlas eased him, but he made it be known that Olympus stood more secure upon his shoulders, then upon any others. A kingdom at one and the same time can never be divided between two.  
He framed all Tiberius his actions to rigour and severity, to the end that he might lose the affections of the people, who could not wish him well that did nothing but entreat them ill. It was no hard matter to persuade him to cruelty, all his inclinations running that way, and in his childhood Theodorus his Tutor in Rhetoric called him Clay tempered with blood: so that Sejanus had no more to do then to spy and search out occasions to excite his choler, and to exercise his cruelties which would never be appeased without sacrifice.  
The charges and dignities were conferred upon his recommendation. It was enough to approve their merit that they were near him by kindred or alliance, and to swear by his favour; and yet notwithstanding Tiberius would it might be known, that he considered more one then another to eschew blame, to take away from virtue to give to Fortune. Tiberius had named two Proconsul's of Africa, Lepidus and Blaesus; and to free himself from the ill will of him which should be excluded, he recommended to the Senate the election of the most capable. The one of them was a man of excellent parts, the other was uncle of Sejanus, and in that regard alone sure to carry it. Lepidus who would not enter into concurrence with the most powerful and most favoured, excused himself through his indisposition, the young age of his children & a daughter ready to marry, 
Auunculus Seiani Blaesus atque eo praevalidus. Tacit.  the Senate took him at his word, for they followed the wind of favour; Blaesus made semblance to refuse this charge, and all the flatterers cried, that none but he could deserve it.  
The same favour which had raised him, still supported him, and honoured his best services with greatest recompenses. After that he had not defeated but routed the troops of Tacfarinus, Tiberius commanded the Legions to salute him Emperor, he ordained him the triumph which never did belong to any, but to an entire victory, and by all means declared, that this was done for the love of Sejanus his nephew. He that had Sejanus his protector, 
 quisque Seiano intimus ita ad Caesaris amicitiam validus: contra quibus▪ infensus esset metu & sordibus conflictabantur. Tacit.  needed not with any great labour search for honours: he that had him his enemy languished under disgrace and misery. None had any honour without his favour, and none could deserve it with innocency and virtue. He caused junius Otho to be admitted into the Senate, who never had been of any other profession than a schoolmaster. He served his turn to ruin Ca Silanus Proconsul of Asia: he accused him of extortion, and in his government to have given greater authority to money then to justice. This was something, but they added other accusations, out of which the most innocent could hardly have woun themselves. 
Proprius metus exercitam queque eloquentiam debilitat. Tacie.  They brought to speak against him the most famous orators of Asia, although he was assisted by no man, nor had yet accustomed himself to speak in public, and that fear that troubled the best speakers and the most hardy eloquence, had disordered his discourse.  
Tiberius' pressed him both by voice and by gesture so lively, 
Saepe etiam confitendum erat ne frustra quaes●visset. Tacit.  and by his demands so frequent and spriteful that he was as it were astonished, neither durst he contradict for fear of provoking him; and seeing himself constrained to confess lest he should make the demands ineffectual. O what misery was this! The respect of the Prince obligeth the accused to betray his own innocency.  
Amongst the number of his accusers, junius Otho a creature of Sejanus, was the most passionate; 
Obscura initia impudentibus ausis propolluebat. Tacit.  for being newly entered into this charge of Senator, he sought occasions to advance the obscurity of his beginning by the impudence and shamelessness of his counsels, holding the most extreme the most safe: Silanus chose rather to have recourse to the goodness of Tiberius, 
Excusatius accipiuntur quae siunt ab exemplo. Tacit.  then to trust to his own defence, he presented him one request, to implore of him; but Tiberius who meant to ruin him, declared that in this accusation, he pursued but the intention of the law.  
And forasmuch as that which is done by example, carries its excuse, he caused to be brought out of the Registers, a judgement given under Augustus, against Volesus Messala, who had also been Proconsul of Asia; but if their qualities were alike, their lives and their charges were in every thing different. The one cruel, 
O rem regiam. Sen.  the other covetous; this was an inhuman man, who passing by a place where he had caused 300. heads to be cut off in one day, called it a Royal place and of great magnificence.  
When they came to deliver their opinions for the sentence, 
To praise clemency and to conclude with rigour.  Lucius Piso having cast out some clawing words in praise of the clemency of the Emperor, was of opinion that they should prohibit Silanus from water and from fire; and that they should banish him into the isle of Gyara. 
Anteire caeteros parat, absurdam in adulationem progressus. Tac.  This opinion was pursued by others: Lentulus added, that the goods that came by the mother should be left to the sons. Tiberius' approved it. But Cornelius Dolabella flattering more yet, and sharply blaming Silanus his actions, said, that thencefoorth they should not give the government of Provinces but to those which should be of unreproachable life, and of sound reputation; and with the judgement of the Emperor. 
Legibus delicta p●●●tuntur, quanto melius provideri ne peccaretur. Tacit.  For although Law were ordained to no other but to punish offences, yet is it certain, that it were much better if the committing of them might be hindered, both for those who should be honoured with such charges, and for those upon whom they should be exercised, for these should conserve their innocency, 
Loquax & ingeniosa in contumeliam praefectorum provincia, in quâ qui vitaverit culpam non effugit infamiam. Sen.  and the other their quiet and repose. Tiberius hereupon made a discourse worthy of his prudence and of his knowledge which he had of the people, who are but too prone to deny the actions of Magistrates, as it is now said of Egypt that it abounded in speeches and artifices to calumniate their governors; and that though many have eschewed the punishment, yet have they not freed themselves from the infamy, he spoke in this manner:  
I am not ignorant of any thing that is now published against Silanus, 
Non ex rumore statuendum. Ta.  but I must never resolve any thing upon bare reports. Many have governed Provinces otherwise from that they have hoped or feared, 
Quidam ad meliora excitantur, magnitudine rerum hebescunt alij. Tacit.  for the greatness and difficulty of affairs which present themselves, raiseth the courage of some, and astonieth and abaseth it in others. And forasmuch as the knowledge of a Prince cannot extend itself to all, and may not be diverted through the ambition of another: Laws are ordained for things done; 
Leges in facto constitutae, quia futura in incerto sunt. Tacit.  for those things that are to do are uncertain. Therefore our Fathers have ordained, that if crime preceded, punishments should follow. You ought not to change that, 
Sapienter reperta & semper placita non verienda. Tacit.  which having been once sagely ordained, hath been in all times allowed. The Provinces are charged with affairs enough: they have authority enough: 
Non utendum imperio, ubi legibus agi potest.  the rights diminish when the power increaseth; and we must not use commandment in those matters for which the Law hath provided.  
This discourse was approved, 
Prudens moderandi animus, si propria ira non impellitur. Tac.  and the place of the banishment changed to Cythara, because Gyara was too rude and wild; Tiberius shown, that he was able to moderate his spirit when he was not in choler. 

Prudens moderandi animus si propria ira non impellitur. Tac.  
Insula Gyara immitis & sine cultu hominum. Tac.  
Qui dabat olim imperium, fasces, l●giones etc. duas res tantum anxius optat Pannum & Circenses Iwen.  
The Theatre of Pompey was dedicated toVenus. Tertullian called it Arcem omnium turpitudinum.    
Sejanus only disposed of Offices and Commissions: the people meddled no more in the election of Senators; they sold no more their suffrages, nor their canuassing; and for the right which they had to the Commanders over the Magistrates and the Legions, they contented themselves with shows and Circensian plays, and the cloth which was given them for their Liveries. There was no man now living, that had seen the Common wealth, the marks of the ancient liberty were quite defaced.  
The greatest ornament of Rome was Pompey's Theatre, of such extent, that it was able to lodge 40000. men. It happened to be on fire accidentally: Sejanus quenched it, and hindered it so, that the ill of the accident could go no further. Tiberius' purposing to re-edify it, commended in full Senate the diligence and vigilancy of Sejanus. The Fathers to please him, ordained, that his Statue should be erected near the Theatre.  

Labour & diligentia magna vis intra unum damnum sistitur. Tac.  But as Princes do nothing without some special drift or purpose, Tiberius in favouring Sejanus had one, and Sejanus in serving Tiberius framed to himself another: There is neither affection nor faithfulness without gratuity. Tiberius' desired that the good will which he bore to Sejanus might oblige him to serve him, without any condition to ascertain his authority: 
Non tam benevolentia provexit, quam ut cuius ministerio a● fraudibus liberos Germanici superueniret. Sucton.  and Sejanus in serving the Emperor aspired to the Empire, and would keep secret his ambition. This was not affection in Tiberius, but necessity; for he desired to serve himself by the plots and devices of Sejanus to ruin Germanicus his house, and to raise his own; and Sejanus purposed to rise to the Empire by the ruin of them both: his power went not so fast as his will that encountered with great hindrances. For Caesar's house was yet entire; the son's young and lusty, the grandchilds great, he could not ruin so many at once: for treason will have some space of time in its wicked proceeding: and he thought best to begin with Drusus, at the same time that Tiberius had resolved to make away with Germanicus. For as the spirit of a man apprehends more dangers fare off, then present, Tiberius saw no other thing that gave him more cause of jealousy than his brother; and nothing gave him more cause to fear the ambition of Sejanus, than his son.  
The worst counsel which ever he gave him was to change that which Augustus had ordained, and hate that he had loved: for the extreme hatred which he bore to Germanicus his house, cooled that first affection which he found when he came to the Empire, 
Romae ruunt in ●●ruitium consuls, Patr●●, eques. Tac.  the people seeing him run with such fury to the ruin of their liberty, and throwing them headlong like a huge stone into the gulf of servitude without hope ever to get out.  
Germanicus was both cherished and loved of the people, because he was the son of Drusus, who had formerly endeavoured to restore the ancient government of the Common wealth, and had communicated the project to Tiberius his brother: 
Credebatur si rerum potitus foret libertatem redditurus. Ta▪  but he had bewrayed it and discovered it to Augustus. It was thought that the son would have pursued the design of the father to have revived the liberty: and that if he had had the sovereign authority, he would not have used them with such rigour as Tiberius did, but sweetly as Augustus, 
Augustus' civil rebatur misceri voluptatibus vulgi. Tac.  who was a Prince and seemed a Citizen, and disdained not to bear a part in popular recreations. For this cause Germanicus reigned in the hearts, and Tiberius but in the Provinces; and when it was advertised that he had pacified Almaigne, that Agrippina his wife also had done all which a Chief or General of an army could do, to show her courage to her enemies, her liberality to the soldiers, her prudence in appeasing seditions, straightways he waxed jealous, and that jealousy degenerated into a mortal hatred. 
Nil relictum Imperatoribus, ubi foemina manipulos interuisat, signa adeat, largitionem tentat. Tac.  What remained more to the Emperor (said he) then for a woman to command over men, to visit the Corpse du Guard, obliging the soldiers by good words, and great rewards.  
Sejanus, who loved not Agrippina, and knew Tiberius his humour, who could not brook that any should bustle with the sovereign authority, which was so delicate and tender, that it would take hurt by the least touch, 
Odia in longum iaciens quae reconderet auctaque promeret. Tac.  wanted no discourse to entertain the jealousy and suspicions; and added defiance to suspicions, and to suspicion fear, preparing long before, hatred against this Prince, to the end that at his determined time it might fall upon him to his destruction.  
Germanicus returning from Almaigne, all the City was in a jollity. Tiberius' commanded that only two Companies of the guards should be sent to receive him. 
Populus omnis usque ad vicesimum lapidem se effudit. Suet.  All the people ran with great haste, to the end they might speedily enjoy the sight of him whom they had so long a time desired and expected. Tiberius heerupon conceived so great despite, that he resolved to make an end of this brave Prince, who had scarcely entered into the four and thirtieth year of his age, and had already attained so much reputation as any other could attain in his whole life.  
This letted Sejanus who being urged with the desire to reign, 
Sceleratis ingenijs & plusquam civilia cupie●●ibus non do ●●●ari instar seruitutis est.  thought that this great power which he had in the managing of affairs was but servitude, so long as he was to acknowledge any superior. Tiberius by his advice sent Germanicus into Sclavonia, under the colour of honouring him with the most principal commands of the Empire, he appointed for his Lieutenant Cn. Piso a malicious, proud and violent man, with power to watch over his actions, and to thwart his designs. It is reported that Sejanus gave him charge in writing to put this poor Prince to death.  
He put it in execution. 
Apis manum Germanici Caesaris aversatus est, haud multo post extincti.  Germanicus went into Egypt, and being there, was desirous to see their Oxegod Apis, to know what his fortune should be. Apis would take nothing at his hand; and this was taken for a certain presage of his death. He was stricken with a long and grievous sickness, and the opinion that he was poisoned, increased the violence, for he held it incurable. The report hereof came to Rome, 
Fama ex longinquo aucta. Tac.  and was made greater than the evil; for the distance of place augmented it. Then was nothing heard but tears and complaints. Is it for this (say they) that they have sent him to the world's end, that Piso is made Lieutenant, these are the plottings of the Empress with Plancina his wife. Poor Rome that canst not have them to be beloved that love thee, nor dare we murmur against those that ruin thee. And therewith all brake forth into mortal and vehement imprecations against Sejanus.  

Laetiora statim ●redita, statim vulgata. Tac.  It was advertised by some merchants of Egypt, that he began to recover. This good news was as soon believed as published; and the streets were too narrow for the concourse of people, which ran to the temples to give thankes unto the gods. 
Pronior in tenebris affirmatio. Tac.  The night favoured the rumour, and the belief thereof seemeth more easy and costless in the dark. Tiberius himself is awakened in the night with their joyful acclamations. No words can be heard but these: 
Salua Roma, salua patria, saluus Germanicus. Suet.  Rome is safe, our Country is safe, Germanicus is safe.  
After that the poison gently violent, had consumed all the heat and moisture in this poor body, all his friends conceived that he should have no need to have or to see a Cock to sacrifice to Aesculapius; and that the gods would not grant him his life because they would not restore liberty to the Roman Empire. 
Germanicus could not endure the crowing, nor the sight of a cock. Plut.  In this extreme weakness he expressed from his mouth these his last words, to imprint them in the heart of his wife and his friends, that grief even melted them to tears, and rent their hearts in sunder.  

Qui praematuro exiturapitur illi etiam adversus deos iustus dolour. Tac.  If I had died according to the course of nature, I might justly complain against the gods, that they had snatched me away before the time of my parents, of my children, of my country, and of the years of my youth. But now since my course is interrupted by the wickedness of Piso and Plancina, 
Vltimas preces pectoribus vestris relinquo. Tac.  I will leave within your hearts my last requests.  
I conjure you to represent to the Emperor, my Father and my Vukle, how that after I was wronged by these cruel injuries, and perplexed by these strange disloyalties, 
Miserrima vita pessima morte finitur.  I finished my miserable life by a death which yet is more miserable. Those that have followed my hopes who are of the same blood with me, and those same that have borne me envy when I was in the world, will be grieved to see me ruined by the treachery of a woman, then when I was flourishing, 
Erit vobis locu● que●endi apud Senatum, invocandi leges. Ta.  & when I had escaped death in so many battles: & you also shall have a subject to complain of to the Senate, and implore the assistance of the Law.  
The chiefest duty of friends is not to follow the deceased with cries and weeping, 

Non decet defunctum igna●o questu persequi. Tac.  
Vendicabitis vos si me potius quàm f●rtunam meam favebitis. Tac.   which serve to no other purpose, but to be mindful of what they desired and to perform that which they appointed. Germanicus wanted not tears; they to whom this nothing at all apperteines & have not known him at all, will bewail him, but you will avenge him if you loved more his person then his fortune.  
Let the people of Rome see the Niece of Augustus, the wife of Germanicus and the children which he leaveth behind him, 
Fingentibus scelesta mandata aut non credent homines aut non ignoscent. Tac.  Compassion will make them be of my side when they shall accuse the Authors of my death, and if those that shall be accused shall seek to colour it and to invent some execrable commandment; (this touched Sejanus who had given order to Piso to do it) good men will not believe them, or at least will not permit that they should remain unpunished.  
All that were present swear in the hand of Germanicus to dye, or to revenge his death, 
Magnitudinem & gravitatem summa fortuna retinuit, invidiam & arrogantiam effudit. Tacit.  every one deplored the loss of so brave a Prince who in his deportments retained the greatness and gravity of his fortunes, and had nothing in his words but of sweetness and of Courtesy. He turned towards his wife, he conjured her by the love which she had borne him, by the memory she should have of him and for their children's sake which they had had together, 
Fortunae saevienti submitiendus animus. Ta.  to moderate and humble a little her heart, and to accommodate it to time and to make it pliable to the rigour of fortune, waiting till she should sweeten herself. Above all (my dear wife) take heed when you at at Rome of giving occasion of jealousy to those that are more powerful than you, 
Emulatione potentiae validicres haud irritandi. Tac.  and imply not that good will which you shall find in the hea 'tis to the Senate and people, to make any concurrence to their favour and ambition.  
This was the most sound counsel that he could give her, but she should have been held unworthy to be the Niece of Augustus the wife of Germanicus, and mother of those children, if she had made greater account of the estate of fortune then of virtue, 
Quasi rursus ereptum acriùs doluit. Tacit.  and should seek to attain the favours of the Emperor by those of Sejanus.  
When the people of Rome knew that Germanicus was dead, 
Cremati cor inter ossa incorruptum repertum est, cuius ea natura ut tactum veneno igne confici nequeat. Suet.  their grief was so much the greater, by supposing him taken away from them, and was nothing there seen but grief and affliction. It was doubted, whether he were made away by poison or by witchcraft, the one they believed because his heart did not burn; and the other was bruited abroad because they found about him dead means bones, Characters and Charms.  
Germanicus his friends published every where that Piso had been the cause of his Death, 
Piso intemperanter accepit Germanicum excessisse, caedil victimas, adit templa, magis indolescente Plancinâ. Tac.  that Agrippina would revenge it: but receiving the news of his death in the Isle of Cio, he caused sacrifices to be made, Plaucina his wife visited the temples, he cared not for the threatenings of Agrippina, & thought of nothing but to settle himself in the government of Syria, supposing that the service which he had done to Tiberius was sufficient to guard him from the fear of this vengeance and to assure him of the recompense of his merit.  
Upon this his resolution to go into Syria his son advised him to go to Rome, 
Suspiciones imbecillae aut inania famae non perti●●escenda. Tac.  without apprehending these vain reports and feeble suspicions to infringe or prevent the disignes of his enemies, and to gain the advantage of the first impressions. 
Apud milites recens Imperatoris memoria prae●●le●. Tac.  That he should not suppose to put himself so soon in the government of Syria, seeing that Sentius was proviuided thereof, that he could not expect great obedience of an Army, that as yet deplored the death of Germanicus and conserved with bitterness his memory, That he repent himself drawing upon him the blame of a Civil war.  
Domitius Celer on the contrary side: 
Vtendum est eventis.  that he ought to take again the charge which he had taken away and to fill the place that was void, That it were imprudence and peril to go to Rome at the same time that Agrippina would be there, 
Relinquendum rumoribus tempus quo senescant, plerunque innocente● recen●● invidiae impares. Tac.  and that the people would be moved by her cries and her complaint; That it was needful to leave to time these first reports to make them wax old, and that innocency can hardly resist the violence of a new springing envy. That he ought to go to Syria to take the Command of the army and the authority of the government, and that he had no other way then to take arms in hand and to justify himself in the field, 
Multa quae provideri non possunt fortuito in meltus recidun●. Tac.  and that the things which are often apprehended as dangerous, become more secure than one can provide for, or expect, That he should fear nothing since the Empress was interessed in his cause, and Tiberius obliged to disengage him, 
Est tibi Augustae conscientia, est Caesaris favour, said in occulto. Tac.  but that favouring him in secret he did conceive worse then if he did hasten this affair to force him to sustain it publicly, that it was certain that those that were most pleased with his death made show to be most afflicted therewith.  


Perisse Germanicum.  
Haud magna mole Piso promptus ferocibus. Tac.   Piso whose spirit inclined more willingly to dangerous resolutions with courage then to easy ones with prudence, followed this counsel and went into Syria: but he found Gn. Sentius opposite unto him, who because he would neither have nor suffer a companion in his charge, drove him out of the Province and besieged him in a Castle of Cilicia, and constrained him to render him and to take his journey to Rome.  
Whilst this was doing Agrippina embarked upon the Sea with the ashes of Germanicus her husband, 

The Tribunes and the Captains weeping, carried the vessels wherein the ashes of Germanicus were, upon their shoulders.  
Agripp. appellant Decus patriae, solum Augusti sanguinem, unicum antiquitatis specimen. Tac.  
Tiberius & Augusta publico abstinuere, ne omnium oculis vultum eorum scrutantibus falsi intelligerentur. Tac.   and landing was received with great honours of all the Estates of Rome, who manifested an extreme grief for the death of her husband, and an incredibile joy for the return of the wife and children. The people call Agrippina the honour of the Country, the sole and true blood of Augustus, the example of the ancient glory; and added to their cries, vows and prayers for the safety of his widow and young children, and for the ruin of their enemies.  
Tiberius was much offended with these Plaudits and would not be seen at this entertainment, doubting that his face might bewray that contentment of mind which he felt inwardly for the death of Germanicus, and commanded the people to moderate this sorrow, and to bear it, as they had done the defeat of their armies and the loss of their Captains, the ruin of their great families.  
Piso arrived there presently after, regarding so little the threatenings of Agrippina, that Marcus Vibius a friend of Germanicus telling him that he must go to Rome to clear himself, 
Eludens respondit ad futurum ubi Praetor qui de veneficijs quaereret, reo atque accusatoribus diem praedixisset. Ta●.  he answered suddenly & in scoffing manner. You shall see me there, when the Praetor that gives information of the witcheries shall have appointed a day for the accused and the accusers.  
He entered into Rome with a great number of Attendance magnificent and proud, his wife brave and joyous, the Gates of his house being decked with Laurel, whereby the people were the more provoked. The day following he was accused of the death of Germanicus and Tiberius desired to take notice of the Cause. Piso he desired it, 
Fuit inter irritamenta invidiae domus foro imminem festo ornatu. Tac.  because he feared the affection of the Senators to the memory of Germanicus, and assuring himself that his warranter should be his judge, coveted rather to depend on the authority of one alone, then on the passion of many.  
Tiberius saw himself in a straight how to condemn the guilty, and to absolve his own Conscience, 
Vera aut in deterius credita iudice ab uno facilius discernuntur, odd 'em & invidia apud multos valent. Tac.  for he knew the reports that truth had made current every where against him and his mother, and that Piso was but the instrument of this Parricide. He would handle the business with as little business as he could, and heard the accusers, in the presence of Sejanus and some of his most confident and familiar friends, They demanded justice, 
Haud fallebat Tiberium moles cognitionis, quaque ipse fama distraheretur. Ta. Paucis familiarium adhibitis, minas accusantium & preces audit.  and added threatening to requests. We need not to doubt therefore that he was advised to let Piso perish, ra●her than to permit his reputation to be wronged, and Princes sometime serve themselves of men no longer than they have need of them.  

Facinorum omnium repertor. Tac.  But because the history names Sejanus the inventor of all these mischiefs, he passed on further and said; That the Emperor ought not to meddle in these affairs, by condemning Piso he should too much increase the pride of Agrippina, and in declaring him innocent, he should show that favour would overcome justice, he durst not say that the complice should absolve the guilty. 
It is needful to walk wisely and heedfully in dangerous things, where the reputation of the Prince runs any hazard.  That it was necessary to remit it to the Senate, and that if he were condemned, the judgement might be attributed to the passion of Germanicus his house, if discharged, the blame should lie on the Nobility.  
Sejanus went to instruct Piso what he should say, assuring him of impunity of all other crimes, provided that he did not confess the secret of this; 
The frame of the puissance of a Prince is altogether founded upon his reputation.  that the Emperor would quench the fire that was kindled, and not permit that the sick party should die of the sickness whereof he was the cause, and that his reputation the only frame of his authority obliged him rather to lose himself, than not to save him.  
Piso appeared in the Senate, and there were some orators assigned to speak for the accusers, and others to defend the accused; the subject was worthy of the eloquence of the most able, and of such as did not seek for businesses, 

Eloquenti exoptat pretium litium numerus. Sen.  
Quanta fides amicis Germanici quae fiducia reo, satinne cohiberet ac premeret sensus suos Tiberius, an promeret. Tac.   but who were sought out for businesses, and who esteemed more the importance and the quality than the number and multitude of them. Tiberius' made a discourse with such a temperament between the accusation and the accused, that any might well perceive the contriving thereof was premeditated. All the City listened to know what the credit of Germanicus his friends would be, the assurance of the accused, the countenance of Tiberius; and if he could well conceal and keep back the sense of his passion, or that he would permit it to break out. And the people who otherwise regarded not affairs, 
Popu●●s multum 〈…〉 aut inspicatis silentij per●●tit. Tac.  in this gave themselves much liberty against the Prince, and either in secret communication they shown their spleen, or in silence they discovered their suspicions.  
You know (my Fathers, said Tiberius) that Piso at other times hath been the friend of Augustus my Father, and Lieutenant of the Army of Spain; and that by the advice of the Senate he was given to Germanicus my Nephew to assist him in the government of the affairs of the East. This now considered, 
Integris animis iudicandum. Ta.  it is meet you should judge him with pure and sincere spirits, if through his arrogancy or through excess of authority he hath offended the mind of this young Prince, if he hath rejoiced at his death, or if he hath traitorously and wickedly been a cause of his death.  
For if in this charge of Lieutenantcy he hath exceeded the limits of duty, 
Legatus officij terminum aut obsequium erga imperatorem non exuit. Tac.  if he hath quitted the respect due to a General, if he hath manifested contentment in his death and my sorrow, nothing can hinder it, but that he must incur my displeasure; I swear to you that I will chase him from my house, and avenge my injury not in quality of a Prince, but as a private person.  
And if you shall discover any wickedness which ought not only to be avenged in this death, 
Facinus in cuiuscunque mortalium nece iudic●●●um. Tac.  but in any other you will; I conjure you to consider in this your grief, that of Germanicus his children, and ours, who are so near to him, neither refuse to us a just consolation.  
Consider on one side how Piso hath carried himself in the Army, if he hath caused any trouble or sedition, 
Quaes●ap●● ambitionem studiae multum. Tac.  if he hath inueagled the hearts of the soldiers to aspire to command; 
Falsa in maius vulgant accusatores. Tacit.  and after that Germanicus had taken away his charge, if he did assay to gain it again by Arms, consider on the other side, if these false and forged matters have been vented by the Accusers for true, and of greater consequence than they are.  
As for me, I cannot conceal that I am not moved with the passion which they have manifested. 
Incerta adhuc sunt scrutanda.  For if they be not as yet well assured of the cause of the death; and if they have need to be informed thereof, to what purpose have they exposed his naked body in the public place of Antioch, 

Reus cuncta proferat, quibus innocentia eius sublevari possit. Tac.  
Obiecta crimina pro approbatis non accipienda. Tac.   and have left it to be handled and viewed by the vulgar people; if this were not done to make the speech go among strangers, that he was poisoned; and by this report to draw forth more of bitterness then of truth. In good sooth, I am sorry for Germanicus my son, and shall be sorry for him all my life long; but I will not hinder that the accused shall not produce all he hath to uphold his innocency, and prove the wrong which Germanicus hath done him.  


Si cui propinquus sanguis aut fides sua patronos dedit, quantum quisque eloquentiâ & curâ valet iware periclitantem. Tacit.  
In accusations where the grief of the Prince is joined with the cause, we must not regard his interest.   I conjure you therefore, that you receive not these charges for proofs, under pretext that this cause is joined to my grief. And you others, who by right of kindred or of friendship have undertaken the defence of the accused, employ that industry and eloquence that you have to draw his innocency out of danger: I exhort the accusers likewise constantly to prosecute the cause: all the fauou● that we shall show to Germanicus above the Law shallbe no other, then to be informed of the cause of his death, rather in the Senate house, then in the common place of judgement, rather by the Senate then by the ordinary justices. In all other matters we shall use equal moderation. Regard not the tears of my Brother Drufus above his sons, nor mine above my Nephews; and less all that wicked malice can feign against us.  
It was hereupon given out, 
Strange proceed, where time is given to the accused to answer that which is in his own knowledge, and to the advocates to colour their answers.  that the accusation should be framed within two days, that the parties accused should have six days to prepare themselves to answer; and that in three days they should make their answer. She was bold to refute the empoisoning; her boldness bred some favourable presumption of her innocency; but she faltered in other crimes.  
In the first session Vitellius and Veranius reported to the Senate the last words of Germanicus, which inclined their hearts to pity, 
Trionis ingenium avidumque fama malae. Ta.  as affection had prepared them to favour. Fulcinius Trio, to whom it was all one to weep and to speak eager to gain reputation by doing ill, began the accusation: but because he produced nothing but general matters, 
Vetera ac inania quae neque convicta nova reo. Tac.  and old inquisitions of that which Piso had done, the Senate took no regard of it; for all this could neither hurt the party accused if he should be convicted, nor serve to his absolution if he should be cleared, if other where he might be attainted of greater crimes.  
Vitellius accompanied the vehemency and force of his discourse with a great grace and gravity, 
The consideration of the quality of the accusers, renders the accusation more strong.  speaking in this manner: Although (ye conscript Fathers) the quality of those who lament themselves is worthy to be considered, yet is it good for none but those who seek for aid, otherwise then by the course of justice, and the reasons of their own complaining.  
This cause carries with it favour, 
A cause weighty in itself needs no other favour.  and needs no other aid than that of the Law, which is not denied to the meanest in the world. I could say that those who now implore it, 
The authority of a Prince maintains the estate, and that cannot subsist when there is a neglect of punishing injuries.  are of such quality, that if it be denied them, the Empire have no more to do either with the Law or the Senate. The issue of Augustus demandeth justice, the people expect it, the judges ought to administer it, and thou Caesar are obliged both as a Prince and as a kinsman.  
Pretend not to bring any favour to this accusation, since in representing the offence as a Prodigy, 
Ingens luctus provinciae & circumia centium populorum; indoluere exterae nationes regesque. Tac.  the offender as a Parricide, the deceased for such a one as every man laments; foreign nations have admired, the confederates have sorrowed, this city hath praised moderation in all things, except in this one so just sorrow. Germanicus is no more; O what sorrow! we have lost; O what misfortune! Germanicus the delight of the world, the love of the country; so bountiful towards the citizens, so courteous towards strangers, was slain miserably and traitorously. 
Illi comitas in socios, mansuetudo in hosts. Tac.  And by whom? by Piso, a wicked and ungrateful man. By whom also? by Plancina, a fury disguised in shape of a woman. By what means? by charms and poisons. Who are the complices? Sorcerers fetched out of hell. And wherefore? To avenge the injury and to usurp Command.  
The spirits of wicked ones (conscript fathers) deprave not themselves all at once, 
Nemo tantum à naturali lege defcivit & hominem exuit, ut animi causa malus sit. Sen.  neither can any espouse wickedness by pleasure alone, they form their designs from a fare off, and carry them to extremities; Piso by light faults is ascended up to greater, by covetousness to rapacity, from thence to practices, then to ambition, and from ambition to the violating of the authority of the law, to come to the despising of the power of the Gods. He hath given to Spain the proof of his avarice, to Syria of his ambition, to the house of Germanicus of his impiety.  
Assoon as you had honoured him with the charge of being Germanicus his Lieutenant, 
Haud invito imperatore ea fier● occultus rumor incedebat. Tac.  he kept it not close that he desired that of the General, and used practices in Rome to render him hateful to his Father and in the army to cause him to be despised of the Soldiers. He practised then to draw them to his devotion, chased away the tribunes that would not depend of him, filled their places with bold persons, and to make himself beloved of the men of war, 
Desidia incastr●● licentia in urbibus. Tac.  permitted idleness in the camp, and disorders in the Cities, insolences in the field: and thenceforth he was called the Father of the Legions: on the other side Plancina went cheek by jolle with Agrippina, and enterprised things above the modesty of women, she was found sometimes using the exercise of knights and running courses of light horse.  
And although this was rude to a spirit whose actions were all civil, 
Secreta studia pati non pote●t animus ad Civilia erectus agendique cupidus. Sen.  yet he desired rather to cloak them, then to offend the Emperor his Father, with importunate complaints He commanded Piso to lead a part of the Legions into Armenia, or at least to send his son thither, but he would do neither, the one nor the other, 
Si quando adsideret atrox ac dissentire manifestus. Tac.  and thereby lost the occasion of doing great service to the Emperor. When he was in counsel near Germanicus, or in the seat of justice under him, he stiffly and imprudently opposed all his opinions.  
I will rehearse unto you an incredible insolency, but so certain that none dare deny it, to show that sottishness and malice were companions and sisters in all his actions. Being at the feast of the king Nabates, when he saw that the crowns of gold which were given him, were neither of the beauty nor the weight of those of Germanicus or of Agrippina, he threw them on the ground, and being no less foolish than malicious, he began to reprove the sumptuousness of the feast, and discoursing against Luxury, said, that such expense was proporcionable to an Emperor, and not to the son of the King of the Parthians.  
Poor sot, didst thou think ever after this to find credit in the heart, or security in the following of Germanicus, whom thou hadst so impudently offended? although he was blamed because he was too good and that he endured too much. Thinkest thou that there was in the world a safe retiring place, to guard thee against the rage of a Prince of Augustus' blood? Hast thou heard it said, that hearts of such breeding, have been offended and not punished? And lo therefore Plancina, who esteemed not herself could be happy so long as Agrippina was happy, said that she must needs either perish or revenge herself, and pull this thorn out of thy hart, or permit that she might pluck it out of thy breast.  

It is a generous kind of revenge, to let one's enemy see that he can avenge himself.  Ye (conscript Fathers) admire the goodness and generousness of this Prince, who having been so often and so to the quick offended by Piso, was always contented to let him know he could avenge himself and save him when he might have ruined him. He came to find him at Rhodes, and being well advertised of all the plots he had framed against him, 
Nescius quibus insectationibus peteretur, mansuetudine tamen agebat. Tac.  yet he bore himself towards him with so much equality and moderation, that upon the advertisement which he had received, that fortune had cast him upon some shelves, he sent him certain Barks to fetch him off, 
Potest quandoque interitus inimici ad casum referri. Tac.  although if he would have deserted him, he could have blamed none other then chance, and that fortune had conspired for his avengment.  
Germanicus visiting Egypt had the curiosity to see the heads of Nile, 
Nilus' cuius in narrabilis natura est, cum mundo traxit principia. Sen.  (that memorable river which had its beginning with the world) and at his return found that Piso had changed the order in which he had left affairs at his departure, that which he had secured was shaken, 
Amici accedendis effusionibus callidi. Tacit.  and that which he had commanded was despised. He grew angry, his servants animated him to resent it, and his dissembling kept not back his choler, but that it was made manifest by his words, & his revenge by his threatenings, Piso retired himself: Germanicus fell sick: Piso who knew how fare the disease would go, went not fare off, and the violence of the poison hastened his death.  
Ah cruel! Hear the words of this Prince when he was dying and those dying words which shall eternally live in the memory of the Romans. 
The last words of a dying Prince increase the complaint against the authors of his death.  I die miserable in the flower of mine age by the treason of Piso and Plancina. I conjure you my friends to make it be seen to the people of Rome, that these wickednesses have cut the throat of the Nephew of Augustus, and of six small children. What hearts are these, which these words will not bray and bruise? And dost thou yet live Piso? and doth the Sun yet give thee light? Thy conscience not knowing where to hide thee, 
Tutum aliqua res in malâ conscientiâ praestat, nulla securum. Sen.  hath conducted thee hither to be punished, and could not consent to the security which thou soughtest after elsewhere, so that as she hath failed thee to dissolve this crime, she herself hath betrayed thee to conduct thee to punishment. What hast thou done after this Parricide? 
Subdola mora scelerum probationes subvertit. Tac.  Thou visitedst the Cities of Asia: Thou spentst thy time at the fair houses of Achaia. This was done to no other end but to make the proofs vain, the witnesses to die, we must now (O ye conscript Fathers) put Piso in the estate of a vanquished man to reduce him to that of an accused.  

Mihi fasces & vis Praetor●●, mihi legiones dare. Tac.  He did not as that honest man Valerius Publicola did, who being accused quitted his house of Velia and lodged in the village, to the end that they might take no pains in searching for him, He that is innocent shuns not judgement, and he that is culpable keeps himself a loof from the judges.  

When great ones are accused, they ought to suffer themselves to be found easily.  If any man had accused him for taking Arms, he purposed to have shadowed it under the Command which he had in Syria under Germanicus his General, if to have meddled with the moneys of the public, he persuaded himself that that part thereof which he should keep for his friends might save the cost. He may free himself for a little who hath stolen much.  

Venenum nodo crinium occultatum, nec ulla in corpore signa sumpti exitij reperta. Tacit.  If Martina that famous sorceress and empoysonnesse, the great friend of Plancina had not been dead, she would have discovered all the secrets of this treason. The friends of Germanicus would have had her been brought to Rome, but when she was at Brundisium she died suddenly, and the poison hid in the knots of her hair appeared not at all in her body.  

Suorum insidijs externas inter gentes occidit. Tacit.  If the truth may be aided by presumptions, no man can say that this Prince, who hath sound less security among his own then amongst strangers, was killed by any other then Piso who durst have enterprised it? he had offended no man but him, and for the resentment of this offence, he was declared his enemy and thrust himself into his charge, and every man knows it is hard to sever the desire of death from that of the succession.  
One once in this place of a Proscript man who to enjoy the goods of his wife, 
So Leponina f●llow d 〈◊〉 husband Iul●●s Sabinus in Vespasians time  told her that he would kill himself, she added that she would accompany him. He prepared the deadly drug but with such cunning, that he drinking first left the poison, which by reason of the ponderousness thereof, sunk down to the bottom for his wife to drink: she died; he was well enough and enjoyed the goods which she had left by her testament. Seldom any escape of that poison which is given by an heir.  
Who rejoiceth more at the death of any than he that hath procured it, and who desireth it more ardently than he that hath waited for it more impatiently? How did Piso take this? He sacrificed and slew burnt offerings: Plancina was so transported with this joy, 
Luctus laeto cultu mutatus. Ta.  that she laid a side her grief which she began to apprehend for the death of her sister, and adorned herself in the richest and best garments she had.  
This accusation abounded with so many diversities, and the resolution to make an end of Germanicus was furnished with so many Mischiefs, that they oppressed him, 
Nil ordinatur quod praecipiatur & properat. Se.  and carried him headlong into the folly of this discourse, and he had much to do to range it into any order. I had forgotten to show how Piso sent spies to discover the weak estate of Germanicus, and the accidents that happened thereupon. This grieved the sick person and vexed his soul, not for fear, for he was never afraid of death, but for anger and sorrow, apprehending that as soon as breath was out of his body Piso would usurp the command of his forces, and his wife should be at his appointment. Piso also was somewhat weary that the poison wrought so slowly and that it had no sooner wrought its effect, and entered into Syria, to be more near the legions and to serve himself with them upon occasion: This was the cause why Germanicus said of his distress: 
This is a very sensible grief to die in the sight of ones enemy and to leave his wife and his children to his power.  Well then, if I must needs dye by the cunning of mine enemy and that he must see me render up my spirit, what shall be found out for my wife? How shall she be dealt withal? What shall become of my children, who in this accident will not want tears to bewail me, and will have no words at all to lament themselves? Let that come to pass which the heavens have determined, Piso hath taken away my life: but he hath left me the courage, 
When the Romans would break friendship with any one, they would advertise him of it and forbade him their house. Titus Livius.  and I do not find myself brought to that weakness, that I ever will consent that the murderer shall gain his reward by my death. Upon this he sent a letter under his hand, importing that he held him his enemy, that he forbade him to come into his house, and so to sojourn there in that Province.  
For none doubted but that the witchcraft seconded the poison, when they saw the bones of dead men plucked from their members and tied to the walls and ceiling of his Chamber, 
Maleficijs animae numinibus infernisacrae. Tacit.  the characters of charms and imprecations, Germanicus his name engraven in plates of Lead, of ashes half burnt and made into paste with the putrifactione of ulcers and other witchcrafts and impieties, which they use to do vote any one to death sacrificing him to the infernal gods.  
Although this Prince was dying and even at the last cast, 
Moderatur cursui, qui vult proprius regredi. Tacit.  yet Piso feared & by his commandment loosed the Anchor and retired himself: but he went not very fare, that he might not have fare to return when he should have advertisement of his death. And if all this put together serves not to convince them, where would he the truth should seek out proofs?  
So that (ye conscript Fathers) you see before your eyes a man who hath brought from the womb of his mother violence and the spirit of rebellion, for he is son of a father who followed the party of Brutus and Cassius: He is not only an extortioner, but a thief, 
Cicero said the offence of Verres constrained the judges to condemn him.  not a quarrel but a raiser of sedition, not an enemy but a rebel, not a murderer but an assassin; never any delinquent hath given you more pressing cause to dispatch him then he; for the accursedness of his crime will constrain you to condemn him, and if in despite of the gods and of men, you pardon him, it will be impossible to save him out of the hands of the people, who attend this business: and harken (O ye Conscript Fathers) how they cry in this palace, there i● not a woman so little that doth not promise to herself to tear of some hair of his head.  
Represent to yourselves that the joy of the people is when they see the chief Authors of rebellion drawn behind the triumphant Chariot, 

When he that triumpheth passeth by the Capitol he sendeth his prisoners to the Magistrates and dares not lead them to his own house.  
ILictor, colligae manus, caput 〈◊〉 obnubito, arbori infoelici suspendito. Cicero.   and on the morrow after executed in reparation of the inhumanities' and cruelties they have done in the Provinces, they will be more content when they shall see Piso go to be punished.  
The people will lose their patience if you pronounce not speedily the solemn sentence: Hangman take this Parricide, this robber, this rebel, bind his hands, blind his eyes, tie him to a miserable gallows: And who knoweth if this multitude transported with grief and sorrow will stay there; if they will content themselves with one alone, and that they fall not upon those who favour this wicked man esteeming them more wicked than he.  


Non maius scelus in R. P. commisit reus quàm ij qui eum à tam nefarijs sceleribus sententia sua liberam. Cic.  
In case of judgement of persons of quality, we must consider the time and the reason of State.  
Eloquentia nulli tota contingit. Sen.   No no: (ye conscript fathers) they will not be mocked, the matter is too important, the consequence too great, and this man such a one that there is too much danger to commit a fault in his case. Believe I pray you, that neither the accused, nor the time, nor the place, nor the reason of state, nor the qualities of the parties can consent that they should be bereft of the example, that he should be delivered in secret, or that he should not be executed in public.  
Marcus Lepidus who had as much eloquence as he possibly could have, for never any man had all, speaking for Piso answered the accusers in this manner:  

Great honours are burdens which tire those that bear them. Ludos facit fortuna. Sen.  It is a great unhappiness (yea conscript fathers) for poor Piso to have been happy. Great honours serve sometimes to the felicity of them that deserve them not at all, and those who have first merited them shall find their ruin by a strange extravagancie, or a juggling of fortune, who giving to others contentments, to this man gives nothing but trouble.  
The great services performed by Piso to Augustus obliged the Emperor to make him Lieutenant to Germanicus, 
Unhappy is that dignity which hath no credence at all with the Prince.  but this honour was accompanied with so many thwart that his faithfulness found no favour, nor his counsel any credence in the heart of this young Prince, who being not affrighted by encountering of things impossible elevated his thoughts above his duty, threatening the Sun of obscurity, the Ocean of bondage, whence arose those thoughts of greatness which troubled those of the Emperor.  
His affection to his Country, his faith to his Prince obliged him to watch over his actions, which he found always so bold and high, 
Nec in astra lenta veniet vianter ruina quaeret. Sen. Tr.  that he believed that this young Hercules had not yet attempted to mount above the Stars neither handsomely nor peaceably, and that he would enter by a breach to the ruin of the Empire. These designs of an unbridled ambition could not come to any happy end, and Piso was not a whit astonished, 
Necesse est opprimant onera quae ferenti maiora sunt. Sen.  when the Priest of the oracle of Apollo told him at Colophon that he should not continue there very long, for the charge which he had undertaken was too weighty for his forces.  
But as Princes love better to be flattered in their errors than advertised in their duties, 
Malo veris offendere quàm placere adulando. Sen.  he presently remained distasted, that Piso loved rather to displease him with truth, than to be agreeable to him with flattery. He conceived that his freeness was presumption, when he shown him the way from which he had swerved and that which he ought to hold, especially when he told him that he did wrong to the Majesty of the Empire, when he treated common men so respectively and so courteously that sink of Athenians, 
Quod colluviem illam nationum comitate nimia coluisset. Tac.  who always followed the party contrary to ours, neither was it ever without some practice of revolt towards us, having assisted Mithridates against Sylla & Antony against Augustus. 
Inter alia dominationis arcana Augustus vetitis seposuit Aegiptum. Ta. Levi praesidjoingentes exercitus coercentur. Tac.  Was it by the counsel of Piso that he went into Aeypt against the ancient ordinance of Augustus, who left it you for a secret of estate never to to permit great persons to go into Egypt, because revolting against us they might there with a few men resist a great army, and prohibiting the bringing of corn from thence might famish Italy.  
Call to your memory (O Caesar) (but let nothing of importance escape you) the displeasure you received when Piso advertised you that this young Prince directed all his actions to vanity and ambition; 
In vulgus grata, sine milite incedere pedibus, intectus & pari cum Graecis amictu. Ta.  that to gain the hearts of the people, he gave them great gratuities of money and of corn that he marched without guards, on foot, meanly attended, and went apparelled after the Greek manner as at another time Scipio had done.  
All the furies of hell could not invent a more detestable Calumny then of this poison whereof Piso is accused, 
Tenus mendacium pellucet. Se.  but it is so minced and subtle, that falsehood may be transparently seen through it. How is it possible that you Vitellius who have your eyes open and a clear judgement, 
Non minus vitandum supervacanea dicere quam contraria. Sen.  not to speak of superfluous things, you now affirm contrary. What appearance is there that Piso eating at the table of Germanicus who always observed him diligently, had the leisure to take the poison to rub his fingers to waste his victuals. 
Absurdum inter aliena seruitia & tot astantium visu. Tacit.  Is this easy in another man's house in the presence of a Prince to whom they give so much trust, who hath so many eyes that watch over all.  

Si patrem pulsaverit, manus ei praecidatur. Se.  If this be true let Piso consent, not that the hand which hath done this Parricide may be cut off, but that the heart which hath conceived it may be plucked alive out of his breast, 
Offerebat familiam reus & ministrosin tormenta. Ta.  and that to find out the truth none may hinder but that the rack may be given to all his family and all his servants.  

There is nothing so foul as an injury which returneth against him that hath spoken it. Plut.  He is not altogether without fault, there is no man exempt, Diamonds have their blemishes, the fairest visages their spots, but he is neither wicked nor a traitor. Those that reproach him of pride are not without arrogance; if he be choleric they are violent, he never attempted against the life of princes.  
If he hath exercised any severity in his charge he rather did it out of duty then of his own inclination. It is for Princes to seek to make themselves to be beloved, 
Magistrates ought to be more curious to make themselves to be feared than to be beloved. There is nothing so natural as to hat● those who persecute us.  and for Magistrates to make themselves to be feared. If he failed in his respect and affection towards Germanicus, it is also a very hard matter to be constrained to love those who have resolved and sworn ones ruin. Germanicus, as all great men, had written the services of Piso in the sands and all his offences in Marble, if we may so call those sincere and faithful advices which he gave unto him for his good government.  
He confessed that Germanicus his death had drawn out of his heart a growing thorn, and a wearisome fear that he was very joyful to see his house delivered from so puissant an enemy, Tiberius from a Nephew so ambitious, the Empire from a Prince so undertaking: Germanicus would have ruined Piso and the heavens ruined Germanicus, and by his death made him know that there is a justice above, 

The Eagle having snatched up the little rabbits the dam undermines the tree and throws down the eagle's nest, and the Eaglets remain at her mercy.  
Mala & impia consuetudo contra Deos disputandi, sive ex animo id fiat sive simulate. Cic.   that avengeth the violences of the great ones upon the little ones. It is permitted to them to spit in our faces or to set their feet upon our throats to raise themselves above us, yet the smallest living Creatures have had justice over the Eagle. There is nothing so sweet as revenge, what soever it cost, this is a viand which one may swallow down without chewing.  
But Piso never attempted against his life, although he desired his death, and being assured that it was natural, this is a great wickedness to feign that it was violent: the gods would have it so. It is not permitted to dispute neither with studied arguments nor by way of discourse of their power.  
If he had sought to gain any credit amongst the men of war this was but only to lessen that of Germanicus. 
Prompta Pisoni Legionum studia.  His ambition tended to ruin, that of Piso to conservation: the one administered jealousy to Tiberius and the other was a bridle to Germanicus. If he gained the goodwill of the Provinces was he forbidden to cherish it? 
Amor affectus liber qui vices exigit. Plin.  Are not affections free? what harm is it then if they be rendered reciprocally.  
But he affected rather to submit himself to the bounty of Caesar then obstinately to put himself to the defence of his innocency. He implored with joined hands this Royal virtue which detesteth the brutish thirst of blood, 
Ferina rabies sanguine gaudere. Sen.  and beseecheth you great Prince to imitate the heavens which have more thunder to make men afraid, than lightning to punish them.  
If all be inexorable, and that the accusers hasten to take and snatch away that soul which they have already so stirred and turmoiled, 
Nihil tam periculosum fortunis innocentium, quàm tacere adversarios. Cic.  he will dye with this Consolation, that his innocency hath found no protection and that he chose rather to perish then to offend those who might save him.  
There was some obscurity in the accusation of the empoisoning, this was a Pyramid which shown not itself all at once, for of three sides there is always one which cannot be seen: Piso and Plancina his wife appeared, but the third hide Tiberius and Tiberius Sejanus.  

A tribuno deductus, vario rumore, custos salutis an mortis exactor. Tac.  This first audience being finished Piso came forth, and the people were so much provoked against him, that if they had not put him into a Coach with some to guard, it he had never returned to his house neither safe nor alive. That which the vulgar sort could not do to his person they did to his representation drawn to the Gibbet.  
Plancina his wife who had promised him to run alike fortune with him, 

Portia said, that she was not partner only at the bed and at the table of her husband, as a concubine: but that she was companion of his good and ill fortune as his wife. Plut.  
This opinion was common and josephus assureth it. One drank in a silver vessel a frantic love potion in stead of Greek wine and amidst Ambrosia one took Arsenic in a golden plate which took away his life.   forsook him to fall to lightness, a vice natural to that sex: and being assured of her life by the favour of the Empress she cared no more for that of Piso, and abandoned him as if she had never married him, but to partake of his prosperity.  
The judges out of divers respects were implacable against the accused. Caesar would have had him put to death because he had entered into the Province in arms, the Senate believed assuredly that Germanicus was poisoned, and amongst violent deaths poisoning was held to be the greatest execration: so much the rather that because thereby persons most dear and precious were snatched from the Commonwealth: that poison entered and mingled itself more easily in vessels of gold then of earth. There is no Antidote which is of greater virtue or efficacy against poison, than a private Condition, which feareth not that avarice can usurp upon his goods nor envy upon his dignities. It was certain nevertheless that this empoisoning was never clearly proved, nor confidently affirmed by the accusers. 
Veneni crimen accusatores non satis firmabant. Tac.  It was neither spoken of in Antioch or in Rome but according to the affection that men bare towards the deceased, or the hatred towards the living.  
Tacitus saith that it was not certain that any tokens of poison appeared upon his death; Suetonius, 
Praetulerit veneficij signa, parum constitit. Tac.  that he was seen covered over with Purple spots, a foam about his mouth and that his hart was found whole amongst the ashes. 
Livores toto corpore, spumae per os fluebant, cor inter ossa incorruptum Sue. Genere morbi defensus est Piso. Plin. Negatur cor cremari posse in his qui cardiaco morbo obierint & veneno interemptis. Plin.  Pliny, that Vitellius pressed Piso hard upon this who made the arrow rebound against them that shot it; and as some affirmed that Germanicus having been poisoned, his heart resisted the fire, others maintained that Germanicus dying of a disease of the heart, his heart could not be burnt. Thus the Hypothesis always remained in question and aswell the one as the other had truth on its side, being alike true according to Pliny that the heart of those who die of poison or of the disease of the heart consumeth not in the fire. But the worst piece of Piso's process was the extreme boldness of the people, who taking the report for proof cried out at the gate of the Palace that they would do justice upon Piso if it were not done. 
Nullo magis exterritus est quam quod Tiberium sine miseratione sine ira obstinatum clausumque vidit. Tac.   
All this astonished Piso very much, who the second day appeared before the Senate, to see if they were any whit changed from their former severity. He found the air quite of a contrary temper, Tiberius so cold that for fear to discover himself he inclined neither to choler to ruin him nor to pity to give him any hope. He conceived thereupon that he had no other refuge neither for his innocency nor for his truth. Sejanus told him nevertheless that Tiberius would strike the stroke when it should be fit time, and that he would not suffer him to perish. 
He that is convinced of one crime is punished for many. In offences against the State they make no recompense at all according to the merit of the offence.  Others affright him saying that although he were declared innocent for the death of Germanicus, they would put him to death for other crimes. For Tiberius was so altered upon that, that he was entered in arms into Syria, that he would make an him example, not permitting that his service should make compensation for his fault.  
Sejanus cared not at all to lose Piso and provided always that he spoke not of the secret Commandment, but he feared that seeing him condemned he might not complain to the Senate of the judgement, and of his punishment to the Emperor, and that although he spoke not against Tiberius, yet he might against him. 
The interest of children prevaileth above that of the parents.  The consideration of his children extinguished in his mind all the resentment of the injury which he suffered, and seeing himself about to perish he was desirous to perish alone. And to the end their innocency might be severed from his punishment, he writ a letter to Tiberius beseeching him to take pity upon them, and this being done he resolved to make an end of himself by cutting his own throat. He died not for fear of death, but that he might not die according to the pleasure of his enemies. 
This is a fury, to die for fear of death.  If there be any thing irksome in a public death, it is especially for the grief and shame of the contentment that one gives to their enemies.  
When this death was reported to the Senate, 
Caesar flexo in moestitiam ore. Tacit.  one might observe grief in Tiberius his countenance, but it was feigned and to stupefy these judgements which any might make to the prejudice of this accident, and to assure his countenance for his discourse he informed amongst other things of that which Piso had done the day before and how he passed the night. 
Pleraque sapienter quaedam incon●●●●s. Tac  There were some of them that answered discreetly, others more inconsiderately as in such occasions, some there are who will not seem to know that which one would have them ignorant of.  
Upon this Tiberius read the letters that Piso had written to him in this manner. 
Conspiration inimicorum & invidiá falsi criminis veritati & innocentiae nusquam locus. Tac.  Since that (Caesar) I see myself oppressed through the conspiracy of mine enemies, and the violence of a false accusation which permitteth not any place in the Senate, neither for the truth, nor for my innocency, the gods are my witnesses that I have never failed of faithfulness towards you, nor of reverence towards your mother, and in that respect I beseech you to think upon my children. Gn: Piso ought to have no part in my fortune whatsoever it be, for he hath not stirred from Rome. M: Piso dissuaded me from going into Syria, and I wish that the Father had accommodated himself to the youth of the Son, 
Qualiscúnque fortunae meae non est adiunctus. Tac.  and that the Son had not given way to the age of the father. For this cause, I beseech you, with great earnestness that his innocency bear not the punishment of mine obstinacy: and seeing myself in that state that I shall never desire any thing more of you. I conjure you by 45. years service; by the account that Augustus your Father held of me, when I was his Colleague in the Consulship, 
●ravitatis poenas innoxius non luat. Tac.  and for the friendship which you have borne towards me to save my poor children.  
He spoke not at all of his wife, and how should he be mindful of her, who had forgotten him in this extreme distress, and who had perhaps promised the Empress and Sejanus to open his chamber door to let in murderers to kill him. 
Nihil quicquam post hac rogaturus salutem infoelicis filij rogo. Tac.   
Tiberius' having read the letters said, that although Piso had deserved this mishap whereinto he was headlongly rushed: yet he pitied him for the alone respect of his house; that it was reasonable notwithstanding to conserve the branches of the tree which was cut down, and not to cause his punishment to pass upon his innocent children, 
Patris iussa fil●us non p test detrectare. Tac.  that absence discharged the one and the command of the father excused the other, and that for this cause they ought not to be comprised under the offence of taking of arms. As for Plancina, he entreated the Senate to yield her to the entreaties of his mother. The whole assembly was offended at the impudence and impiety of this demand, honest folk murmured against this woman, as the cause that Germanicus was dead and that Piso was slain. 
Fas aviae interfectricem nepotis adspicere, adloqui, cripere Senatui? Tac.  Well then (said they) the Empress shall have the credit of saving the murderer of her Grandchild to see her, to comfort her for the death of her husband, to snatch her out of the hands of the Senate. Will not the Laws grant that to Germanicus which they deny not to the meanest Citizen? Vitellius & Veranius who had no correspondency which Germanicus have deeply lamented his death, 
Venena & arts semel foeliciter expertae in alterius exitium facile vertuntur. Ta.  and shall Augustus his Grandfather defend Plancina who hath been cause of his death? and who can expect other from her, then that the force of her poisons and witcheries having had such fortunate success, she may employ them also against Agrippina and her children, to satisfy the thirst of their Grandsire and the Uncle with the blood of this miserable family, and to appease the wrath of Sejanus.  
The opinions being recollected Aurelius Cotta said, 
Nomina sceleratorum è fastis radenda. Ta.  that the memory of Piso ought to be extirpated, and his name razed and blotted out of the public Registers and Annals, the moiety of his goods confiscate, the other part given to Gn: Piso his son to change his name: 
Concessa Plancinae incolumitas ob preces Augustae. Tacit.  that M: Piso should be deprived of his Offices, and banished for ten years with 500 Sesterces for his entertainment, that Plancina should have her life granted to her in regard of the requests of the Empress. Every one allowed of this advice.  

Pudore flagitij princeps placabilior fit. Tac.  Tiberius who had what he desired sweetened the rigour of this judgement, for the hatred of the absolution of Plancina made him less severe towards her sons, not holding it convenient that he should pardon the mother being a Murderess to condemn the innocent children. He said that the name of Piso should remain in the Calendars, aswel as that of Antony who had made war against his Country. Messalina said, that he ought to hang up a golden ensign in the Temple of Mars the avenger and Caecinna Severus an altar to revenge. No (saith Tiberius) that is not fitting but only in case of victories gotten of strangers; 
Domestica mala tristitiâ operienda. Tac.  we must cover domestic miseries with sadness.  
Fulcinius Trio who had so mightily declaimed against Piso besought him to aid him, with his favour to arrive to his offices, he answered him. Take heed of precipitating your eloquence through the impetuosity of your passion; 
Facundia non est violentiâ praecipitanda. Ta.  he was angry that he had too much pressed Piso touching this poison, for all the words which he spoke of this subject touched him to the quick: he was desirous that he would represent Agrippina's passion without showing himself passionate. 
Rerum humanarum ubique ludibria. Tac, Audivi ex senioribus qui ad nostramusque iuventam duraverunt. Ta.  Behold how these vanities of humane things end.  
Tacitus saith to this purpose: I remember that I have heard in my youth of some of this time who had often seen certain pieces of writing in the hands of Piso which he never published, but that his friends told every where, that they contained the Commission and commands that Tiberius had given him against Germanicus; and that he had resolved to have produced them in the Senate to convince the Prince, 
Elusus à Seiana per vana promissa Piso. Ta.  but that Sejanus had deceived him through his vain promises and that he was not slain by him, but that he had sent one to slay him in the night.  
Death freed Piso, but Tiberius and Sejanus were accounted never the more innocent, 
Per noct●s creberrimè acelamatum est, Red Germanicum. Suet.  and one might every night hear cries about the Palace. Restore to us 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 saved his wife; and having brought this miserable man into the pit would not draw him forth again.  
If Piso had left his cause to the course of justice and law, and that he had suffered death as one who never had feared it, one would have pitied his misery. 
Confidence lesseneth the infamy of punishment.  There is no life so odious that ending in public with constancy and modesty, changeth not hatred into pity, pity into favour, and leaveth not some favourable opinion of innocency.  
Germanicus his death gave less contentment to Sejanus than to Tiberius, for this Prince held all their resolutions in check. Tiberius knew that so long as he lived he should not be Emperor. 
Our enemies constrain us to live regularly and to keep our life unreprovable, as it were in a thin diet. Plut.  Sejanus despaired that he ever 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 diet. The great affection which he held in the hearts of the great ones, middle ones and mean ones, mightily crossed his ambition. But after his death fortune bore him up the wind so, that his pride and insolence split the sails of his vessel and of his conduct.  
Tiberius' believed that he had more authority, but he was never the less mistrustful, 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 wolf by the ears, 
Lupum auribus teneo.  fearing lest it should escape him, & being escaped bite him; he feared that every one had a purpose to take it from him. He caused the nativities of the principle men of Rome to be cast, and according as it was reported unto him that their Stars promised some excellency above others, he suppressed, banished and put them to death. He understood that Galba might attain thereunto, and therefore meeting with him the day he was married, he said unto him, and thou Galba shalt one day taste of the Empire, 
Dion & Tac.  and yet he enterprised nothing against him, because this dignity was fatally destined for him.  
Sejanus amongst the precepts of his government had this, to nourish distrust always in the heart of Tiberius, to the end that he trusting none else might put confidence in him. The greater houses which were descended, from those brave and generous spirits, who were sacrificed for preserving the liberty of their Country, were suspected of Tiberius; who desired to raise the principality above the foundation of Augustus, and hateful to Sejanus who could not brook, that virtue should oppose his fortune. Libi Drusus being descended 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 principal young men of Rome, and as this birth giving 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 judgement, 
Defertur mo●ri res novas. Ta.  carried him to thoughts higher than the times permitted them, and he was for this cause always so suspected by Tiberius, that being at the sacrifices, he commanded the Master of the Ceremonies to give to Libo one of the Sacrificers a knife of lead, to the end that he should attempt nothing against his person. Another time he demanding audience in secret, he caused his son Drusus to come thither, and feigning to have need to be supported in his walking, he held fast Liboes right hand, who spoke to him, carrying his eye firmly upon all his motions. This young man had one of the Roman Senators his entire friend, who plotted his ruin, considering that to advance his fortune the shortest way, 
juvenis improvidus & facilie inanibus. Ta.  was to ruinated those that shadowed that of Sejanus. He possessed this light spirit, that there was some great matter written in heaven for him, he lead him to debauched courses which drew on excessive expenses, 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 sleep with nothing but vain hopes. Necessity made him dream, to what he should come, and put him into the curiosity to inform himself of Astrologers, of that which the stars had promised him, the ordinary refuge of weak minds that seek patronage. To know more also, his friend caused him to confer with Magicians, who demanded of their Devils that which they knew, and who told him nothing true; for a little after all his hopes were turned into despair.  

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 young man fall'n into the pit, and yet nevertheless he forbore not to show him good countenance to give him the estate of a Praetor, and sent for him often to his Table. Upon a sudden he causeth him to be accused to the Senate as of a great enormous and important matter. Behold him brought now into the state of an accused man, he changeth his garments, 
Reus obsoletiùs vestiebatur. Cic.  the chief Ladies of the City being a kin to him solicit 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 favours, 
It was not permitted to sick persons to go in their Litter but to the door of the Senate.  crimes. He goeth to the Palace in a Lectica, for this blow being not foreseen had abated the vigour of his health, and sustained by the hand of his brother, he entereth the Senate house, and when he saw Tiberius a great way off, he held up his hands imploring mercy with great humility.  
This Tiger laid hold with his teeth on all the excellent Spirits of his times. A Poet having uttered some free words against him, 
Quod in Tragoediâ Agamemnonem probris lacessisset. Suet.  was put to death; not for that, but because in a certain Tragedy he had disgraced Agamemnon, and transgressed against the respect due to Kings. Tiberius' punished the offences against Sejanus, as rigorously as those against himself; for they made him believe that he received the Counterbuff of all that was done against him. Princes are offended when we blame their favourites, 
He that blameth the favour of the Prince blameth his judgement.  because it seems we accuse the weakness of their judgements in the election of a Subject unworthy their favour. The workman is obliged to protect his workmanship, the painter is angry if one cast dirt on the Table he hath painted, They seek out old faults to serve for new examples of severity. The Senate had ordained that Sejanus his Statue should be erected in Pompey's theatre, which Tiberius had caused to be re-edified, Cordus stung with this injury done to the memory of Pompey, cried out that that was not the way to do but to undo, 
Qui non rumperetur supra cineres Gn. Pompeij constituere Seianum? Sen.  and to place Sejanus above the heads of all the Romans and to set up a simple soldier on the Monument of a renowned Captain. He said true, but truth doth not excuse indiscretion, which beareh inconsiderately the censure of great ones. Sejanus remembered it, yet accuseth him not for it, 
Novum ac primum auditum crimen. Ta.  but disposeth Tiberius to look 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 himself had read. He was accused that he had not sufficiently extolled Caesar nor Augustus, and that he had to much praised Brutus, 
Plut.  and to have termed Cassius the last man among the Romans.  
Satrius Secundus and Pinarius Natta were his accusers, Sejanus his creatures; 

Le credit dee accusateurs, cest le desespoir del accusées.  
Seiani clientes, id perniciabile reo. Tac.   and this quality made the ruin of the accused unfallible, and put his innocency into despair. The judge himself made him perceive by his sad countenance and terrible language, that he was set there not to hear, but to condemn him; not to make his process 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 move for the safety of his life, for he was sure to lose it; but for the honour of the truth, and glory of his works, he spoke in this manner,  
My actions are so innocent, that they accuse only my words; and yet have they not offended neither the Emperor nor his mother, who only are comprehended within the law of Majesty. They say I have 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 have 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 nevertheless made no breach in their friendship.  


Scipio personage digne de toute lovange bellique. Plut. Afranius Lieutenant de Pompeie country les Parthes et Arabes. Plut. Cassius enemy de tyrants 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 useth not the names of Robbers and Parricides which now are imposed upon Scipio, Afranius, this Cassius and this Brutus, but he often styles them brave and valiant men. The history of Asinius Pollio makes honourable mention of them. Messala Corvinus extolled Cassius as being his general, and that did prejudice neither of them, but that they were mighty in riches and honours. Caesar the Dictator contented himself with answering in a written Oration, as before his judges the book which Cicero composed raising to the heavens Cato his enemy. The Epistles of Antony and speeches of Brutus reproach Augustus with many false things, expressing them with much bitterness and audacity. The reading of Bibaculus and Catullus is not given over though farced with injuries against the Caesars, julius and Augustus have suffered and contemned them: 
Convitia s●reta exolescunt, si irascare, agnita videntur. Ta.  and it is hard to say whether in that they have shown more moderation than wisdom, for calumnies being despised vanish away, but in seeking revenge are confirmed. I do not speak at all of the Grecians, for not only their liberty but also their temerity escaped unpunished, and if they have been chastised by any, words have been the revenge of words. But it was ever free and without reprehension to speak of them whom death hath enfranchised, from hate or favour: will they object that I have moved the people to stir and take arms for civil wars, while Cassius and Brutus were armed in the Philippian plain? there are sixty and six years past since they died, as appears by their statues which the victorious themselves have not pulled down. Writings also preserve their memories. Posterity rendereth to every one the honour which to him appertaineth: and if I be condemned, there will be some that will call to mind not only Cassius and Brutus, but also myself.  
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 be paralleled to their generous bounty in pardoning obloquys. 

C. Calvo post famosa Epigrammata de reconciliatione per amicos agenti ultro ac prior scripsit. Suet.  
Valeria Catullus perpetuastigmat● suis versiculis imposuit Caesari. Suet.   Caluus the Orator and Catullus the Poet had outrageously detracted from Caesar, the truth placed shame in their foreheads, and repentance in their conscience; Caesar contented himself with that, and seeing that Calvus desired his friendshp, but durst not require it, he offered it unto him by an express letter, and for Catullus he invited him to supper the same day that he had published his poem against him.  
For Augustus, I cannot find his equal, 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 advised him both to use his pen and tongue with greater modesty, especially in his own house, and towards his friends: for Augustus nourished him. Extreme ingratitude! he continued his course; Augustus being enforced to interrupt him, desired him to retire himself from his house; Asinius Pollio esteeming more the gentleness of this spirit then the respect of the Emperor, lodged and entertained him; Timagenes wholly declared himself the perpetual enemy of Augustus, burned the fair history which he compiled of his reign, to make it known that he deserved not that he should write of him, or that the good he spoke of him was but a lie; Augustus digested all this, saying only unto Pollio you nourish a serpent, 
Fruere, mi Pollio, fruere.  Pollio intending to turn him away to excuse himself, he closed his lips saying, keep him my friend, make use of him. Is it possible that Rome under such a Prince would repine to have lost her liberty, she hath well tried since, what she hath lost in the change; it was the same flock but not the same shepherd. 
Subinde iactat in civitate libera linguam mentem●ue liberas esse debere   
We must needs say that Sejanus hath strangely corrupted the nature of Tiberius, rendering him so severe in punishing the injuries of his predecessors, who made so small reckoning of his own, and said that in free Cities, 
Satis est, si hoc habemus, ne quis nobis male facere possit. D. Aug.  men's tongues should not be captive; Augustus gave him this counsel, for he complaining of his dissimulation against this unbridled liberty of reproaching him, he writ these words, Tiberius my son flatter not your youth, nor your choler to believe there is any speaks ill of me, it is sufficient that we may prevent that they do us no harm. 
Non tantum habemus otium, P.C. ut implicare nos plurimis negotijs debeamus, si hanc fe●estram aperueritis, nihil aliud agisinetis. D. Tib.   
As for himself he did but laugh at the Satyrs and Buffonneries which they had published against him, and touching that which the Senate would have given him informations of, he told them we have not leisure to imbrake ourselves in these broils, and if we open this window, you will be able to do nothing else, and you shallbe importuned every day with particular complaints. 
Si vivere vellet, Sejanus rogandus erat, si mori, filia, ut●●que inexorabilis. Constituit filiam fallere. Sen.   
Cordus having so stoutly and elegantly spoken retired himself unto his house, very irresolute what course to take, if he desired to live, he must entreat Sejanus, if to die, his daughter, both were inexorable: his courage not permitting him to yield unto the one, he resolved to deceive the other; 

Al'issue du bain on portoit a la chambre du moust des oeufs frais.  
Quaedam per fenestram, ut videretur edisse, proiecit, à coenä deinde, quasi iam satis in cubiculo edisset, abstinuit. Sen.   not to give any inkling of his resolution he bathed for some days, and the better to amuse his daughter after the bath, retired himself to his chamber, there to take his refection, and sending away his servants threw out of the window some part of that they had brought him, to make them believe it was the fragments of that which he did eat. The hour of supper being come, he told his daughter he had no stomach to eat, and that his former collation would serve him in stead of a supper; she did not press him further, believing all was true, and not supposing that what she approved for his health should be for his death. 
Homini non ante septimum diem letalis inedia: durasse & ultra undecimum plerósque certum est. Plin.   
He continued in this rigorous devise until the fourth day, his weakness displayed itself, his extreme sorrow was agreed with abstinence, which was not violent enough to make an end of him in so few days, for famine would dispense with many more.  
His daughter being so deluded, conjured him by entreaties and tears, to live for her sake, and for his own; these prayers came too late, 
It●● mortis ingressus sum & iam medium fere teneo: re●●care me nec debes nec potes. Sen.  his glass is almost run out, he is at the last period of his life, and then embraced his daughter and said, Martia I am too fare advanced in the way of death to retreat, I am more than half way, thou neither oughtest nor canst retain me. This done, he caused the Tapers to be put out, the better to hide himself and steal away in darkness: 
Et faveibus avidissimorum luporum educitur praeda. Sen. Magna res erat in quaestione an mortis rei perderentur: dum deliberatur, dum accusatores iterum adeunt, ille se absolverat. Sen.  his servants seeing this his resolution so strong, and so fare advanced were not a whit sorry that the wolves should miss of their prey: and then it was that his accusers by the commandment of Sejanus ran to the Consuls to tell them that Cordus was a dying, that is to say, that he escaped them, than grew it to a question in Court whether they might hinder an accused person from putting himself to death, but while they dispute how to resolve this, and to condemn him he absolues himself. 
Scripta actoris calamitate. Dio.   
His books were burned by the Aediles. The calamity of the author and the excellency of the style made them more famous and with greater curiosity to be sought after and studied: 
Vir Romanus qui subactis iam ceruicibus, omnium & ad Seiani iugum aductis indomitus sit homo ingenio animo, manu liber. Sen. Praesenti poten●●â non extinguitur sequentis aevi memoria. Ta.  Martia preserved them and restored them to the world to renew the memory of her father who had written them with his own blood, who remained firm and invincible when every man yielded his neck to the yoke of Sejanus, and had always showed both in his discourse, writings and mind, the ancient liberty. Princes deceive themselves in being too passionate about smothering such writings as displease them, the forbidding them whets on men's desires, 
Punitis ingenijs gliscit authoritas. Ta.  and difficulty approves curiosity; if fear suppress them during their lives, they appear more boldly after their deaths. The punishment of the author augments the reputation of his works, the punishment itself is odious; he which inflicts it is blamed, and he that suffereth hath the honour.  
And we find that this fury against books had his beginning under Tiberius: for what had it been, if the Triumuirs had proscribed or burnt these of Cicero: 
Reip. interest ne facta quae posteritati tradantur. Sen.  Caligula, renewed these of Cordus, and thought himself interessed so to do that posterity may know the lives and deeds of their predecessors. What contentment is it to see the history of so good a pen, of a courage so free and bold, of such a discourse as that he made in the Senate, and such an example as Seneca left us upon the death of Cicero in these terms?  
Antony received great contentment when one brought him the head of Cicero, 
Non satiatus modo cedendis civibus, sed defectus. Sen. P.  and said that his proscription was then at an end, for he was not only satisfied, but wearied with the massacre of so many men: he commanded it should be exposed to the view of the people in the public place where they made the Orations. 
Pijs concionibus multorum capita servarat. Sen P.  In the same place where the people drawn by the reputation of his eloquence pressed to follow him, where they gave ear unto his serviceable speeches which have preserved so many heads, he is now made a spectacle unto his citizens, not with the same joy or in the same manner, they had admired him living and entire; but the blood covering his head and disfiguring his visage, the same head which in former time commanded in the Senate and was the ornament of the Roman name, now serves for a recompense to him who did separate it from his body.  
All their hearts burst forth into tears and lamentations when they beheld his right hand the instrument of his divine eloquence made fast unto his head: 
Caeterorum caedes privatorum luctus exci●averunt, illa una communes.  the death of all besides himself were but particularly lamented; all did join in mourning for this general loss, we are not only to believe the greatness, but to admire the number of his virtues; when he saw what they meant to Brutus, 
Optimè meruit de posteris, ad quos veniet incorrupta rerum fides.  Cassius, and Sextus Pompeius, he spoke these words, every thing displeaseh me but death.  
Cordus did write the history of his own time, and it may be that leaving the truth untainted to posterity, he spoke honourably of those that suffered death in defence of their ancient liberty, for the fear of death excuseth not him which offendeth against the truth to please fortune. To publish false story, or to give false instructions unto them that writ, is but to murder them that pass thorough the high way of belief: retaining in his discourse the same liberty which he had done in his writings, he contemned the pride of Sejanus and to deliver himself from the hands of so puissant a man, made it known that he was truly a man, with drawing himself from the number of miserable men.  
This misery was not so frequent amongst the Romans while Germanicus lived, 
Dion saith that often opinions passed against his and that he was not offended.  these two lions as yet kept in their claws: fear ruled the actions of Tiberius and necessity bridled the insolency of Sejanus: Dion saith, that so long as Germanicus lived, Tiberius did nothing of himself, he restored all manner of affairs to the Senate, administered justice by the advice of them who assisted him, thought good that every man should give his advice, 
Tiberius was wont to say, I am Lord of slaves, Emperor of soldiers, and prince of all the rest.  suffered himself to be contradicted, and sometimes taken up in his opinions.  
He would not permit himself to be called Lord, but of slaves, and Emperor only of the soldiers; he flatly refused the title of Father of the Country: in speeches and petitions he passed by the name of Augustus, and in his dispatches to Kings, and contented himself every where else with the name of Caesar and prince of the Senate: his ordinary wishes were, that the heavens might grant him life so long as the commonwealth should have need of his service.  
Germanicus living, 
All this was during the life of Germanicus, but after his death all was changed.  his birth day was not solemnised; they never swore by his fortune, they erected him neither statue nor temple, when he passed thorough the the City there was neither Senator, Patrician, Roman Knight, nor any other Lord of quality in his train: comporting himself in all things, as if he had lived under a popular government, so fare as to make funeral orations for particular persons.  
If he did commit any violence it was coloured and cloaked with appearances of reason or necessity, 
Ambition lurks for a long time after to appear great.  or if it were secret; it was so carried that it never came to light; Clement a famous Impostor murdered his master Agrippa Posthumus the grand child of Augustus, 
The Emperor Augustus to please Livia did banish him to the Isle of Plavesia. Vetita occultis primum sermonibus crebrescunt. Tac.  and because they were of the same years and proportion, he caused a report to be raised secretly, as a thing dangerous, after published as pleasing news, that Agrippa was alive: for it is true that the Emperor's mother caused him to be slain immediately after the death of Augustus. Whose memory was so dear and venerable, that under this name he found friends in Gaul, succour in Italy, and credence in Rome, the people crying, and believing that the Gods had reserved him for the good of the Empire. Tiberius' considering that fame and legerity supported this fable, 
Veritas visu & mora, falsa festinatione & incertis valescunt.  and that there could not so little credit be given to it, but that it might prejudice his affairs, made means to entrap him by some who feigned themselves to be of his plot: when he was before him he marvelled that he did so handsomely manage this imposture, and asked him by what title do you make yourself Agrippa, 
Percontanti Tiberio quomodo Agrippa factus esset, respondisse fertur, quomodo tu Caesar? Tac.  the gallant replied, by the same thou makest thyself Caesar? Torments could not wrest from him the names of his accomplices; and although Tiberius knew well that he was assisted with money and counsel by men of the greatest rank, 
Inanis credulitas tempore ipso vanescit.  yet he made no inquiry after them; he put him to death without noise, and there was no more spoken of it.  
Tiberius then had cause to reckon the death of Germanicus amongst the happiest days of his life, and Sejanus ranked it amongst the greatest strokes of his fortunes: but the same enmity they bore towards the Father, they continued to his Children, dissembling it nevertheless as much as they could, because it should not appear but in convenient time, and covering it with shows of affection towards them, Tiberius entreated the Senate to dispense with the age of Nero, 

Neronem è liberis Germanici iam ingressum iuventam commendavit patribus, non sine risu audientium. Ta. Congiarium pleb. Ta.  
 illa secundis, ita hoc adversis animis acceptum. Tacit.. jason tyrant of Pheres said that he would die of hunger, if he did fail of the tyranny, for he could not live Idiot.  
Idiot is a private person.   to undergo public offices, and at fifteen years to be made a Questor, which office was never borne before two and twenty, he was also named high Priest, and at the day of his entry to this office he made largesse of provisions to the people, which rejoiced to see the children of Germanicus, in a flourishing youthfulness. For increase of joy he espoused julia the daughter of Drusus, but all was converted to disdain, when they saw that the daughter of Sejanus was affianced to Drusus the son of Claudius, esteeming this great house to be dishonoured by that alliance, and that it did but give too much confidence to one who already had gained the greatest power, and who held himself but miserable if he did not command, not enduring to live as a private person; heaven which would have no fruit from so bad a tree, disposed of all otherwise. Drusus sporting himself in the town of Pompey threw a pear up into the air, and receiving it with an open mouth was choked, and this young maid bearing her part at the miserable end of her father, made her Epithalamium at the foot of the gibbet, as may be seen in its proper place; their hate was not so enraged against Sejanus, as there wanted not some who spoke, that he had made this marriage of purpose to dispatch his son in law.  
This opinion could be built upon no other foundation, 
Miror fuisse qui traderent à Seiano necatum. Suet.  but that this young Prince made show of great disdain of this alliance, or too much distaste to be the son in law of a man so odious, which had no honour in him, his predecessors had acquired him none, 
Vain is the praise which cometh not from a commendable man. Plut.  neither could he leave his children any; and received no praise but from them, whom himself dare not commend.  
Drusus could not endure this insolency nor that Tiberius should prefer strange counsels and affections before natural, 
Secreta viri corrupta uxore pr●duntur. Ta.  he ceased not to tell his wife who betrayed him, and his friends who deceived him; that it wanted but a little that Sejanus was not Tiberius his fellow as well as high coadjutor, and his children, kinsmen to Drusus: that his ambition had some deep aim, that it was not like to rest there; for the first hopes of rule are difficult, 
Prima dominandi spes in a●duo, ubi sis ingressus adsunt studia & ministri. Ta●.  but when men have gotten up means to maintain themselves there are never wanting, this he said often and to many, they were his ordinary complaints; an afflicted spirit never ceaseth to bemoan itself, and ever lay his hand upon his sore.  

According to men's natures they receive their denomination, for Dion saith, that Drusus was called Castor, and that sharp pointed swords were called Drusians. Tribunitia potestas summi fastigij vocabatur. Tac.  This prince bore an extreme hatred to Sejanus and he was so ready to strike, that they surnamed him Castor, and being no longer able to endure this gallant that played the companion with him, had once his hand up to strike him, and the other also doing the like toward the blow: Drusus struck him on the face. Dion and Zonaras writ that Sejanus struck Drusus, but there is no likelihood he was so bold with the Emperor's son, which was young, courageous, an associate in the Empire, and held in the power of tribune, the greatest next to sovereignty.  
A stab is always due for a box on the ear, and is a correlative to it, but those blows which proceed from the prince's hand ought to be received, but with patience and humility: he that may kill obligeth one when he doth but hurt him. This so fresh an offence revived those which time had almost withered in Sejanus: the history notwithstanding reports not that he made any complaint thereof, 
Tib. Seianum singularem principalium onerum ●diutorem in omnia habuit. Vell.  nor that Tiberius did chide his son for having in such sort abused him whom he had chosen above all others to aid him, to support the principal affairs of the Empire; for it is but a bad exploit to seek occasions to provoke the Emperor against the Prince.  
Not daring to complain thereof, he resolves to be revenged, and as revenge is always ingenious to find the means to satisfy the offended, he found no better wedge to cleave this knot withal than one made of the wood itself; 
●ara est concordia formae atque pudititia. juve.  & to win the wife to undo the husband: she was fair, but her beauty agreed not with her honour, she consented to the solicitations of Sejanus, unto whom none refused to yield any thing, seeing that Tiberius gave him all: acquaintance begat affection, and that which at the beginning was but love, became adultery, and the adultery witchcraft: a strange blindness that a niece to Augustus, the daughter in law to Tiberius, the daughter of Drusus, 
Se ac maiores & posteros municipali adultero foedabat. Ta.  the sister of Germanicus, the Emperor's son's wife, and the mother of two princes, capable of attaining the Empire, should stain her honour, dishonour her house to consent to the pleasure of a plebeian: but great beauties will be admired, and powerful favours are sought after. Sejanus could do all through his favour, 
Unto a question made unto Aristotle, wherefore is it that we love that which is fair, he answered Tup●lou to erotema.  and Livia was beloved of every one for her beauty; to demand wherefore we love that which is fair, is the question of a blind man; but this is fare greater blindness to think that great men cannot do whatsoever they desire. Having the body then at his pleasure, he managed the heart as he pleased; the first limb was the bridge to all the succeeding. 
Foemina ' amissa pudicitia alia flagitia non abnuit. Tac.  When a woman hath lost her chastity she hath no more to lose or to refuse: love had caused the adultery, ambition procured the murder, and from the one they passed on boldly to the other; Sejanus infuseth into her spirit a desire to be the wife of an Emperor, she believes that he could do what he said; for Tiberius reigned not, but in his person and under his will: she harkeneth thereunto, 
The fort which will admit of a parley is half rendered.  and relisheth it, and the pleasure which she shows in her attention differs not much from her consent. Their wills which are agreed for love, are united for marriage, and conspire to the same purpose to break all obstacles, 
Magnitudo facinoris metum, prolationes, diversa interdum consilia adfert. Tac.  Sejanus by divorcing of Apicata and Livia by the death of Drusus.  
But as great mischiefs cannot be soon hatched, for fear doth breed an irresolution therein, astonishment dela, yand delay augments the difficulty thereof; they were not so much troubled to resolve on the act, as to find the means and the manner. The order and secrecy, which ought to be exactly observed in matters of importance were not forgotten in this abominable act. They resolved to poison him, and considering that if the poison were given in his meat, some other might be overtaken and deceived; they resolved therefore to give it in a medicine which he should take, and which should work so slowly, that his death should be imputed unto nature and chance, not unto violence and treachery. 

Eudemus amicus ac medicus Liviae specie artis frequens secretis. Tac.  
Adulteria etiam in principum domibus, ut Eudemi in Livia Drusi Caesaris. Plin.  
Rumour Seianum Ligdi spadonis animum stupro vuisse. Ta.    
Livia employed herein Eudemus her physician, who in this quality, and under favour of his profession, was ordinarily in her Cabinet. Tacitus saith, he was her private friend, and Pliny, her adulterer: Sejanus seduceth Ligdus an Eunuch, and one of the most trusty domestic servants of Drusus; and to unite his heart more strictly to him, he most vildly abused his body; who was both young and fair. These infamous persons combine upon an execrable attempt: Sejanus the assasin conceives it, Livia the adultress gives her consent, the ruffian Eudemus compounds the drug, Ligdus the Ganymede presents the same. Four persons who deserved to give their hearts, which devised and consented unto so horrible an attempt against the only son of the Emperor, 
jupiter said unto Prometheus, that he deserved to have his heart and liver to be devoured.  to be perpetually devoured by sixteen vultures. They all of them perished miserably, and so may those furies all of them perish which undertake against the lives of their Princes.  
Drusus without any mistrust took away from Ligdus his Eunuch's hands this mortal medicine, and that which he believed should serve for his health, hastened his death, but with so little violence, that the languishment and length thereof took away all suspicion of poison; 
O●dosceleri● per Api●atam Seiani proditus, t●●mentis Eud●●●● ac Ligdi patefactus est. Ta.  but time which discovers all things drew the truth out of obscurity, and Apicata wife to Sejanus, eight years after gave the first hint thereof. We may wonder that a courageous woman wounded in her honour and banished from her husband's company, by an adultress should hold her peace for so long time; but this discourse shall not end before we take away this astonishment. 
Sejanus facinorum omnium repertor habebatur ex nimia caritatem eum Caesaris. Ta.   
The actions of Sejanus were so notorious, and Tiberius for favouring him so hated, that being already infamous through so many famous and notable crimes, it was supposed that he had procured Drusus his death by the hand of Tiberius, putting him in the head that his son (that he might reign) had resolved his death, and that he should therefore take heed when he should dine at his house not to drink the first draught should be offered unto him; 
Druso ignaro & iuveniliter ●auriente poculum cunctis suspicio, tanquam metu & pudore sibimet irrogaret mortem, quam patri struxerat.  that Tiberius receiving the cup from the hands of the cupbearer, had presented it to Drusus, and that shame and fear permitting him not to refuse it, he had swallowed the poison prepared for his father: an imposture without any ground or likelihood at all.  
For it had not been so easy for Drusus to do this mischief, 
He that made the assay is called in ancient● writings a potione or praegustator Xenophon, oinechoo●.  because his father took nothing without assay, and that Custom had been brought thither from the Persian Court since Augustus his time. But let them make Tiberius as cruel as they will, they can never take from him the honour of being a wise Prince, subtle and mistrustful, and he might be taxed of great indiscretion if he determined to put his son to death upon the bare advice of Sejanus, and before he were exactly informed of the cause and conspirators of this treason. 
Atrecior semper fama erga dominantium exitus. Ta.   
This comes but from the malignity of reports which little favour the actions of Princes, all that Tiberius hath done, hath been curiously collected and published, and yet there were never any found so transported with hatred or passion to dishonour his memory, 
Divulgata atque incredibilia avidè accepta non sunt ante habenda veris, neque in miraculum corruptis. Ta.  who have taxed him with this Parricide. We must not admit without suspicion of all that common fame reports, nor prefer matters uncredible though they be credibly sought for, before that which is true, and are often disguised with false appearances, and vain wonders to work astonishment in men's minds.  

Simulatio habitum ac voces dolentium induit. Ta.  This death gave the hope of succession unto Germanicus his children, and although the Senate for Tiberius his sake lamented this accident, their tears were but feigned, and their griefs without sorrow; for there was no body but was very well content to see that by this death the house of Germanicus began to spring again, 
Aselgestatoes cai omotatoes. Dio.  nor was Drusus beloved for the extreme hatred they bore to his father, for he was very debauched. 
Solus & nullis voluptatibus avocatus moestam vigilantiam & malas curas exercet. Ta.  And as the vices of others displease even those that are vicious themselves, so his father chid him often for his lewd and proud carriage, which made him very quarrelsome and cruel, but the people excused all this, saying, it was better for him to pass the nights in feasting, 
Negotia pro solatijs. Ta.  and the day in the theatres, than to languish with solitary discontent in sad watchings and bad cogitations.  
Tiberius' his tears being soon dried, 
The Consuls did sit on high in their seats, and the Senators below, and after them the Praetors and the Tribunes.  he resorts unto the Senate, to seek for consolation in his affairs; and seeing the Senators sitting below, caused them to come up, putting them in mind of the reverence of the place, and of the dignity of their Offices, using these words to comfort their spirits for the grief they sustained,  
Father's conscript, 
The custom of mourning was not to budge out of their houses nor to look upon the day. Vix dies à plerisque lugentium adspicitur. Ta.  you may blame me for coming hither in so fresh and undigested a sorrow; and I know well, that such as are in heaviness cannot endure the light, nor the condolements of their nearest friends; but as I ascribe not that unto feebleness of courage, so I desire to witness unto you, that I have not sought for any greater comfort in my affliction, than the embracements of the Commonweal.  
He represented unto them also, that the extreme age of the Empress took from him all hope of further issue; that his grandchildren were very young, that he had already run more than half the race of his life, 
Germanici lib●ri unica presentium malorum levamenta. Ta.  and that he therefore prayed them to call in Germanicus his children; the only remedy and consolation for those evils which now afflicted them. Then sent they for Nero and Drusus. The Consuls went out of the Senate to receive them, 
Egressi Consules firmatos alloquio adolescentibus deductosque ante Caesarem statuum. Ta.  and after they had said something unto them to give them assurance, they conducted them before the Emperor; who taking them by the hands said, My friends, when these children lost their father, I sent them unto my son Drusus their cousin, and entreated him although he had children himself, to have as much care of them as of his own blood, to bring them up and conserve them for himself and posterity. But now that Drusus is snatched away from them, I address my prayers unto you, and conjure you before the Gods and our country, that in doing that which is my duty and yours, you will take the care and conduct of the Nephews of Augustus, which are descended from famous and illustrious persons. And then casting his eyes upon the little ones, he said, My dear Nero and you Drusus, these Lords you see here are your fathers: the condition of your birth is such, that the Commonweal hath interest both in the good and evil which you do. The Senate made no answer but by their tears, their vows, and prayers: and this discourse had been much more for the honour of Tiberius, if he had not added hereunto the very same promises wherewith he had so often deluded them, that he would restore Rome to her former liberty, and leave the government either to the Consuls or to some others. These last words were so fare from the intention of him that uttered them, and the belief of the hearers, that they took from the fromer all the belief which truth and honesty might have given them.  
All this was but mere juggling, for this bad Prince thought of nothing more than how utterly to ruin Germanicus his house, 
Vana & irrisa vero & honesto fidem adimunt. Ta.  which Drusus his death began again to bring into credit. They performed his funerals after the same order that those of Germanicus were, and many other magnificences were added thereunto, for the last flatteries are always the most liberal. Tiberius himself made the funeral Oration as Augustus made that of Agrippa his son in law. 
Addit semper aliud posterior adulatio Ta.   
There was a veil laid betwixt the dead and him, because he should not see the body, for the high Priest was a sacred thing it was not permitted him to look upon any mournful object; 
So Philo reporteth that the high Priest of the jews always to keep his soul pure, never saw any mournful thing.  the very Statues of the Gods were covered or transported from those places where any punishment was inflicted; and Claudius caused the Statue of Augustus to be taken away from the Theatre of the gladiatours because it should not be present at the murders, or it was always vailed; every one wept for him who wept not himself at all, for that object so sad and feeling had not the power to soften his gratuity, 
Flente populo non flegit vultum Sen.  observing without any perturbation the people who bewailed his loss, whereof himself had no feeling.  
Sejanus who stood by him admired his constancy, but made no use of it, 
Seiano ad latus stanti experiedum si dedit quam patienter posset suos perdere. Sen.  for this did notably show of what temper this prince's heart was; carrying the loss of so dear a person so patiently: did he think that this Prince who had so little relentment of the death of his son, would care for that of his servants; he should have been more subtle to have known the humour of his master, who made use of him as of a cloak or gabardaine in foul weather, to throw it away when it was passed. Sejanus dreamt of nothing but to ruin the house of Germanicus, and that accomplished, Tiberius will ruin him; for than he will have no more employment for him, he serves his turn with him now as with a good horse, when the horseman finds him ready he spures forward, and makes him go where he pleaseth, and in the end kills him.  
This mighty power of Sejanus was not solely managed by violence, avarice must have her part, 
Quicquid non acquiritur damnum est. Sen.  and made him think all which he acquired, not to be lost. Dion saith, that he was heir to all them that died without children; this injust cupidity wrought the death of Lepida a noble Roman dame; and Suetonius having declared how he procured the death of Lentulus the Augur, that he might have no heir but him, he adds the pursuit he made against Lepida to be for no other cause, 
Ingratiam Quiri● consularis praedivitis & orbi. Ta.  but to gratify Quirinus her husband a very wealthy man and without children.  
The proceeding reported by Tacitus is strange, she kept not company with her husband for the space of twenty years when he accused her of adultery poisoning and feigning herself to have a child: Tiberius said she consulted with the Chaldeans against his person and his house; 
Exemit Drusum dicenda primo loco sententia, ne caeteris assentiendi necessitas fierit. Ta.  he would not have Drusus deliver his mind first in her judgement, to the end they may freely deliver their opinions and not to compel them to follow him.  
There were plays to be shown during the process, Lepidae did accompany the chiefest and most illustrious dames of the City, enjoying the privilege of the Romans, who were not imprisoned during their accusation, nor after judgement, if it were not capital. Entering the Theatre of Pompey she turned her eyes towards his images which were there in diverse places, 

Amm Marcellinus Ranks the Theatre of Pompey inter decora urbis aeternae.  
Adstantes effusi in lacrimas saeva & detestanda Quirino clamitant.   and implored his succour, from whom she was descended. This was with doleful lamentation and abundance of tears, which moved the people and principally the women to compassion, and to pour forth reproaches against Quirinus, calling him an unworthy man, to deal so cruelly with a woman who having been promised to L. Caesar Augustus his son, 
Livia cui semper Emiliorum decus L. Silvius, ac Cn. Pompeius proavierant. Ta.  did him a great deal of honour to marry him, as if they would fain say unto the good man, that because he was old, had no children, and of a low degree his wife had cause to make him carry the horns.  
The process being prepared, their opinions inclined to commiseration of a woman of a great house, living twenty years asunder from her husband, and the accusations against her were proved but by slaves. But Rubellius Blandus concluded with banishment, 
Adsensit Drusus quamvis alij minores. Ta.  Drusus was of his opinion, and reduced those which proceeded not with that rigour. A Prince should not be the first nor the last to deliver his opinion, he is to conclude and determine. 
Quo loco censebis Caesar, si primus habebo quod sequar: si post omnes vereor no impudens dissentiam. Ta.  These words were bravely spoken by Piso unto Tiberius in the beginning of his rigour: Caesar where will you place yourself in delivering your censure, if first, I am bound to follow you; if last, peradventure what I think you will not; and so I may unwittingly commit a great error.  
Dion observes an other way to come by the inheritance of a rich man. Sextus Marius had a daughter young and fair, Tiberius solicits her, her father retired her to his country house, to cause her to return, 
To survive honour is to live too long.  they accused her of incest, the daughter speaks these words unto her father: Let us not give them the contentment to dispose of you and me at their pleasure, and to bring us to that pass, that it shall not be permitted us to die honestly; I was not accustomed to make my prayers unto any but the Gods, I will not be beholding for my life unto Sejanus with the loss of that which is dearer to me than a thousand lives. Marius' ashamed that his courage should have need of the example of his daughter, killed himself first, and she followed him.  
This death was very profitable to Tiberius and Sejanus, for they were heirs to Marius, 
The same hand that doth the injury repairs it.  a man so rich that being offended with a neighbour of his, invited him to his house and made him good cheer for two days space, the first day he razed down his house, the second he rebuilt it fairer and larger; the master of the house returning the third day was astonished at the alteration: Marius then said unto him, the one I have done to revenge myself as your enemy, and the other as your friend for the good I wish you.  

Delatores genus hominum publico exitto repertum est poenis quidem nunquam satis coercitum per praemia eliciebantur. Ta.  There was no safety in Rome, but for slanderers a pernicious kind of people; whom disorder hath brought in credit to spoil and ruin all, who were so supported that not only their calumny remained unpunished, but recompensed; the more firm and stiff they were to uphold falsehood and to brave the innocent the more they were gratified, it being no more lawful to offend them, 
 quis destrictor accusator velut sacro sanctus erat leves ignobiles poenis afficiebantur. Ta.  than things holy and sacred; others whose consciences would not suffer them to be obstinate against the truth, were unregarded and punished.  
Vibius' Seruus Proconsul of the lower Spain, was accused by his son to have conspired against the Emperor, 
Miseriarum ac saevitiae exemplum reus pater accusator filius Tacit.  and to have sent some among the Gauls to stir and move the people. He appeared covered with the dust and mire which he gathered in his journey, for he was newly returned from exile; and though he saw his life in danger, yet he carried a bold courage before his judges, and with eyes sparkling with indignation and threats he looked upon his son, who was there brave and well accowtred, 
Multis munditijs adolescenti, alacri vultufacit.  stamping with his feet for anger, and rattling of his irons and chains; for he was conducted by the soldiers that had him in guard, he lifted up his hand towards heaven, and prayed the Gods to send him back into the place from whence he came, and punish the ingratitude and impiety of bis son. Nature so outrageously offended, permitted him these imprecations, and would not suffer him to show himself a father towards this wretch, 

Whatsoever the son doth, the father should not strip himself of the office of a father, to put on that of a judge. Pro peccato magno pa●●lulum supplicij sati● è patri.  
In silius ortas vinculus pasc●●. & dominatos scorpiones occiditis. Petr.   who had revolted from his duty. A father ought to content himself with a slight punishment, put this disloyalty was so strange that it wrested from his heart this prayer unto the Gods for his chastisement, every where that we find monsters we stifle them, not ask from whence they come, we nourish the birds which come from Forests, but we kill the scorpions which are bred in our houses.  
This his so settled countenance imprinted in the mind of the judges an opinion of the innocency of the father, and made them deform the malice of the son; who affrighted with the remorse of conscience, the noise of the people which threatened him with imprisonment, the hurling of stones, and the punishment of Parricides, fled to Ravena, 
Exequi accusatione adigitur. Ta.  from whence Tiberius made him to return, constraining him to pursue his accusation, for he would in any wise be rid of Seruus, keeping still in mind the hatred he bore him for a letter which he had written unto him eight years before, 
Haud tutum contumacius loqui apud aures superbas & offensionis primores. Ta.  in more arrogant terms then by proud ears and tender to be offended could be well brooked. The Senators gave their opinions hereupon, Gallus Asinius was of opinion that he should be banished into the Isles of Gaire or Donuse, which was not found fitting because there was no water neither in the one nor the other, 
Dandi vitae usus cui vita conceditur. Ta.  and that it was reasonable they should give means to live, unto such as they had given life unto. O cruel pity! he desired that the commodities of life should serve for the lengthening out and entertainment of the miseries of pain.  
It was lawful for the most wicked to assault and wrong the honestest men, to speak injuriously of them and to offer them affronts; 

Religion hath given unto the Temple of the God's freedom and flattery to the Statues of Princes, this custom was put in practice in Rome since julius Caesar's time.  
Capitali circa Augusti simulacrum Seruum caecidisse. Suet.   nor durst masters reprehend their servants or correct them. There was no excess but might be excused for such as could cover it with the image of Caesar. The same franchise which gave assurance to the criminal, gave assurance also, and occasion to commit the crime. The great respect which men bore unto Tiberius was in other places then at Rome, where his Statues were as venerable as these of jupiter Olympus, in such sort as the master was condemned of impiety because he hath struck his servant, carrying about him a piece of money whereon the image of Caesar was ingraued.  
Amia Rufilla was condemned of falsehood by the Senate at the pursuit of Cestius. Enraged herewith she stayed for him at the entry of the Palace, near unto Tiberius his Statue, 

The place were Theseus cursed the Athenians in the bourge of Gargetus was called Araterian a place of malection. Plut.  
Principes instar deorum sunt sed necquaquam dijs nisi iustae supplicum preces audiuntur. Ta.   from whence as from a place of cursing, she assaulted him with all manner of raylings and bitter speeches, which are the weapons of feeble spirits. Cestius durst not demand reparation because she had wronged him, under the favour and near unto the image of Tiberius, he made complaint hereof, and spoke in the open Senate these memorable words: Princes hold the places of Gods, but the Gods harken only to the just prayers of their suppliants, there is none that will run to the Capital nor unto the other Temples of the City, as to a place of refuge, there to commit any crime. But the laws are now abolished and overthrown from the very foundation; seeing that even in the public places, and at the very entry of the Palace we are constrained to bear injuries, and to hear threatenings without any hope at all to be righted, 
Non licet i●● experiri ob effigiem imperatoris oppositam. Ta.  for the respect which is had unto the Emperor's Statue.  
If the History should have mentioned nothing also but this, to represent unto us the estate of the miserable reign of Tiberius, it would have been enough to discover unto us the violence and disorder thereof; wretched was then the condition of a Roman citizen, 
Crimen ex silentia ex voce. Ta.  there was danger either to speak, or to behold his Peer; thoughts only were free from tribute and danger, provided that their countenance did not make any show either of joy for Agrippina, or of discontent against Sejanus. The absolute power he had over the goods of the Romans, made some say that it was a good thing to dwell at Rome, and to have their estate lying out of the bounds of the Empire.  
Vacia a rich man, and who had been Praetor, 
Vacia nulla re alia quam ocio notus conseruit, & ob ho● unus foelix habebatur. Sen.  withdrew himself to his country house, finding no other defence against the violence of the time, than a solitary life. It was a hard thing in those times for men to resolve themselves, for they believed that he who did it of his own instigation, did either differ so much from nature, that either he did set himself above her, with the Gods, or under her with the beasts: as often as the friendship of Asinius Gallus, Agrippina's kinsman or the hatred of Sejanus had ruined some one, the people of those times would cry out, 
O Vacia solus sis vivere.  O Vacia there is none but thee that can tell how to live.  
The solitary life was the most assured, 
Vita rustica parcimoniae iusticiae ac diligentiae magistra. Cic.  the civil more perilous, and the country more pleasing, and indeed she is the mistress of sparing, of diligence, of justice and simplicity; it hath not been accompanied with honour, or yielded such content as in former times, 
Attilis manus rustico opere attricae salutem publicam stabilierunt. Val. Gaudebat tellus vomere laureato. Plin.  when great Captains went from their triumphs to the plough, from their tillage to arms, and from their farms to the Senate; the ground took delight in those days to yield fruit in abundance, and to acknowledge the labour of those victorious hands which manured it with a coulter crowned with laurel.  
Sejanus this torrent of pride and insolence overflows: there is none now that stays it, all that might keep it in is cast down. 
It is not safe to commit so many and so great offices into the fortune of one alone.  Tiberius is blamed to submit the fortune of the Empire to the discretion of one man alone, and his will to the honour of his groom.  
Ambition is often goggle eyed when she hath need of a clear sight and is astray when she thinks to go right: Sejanus is lost by her, his designs fall out otherwise then he expected, 
Wicked interprises work the ruin of the undertakers.  he believed, Germanicus being dead that Drusus was the only block that lay in his way, he takes him away by poison, and now behold the succession remains without any doubt to the children of Germanicus, to assure his tyranny he must destroy them, 
Ferox scelerum quia prima provenerunt Ta.  he undertook it the more boldly because his former wickedness hath had happy success, and that the father was careless to revenge the death of his son.  
He imprints in him a belief that his enemies would make their profit of this loss, that Agrippina is resolved to reign; there needed no art to persuade him, 
Non dubia Germanici liberorum successio. Ta.  he sees the succession apparent, and this woman ready to bite at the apple, he is resolved to cut off the mother and the young ones; Sejanus finds himself much perplexed, for to corrupt Agrippina as he did Livia there was no possibility, 
Spargi ve●enum in tres non poterat egregia custodem fide & pudicitia Aggrippinae impenitrabili. Ta.  she was of an invincible and undaunted chastity, it was impossible to poison them all three at once, and surely very difficult; so great was the fidelity and vigilancy of their servants, beside they could not deal with this Princess or with other women, all the town is for her. The most bold and shamelest slander dares not take hold of her, she marched upright between the jealousy of Tiberius, and the ambition of Sejanus; who found no nearer way to ruin her then to animate the Emror against her, by causing him to apprehend both her courage and her hopes, he lost no time in this, and encountered a little after with a fit occasion to produce this bad design. They did use to sacrifice in the beginning of the year, an Ox with golden horns to jupiter, for the welfare of the Prince, which was the welfare of the commonwealth. The high Priests, and by their example the rest, recommended unto the same Gods both Nero and Drusus, not so much for the love of them as to flatter Tiberius, and to make show they desired that the Empire should continue in his house: men's manners were then so depraved, 
Adulatio moribus corruptis perinde auceps s● nulla & ubi nimia est. Ta.  that it was no more dangerous to flatter too much, than not to flatter at all.  
Tiberius was vexed to see those youths go cheek by jowl with his age, and asked the high Priests, 

Primores modice perstringendi. Ta.  
Mobiles adolescentium anim● praematuri honoribus ad superbiam non extollendi. Ta.   if they had done this by the entreaties or threats of Agrippina; and they answering no, he checked them, but gently, for they were for the most part either of kin to Agrippina, or the chief of the City. He went of purpose to the Senate about this business, and made unto them a cunning speech there, to show unto them, that from thence forwards the feeble and inconstant spirits of young folks were not to be spurred on unto pride by those honours which were given them before their time.  
Sejanus made more ado with this than Tiberius, saying that all was going to wrack; seeing they made no difference between the Prince and his kinsmen, that the City of Rome was divided as in the civil wars when she had three Lords, 
Facta tribus dominis communis Roma. Lucan  Caesar, Pompey, and Crastus; that the authority of the Emperor was the weakest, 
Nullum aliud gliscentes discordiae remedium quam unus alterium maxime prompti subvertantur. Ta.  that Agrippina's party was already form, and that unless resistance were made, the number would grow greater, that there was no better remedy for the discord which began to gather head and grow up, than by a sudden cutting off of one or two of them.  
He threatened but two, and meant to strike many, but he believed that those Sibius and Sabinus would be thrown from that height, that the rest should apprehend their fall; their generous affection towards the house of Germanicus, did not degenerate from the nature of true friendship, although to them it was not only barren, 
Amicitia Germanici pernici●sa utrique. Ta. Turpe ali●● gratificari per dede●us proprium. Ta.  but unfortunate; Varro a Consul villainously accommodating his conscience and honour to the passion of Sejanus accused C. Silius, and Sosia his wife. T. Sabinus was reserved for another time; and although they represented this pursuit to be violent, and that Varro should expect until he were out of his Consulship, yet they made their process of a crime of majesty, although they were accused but to have converted the public treasure of the commonwealth to their own use, and that there was no man which demanded restitution: but Tiberius was so subtle, that he gave the lightest faults the names of most odious crimes. Silius seeing that, made no defence, 
Proprium Tiberio scelera nuper reperta priscis verbis obtexere. Ta.  and if he did speak, it was but to declare that the pursuit was too puissant: and foreseeing that there was no possibility to scape, 
Eminent damnatio voluntario fuit praevertitur. Tac.  his courage advised him to prevent an unevitable death by a voluntary, Sosia was banished.  
His imprudency and vanity did assist his ruin, he ceased not to vaunt that Tiberius was obliged to him for the Empire, and that if the Legion which he commanded in Almain were revolted as the rest, he could not hold it any long time, this reproach did prick to the quick the mind of Tiberius, for he did overthrew all his fortunes, giving him no share in the prosperity of affairs, and made it known it was not in his power to acquit himself of this obligation. When the service is so great that it cannot be acknowledged, Prince's account it an offence, 

Clitus lost himself to have said that Alexander held his life of the Macedonians. Plut.  
Beneficia eo usque laeta sunt dum videntur solui posse, ubi multum aure venere pro gratia odium redditur. Tac.   hate holds the place of recompense and affronts of thankes.  
It is more safe to be obliged to the Master, then to oblige him and service that cannot be recompensed makes the servant importunate.  
Amongst all this Sejanus sees himself so eloigned from his hopes that he redoubles his course to arrive unto them, and by an avengled improvidence discovers them to Tiberius; it is true that he was compelled by the ordinary exclamations of Livia, who ceaseth not to summon him with his promise of legitimating their loves, and change the name of Mistress into that of wife, 
Reason should say unto Choler that which the Nurse saith to her Child, Weepo not, and you shall have it. Plu●.  Sejanus gives her words for deeds; she is angry, he appeaseth her; she weeps, he flatters her; and although reason did persuade her as Nurses do their children, Weep not, you shall have it, yet her patience is quite spent, his heart is like a mine which bursts out with so much the more ruin and noise by how much the more it is stopped up and constrained, 
Sejanus nimia fortuna secors & muliebre cupidine incensus. Ta.  he suffers himself to be carried away with the ambition of this woman, who hoped to espouse with her husband the title of Augustus, and to give her contentment discovers his design to the Emperor; beseeching him to agree to this marriage: he presents unto him his request; and notwithstanding the high favour he was in, he broke not the order of treating with the Prince, no otherwise but by writing.  
Caesar brought in this custom, to the end he may have time to consider of that which was demanded; and what answer to return, and to make the expedition of his affairs more commodious: for the affluence was so great, the town of such extent, that it was impossible immediately to satisfy all Augustus did write, 
Sermons libello habuit ne plus minusque loqueretur. Ta.  all his answers, because he may not speak more or less than that he thought off.  
The contents of his request being so hardy, he did not tremble in presenting it; a timorous suppliant is more boldly denied. 
Qui timidè rogat negare docet.  To entreat remissly or carelessly, is to doubt either of the merit of the request, or of the power of him whom we request; he frames a complaint of gratitude and remembrance, for an expert courtier should never begin with his demand and adds an impious flattery, saying that he gave this order of speaking of his affairs sooner to his mistress then to the Gods. 
Spes & vota non primum ad principium aures quam ad deos. Ta.  It was in these terms: The good which Augustus wished me, and that which you have done me, Caesar in many occasions oblige me not to send forth my preys and vows sooner to the ears of the Gods then to yours. 
Qui excubias & labour ut unus militum proincolumitate principis mavult haud unquam honorum felgerem precatur. Ta.  It is to tell you that although I did never affect this glittering show of honours, and that all my ambition was but to watch and labour as a simple soldier for your safety and prosperity. I have notwithstanding this contentment which I prise above all others; that I was already deemed worthy of the alliance of Caesars by the marriage of my daughter with the son of Claudius: it is the foundation of my hope, 
Augustus in collocanda filia nonnihil de Romanis equitibus consultavit. Ta.  and because I have heard say, that Augustus proposing to give a husband unto his daughter, had a thought to have made election of a Roman Knight; my supplication unto you is, that if you seek for a husband for Livia the widow of your son, you may be pleased to remember him whom you have always loved, and who in that has no other design than the glory of your alliance, without laying aside the offices wherewith you have honoured me; it sufficeth me that my house may have a prop against the enmity of Agrippina, 
Satis vixit qui vitam cum principe explevit.  and that which I do is but for the love of my children, for mine own part I make no reckoning of my life any longer than I may wholly employ it in the service of such a Prince.  
Tiberius' having praised the zeal of Sejanus and in few words put him in mind of the favour he had extended towards him, added, 
Tempus ad integram consultationem necessarium. Ta.  that the business would crave some time to give a deliberate answer, and spoke in this manner, The interprizes of common men do ordinarily aim at profit, but the condition of princes is fare otherwise; 
Praecipua rerum ad famam dirigenda. Ta.  for they ought to refer the principal of their actions and designs unto reputation and honour; wherefore I will not make answer unto this request so soon as I might do it: Livia may of herself resolve whether she were best to marry again, or continue still in my son Drusus his house, 
Matris & Aviae propriora consilia. Ta.  she hath more Councillors than myself, her grandmother, and mother, and for myself, I will freely give thee mine advice concerning the rest, first touching the malice of Agrippina, without all doubt this will the more ardently inflame it, when she shall see the marriage of Livia divide the hearts of the Caesars into divers parties. Hence we shall see and hear the noise and strife of women's jealousies, and through their discord my Nephews shall enter into quarrelling and what a case were it if this alliance should procure a broil. 
Quid si intendatur certamen.   

What will it be if they accuse you.  Thou deceivest thyself Sejanus if thou thinkest to be able to remain still in the same estate, or that Livia is of such a humour as to wax old with a Roman Knight, 
Vix eum equity Romano senescit quis nupsit Caesari. Ta.  having married Caesar and after him Drusus, and though I should consent thereunto, thinkest thou that such as have seen her brothet, her father, and our grandfathers possessed of the sovereign dignities, would endure that I should suffer it. Thou resolvest to live in the state in which thou art, 
There is not any desire so well ordered but will embrace occasions.  but the Magistrates and the chief of the State, who against their will come to visit thee, and demand this advice in all things, know that thou art not to stay there, that thou hast raised thyself above the quality of a Knight, 
Excessit equestre fastigium Sejanus. Ta.  and that I have outstripped the terms of the affection my father bore thee: they publicly dissembled this, but in private they blame my affection, for the envy they bear thee. Thou sayest that Augustus had purposed to give his daughter to a Roman Knight, and verily it is a marvel, 
Augusti animus in omnes curas distrahitur. Ta.  having a spirit so wrathful over all, and having foreseen to what a degree of power he might mount him, whom he should by this alliance raise so high above all others: he spoke of Caius Proculeius, and of some others, 
Insignis vitae tranquillitas nullis RP negotijs permixto. Ta.  which were of a notable tranquillity of spirit, and which no way meddled with any affairs of the commonwealth. And if we be astonished at this his resolution, how much more ought we so to be for marrying his daughtet to Agrippa.  
This is that which my friendship will not let me keep from thee, and therefore I do assure you, that I will never cross these designs, nor those of Livia. I will not now tell thee what I am resolved to do, before the year come about, and with what alliance I purpose to join thee unto me; I will only tell thee this, that there is nothing so eminent whereunto thy virtue and the alliance thou bearest unto me, may not raise this; 
Nihil tam excelsum quod non mercantur virtutes. Ta.  & when any occasion of speaking hereof, either to the Senate or people shall present itself I will not be silent.  
But Sejanus had greater assurance in the thoughts of Tiberius than in his words, his mind was frantic with this ambition, he was no more capable of reason, 
In the commerce of lave and ambition, reason is a coin which passeth not for curant.  he had much ado to come thus fare; there is no way to pass further, the ascent was very difficult, slippery and stubborn, and being come to the height he shall find but shivering, and will behold round about him but a fearful downfall.  
Tiberius' unwilling he should perish, shown him how he did but run headlong unto his destruction, and did rectify him: whosoever shows us the place where we first began to fail, 
Vincula charitatis apud concords, sunt incitamenta irarum apud infensos Ta.  obligeth no less than he who shows us which way we should go; he gives him to understand that this marriage will be an original of perpetual discord in the house of the Caesars, and that the very same things which serve as a cement amongst persons which are at agreement, do form hatred in the minds of such as are already at jar.  
But Sejanus was not so much in pain about the success of his marriage, as with the suspicions which began to engender in the fantasy of Tiberius against that great and powerful authority which he had usurped in all affairs, which in short time causeth confidence to degenerate into fear, affection into jealousy, and liberty into necessity.  

Praecipuum incidium magni principis magni liberti. Ta. in cuiuscunque animo virtus sit, ei plurimum tribuendum. Vell.  To have two great subjects is no good sign of the Princes own greatness, and yet notwithstanding it is the true property of great Princes to raise merit and recompense services, for wheresoever virtue is found, it will be honoured; it considers more the person than the country, industry more than birth; of all times Rome hath seen new men raised to great honours; T. Cornucanus High Priest, Sp. Carvius Consul, Ma. Cato Censor, Municus Thriumphius and Marcus six times Consul.  
It is madness for a man to oppose himself against the will of the Prince, 
Consecratus est unicus sentiensque Euthymius nihilque adeo mirum aliud quam hoc placuisse dijs. Plin.  when he saith I will have it, he renders reason enough of his actions; men wondered to see Euthimius to be placed amongst the number of the Gods before his death, and that in his life time he was sacrificed unto, but they were satisfied with this only reason, jupiter would have it so.  

Interest reipublicae quod usu necessarium, & dignitate eminere utilitatemque authoritate inimica. Vell.  To take from the Prince the power to raise the mean conditioned, and abasing the great ones, this is to snatch the Sceptre out of his hand, to make his power but a shadow, and to quench the lively light of majesty. The State hath interest, that liberality should acknowledge merit, and favour should sustain services, 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 servants he might not choose some one worthy of a more entire confidence, according the happiness of the election, or the force of the merit.  
It is no matter if this favour procure the jealousy of great ones, the envy of equals, or the hatred of inferiors, so it trouble not the order of affairs, that particular interest swallow not up the public; 
 paucis illustrentur mundus evertitur unius honor orbis excidium est. Sal.  for when this shall come to pass, and that to enrich a few of these favourites the State is impoverished and all put in disorder, the Prince which so indiscreetly distributeth his favour, is despised as having neither judgement, nor justice in his elections, 
Multum gravius supplicium odio publico. Sen.  and the fovourite finds by experience that there is no greater punishment than the public hatred.  
If it please the Prince he may cast him down 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 own forces; Tiberius was somewhat startled at this great power of Sejanus: but the good will which all the people bear to the house of Germanicus doth more afflict him, and Sejanus who sees his imagination perplexed therewithal represents the peril unto him to be more than it is, 
Choler is ordained as companion to reason, and Basile calls it the nerve of the soul.  and revives in the heart of the Empress the ancient rancour she bore against Agrippina, this remembrance drives her into choler, and this anger that is the nerve which gives the suddainest motion unto the soul, makes her think, she shall never be any thing so long as her enemy is something.  
To make this apprehension penetrate the deeper into her mind, he employs Mutilia Prisca her confident, and to gain her he practiseth with jul. Posthumus, who made love unto her; 
Regibus aequa ne dum infirmia insolita sunt. Ta.  the Empress was presently moved with Agrippina's hopes, and her fear not only of taking place beneath her, but of being equalled with her, 
Facilis foeminarum credulitas ad gaudium. Ta.  furnished her with devices enough to make her yet more odious unto Tiberius than she was before. Moreover Sejanus had some suborned persons that entertained Agrippina with vanities and infused into her mind the sweet hopes of Government, and as pleasing things do more easily enter into women's belief, she sought for accusations the more freely to administer jealousy unto 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 virtue to do no evil, and piety not to be impious. Tiberius' resolved to do no good to Agrippina, feared notwithstanding to be blamed for impiety and ingratitude, if he did her any ill, whereupon his indignation not daring to aim directly at her, he first set upon her friends and kindred: Claudia Pulchra her cousin, was accused of adultery with Furmus, and of charms, and poison 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 Sejanus entertained, and served him as a petty instrument to stir and move great works withal: upon this accusation Agrippina inflamed with choler, as well for the injury as for the peril of her cousin, came to see Tiberius, and finding him offering a sacrifice unto her father, she said,  
You should not thus imolate your sacrifices unto Augustus, and persecute his posterity, the spirit of that great Prince is not in his dumb statues, 
Non in effiigies mutas divinus spiritus infusus. Ta.  but his true image which is borne of his celestial blood, understands well the difference by the bad usage 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 ruin, she hath committed no other offence, 
Pulchrae sola exitij causa quod Agrippinam stulte prorsus ad cultum delegerit. Ta.  but that she made no show of affection but to the service of Agrippina, and that improvidently; for she should call to mind that Sosia Galla was banished for that cause.  
This discourse did so incense Tiberius, that having lost his dissimulation, he brought from the bottom of his heart a bitter speech, and strange to his humour which was never accustomed to be so forward; for after telling her that she should moderate her passion, he added a Greek verse, importing thus much,  
Thou believest daughter, that thou hast wrong done thee, if thou command not.  
If Agrippina did understand the Greek tongue this speech passed not without a reply, and it is certain that Princes of her rank were learned; 
Augustus' quadam epistola Agrippinae neptis ingenium colla●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 understand some words.  
And it is without doubt that this speech pricked to the quick her ambition, and giving fire to her choler, she could not refrain from speaking these words immediately or in retiring, Behold we are well seeing the hopes of a woman bring jealousy to Tiberius, and fear to Sejanus; if I have any ambition it is not for myself, my sex wrongs my courage. If I have a desire to reign, it is but in my Children? where do they find that I should love them less than I do? 
Mihi nunquam persuadebunt ut meos amari a me unius unquam putem. Plin. Agrippina semper Atrox. Tac. Pervicax irae. Tac. Aequi impatiens. Tac.  I have part in that which the heavens reserve for them, and I will that they know, that if I affected not their greatness, I should not be a mother. Let him call me fierce, proud, impatient, as much as he will, I cannot be otherwise against this harebrained 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, pulls down those of Pompey, who carries his authority above that of the Senate, who caused my Husband's death, persecutes my kindred and friends; yes, I am angry that I do not command, for I would be ashamed to command so unjustly and wickedly.  

Weakness and choler do not well agree together.  But what do menaces avail where power is wanting, there is nothing so unfit as to be weak and yet choleric. That of Agrippina did her no good, and advanced the condemnation of Furnius and Pulchra. Domitius then, who shown himself so eloquent in their accusation, 
Prosperior Afro eloquentiae quam morum fama. Tac.  is praised by Tiberius, and placed in the rank of the chiefest Orators, but with more estimation of knowledge how to speak well then do well, extreme old age did much lessen the reputation of his eloquence, for having his spirit weary and spent, he could not refrain speaking.  
It is doubted whether these two Lawyers were condemned according to the law of julia, ordained by Augustus against adultery, 
Relegation was milder than exile. Namque relegatus tum exul. dicer. Ouid.  for that was too gentle to satisfy the cruelty of Tiberius, and animosity of Sejanus, and more shamefully then severe, only relegating the culpable out of Rome.  
The number moderated the rigour of the pain, for if it had been capital, it would have made whole families desolate. Seneca saith, 
Argumentum est deformitatis pudicitia: nunquam invenies tam miseram tam sordidam ut illi satis sit unum adulterorum par nisi singulis dividat horas, & non sufficit dies omnibus. Sen.  that this excess was so common in his time, that shamefastness was a sign of deformity, to be wise, it behoved not to be fair; there was not a woman so miserable and beggarly, that could be contented with a couple of servants, who gave not each one his turn, and unto whom the longest day seemed not too short. It was ordained that she who had to her Father or Grandfather, or to her Husband a Roman Knight, would not profess herself a whore. Vistilia issued from a Family, amongst whom there had been Preters, declared before the Edils, that she would not let her youth pass away in barrenness, nor her beauty unknown: In a word, that she was a Courtesan; 
Satis poenarum adversum impudicas in ipsa professione flagitij. Tac.  this was all the punishment which custom ordained for these disorders, to the end that the shameful declaration of so miserable and infamous a life might be instead of a pain or penalty. Tiberius' confined her to the Isle of Seriphos. We must believe that Sejanus made him not any whit the more clement towards Agrippina's Kinswoman his enemy, for outstripping the severity of his Predecessors, 
Aquilciam qu●dquam Consul lege Iulia damnassat exilio punivit. Tac.  he had already caused Aquilia to banishment, although the Consul had put her but to the penalty of the law of julia.  
Agrippina was so incensed to see her kinswoman so unworthily handled, that she fell sick thereupon; and after many complemental good wishes of her recovery, her grief soon brought sighs into the mouth and tears to the eyes of the sick person, and having deplored her misery and the ruin of her house, she besought the Emperor, that to assuage the grief of her loveliness, 
Non aliud probis quam ex matrimonio solatium. Ta.  he would be pleased to permit her to marry, her youth not being able to continue in that solitariness; there being left no contentment for honest women of such years, but marriage; and that it would please him heartily to embrace the protection of Germanicus his widow and children.  
The prayer you make (my father) is not that I should be weary of my solitude, that there may be some thing which would kindle again my affection; the first is the ashes of Germanicus, and will never be revived, there is nothing which may content me, there remains no overplus for me; if the Gods had as yet conferred any grace upon me, they must give me a new heart to receive it, for they have never sent mine own but bitterness; 
The reason of State is a thwarting of ordinary reason, having respect to a reason or benefit more universal. A deliberate answer discovers neither offence nor fear. Ne offensio aut metus prodatur. Ta. Prima semper irarum tela maledicta sunt & quod non possumus imbecilli optamus irati Sallust.  it can neither contain nor bear delight, I have need of some one which may comfort not my courage, but may entertain my patience.  
Reason of State which goes above all reasons of ordinary laws could not consent to this demand, for being a woman equally beloved for her chastity and fruitfulness, she would replenish a house with grandchildren of Augustus, who one day would sue for the succession of the Empire.  
Tiberius' considering the prejudice the State might sustain by this demand, made her no answer at all, that he might neither give notice of the offence he took, or of his fear, and went coldly away without speaking a word; this silence and coldness inflamed Agrippina the more, and as the first arrows of revenge are bitter words, and what we cannot do for lack of power, we wish it out of the heat of choler, so she poured forth all she had in her heart; Sejanus who could take his time considereth all this, and by an officious kind of disloyalty sends word to this Princess that the smothering flames of the designs, which Tiberius had reserved in his mind against her; were upon the point to evaporate and break forth, that he was resolved to poison her, and that she should take heed of taking any thing at his hand, nor any meat: 
Solum insidiarum remedium si non intelligantur. Ta.  Agrippna who in discretion should have made no show of this advice, for the peril there is to make known that we are acquainted with Prince's intents, presently drew her heart into her brow, and being one time at Table with Tiberius she grew obstinate both in silence and abstinence; when he saw that she had not tasted of an Apple that he had given her with his own hand, but had given it to some that waited at the Table, he turned himself towards his mother and rounding her in the ear, said, It is no marvel if I have been somewhat severe heretofore towards this woman, seeing she takes me for an impoysoner. 
Non mirum si princeps quid severius statuit à quo veneficij insimulatur. Ta.  Where distrust once gins, there friendship ends; from this instant their minds became unreconcilable, and the rumour was spread over Rome, that Tiberius would put Agrippina to death, either openly or in secret.  
Hereupon Tiberius undertakes a voyage to Naples, which design had been often deliberated, resolved, 
Augustus' died at Nola. Certus procul urbe degere. Ta. Cum saevitiam ac libidinem factis promeret locis occultabat. Ta.  delayed and broken off. He said it was to dedicate a temple to jupiter at Capua, and an other to Augustus at Nola where he died; but he had no other intention then to absent himself from the City. It is certain that Sejanus knowing his humour counselled this his retreat to have the means to govern him as he listed, but because he stayed there five years after his death I suppose that he chose out this place to cover the dissoluteness of his life.  

Decrepit old age makes the Prince to be despised, Dion speaks it of Tib. and Nerua. Dia togeras cataphro noumenon. Adrian was the first Emperor which let his beard grow to cover the slashes over his face.  Some there are that think also that it was to cover & hide his old age, which made him contemptible, and to avoid the beholding of his body which was falling in pieces, and the spirit willing to come forth as from a building, whose walls were cracked, and the beams rotten, this bad complexion of his made him ashamed, he was tall of stature, lean and slender, his shoulders crooked and sticking out, his head bare and bald, his face full of pimples and Fistulas, knots and bolwaies disfigured with plasters, nor did the hair of his beard one whit cover this deformity, for the Emperors were not any, his nature was best pleased with solitariness, and had been accustomed thereunto at Rhodes, where he eschewed much company to cover his Riots, and those of his wife.  

Sovereign authority can admit no companion.  But one of the most apparrant reasons was his impatience being not able to endure any longer near his Mother, who would do all, nor could he wrest the authority out of her hands, for he received the Empire by them, 
Matrem Dominationis sociam aspernabatur. Tac.  and upon every occasion she would reproach him, that he reigned not but by her means, & that he was no less beholding to her for his fortune then for his birth. It was true, for Livia perceiving that Augustus would have declared Germanicus his successor upon the belief he had, that his election would be grateful to the people, who loved and extolled him, she prevailed so much by her prayers and entreaties, that Tiberius was in the end assured to attain to the Empire after Augustus and Germanicus after Tiberius, Livia did put him in mind hereof; this remembrance seemed a reproach, 
Qui exprobrat reposcit. Tac.  this reproach a summoning him to an acknowledgement, and the failing therein ingratitude.  
He performed this Voyage then to be far from his Mother, and was therein accompanied but with a small train, to wit, with one Senator named Cocceius Nerua, learned in the Laws, with Sejanus, and with one Knight called Curtius Atticus, 
Marino participe Sejanus, Curtium Atticum oppressit. Tac.  whom Sejanus ruined a little after, the residue were learned men, and most of them Grecians, for he passed his time in discoursing with them, and delighted in the beauty and riches of that language the which he spoke distinctly, readily, & eloquently: this he could not do without nature, art, & grace: many speak it, but few know how to speak it well, and to do so, their discourse must always be to the purpose, and the current thereof without confusion.  
Besides the contentment Sejanus had to possess his Master alone, he managed the affairs with more surety and less envy, 

He that meddles with many businesses gives way unto fortune, to lay more hold of him.  
Qui assiduos in domum caetu● arcet in fringit potentiam: Qui recipit facultate criminantibus praebet. Tac. The soldiers carried the packets and were called speculators.   but giving still leave unto fortune to fasten the surer upon him. His abode at Rome was not so fit for estranging from his house all ordinary company, he left his friends, but in receiving them daily, he made the number to be known, & ministered jealousy to his Master, he reaped hereby also another commodity for he alone receiving the packets which the soldiers of the Guard brought, he was sole Arbiter of all dispatches. All the functions of Tiberius' soul were distracted in this hurtful leisure, and all his strength melted away in these delights, which Sejanus always seasoned with some notable example, because this Prince believed that his authority would be lost if his severity maintained not the reputation thereof. This solitude produced an occasion which greatly confirmed the proof of his fidelity, for as Tiberius on a time dined in a Cave, 
Hinc metus in omnes & fuga eorum qui convivium celebrabant. Ta.  the mouth of that falling down slew foam of his Officers, and he himself had been smothered without the help of Sejanus, who covered him with his head and hands, his Prince's safety being more precious unto him than his own, 
Qui non sui sed principis est anxius, cum fide auditur quanquanm exitio suadebat. Ta.  from thence forth he followed his counsels, were they never so dangerous, without any consideration either of the ground or consequence, as of a person who had witnessed to have no other interest therein, then that of his authority. He caused him resolve to rid himself of Nero the nearest to the succession, whose hopes troubled his rest, and busied the minds of the people with a desire of change: he plays the part of a judge, and his people about him were the accusers, and condemned him as an offender. 
Nero quanquam modesta iuventa tamen quid in presentiarum conduceret oblitus. Ta.  This young Prince had modesty enough in his condition, but little judgement to take any sudden resolution, and to weigh the counsels of his servants, who ceased not to tell him that his birth carried him to the Empire, that the people desired it; that the legions craved it; that Sejanus was wicked enough not to wish it, but not powerful enough to hinder it. 
Nihil quidem prava cogitationis sed interdum voces contumaces & inconsultaes. Ta.  These words did not infuse into his soul any evil thoughts, but drew from his mouth at unawares certain words, which being reported to Sejanus, and by him to Tiberius, were taken for a conspiracy; when he is in Court they take heed of all that he doth, they blame his words, and his silence also is blamed. All his actions are watched, there is no safety nor assurance in his own house, and the night itself will conceal nothing for him. If he sleeps in his wife's bosom, 
A Roman Senator to assay the discretion of his wife, as of a vessel ill closed he would not pour thereunto, either wine or oil but water only feeding her curiosity with nothing but flammes and gulls of his own inventions. Plut. Ne nox quidem secura cum uxor vigilia, somnia, suspiria, matri Liviae atque illa Seiano patefaceret. Ta. jam diù sopita fratrum odia accenduntur. Ta.  even there he shall find  dealing, for like a vessel that leaks she lets all run out that is put into her, she reports unto Livia the Emperor's Mother his waking dreams, and his very sighs, Livia recounts them to Sejanus, who bandies his Brother Drusus against him, giving him hope of the first rank, wh●n his elder Brother whom the hatred of Tiberius had already much shaken, should be beaten down. Drusus was of a fierce spirit, for besides his desire to command, and the emulation which is ordinarily betwixt brethren, he was desperately jealous that Agrippina his Mother loved Nero better than him. Sejanus had no better heart, nor bore any greater affection to Drusus then to the other, but knowing that he had courage, and durst carry himself stoutly in danger, he supposed it would be more easy for him to lay some ambush to entrap and ruin him.  
All Germanicus friends were sought after and persecuted, one friend betrayed another, the firmest friendship went not so fare as the Altar, 
Multis simulationum involueris tegitur natura unius cuiusque frons oculi vultus persaepe mentiuntur. Cic.  but covered such in humane disloialties as they shown how dangerous it was for man to trust man, whose forehead is a liar, his eye a traitor, and his countenance a deceiver. Sabinus accused with Silius remained not any long time, but that he saw himself to be at the same cliff from whence he was precipitated, but it was by a notable treason. Four Praetors followed the Consulat, 
Si consulem videro aut praetorem omnia quibus ●onor haberi solet faciam equ● de●liam, caput aperiam semita cedam. Sen.  the supreme honour of our Roman ambition, twelve ushers marched before the Consul, he that sat down rose up, and he that was on horseback, or in his Coach alighted, each man was uncovered, and many put by their swords to do them reverence. These men having no means to obtain it but by the favour of Sejanus, which could not be acquired by any just nor honourable ways, knew not what to resolve; to give him money, he hath no need of it; he hath the disposal of the riches of the Empire, and of the treasure of the Emperor, which amounts unto more than 7200. millions, their nature is too violent and perverse to furnish him with pleasures, and for honours he is greater than the Emperor, 
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 Caesar's, to purchase the favour 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 never any, continued after the death of Germanicus his affection towards his children, 
The friendship that ceaseth was never friendship. Sectator domi comes in publico post tot clientes unus. Ta.  assisting them in their affairs at home, and bearing them company through the streets abroad, glorying in the constancy of his fidelity, in such a time when their most faithful friends were become fearful, and the most obliged ingrateful.  

Eo apud bonos laudatur gravis iniquis. Ta.  This being pleasing to honest men, and incensing the mischievous, was quickly perceived by Sejanus, who esteemed it a bravado and contempt, that a man of that degree should set so little by his power, 
Compositum inter ipsos ut Latiaris strueret dolum caeteri testes adessent.  as openly to declare himself for his enemy. These men have notice of the wound in his heart, and go about to pluck out the arrow which stuck in it, Latiaris to betray Sejanus becomes the spy, and the rest witnesses, he had some former acquaintance with him, he now renews, improves, and reinforces it, with a more strict familiarity, begins 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 have found a man truly confident for to pour into his heart his griefs, 
Molles in calamitate morta●um animi. Ta. Effudit lachrimas iunxit questus audentius onerat Seianum saevitiam superbiam spes eius. Ta.  as men's hearts are always tender in feeling of calamities, he let drop his tears, than his plaints followed them, and after that reproaches and injuries against Sejanus, he speaks of his cruelties, his pride, and his designs, and as it is difficult to bridle a discourse when choler and passion have scope, many frank words escaped him against Tiberius.  
This secret passion so evaporated, 
Species arctae amicitiae inter eos qui sermonibus vetita miscuere.  and his mind so freely discharged, he believed that he was well assured of the amity and freedom of Latiaris; because they have mixed together their bold complaints, and words dangerous and prohibited.  
And as afflicted souls know and seek out one another, Sabinus went every 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 he held him for a most trusty friend; the poor man should spend more time and judgement to try him.  
Latiaris related this discourse of Sabinus to three other Senators; but because the proof of one man alone was not enough to condemn him, 
Turpis latebra detestanda frat●. Ta.  they agreed to hide themselves between the boards and the feeling, to hear him; in the mean while Latiaris should make him continue and renew this discourse: he finds him in the market place, brings him to his house, and tells him he had news to tell him, the chamber being shut, he represents unto 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 upon the old plaints new fears, not so much to let him know, that all was desperate, as to make him sing and speak to his own guise: Sabinus who yet believed 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 goodness in a government so tyrannical and insolent: 
Maesta ubi semel, prorupere, difficilius reticentur.  and as we cannot easily retain plaints and injuries, when once they have found a passage, and it is difficult to conceal that which hurts us, he made Sejanus the instrument of all the calamity private and public. We do hardly retain that which hurts us.  

Missis ad Caesarem literis ordinem fraudis suumque ipsi dedecus narravere. Ta.  All this discourse came thorough the holes of the boards into the ears of the three Senators, who as soon as Sabinus was departed, perfected the treason; Tacitus saith that at the very instant by express letters they certified all unto Caesar, expressing unto him the treason and their infamy, 
Tosiano charixomenos. Dion  and Dion saith, that this was done to gratify Sejanus: he should add thereunto, that it concerned themselves, for besides that they would draw a recompense of this disloyalty, and attain to the honour of Consulship in dishonouring themselves in this manner, if any of them had betrayed his companion there was an end of their lives.  
The rumour of this wickedness being carried to Caprea, was brought again presently to Rome, where it marvelously troubled men's minds set every man upon his guard. 
Notae ignotaeque aures vitantur muta atque inanima & parietes circum spectabantur. Ta.  The ears of all both known, and unknown, were suspected, they suspected the very walls and things in sensible, every where was nought but silence, sorrow and astonishment.  
Sabinus is laid hands hands upon the first day of the year. Is it thus (said he to those that took him) that they begin the new year, must Sejanus have oblations of this quality, what assurance is there then for a Roman Citizen, seeing that amongst our vows and sacred Ceremonies, 
Inter sacra & vota verbis etiam profanis abstinere mos. Tac.  wherein we abstain from the least profane speech we may perceive Ropes to bind and strangle withal, and that in the Temple we find Prisons.  
They put him to death presently, not giving him leisure to defend or justify himself. His Dog lay down by his dead body, 
Cum quidam ex corona circumstante cani cibum obrecisset, ad os defuncti tulit. Innatavit idem in Tiberim cadavere abiecto sustentere conatus. Plini.  brought to his mouth the bread that was given him, and when he was cast into Tiber, he leapt after him to keep him up that he might not ●nke into the bottom. All the town wondered to see such gratitude in a Beast, during so many ingratitudes and inhumanities' which then defamed men. All his accusers died miserably, and as Princes hate Traitors when they have gathered the profit of their Treasons, so Tiberius rid them away: for when he had served his turn with such bad Instruments, he broke them and took new ones.  
The Emperor thanked the Senate for freeing the Commonwealth from such an Enemy, 
Tiberius' scelerum ministros ut perverti aba●i●s nolebate ta plerumque satiatus & oblatis in eandem operam recentibus, veteres & praegraves' afflixit. Tac.  and added, that he passed his life in fear and trembling, that the conjurations of his Enemies held him in pain, and although he named them not, it was easily perceived that he pointed at Agrippina and her Children.  
Asinius speaking according to his accustomed freedom and liberty, said, That it was fit the Emperor should be entreated to discover his fears, 
Qui metus fatetur, eos amoveri sinat. Tac. Aegrius accipit princeps, ea quae recludit quam quae promit. Tac.  and suffer them to remove them from his heart. Tiberius took this to be too bold an advice, for it sent a bright beam to the bottom of his heart, which he was not willing to discover. Sejanus pacified him, not for any love to Gallus, but to the end that his choler being restrained, 
Tiberius jentus i● medirando, ubi prorupisset tristioribus dictis atrocia facta coniungebat Tac.  his fall might be the more headlong and violent, having always observed, that the more Tiberius' meditated revenge, the more did time and delay sharpen it, and the farther off he threatened, the heavier the stroke fell.  
Asinius Gallus was of great repute in the Commonwealth, but in much more disgrace with Tiberius, who feared his courage, hated his virtue, said that his pride was an hereditary disease, blaming Asinius Pollio his Father, 
Asinius Pollio made a Tragedy of the Civil wars. Interroga Caesar quam partem reipublicae tibi mandari velis? Tac. Speaking to Princes we must not so much consider that that be true which we speak, as whether they be willing to hearken thereunto. julia Augusta 82. annos vitae Pucino retulit acceptos, non alio vino usa. Plini.  a brave captain, a very persuading Orator, an excellent Poet, a friend to truth in a time when it was very odious.  
Tiberius (who never forgot the stinging speech which Asinius had spoken to him at his first coming to the Empire, when alleging that he was capable but of the one half thereof, he suddenly asked him which he would have) cast him in prison where he languished three years, in the end death set him at liberty, but it is not known whether it were natural or forced. Prince's will not be otherwise treated withal, then thus; we must speak to them by supplication and remonstrance; to tell them of their faults, is not to correct them, but to offend them.  
About this time died the Emperor's Mother aged according to Dion 86. or according to Pliny 82. who refers the length of her life to the quality of the wine she drank.  
The Senate ordained for her great honours, but her son (not out of modesty, but out of envy) cut off some part thereof, and by his letters dissembled nothing that he was offended at the favours of his Mother, taxing the Consul Fuluius, whom the Empress loved: a man fit to attract the love of women, and who had the art to speak gracefully, and could give Tiberius such close girds, 
Facetiarum apud praepotentes in longum memoria est, dum acerbae sunt. Tac.  that would bite him sore, and whose sharpness he had felt: great men do not easily forget that which never so little exceedeth merriment.  
Tiberius' his hairs were waxen grey under the obedience of his Mother; for neither his age nor his majesty had freed him from this duty; that wise Roman said, 
Parents non amare Impietas est; non agnoscere In san●a. Sen.  That who love's not those that brought him into the world is impious, and he that doth not acknowledge them is mad. But this respect founded upon the devoir of nature, did not impeach the liberty of State Reason, which is jealous of any thing that may encroach upon Authority; 
julia Tiberij nomen suo postscripsit, Tiberius ut inferius Maiestate principis dissimula●um & gravi offensione abdidit. Tac.  he was offended that his Mother dedicating an Effigy of Augustus near the Theatre of Marcellus, did place the name of Livia before that of Tiberius; he thought that Majesty was wounded in that, and a Prince should not endure it to be touched in any thing.  
She was married to Tiberius Nero, father to the Emperor Tiberius, and Augustus extremely taken with her love, ravished her from her husband, 
Penatibus gravidam induxit, Tac.  and that so suddenly, that he gave her not time to lie in the house from whence he took her. It is not known whether she consented to this change, or whether her ignorance gave her any colour; fair women which have committed any fault by the persuasion of a Prince, 
Vitium autho e redemit. Ouid. Matris in admisso fall a sub imagine jusae error inest, pluvia t●ctus adulter erat. Ouid.  believe that Authority excuseth them: Helen said, That her Mother offended not, having jupiter as a warrant for her transgression.  
Scribonia wife to Augustus was repudiated for having too freely complained of the immoderate power of this new friend: her fall assured Livia, and her fault taught her hus to gain the heart of her husband, she must please his humour; wherefore being asked how she could so absolutely rule her husband; she answered, in not prying into his actions, and in dissembling his affections.  
Never did woman give better advice to her husband; for seeing that Augustus to have reigned severely lived not securely, 
Quid vivis si perire te tam multorum interest? quis finis ●rit supplici rum? vis sanguinis? D. Aug.  and that Cinna did go about to kill him in a town of the Gauls, at such time as he was to offer sacrifice, and to give him up as an oblation for the public weal. Augustus was much discontented with this enterprise, and wished high death, seeing so many men desired that he should die, 
Se● ritate nihil adhuc prof cisti, tenta qu●modo ti●ic●dat clementia: ignosce Cinnae; deprehensus est, iam nocere tibi non potest, prodesse fa●ae tuae potest. D Liu.  and that a man of that quality, Nephew of Pompey, should attempt to take away his life: being in this perplexity Livia his wife spoke unto him these memorable words, The Remedies you have used have not prevailed, embrace their contraries; severity hitherto hath been unprofitable, essay what clemency will do, pardon Cinna, his design is discovered, he cannot annoy your life, and may increase your reputation. Augustus was persuaded by her, caused Cinna come unto him, and showing him how he was informed of his enterprise, said unto him; I have already given you life as an enemy and rebel, I give it you now as a traitor and parricide; 
Contendamus utrum ego meliore fide vitam tibi dede●man, tu debeas.  let us speak no more of it, let us be friends, let us make it appear which of us will do better, I, in pardoning, or you in repenting.  
As Tiberius had his favourite, Livia also had hers; to obtain any thing of Tiberius, the passage must be through the discretion of Sejanus; and he that will purchase the favour of Livia must sacrifice to Virgulania; whose Authority in the City was so great, that none durst enterprise any thing against her, how just soever it were; 
Amicitia Augustae Vi●gula niam extul●rat supra leges. Tac.  for she did raise her above the Laws; moreover, she was a woman so fierce and arrogant, that being called before the Senate, she refused to appear, although no person was dispensed withal, not the Vestal Nuns. 
Vestales in foro & judicio audiri, quoties testimonium dicerent, vetus mos fuit. Tac. Virgulania monitu principis, pugionem nepoti misit. Tac.  Tiberius was constrained (for the respect he bore his Mother) to be troubled for any thing that concerned her, in such manner, that her Nephew having thrown his wife out of the windows, he incontinently went to visit the Chamber, and saw that this woman did not precipitate herself as h●r husband did allege, for they beheld the marks of the effect to push her, and of her resistance to withstand.  
As long as this Princess was alive, he moderated his will, submitting it (for respect unto her) to her counsels, and Sejanus likewise in duty humbled his designs to her commandments, not daring to gainsay them; 
Tunc veluti fr●nis exoluti proruperunt. Tac.  but after this death, all things grew irregular and disorderly, and there was now no more hope or refuge for innocency.  

Sanctitate domus priscum ad morem, comis ultra quam a●●i●uis foeminis probatum materium potius uxor facilis, & cum artibus mariti simulatione filij bene composita.  C. Caesar who succeeded in the Empire praised her publicly before the Palace, for that she had religiously governed her household after the old fashion, not permitting the present time to bring in again those vanities and curiosities which had so much marred the simplicity of former ages: a Princess, gentle and courteous, and of a higher strain of Princely carriage than other women of her time, a mother that would not endure any thing, a wife that had nothing in her unsufferable, and so discreet that she could sagely fit herself to the wisdom of Augustus, and the dissimulation of Tiberius.  
The Senate received Letters from Tiberius against Agrippina and her children. It was thought they had been written long before, but that the Empress had detained them, 
There is nothing in man but his ambition which waxeth not old Thucid. & Plut.  foreseeing that they would cause some trouble; and although her ambition was not grown old, yet she desired to pass the remainder of her days in peace.  
They accused not Nero or Drusus of any crime against the State, nor of levying of troops, nor of introducing of novelties, but only to be debauched; there could be nothing said against the Mother, but to reproach her with her pride and stubbornness. The Letters being read, there was some question touching the deliberating thereof; 
Queis nulla ex honesto spes, publica mal● in occasionem gratiae trahuntur. Tac.  and as the opinions were more or less rigorous, according to the nature of those which were too op●ne, some Senators whose hopes could not be grounded upon honour, who sought for occasion of grace and favour in the miseries of the public, were of opinion contrary to the more ancient and wiser, who lifting up their thoughts higher than these, found that there was no mind so strong and firm but aught to be very reserved, in giving either counsel or judgement upon the liberty or life of him who might succeed the Prince.  
Tiberius had given the charge of the Acts and Records of the Senate to junius Rusticus, who having never before given any proof of constancy or courage; shown notwithstanding, that it were good to proceed slowly in this business, that they may give the old man time and space to repent himself and revoke his commandment, 
Dandum interstitium paenitentiae. Tac. Brevibus momentis secunda verti possunt. Tac.  for things of greatest moment oftentimes change themselves on a sudden; that nature also was strong and flourishing in the house of Germanicus, but in that of Tiberius' weak and feeble.  
Upon this contention, the people who would not endure that these Princes should be treated as criminals, detest this injustice, and casting the blame thereof upon Sejanus, carry the effigies of Agrippinae and Nero through the City, assemble themselves about the Palace, cry out, these Letters were false and counterfeit, 
F●rebantur sub nominibus consularium fictae in Seiarum sententiae. Tao.  make Sejanus his process, and feigning the opinions of the Senators, the boldest of the company having gathered them of his companions pronounce against him the sentence of death. And hereupon there wanted not Satyrs to be dispersed abroad, 
Per occultum libido ingeniorum exc●rcetur procacius. Tac.  so much the more bitter, by how much the authors were unknown, and are the more greedily collected and sought after, by how much the more they are sharp and ingenious.  
Sejanus who should have warded these blows by his contempt of them, gives contentment to his enemies, as to let them know that this troubles him; let's the Emperor see that his Majesty is wronged by his injury, that the people undertaking to raise assemblies, 
Facile populus duces imperatoresque diligit, quorum imagines pro vexillis sequitur. Tac.  and pronounce sentences; there remained to them no other thing, but to take arms, and to choose for Emperor him whose Image they carried for their Ensigns.  
Tiberius sends new letters to the Senate, continueth his plaints against Agrippina and her children, against the timerity and insolence of the people, and against the Senate for inclining more to the cunning of one Senator, then to the reverence of his commandment, in contempt of his pleasure, and derision of his authority: 
Integra sibi cuncta postulavit.  but he adds further, that he reserves to himself the knowledge of him: the father's excuse themselves, protesting that they were resolved to punish them to the uttermost, if his commandments had not stayed them.  

Inestimable loss of the Annals of Cornelius Tacitus, not of some few pages but of all things past since the year 782. unto 785.  Here all the world laments the unestimable loss of the books of Cornelius Tacitus, by which we might attain to the knowledge of Agrippina's fortune, of the conjuration of Sejanus, and would lighten us with the torch of truth amidst the obscurity of conjectures. Libraries have preserved many Books, to whom we will willingly resort, for that which is wanting of this excellent Historian, who knew all that he should know of the affairs of the world.  
Now Tiberius ceased not until such time as the Senate did content him, 
Novissime calumniatus modo ad statuam Augusti modo ad exercitus confugere velle. Suet.  and that all his violences were authorised by their judgement. There was nothing did so much further the condemnation of Agrippina and her children, than the advice which Sejanus gave to Tiberius, that she was determined to go through the Temples of Rome and embrace the Statues of Augustus, to move the people, and if that way did not prevail, to direct her course to Almain to seize the Legions.  
Agrippina was not more mildly handled then her children, 
Accusavit p● literas amarissime congestis etiam probris, & judicatos tristis fame necavit. Suet.  and we must believe of her the same which Suetonius reports of them: that he caused them to be declared enemies, and to dye of hunger: Nero was confined to the Isle of Pontia, and Drusus a prisoner in the Palace; the bruit was, that Nero seeing the Hangman bring a balter and a hook to make his choice of, killed himself; 
Druso adeo alimenta, subducta, ut tomentum a culcitra tentaverit mandere. Suet.  and that meat being denied to Drusus, he had eaten the stuff of his bed: but the death of these two Princes arrived not so soon, nor in this manner. Suetonius related this upon report, which is fraughted as well with fables as truths, they did their worst against Agrippina, 
Pandatriam relegavit. Suet.  and that worst was to banish her to the Isl● of Pandatria in the Tirrhenian Sea, where she expected each hour for some to come to strangle her, or that sleeping they would join death to her slumber; 
Somnium morti ●ungere. Petr.  but Tiberius would have her life serve her for punishment; and as wrongs are less supported by such as think not to have deserved them, and that the cause is unjust; 
Odiorum causae gravioresquia iniquae. Tac.  so this poor Princess gave no intermission to her lamentation and bewailing of the inhumanity of Tiberius. Seeing we know the injury she suffered, we may well guess the complaints she uttered; her daily discourse was this, but it is not quickened with the grace wherewith her gravity endowed it, nor the ardour wherewith her choler inflamed it.  
And cruel, is he content, to see that with a glutted heart he may now quench in the blood of Augustus this fervent thirst which so much tormented him; and this disloyal Sejanus, will he complain of fortune, that brought unto his power these three heads which stopped his passage to tyranny.  

Fuerim tantum nihil amplius doliturae domui piamentum. Sen.  The gods have chosen mine alone to bear all the miseries of my house, and the expiation of all others: I demand of them but one favour, which is death; is it possible that they will deny it unto the miserable? and what is more miserable in this life, 
Quid miserius in vita quam velle mori? quid in morte quam sepeliri non posse. Sen.  then to desire death, or in death to be deprived of Sepulture?  
The plaints which are not prohibited to the most wretched, and which give some ease to misery, are not permitted unto me; and yet know I not but some body over-heares me, who will recount all that I speak, and I am well-pleased therewith, it is a badge of fear and debility not to dare speak our oppression.  

Augustus' discovered this secret to Fuluius, who told it to his wife, she to Livia. Augustus was angry with Fuluius, who for spite killed himself. Plut.  I will pour forth my moans to heaven and earth of the inhumanities' of Tiberius exercised upon the dead and the living; he was author of my Uncle's death, who recoiled his hopes; Augustus my Grandfather a little after discovered his intention to Fuluius to call back Agrippa: This poor Agrippa was the first victim slaughtered in the entry of his reign. julia my mother, who for her last misfortune and her third husband had espoused this cruel man, incontinently posted after her Son. Germanicus was empoisoned, his wife banished, Nero exiled, Drusus a prisoner, Caligula in their power; what wish they more?  
I have been married, he hath ravished away my husband from me; I could be sped of another of the chiefest Families of Rome, he hath hindered it: I have been a Mother, he deprived me of my children; I was free, he used me as a slave; there is nothing rests me but honour, and he seeks with impudent calumnies to whither it away; 
Tiberus foedicissin is criminationibus, etc. Tac.  his obloquys taking no hold of me, he framed an Imposture which carries the stink of the place from whence it issueth: he says that Asinius Gallus bears me affection, I do acknowledge myself beholding to him, to deem me worthy to be beloved of a man whom Augustus held worthy of the Empire; but he is my Brother in law, and I bear not so little respect unto my Sister Vipsania, as to rob her of the heart of her Husband.  
My precedent actions will answer the present; 
It is not fit a woman should have particular friends, but to est●eme in general, these of her husband.  I never knew what it meant to love any but the friends of my Husband, and as fare as it lay in my power, I have not fixed my eyes nor thoughts upon any other. If I had any beauty, I neither believed it, nor suffered I should be spoken to of it, and made no reckoning of it but for decency.  
They have reason to say that I was too proud: It is true, my disdains have served my designs, for disdainful beauties entrap not the hearts. I must needs avow that the passion of love hath given place in my mind to that of ambition, 
Agrippina aequi impatiens, dominandi avida, virilibus curis faeminarum vitia exuerat. Tac.  and that I was more delighted in employments which do only appertain to manly courages, then to vanities, which please but the effeminate. It is long since I have quitted the imperfections of my sex, to take male and generous thoughts.  
But these Impostures are but the smokes of that burning desire of Sejanus to arrive unto the Empire: for seeing that Rome bears me good will, and that this good will is sustained but by the opinion they conceive of some merit, 
The property of good men is to do well, but of the wicked, to speak ill, and do worse. Plut.  he did defame me as a wicked woman, but as he surmounted me in speaking ill, I have always surpassed him in doing well.  
Let him content himself to have reduced me to that estate, as he needs no more to stand in fear of me; and I find consolation that he hath brought me to that point, that he can do me no worse, for I will esteem for great favours the greatest harms he can do me. Let him not dread that I will any more oppose his ambition, he is to stand in greater awe of fortune then of me, I do not think she will be more favourable to a wicked design, than she hath been partial in the protection of a just and lawful cause. 
The Aspect of ambition increaseth by satiety. Tiberius was wont to say, that a man which had passed the age of sixty year, should not stretch his hand to the people to have voice or suffrage. Plut.   
His ambition hath no bounds, satiety gives him appetite, he was wont to say in the beginning that he did content himself with the Office of Colonel of the Guard, he would have no more. And now, when for his old age he should only present his hand to the Physician, he would charge it with a Tributes staff, to be in the next degree to Sovereign command did he as●e his courage whether he were capable of it? he never saw battle but painted, never drew sword but for a show.  
After all this, his will is, that I should live, to the end that death may serve me as a punishment, 
Vici, quem vicerim qaeuris, metum mortis qui victores gentium vicit. Sen.  not permitting me to show that a woman can overcome the terror of death, which very victors redoubted, and seems that all the passages to come to death, or to cause death come to me, are stopped. It must needs be that I shall find it in my affliction, and that my courage yield unto it; I will not resist his violence, 
Officium pium sed inutile. Ouid.  consolations will redouble it, I will refuse them from what part soever they come; these of my friends are commendable in them, but unprofitable unto me.  
If abstinence, affliction, solitude, and grief may not withdraw me from this misery: 
Expectandus exitus quem natura decrevit. Sen.  And if it must needs be that I living dye, and dying live, I shall attend what end the gods shall be pleased to send me; and hap what will, as I have lived Agrippina I will dye Agrippina.  
The smart of her wounds daily inflaming, 
He that is under the power of an other, impairs his condition by his impatience and liberty of his complaints  she always increased and renewed without ceasing the complaints which an exercised grief could not moderate: her words were reported to Tiberius, who was very glad that she continually gave him occasion to make worse their ill usage to her; for it would grieve him that her patience would oblige him to any courtesy: he commanded the Captain, in whose ward she was, not to let pass these bad speeches without blows; this cruel man who well perceived that to please Tiberius he must outrage Agrippina: hearing her to persevere in her complaints and reproaches against Tiberius, 
Conuitianti oculum per Ceturionnem verberibus excussit. Suet.  did so inhumanely and brutishly beat her, that he pulled out one of her eyes.  
After this barbarous outrage, she would no longer live, and no more to attend death, but to go and meet him: she remained some days without eating, 
Mori in edia destinanti per vim ore diducto infulciri cibum iussit. Suet.  but the Soldiers forcibly opening her mouth constrained her to swallow down nutriment: she was in this more unfortunate than others, that may dye at their pleasure, and have no impediment but their will; she would fain die, but they will that she live; 
Ad moriendum nihil aliud in mora quam velle. Sen. Non magis crudeles sunt qui volentem vivere occidunt, quam qui mori volentes non sinunt. Sen.  Death is the only receipt for her evils, and they keep her by force from it: those men are not less cruel who kill them which desire to live, than those who do compel them to live which desire to dye.  
Sejanus for all this is not where he weenes: all that he did to advance his project, recoils it; for Tiberius being rid of the mistrust of Germanicus, of the jealousy of Drusus, and revenged of the pride of Agrippina and her children; thinks of nothing that might more trouble him then the arrogance and unlimited power of Sejanus, this joins new suspicions to old fears, and puts in his head that he dreamt of the Empire.  

Quos di● fortuna sequnta est, eos repente velut fatigata destituit. Q Cur.  Fortune also began to be weary of following him; for he went too fast, as if she had but raised him to cause him to fall from so high a pitch, as no body should dare to stretch out their arm, or present their bosom to receive him. Tiberius who loved him, began to fear him, and seeing the Senate to make more account of him then himself, 
Dion saith that Tiberius seeing that Sejanus was followed and redoubted of the Senators, feared lest they should make him Emperor.  entered into some apprehension that they would make him Emperor; and from thenceforth purposed to pluck this thorn out of his heart: but he did nothing rashly, for it was dangerous not only to undertake to ruin him, but to make a show thereof, he went on very slowly, and against the advice 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 undo a man, who began to serve him before he began to reign.  
Notwithstanding, I do believe that if there had been but this, he would dissemble it, 
The good Courtier should know the complexion of his Prince.  and would never rid himself of him; for he was very proper for his humours, knowing them most perfectly, agreeing to his desires, soothing his opinions, drew him so dexterously from dangers, and untwined his perplexities; he had cut off all the principal heads which brought him either fear or jealousy, and reposing himself on the vigilancy of a servant so faithful and approved, he did not intermeddle but with great occurrents, but lived at ease in his Isle.  
And although it be difficult to found the hearts of Princes, and the motives of sudden prosperities; 
See upon this subject an excellent Treatise of M. du Refuge Counsellor of State.  yet it is certain, that there is not a nearer way to purchase his good will, then to serve him in such things as are either agreeable or profitable, to conduct his pleasures and manage his purse: all that is honest and profitable should please, but the passion of pleasure overcomes the consideration of honour and profit. 
Rationem felicitatis nemo reddit Auson. To be beloved of a Prince, we must serve him in his pleasures.  Sejanus was stored with all things that were befitting to entertain the Prince with pleasures, and banish the necessity of affairs, and did so command his heart, that he gave it what motion he listed to love, fear or hate.  
He hath done him great services, and although the consideration of this be not always plausible in the minds of Princes; for there are some, who the more they are bound the less they love; 
The Prince should bear respect to services, to the end he may be the better served.  yet Tiberius would have great men understand what they may hope for in serving 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 near Tiberius a Prince hard to be pleased, severe, skilful, and mistrustful: the History represents us with two several portraitures, the one set forth by the pencil of Tacitus, 
Sejanus laboris capacissimus, sufficient vigore animi compage corporis & actu ociosis simillimus. Vell.  who lays him down a wicked person, the other by the hand of Velleius Paterculus who flatters him and gives him all the properties of a perfect Courtier. He saith that The vigour of his body was answerable to the strength of his spirit, which wrought without pain, and did all things as if he had done nothing, and in his greatest actions seemed to be at repose, and as if he had neither been busied nor pressed, that he ran not after occasions, nor ascribed unto himself the honour, 
Infra aliorum aestimationes se metiens, vultu vitaque tranquillius, animo ex somnis. Vell.  achieved all and yet put himself beneath the esteem that was had of him; one that never made show of trouble or emulation in his countenance, his spirit always watchful and who never slept.  
But howsoever it was Sejanus was indeed an able man, and having lasted almost as long as Tiberius, we may believe that if fortune had not revolted against his Counsels, he had constrained her to submit herself to his wisdom.  
Only I do wonder, that having purchased so many friends, he had want of friends; that amongst so many heads depending upon his, and could not stand firm if his were cut off, there was none that would speak freely and sincerely unto him to prevent his ruin. 
To speak to great men mildly and pleasing, Atheneus calleth the same, chariglottein.  But it is the common mishap of great ones, all the discourse we hold with them must be grateful and soothing, they think that truth owes them all that observance and respect doth lend them; if there were judges ordained for flattery, they would have no doings, for there is none will complain that they are flattered.  
Sejanus was so unfortunate that he had not any friend that would say unto him sincerely and freely; Sir, moderate your spirit, despite not your fortune, play not with your Master, this time will not last always, patience too much wronged turns to fury. And if one would have said so much, 
Dion saith, that if some god were descended and had assured the ru●he of Sejanus, he would not believe, for in that time every man swore by his fortune.  he would not have believed it, pride did dazzle him, he bragged to have fire and water in his hands, and that he would use them as he pleased.  
Tiberius then perceiving, although too late, that Sejanus built his hopes upon his tomb, and that he did not only dream, but verily think, yea attempt the Empire: 
Not only to attempt but to think or dream against the State, is an offence.  he resolves to quench the fire of this ambition with the blood of the ambitious. The first suspicion he had thereof was for his marriage with Livia, Drusus widow. The second was upon this, that the house of Germanicus being ruined, 
Summum ad gradum claritatis cum veneris, aegre consists. Laber.  there was no stop for his insolency that was mounted so high, that he could no longer stand upon his legs. The third was the excess of his power in affairs 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 train of servants and attendants, whose obsequiousness impaired his complexion. The fift was upon this, that he held Drusus prisoner, and C. Caesar at his devotion, that he might upon any occasion produce them, and in their names continue the government of the sovereignty. 
Providebat Caesarem urgente iam senecta, secretoque loci mollitum munia Imperij facilius transmissurum. Tac.  The sixth was upon the tricks he used to divert the Emperor from sojourning in the City, and keeping him as a captive under the pretext of his absence, and of his age. The seaventh, upon the great and violent pursuit he made to gain the power of Tribune. The eighth, that Sejanus should use certain words which he desired rather to be concealed then expressed: and when of all this there were but the only suspicion of aspiring to the State, to what end needed any further to seek for a greater crime.  
But Tiberius is blamed for two acts showing feebleness of courage: The first for having suffered the increase of so great a power, which cannot be attained with too much pain, nor lessened with too much severity; the tree which at first was but a little twig, spread its heads and branches so high that it made him a very dangerous shade; that which might have been plucked up with one hand when it began to sprout out, 
Abundance of blood drawn from the best vein, is well employed, to defend or acquire one only drop of Authority.  took such large and deep root, that it was afterwards hard to pull up with both; that Prince who hinders not the increase of Ambition when it doth but begin to grow, receives no other profit by his sufferance but repentance and loss; the State cannot endure two Kings no more than the World two Suns, or the Temple two Deities. The Sovereign authority is a strong Causey, which is not so soon destroyed by the violence of the current, 
After that there is once a branch in Sovereign Authority, it falls to wrack.  or the weight of the water which it sustains, as by some small rift or opening which makes way for the torrent to overthrew it.  
The second is, for using so much ceremony in so urgent an occasion, so much cunning in so great power, so much trembling and fear in so great assurance; for to rid him from him, 
Quintus Varus ●n●piso. Germanicus & Drusus.  he made him his Colleague in the Consulship, and never had any associate without misfortune.  
When Tiberius wrote to the Senate, he stuffed his Letters with the merits of Sejanus, and his service done to the Empire: you should find often these words therein; Sejanus my friend, my Sejanus, I say my Sejanus. It seems he had limited the glory of the Empire but to the continuance of his life; his Statues appeared every where, every one gives them presents as unto their tutelary gods, who will refuse to yield honour unto him unto whom the Emperor gives it so freely.  

Vino debemus homines, quod soli animantium non, sitientes bibinms. Plini.  This Consulship for five years did amaze him, and as the excellency of the Wine urgeth a man to drink beyond drought, so sweetness of prosperity makes him drunk, and carries him farther than he would go; whosoever is embarked on this Sea where there are so many perils, should never trust to calm, but have his eyes always fixed on the heavens to conduct him to the quiet haven of his hopes.  
The solitary and voluptuous life of Tiberius was the ladder of his ambition, for like another Sardanapolus he boasted of nothing but his riotings. Sejanus rocked him in this shameful idleness, having maliciously accustomed him to prefer delightful things before grave and serious: who so neglects to play the part of a Master, shall find servants bold enough to command him; and whosoever shows himself a Prince in his Cabinet only, may chance find another in the field.  
Impudence accompanied with pride drew from his mouth these words, which should not have entered his thoughts; I am Emperor of Rome, and Tiberius is Prince of the Isle: he represented Plays by bald men, which were conducted back from the Theatre by 5000. Boyes all shaved, to mock at Tiberius his bald pate. 
Atheneus accounts them to be 20000. and calls them ante-ambulones.  This number will not be found so strange to them that know that the Romans had troops and legions of them, and that some have caused twenty thousand to march before them, but that he should cause them to be shaved, for then there was great pride taken to curl and frisle their tresses.  
Tiberius was presently informed of this buffonery, 
Familus calamistratus. Apul. Crinitus puer. Sen. Praecincti pueri comptique. Hor.  and made show as if he knew it not, although it pricked him to the quick; but he would have his dissembled ignorance excuse the slowness of his assured revenge: so is there nothing indeed which more nearly toucheth the heart of a Prince, then to see himself braved by a man whom he hath raised from contempt, and the misery of a base condition; it is not less grievous to be reduced unto the mockery of his servants, then to the discretion of his enemies.  
Upon news that the Prisons, a people inhabiting beyond the Rhyne, had broken the peace, and defeated the Armies in battle: the astonishment was so great at Rome, 
Aram clementiae aram amicitiae, effigiesque circum Caesaris ac Sejani consider: crebrisque precibus efflagitabant visendi sui copiam facerent. Tac.  that every one ran to the Altars of clemency and friendship, adoring the Statues of Tiberius and Sejanus, which were near them, praying them to bring them back again to Rome: Tiberius and Sejanus would have the Townsmen to judge by their absence what commodity the presence of the Court did bring them: nor is it good that a Prince should always remain in one place; if the Sun would never budge from some one of his twelve houses, all would not go well: Tiberius therefore approached the City, but because he came but unto the Suburbs, without entering into the Town, many thought that the limits of Astrology and lying were not of so near affinity as some said; for the Astrologians had reported that Tiberius was gone out of Rome under such a constellation, that he would never return again; 
Breve confinium artis & falsi. Tac.  and there is great likelihood, that if this fear had not seized upon his imagination, he would never have stayed eleven years out of Rome.  
These predictions did encourage the complices of Sejanus, soliciting him not to temporize any longer, seeing the Stars have conspired to his design: and of the other side Tiberius would not be surprised; and as the fear of the danger which he apprehended pressed him forward, so danger of the remedy kept him back, but imagining that he should be prevented, if Sejanus had any inkling of it, he durst not consult but with himself of the Resolution he was to take.  
Sejanus as yet mistrusted nothing, prosperity did blind his eyes, he believed that Tiberius thought of nothing but of passing away the time at Caprea. There is nothing spoken of him at Rome but as of a Prince that did not Reign, and lived not but by prayers, could not hear nor see any thing but through Sejanus, 
The King of Persia had ministers whom they called the eyes and ears of the King and by whom he knew of all things that were done or spoken very where. Apul.  who alone was his eyes and his ears, thought of nothing but his pleasure and ease. This was the cause that moved Sejanus to carry and press forward his designs to Sovereignty with the greater violence; what blindness? he hath not life for one month, yet he frames enterprises for a whole age.  
It was very hard, but that he had some suspicion of the Emperor's intention; all the Advertisements that were sent to Caprea, or came to Rome passed through his hands, and he hearkened to all; neither should they which are employed in great matters neglect any thing; 
There is not so great a liar, but will some times tell truth.  and although very often they are informed but of fables, yet some truth escapes, they make their profit of all, and they are well paid, if of an hundred advertisements any one proves true.  
He held men's minds at his discretion, 
men's hearts are won, either by hopes or fear, or by benefits.  either for fear, or hopes, or for benefits, they who served Tiberius depended upon Sejanus, and they who served Sejanus swore by no other name then by that of their Master. Tiberius did nothing but was related to Sejanus, and he was no way advertised of what Sejanus did against his service; he had men fit for any thing, Seneca terms them his Dogs, which would fawn on no body but himself, 
Acerrimi canes quos Seianus ut sibi uni mansuetos omnibus feros haberet, sanguine humano pascebat. Sen.  and would bark at any body else; for he fed them with men's blood; if they could not take by the front, they assaulted the flank, and would embrace men to stifle them: he caused it to be noised that he was to make him Tribune, writes to the Senate, that without him this great body of the Empire would fall unto pieces: in all his Letters he writes that Sejanus is the Oracle of his designs, the companion of his thoughts.  
The Senate which thought not of Tiberius' dissimulation, search for all sorts of honours to raise Sejanus, ordain that their names should be inserted together in the same line in Patents and Inscriptions, their Chairs to be in the same rank in theatres, and in Temples, their Statues to be put up in every place, and that coming to Rome they should go to meet them.  

He that intends the ruin of any body, is glad of his ill carriage.  Tiberius was not sorry that the Senate did support the pride of Sejanus, to the end that vanity making him more insolent, his deportments would be more hateful. In the mean while to make Tiberius believe that his Designs went not beyond his life, he caused Germanicus to be accused to have attempted against the person of Caesar. This man for his justification, showed before the Senate his Testament, 
He that makes another his heir, thinks to die before him.  by which he did institute the Prince his heir, a proof of his affection, and that he desired not to survive him; but this would not save him: and as he saw the Questour coming to put him to death, he thrust himself into the belly with his Knife, 
Nullum magis adversarium timemus quam qui vivere non potest, occidere potest. Sen.  and said unto him, Go tell the Senate that I die as a man should dye: Publica Prisca his wife being at the Palace did the like. I do marvel that among so many men who died so freely, there was not any that did go about to kill Nero or Sejanus, for he that cares not for his life, doth easily undertake to kill.  
The favour of Tiberius so ardent, was not cooled at the first stroke, it became lukewarm, and after altogether congealed, he strikes a blow this day for Sejanus, and to morrow another against him, he conferred the dignity of Highpriest upon his Son, 
Tiberius was accustomed to say when he beheld Caligula: I do nourish him as a Serpent to the people of Rome, & a Phaeton to the rest of the world. Suet.  and although he abhorred Caligula, yet he gave him the same honour, and for this only cause that he was enemy to Sejanus, he gratifies him now in yeeding to his demands, and anon he revoked what he had granted, and keeps his mind in such suspense, betwixt fear and hope; that he knows not where he is, and doth not any thing but Amazedly; he commanded the Senate to absolve a proconsul whom Sejanus accused.  
Tiberius did publicly praise Caligula, 
Tiberius would have all to fall to wrack after him, and esteemed Priamus happy in that he frighted his kingdom with his life. Dio.  and made it known that he would declare him his Successor, not so much for affection, as to make himself lamented, his Successor being more cruel and wicked than himself, in his Letters to the Senate he doth no more style Sejanus his friend, they find his name naked in them without addition of the Titles and Recommendations, which he was wont to give him, as soon as the affection of a Prince takes vent it doth evaporate, and there is much a do to keep it always in the same degree of heat.  
The people did rejoice that Tiberius did begin to affect Caligula, 
Caligula seeing a great company of Senators at his Table, burst into a great laughter, and being demanded the cause, it is said he, for that it lies in my power to have you strangled one after the other. Suet.  not for any affection they bore himself, who was of an inhuman and violent nature and delighted in nothing but in blood, but for the honour of the memory of Germanicus his Father, and the desire of the Ruin of Sejanus whose tyranny they Apprehended, 1. 2. 120.  
Tiberius' having boiled and reboyled his project in his heart, conceived that there was not further any danger to declare himself, and to forgo the Counsels dissimulation to put on these of Courage, he sent an Edict to the Senate, forbidding any Sacrifice to be done to any living man, nor to ordain any kind of honour to Sejanus, not enduring to see such honours done to the Subject, which he held not decent for the Prince.  

Yam diu placebit quam diu utilis. Sen.  It was then that these men which were friends but of his fortune, declared themselves enemies of his dessignes; Friends of the time, who being come to drink return when the bottles are empty, and as Thunder commonly happeneth when the sky seemeth most clear, so Seiaianus saw himself enveloped with a storm in one of the fairest days of his fortune, he had many presages of his misfortune; 
The superstition of the Ancient thought it an ill sign, that a Cat should go overthwart.  the Theatre where he received the salutations of the Calends, break a sunder, and a Cat past overthwart the same. Returning from the Capitol his Guard pressing through the throng to follow and get before him, fell off from the top of the ladders from whence they cast offenders: 
Tiberius' Grace. going to the Capitol, three Crows flew about him and there he was slain. Val.  Hereupon he consulted with his Auspicy to know what it presaged: but the birds of good luck appeared not, he saw nothing but a flight of Crows, birds of ill luck, black nightingales of hell which fluttered and croaked about him: 
Vidimus non semel flammam ingentis pilae specie, que tamen in ipso cursu suo dissipata est. Vidimus circa D. Augusti excessum simile prodigium: vidimus cum de Sesavo actum est. Sen.  and there was a ball of fire seen in the Air, such as had been at the death of Augustus and Germanicus, but no body believed that in this flourishing condition he had been so near his Ruin, and for all this they forbore not to call him Tiberius his Companion, not only in the Consulship but in the universal Empire.  
Tiberius to sound their wills and affections wrote often to Sejanus 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 days he hoped to see them and return to Rome; 
Prudenda miserandaque orat one. P. C. precabatur mitterent alte●in conscil●bus, qu● suum sed & solum in conspectum eorum cum aliqu● militari presidio perducere. Sen.  these feign did profit him, for according to the joy or affliction that these news procured; or to the hope or fear, he perceived who depended upon him, or who upon Sejanus, he entreats the Senate also to send him one of the Consuls with some Convoy to bring him safely.  
He believed that the conspiracy was so great against him, that he should not be able to resist it, and had therefore prepared certain vessels to take his flight withal, and caused Sentinels to be placed aloft on the rocks, who by fires made signs of what they discovered. It must be that the Conjuration was very great and very ready, or Tiberius very fearful & abashed, so to lay open the trouble of his spirit, for fear should never lodge in the heart of a Prince, who may be well lamented when they who should stand in awe of him do deter him.  
But the Favourite began to be troubled, when one told him that he saw the smoke 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 prodigies this neglect lost Alexander. App. Perseus. justin Luc. Crassus. D. Hal.  and from thence a great Serpent was seen to issue forth, he despised not this prodigy, and made a Sacrifice to himself for he was accustomed so to do, and there was a cord found about the neck of the said Statue.  
Tiberius' judged that the Destinies had conspired to ruin him with their vengeance, but he continued his dissimulations, bruiting it abroad, that he meant to raise him to the greatest Office of the Empire, 
Dion saith, that to Accuse and entrap Sejanus, Tiberius caused it to be bruited in the Senate, that he would confer upon him the dignity of Tribune.  but at the same time he sent away Nevius Sertornis Macro, with commandment to present his Letters to the Senate, to seize upon Sejanus, and to let Drusus being in prison at liberty, that he might gather his friends together against the Common enemy, if then were any opposition.  

Nihil non aggresuri sunt homines si magna conatis magna pramia proponantur. Liu.  The place of Colonel of the Guards which Tiberius bestowed on Macro, animated this execution: Princes that will be well served, ought always to make the quality of the service to be seen by the Recompense thereof. He came secretly to Rome and communicated the Cause of his arrival to the Consul Memnius Regulus, and not to his Colleague, for he was Sejanus creature; and unto Gracinus Laco Knight of the Watch, he found them disposed to sacrifice this wicked man to the public 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 words to be fixed to one of the pillars of the Gate:  
In a good hour, Memnius Regulus, 
This word was bonum factum, to which, may all things prosper.  shall to morrow at break of day keep the Senate at the Temple of Apollo; Let the father's Conscript be there, there are matters of weight to be handled. The penalty of the absent is no excuse.  
To give example unto others he was himself one of the first that came, 
Pruna luce. Cic.  he entered with the badges of his Dignity, his purple Robe, twelve Sergeants marching before him making clear the passage, at his entry he sacrificed Wine and Honey, takes his place in the Ivory chair, 
Hocillis Curis templum. Virg.  the other Senators do the like and rank themselves in their places.  
Macro meets with Sejanus who was not as yet entered, 
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 he brought him no Letters from Tiberius, he rounded him in the ear, 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 rejoiced at it, hoping that all which Fortune would bestow on the Romans' should pass through the hands, or from the mouth of their Master.  
Macro presents his Letters and retired, causeth his Soldiers to be assembled under colour of Imparting unto them the Emperor's Commandments; and by this means left for the Guard of the Temple the Soldiers of the Watch; the rest that followed Sejanus went to the Camp and to their Ensigns, being there, he assured them of the Emperor's willingness to acknowledge their services and to gratify them with some Present. 
These were presents of Arms, Pikes, Ensigns, scarves, chains & of Crowns.  There were not any but listened hereunto and promised to be ready in all things, he chose a competent number of them to keep the advenues and the Temple of Apollo; this done, he presents his Letters to the Senate and told them his charge, and withdrawing himself leaves Laco there, and goes to give order for the other parts of the Town.  

The Prince's authority is at the lowest ebb when he dares not declare openly unto his subjects the cause of his discontent.  His Letters are Read and do show the pattern of a troubled and trembling Spirit, which dares not express but with half words, that which he conceives against the ingratitude and treachery of his Servant; they were mingled with diverse affairs without order, the beginning with indifferent, the residue with other things of greater Importance. This was pursued with complaints of the unmeasurable power of Sejanus; then he descends to other occurrents, praying the Senate to make process of two Senators Sejanus his inward friends, and in the end commands them, 
This tragic end of Sejanus is well represented in the French Tiberius, of Monsiour Le Maistre chief mederin of Monsieur.  but faintly, to watch over Sejanus his actions, there was not one word of putting him to Death, so much be feared lest the Credit he had everywhere should oppose itself, and that in case things should not succeed according to his desire, he might always have the liberty of expressing himself.  
But as fear believes all that it Imagineth, 
Aliquisque panendo, dat vires fama nulloque authore malorum, quae frigen ●ment. Lucan,  Sejanus his friends finding not in his Letter what they expected, separate themselves from him as from a place threatened to be Thunder-struck; when the Prince's favour abandoneth a man, it is dangerous to come near him, 〈◊〉 grace is Contagious.  
Dion observes here how men's minds are variable, and saith, that before the Letters of the Emperor were read, there was not a Senator but did reverence to Sejanus, and asked him, 
Cicero reproaches the same to Catiline, Aduentu tuo ista subsellia vacua facta sunt. Cic.  how he would employ them to do him service; but finding the mind of Tiberius to be changed, they changed at one instant; they that were fare from him looked awry upon him, they that were near him went fare off, 
They shrunk from one guilty of high treason. Quis in adversis beneficiorum seruat memoriam aut quis ullum calamitesis deberi putat gratiam quando fortuna non mutat fidem. Vell.  they that thought it an honour to follow him, thought themselves dishonoured to sit near him, and where are those men which call to mind benefits in adversity, or think themselves bound to the miserable: great friendship must not be sought for at Court, nor any moderate enmity: this is the cause, that wise men break with no body, ill will and hatred are but sad plaints, the fruit they bear is always bitter, it yields neither pleasure nor profit, if it be not that of amendment of manners, 
Vsynoque sapere oportet id erit coe●um accrrimun. Cic.  because the enemy may not lay hold upon the life or fortune of him, or overthrow or ruin him.  
But Sejanus should not enter to the Senate when he saw that Macro brought him no letters, providence which hath his eye every where, and which is an assured buckler against fortune, failed him; he should have retired himself, when he had an inkling of what Tiberius wrote in this letter and had been followed by them of his faction, the rest would judge his power by his courage, but finding nothing to be expressly against him, he believed it to be nothing but the vapours of his wayward disposition, 
Presumption despiseth surety.  of his distrust and unequalness: and that there was none so bold in the company, as to offend him.  
The Consul Regulus calleth him, he riseth not, not for pride, 
Words of Command are very harsh to them that are not accustomed to obey.  for he was much humbled; but because he was not accustomed to obey nor to be commanded, he calls him the first and second time, and reaching him his hand saith; Sejanus come hither? Call you me, replied Sejanus: the Consul saying, yes; Sejanus advanced himself, than Laco Captain of the Watch goes before him, and all the Tribunes encompass him, that he may not scape.  

Decretum ut 15 Cal. utriusque necis die per omnes annos donum Jovi sacrantur. Tac.  The day of this memorable stroke was the Eighteenth of October, It is known, for that Tiberius ordained that the Fifteenth of the Calends of November should be solemnised at Rome, as well for the death of Sejanus, as that of Agrippina; if we would remark the year, it was the year of the foundation of Rome VII. C. LXXXV. of the Empire of Tiberius the Eighteenth, and from the birth of JESUS CHRIST, 34. There was no danger to go speedily to his trial, nor to begin his process with his execution, 
S. C. actum ut poena damnat●rum in decim● sem●●d 'em differetur. Suet.  for the Law of ten days was not then made. All his life had been a course of Insolency, pride, violence and fury.  
Dion saith, that in one day he was Arrested, Condemned, and Executed, and by the shortness of the time we judge, of the facility of proceed, which were at pleasure, they gave them such delay or dispatch as they pleased, they have made the process of Lentulus in confederate of Catiline in two days, that of Clentulus held out a long time: Sejanus was dispatched in one Morning; 
Aristotle disposed of the morning in studying of Philosophy, that was ergon, of the afternoon in Eloquence, by ergon.  The day of serious affairs ended at Midday, what was done after dinner was as much as out of work, and things agreeable and easy, rather than toilsome and painful: and the Trumpet which served the Romans for a Clock, having stroke the hour of ten, there was no beginning of a new Relation.  
Memnius did not put the letters of the Emperor to Consolation, and that deceived Sejanus who trusted to his friends, for if he had done so, diversity of opinions would mar the business: for length of discourse would lose time, and dispatch must have been used that the faction of Sejanus might not stir. But to shun the blame of doing all himself, he commanded a Senator whom he knew to be a good Citizen and well affectioned to Tiberius, to deliver his opinion: Dion nameth him not, 
The Consul demanding the advice of the Senator he spoke these words.  the same man spoke these words. The present occasion Fathers to conscript, is of so great consequence, that according to the resolution, you will take the Commonwealth is either shaken or confirmed, and we should be traitors to our Country, 
The Magistrate that discovers a conspiracy and shows himself fearful to remedy it, is as culpable as the offenders themselues. Plat.  ungrateful to our Prince, and unjust to ourselves, if we did not use sincerity and fidelity. Caesar represents unto us with one hand the mischief, and with the other the remedy; the mischief, the conjuration of Sejanus. The Remedy, the imprisonment of Sejanus; I make no question but the evil is greater in his knowledge, than he lets us to understand in his letters, but I think the remedy more extreme than he hath considered: 
The custody of Illustrious persons were given to Magistrates. Lentulus was in the keeping of Lent. Spencer Cethagus of Q. Conisicus. Statilius of C. Cesar. Ceparius of On. Terent.  there is no security of the person of Sejanus in remitting him to a Magistrate who would take charge of him; nor to the Guards, he Commands them; nor in committing him to a private house, he would not remain there any long time; or what surety to Caution, in that estate that matters are. But a Prison is only for slaves, there is not any for a Roman Citizen, nor for a Consul or Senator, and much less for him who commanded the people, the Senate and the Consuls. 
The first prison was built by Aucu: Martius or Tarqvinius: T. Liu.  Our Fathers would forsake their Sepulchers to defend this privilege, the only token of our ancient liberty, for they esteemed, that to tie a Roman Citizen was a great offence, 
Facinus vinci Civem Romanum, scelus verberari parracidium ●tcan. Cic  to beat him a Crime, to kill him a parricide; the prison is holden as a place of punishment to the Romans, and of guard to the barbarous.  
They only who knew not Sejanus, or were not acquainted with Caesar may doubt but that it is necessary to pass further, it were a great wonder if he were innocent, but extreme mishap if he did scape our hands, it is necessary he should be made a precedent, and that he may not undo the Commonwealth, we are to be sure of him, 
Diogenes saith, that some drowned themselves in a tempest before the ship was sunk.  he hath Courage enough to drown himself in the tempest, not expecting shipwreck: our Fathers have seen how C. Licivius Macer, seeing himself lost and the judges ready to deliver their opinions, 
Licivius Macer lent these words to Cicero, non damnatus sed deu● per●o.  having got to the top of a house, threw himself down headlong, for to have the honour to dye not condemned but accused, he would spare the pains to execute him, and would be his own judge.  
Hear is questioned, the public safety, 
Val. Aliena crudelitatis procurationis rationem suscipere. Sen.  the safety of the Prince, the confirmation of the State, of our altars, of our Laws; I am ashamed to place our interest before the Commandments of Caesar. The safest way is the most Just. 
In deliberations we should rather incline to that course which is safe, than that which is decent or profitable Dion. Hal.  We are to think of our safety first, before our lives and honours, there is no means to stay the mischief but in arresting of Sejanus, nor any arresting of him but in prison, the person, the time and the Crime, do oblige you to assure yourselves of him, and chase away the evil by the evil itself, Sejanus hath raised himself upon the Ruins of the State, the State must raise itself upon the ruins of Sejanus.  
The Senate was very slack in enduring so much, Caesar confers a great favour upon the people of Rome, to deliver them from this Tyranny, let us not lose the glory to have seconded his piety, there will be more honour in following of Sejanus into prison, than there was to serve him while he was at liberty; if he be innocent, the Gods are not  

Pravidia Consilia in certo sunt.  Notwithstanding any amazement which seized upon the Company, this resolution was Hardy, and this advice was followed, every one thinking it reasonable to execute, not to examine the will of Caesar; they lead him to prison, and would trust none but themselves in the event of this Conduct, to the end he may not escape nor be rescued, 
Cui genua flexerant ac ut Deo sacri●cauerunt. Dio.  so the very same Senators who accompanied him to the Senate, did conduct him to prison, they which sacrificed unto him as to their God, which kneeled down to adore him, did scoff at him seeing him draggd from the Temple to the jail, from supreme honour, to extreme ignomy.  
There were some so transported with rage against him, 
Pallio coceina ad rasum occluserat c●put. Petr.  that seeing him let fall a piece of his Robe upon his eyes, wherewith he covered his head, (for the Romans wore no caps but in the war or being sick, nor no hats, but in a journey) they took it away from him, stripping him, to do him the greater affront, and strooke him over the face with their fists.  
The people laughed at his fall, detested his life, reproached his insolence, Cried out at the thief, and if they were not hindered, he had not come whole to the prison, for they would drag him instantly to the Sestercium, the most infamous place that was in Rome, and whether the bodies of the Slaves were thrown, and judging that he was not carried to prison, to let him live: they ran to his Statues, they are at one instant broken down, 
For joy Dion makes a notable observation upon humane inconstancy.  they may be seen dragged with Ropes into the fire to be molten, with the pieces of the head which was adored, as the second of the world: and which made the Senate to quake, 
Lex facie toto or be secunda fiun; ureeoli pelues sartago patellae. Iwen.  they were converted into small implements for kitchen uses.  
There was so small an interval between his exaltation, and his fall; that he was no sooner threatened then struck. And seeing at his coming forth what was done to his Images; 
Dion observes that Sejanus saw his Statues beaten down, and by that judged what would follow.  he concluded, that the original would be as ill handled, and it was his greatest trouble that he had not been prepared long ago for this misfortune. An ordinary fault in those which are raised to high dignities, 
We must prepare betimes for a fall, and rather go ou● then stay to be put out.  who are men wise till after the blow, and who having the means to come down at their ease, stay still till they be thrust headlong.  
After that Sejanus passed the wicket, the Consul to lose no time returned not to the Temple of Apollo, but he entered the Temple of Concord which was near, to make the process of the Prisoner; for we should do wrong to the reputation of the great justice of the Senate, 
Forms are necessary. Accusatio crimen defiderat, rem ut definiat, hominem ut notet, argumento prohet, tisle confirmet. Cic. Populus Rom: circum subscha coranam facit, Cic. Antigenius being entreated to adjudge a process privately, he answered, it will do better in the palace if we would do nothing unjustly. Fl. Timor perturbatio, suspensus, incircusque vultus, crebra coloris mutatio quae fuerunt antea suspitiosa aperta atque manifesta faciunt. Cic.  if we did believe that it forgot any form in any affair so important, where it was necessary that the Authority of justice should cover the defects, which may be in the proceeding for to have commenced the process by Imprisonment.  
The accusers, the witnesses, & the accomplices were heard in full Senate: for the Instruction was public & the people was as in a round, about the chairs of the judges, which caused the authority to be greater; for the Majesty of the Senate was in sight of all, there was nothing to cover it but the heavens, there was more sincerity used; for as many eyes, so many judges, and there was more example, all passed with order & discipline.  
There is no question to be made, but that he had some excellent Orator assigned him, more for the Ceremony of his defence then for any opinion of his Innocency, and it is certain that he was commanded to do his endeavour; for the more stoutly he was defended, the more glorious should be the triumph of truth; & thereupon the judges observed the countenance of the accused and the doubts of his Invention were often cleared by the trouble of his countenance, the aspect of which very often holds the place of speech.  

Sometimes the Senate reporteth to the Prince what they have decreed.  Macro spoke the word to the Consul, it was Tiberius will he should die, there needed no other commandment, nor to send him the advice of the Senate it was necessary for the state, and though he had not entered culpable to the prison, his quality permitted not he should departed innocent, the judges cannot do amiss when they obey the commandment of the Prince who views his affairs with another eye, and with another affection then his Officers.  
The judges had taken an oath to judge according to their conscience. 
Damnaturi jurant nihil se precibus dare. Sen. P.  Neither the Consuls nor the Praetor gave their vote at all, but recollected those of the others. The number of the Senators was great. Cicero reckoned 75. against Piso. 
An expectem dum te Septuaginta quinque tabellae diripiant. Cic.  It was diminished under the Emperors and by the Edict of Augustus, there needed but 40. to frame a Sentence: They delivered their opinions either by voice or by writing in a little Table which they kept in a Box, or by silence and gesture; as at this day by the Hat or Cap, a sign of consent, or by passing away those of one side and drawing themselves together against the adverse party, this they called to go on one foot. 
Sometimes in notorious crimes they cried, Host, Hostis.  Here there was no other but one voice, Let Sejanus dye, let his Posterity dye, let his memory dye, and his goods be confiscate.  
The Senators were so provoked, that it is certain, that those who knew the advantage they had above others, as Albutius in speaking loud, remained altogether mute to gain the favour of the Prince; 
Albutius in a●tercatione vires suas noverat. Sen. P.  especially those who had most depended on the will of Sejanus, and doubted not a whit but that which they spoke amongst the people that had nothing to lose, 
Nunquam si quod mihi credit amavi Hunc hominem. Iwen. Sejanus his friends shown themselues most passionate against him.  they might speak amongst the Senators, who esteemed them for lost who were now his friends.  
Those were the most sharp, and said, that if Cesar had Clemency he ought to reserve it for men, not to use it towards Monsters.  
If the Senate had not been zealous to conserve the glory of his gentleness, in detestation of horrible punishments, they had caused him to undergo that of Parricides, they had seared up his fundament, they had put shoes with hot burning Coals upon his feet, or had sowed him in a sack with a Dog, a Cock, an Ape, and a Viper, wicked living Creatures, companions of a wicked man; afterwards they would have sent him to the river in a Wagon drawn with two black Oxen, for a note of the enormity and foulness of the Crime.  

In alijs gloriari licet nul●i gentium placuisse poenas. T. Liu.  But there was never any Commonwealth more curious than that of the Romans, to conserve the ancient glory of gentleness and fair carriage. Metius Suffetius for his Treason was drawn in pieces by four Horses. 
Supplicium exempli parum memoris legam Romanorum. T. Liu.  All the people turned away their eyes from such a horror. This was the first and the last punishment of that severity, which had made the judges forget, that the laws and punishments had been ordained, not for Tigers or for ravenous Bears, but for men.  
We must represent this execution of the judgement against Sejanus, 
In his judgement it was observed; Quo referente quo deceruente & quo primum assentiente.  in like sort as the other, but that this was done with more pomp, through the occasion and for example sake, and with more diligence and more Guards for security, and that more of the Magistrates were present at it. Hear may be found, that summarily which we might seek for in diverse places, and which is reported diversely and confusedly.  
The judgement being signed by him who had made relation of the Acts and the Letters of the Emperor, 
Carnifex non modo foro sed etiam coelo hoc ac spiritu prohibetur. Cic.  by him who had first opened the opinion which was pursued, and by the Consul who decreed that which was resolved, they sent to find out an Executioner, who by the law of the Censors might not dwell within the City.  
The Trumpet assembled together the people, it sounded before the gates of the Temples, before the house of the condemned person, 
Peruersam induit Magistratus vestem. Sen.  in the public places. The Consul, or the Praetor mounted upon his throne, and disrobed himself of his Purple garment or put it on backwards, or took a black one, as in a sad and sorrowful accident; yet notwithstanding without showing in his countenance either meagerness or choler, 
Lex non irascitur sed constituit. Sen. Fi● a Praecone silentium. Sen.  but retaining the decency and gravity of the Law, which is never angry with any man.  
The condemned person is brought forth, the Hinshers command silence, the Consul pronounceth the judgement, which is written in the little Tablet, 
Quibus animaduertere in damna●os necesse est, non dicu●t occide, non morere, sed lege age. ●rude itatem imperij verbo ●●tiore subducunt. Sen. Novi● post terga ligantur manus. Sen.  and turning himself towards the Executioner, said to him, Do according to the Law, or more plainly, Go on. He abstained from sorrowful speeches; kill him, bind him, hang him, and was no more moved, then if he had commanded one of his servants to tread upon a Scorpion or a Worm.  
The Executioner tied his hands behind his back the Trumpets sounded whilst he prepared the punishment, and that the condemned person disposed himself to death. The time was not left altogether at his discretion: Nero never allowed but one hour for a man to make himself fit to receive the deadly stroke. 
Adhibentur legitima verba, canitur ex altera parte classicum Sen.  As at Funerals, there useth to be Instruments which sound with sad and mournful tunes, with Cornets for the great ones, or with Flutes for the meaner sort, and this they call a Harmony: in like manner at Executions, the Trumpets sounded the battle, as the alarm, or the bonteselle, to go to death.  

Quisnam delator? Quibus iudicijs? quo teste probavit? Nihil horum verbosa & grandis Epistola venit A Capris bene habet nil plus interrogo. juven.  During this, the people being astonished at a judgement so soon done, demanded the cause; one asketh for what crime is he condemned? who is his accuser, what complices, what witnesses? nothing of all this, saith another. A great and a long letter is come from Caprea saith a third, that is enough, we must know no more, all goes well.  
The form is not expressed other then that which Dion speaketh, and the word which he useth, signifieth that he was condemned, or executed. This is certain, that they found out no new manner of punishment for him. When any one was condemned to punishment, according to the manner of the ancients, that was to banishment, the civil death of a Roman Citizen. 
Supplicium more maiorum. Tac.  The Gallows, the Impalement, the Cross, the casting to Beasts, la hart: the beheading were to slaves and men of no account. 
Sunt paenae legibus constitutae quibus fine iudicum saevitia & temporum infamia supplicia decernuntut. Tac. Turpeis proditores hostesque publici imponantur. Sen.  It was a long time ago said Paetus Thraseas to Nero since any man spoke at Rome of the Hangman, or of strangling; the Laws have ordained punishments which punish the crimes without infamy for the times, without cruelty for the judges. Traitors, Rebels, enemies of the Commonwealth take their leap from the Tarpeian Rock. Manlius was thrown down headlong from a great height upon the Rock, and he had as Plutarch saith, 
Locus idem in uno homine & eximiae gloriae monumentum & paenae ultimae suit. T. Liv.  the Capitol for a witness of his most valorous deeds, and of his greatest calamity; this punishment was awarded him for having attempted against the Commonwealth. A punishment of all the most fearful, because the Rock was sharp, of an extreme height, the midst and sides sticking out with points like to stays, 
Moles abscissa in profundum frequentibus asperata saxis. Sen.  and if the bodies lighted upon them, they were bruised, or rudely repulsed; there was exceeding horror in the very sight of them; and he that once took this leap was sure he should never take it again.  
They also cut off the heads of Offenders, not with an Axe or Hatchet, as anciently, but with a Sword, after the civil war: and this kind of punishment was so new, that a Courtesan being at the Table of the Proconsul Flaminius, 
Nondum caput erat ense rotare Lucan.  and saying that she had never seen it, he caused a prisoners head to be struck off by the Hangman. 
 iste cum amica coenaret iucundius, homo occisus est. Sen.  Valerius Antius gave the like contentment to a Lady which he loved. Behold these jolly Magistrates which jest with the lives of men, and with the authority of the Laws, to content their cruel curiosity, one of a Dame of Plaisance; 
Maiestas laesa, si ex ●unti Proconsuli meretrix non summovetur. Sen.  the other of a Harlot, whose name was so odious, that if the Hinsher had met her in the passage to the Senate house, and had not chased her away, he had offended against the dignity of his Office.  
Sejanus had not his head strucken off, that punishment was too gentle in a choler so extreme and public. Iwenall saith, 
Sejanus ducitur unco spectandus, gaudentomnes quae labra, quis illi vultus erat? juven.  that he being drawn through the City with a long hook, the people admired his great head, and his great lips. I imagine that he was strangled in prison, for that was the most ordinary punishment, and Tiberius used it. After he had caused Agrippina to be put to death at Pandatria, 
jactavit Caesar quod non laqueo strangulata, neque in Gemonias proiecta foret. Tac.  he vaunted that he had done her the favour to give command that she should not be strangled, and desired that the Senate would thank him.  
His three poor children were carried to prison, his Daughter promised to the Son of Claudius was deflowered at the foot of the Gallows by the Hangman, 
Puella a carnisice iuxta laqueum compressa. Tac.  because it was not permitted to put to execution one that was a Virgin. Dion saith that she was slain by the people. Tacitus believed that his Son knew what he would do, 
Puella adeo nescia ut crebro interrogaret quod ob delictum? quo traheretur? neque facturam ultra & posse se puerili verbere moneri. Tac. The Gemonian stairs in the 3 Region of Rome, which was the hill Auentin.  and the fortune which he ran. He had a Daughter so young and of so little knowledge, that she ceased not still to say; What have I done? whether will they carry me? who will pardon me? I will do so no more, there needs nothing but rods to make me more wise.  
The Hangman took these two by the throat and strangled them. The bodies of them so slain, were tied to the Gemonian steps, which bore that name either of the Inventor, or of the groans which were heard there. They were like the Pillories, the show place of the executions, where they fasten the Portraits and Statues of the condemned persons. The Conciergery, the Court where they pleaded, the Treasury, where they registered the Arrests, were built near together, the stories in the same place, and at the foot thereof Tiber, where they cast in headlong the bodies.  

Quo die illum Senatus deduxerat, populus in frusta divisit. Sen.  Seneca and Dion do not agree in this: the one saith, that they drew his body about three whole days; and the other saith, that the same day that the Senate had accompanied him to the Senate, the same day the people cut him in pieces, 
Ex eo nihil interfuit quod Carnifex traheret. Sen.  and that of a person in whom the gods and men had all that which could be great and precious; there remained nothing for the Hangman, that he could catch hold on with his hook, and draw it into Tiber. To accord them: I suppose that after he was executed, they set him on the stairs purposely that the people might see him, and that in this fury they might draw him from thence at that instant, and having haled him upon the the bank of the River, might cut him in pieces, and it might be in 14 parts, so many Regions as the City had, and that these pieces were drawn three whole days through the streets.  
All kinds of outrages were done to this miserable body; some through inhumanity, others through revenge, most for example, and all to th'end it might not be believed that either they had loved or known him. Iwenall relateth the discourse which then was at Rome, for every one gave the full career to his judgement. Behold here the Prose of those Verses.  
I conceive that many shall dye: 
Perituros audio multos Nil dubium magna est fornacu●a: Dum iac●t in ripa calcemus Caesaris hostem, etc.  no man needs doubt thereof; the furnace wherein they are to be cast is great enough. I met the other day my poor Brutidius near the Temple of Mars, he was very pale and astonished; I doubt not but if Aiax were called he would slay him with his own hand. But to the end that we may not be taken to be friends of Sei●nus, and that we perish without defence, let us go quickly run to that body whilst it is at the bank of Tiber, and cry out that we tread under our feet the enemy of Caesar.  
He that is a servant, let him renounce and quit his Master, let him take him by the neck and stop his throat to draw him trembling before the Commissaries. This is the way to save himself and also to be rewarded.  
Afterwards the people in secret had this discourse of Sejanus. See then who will follow thee, and who will Court thee as Sejanus did? have so much wealth as he, dispose of Dignities, give the Chairs of ivory, command the Armies, be esteemed the Governor of the Prince, to perform these affairs during the time he was in the straight Grotte of Caprea, with a troop of Chaldeans and of Astrologians?  
Wouldst thou have command over the troops which carries the Pile or the javelin with three heads? Wouldst thou command over the Cavalry, over those brave Troops which wait at the Palace to guard the Prince? 
Principis Augusta Caprearum in rupe sedentis, Cum grege Chaldaeo. Qui nolunt occidere quemquam, posse volunt.  rebus laetis par sit mensura malorum. An Fidenarum Gabiorumque esse potestas, Et de mensura vis dicere? Numerosa parabat. Excelsaeturris tabulata, unde altior esset: Summus nempe locus: Magnaque numinibus vota exaudita malignis. Iu.   
Why desirest thou not this? Those who do not desire to kill any person, desire yet the power to do it. Every one sees the honour and the riches, which are yet notwithstanding such, that the measure of evils that follow them equals those of the contentment that they bring.  
Dost thou love rather to carry the garment of Sejanus, whom thou sawest drawn through the streets, then to be Ruler of the Fidenates or the Gabijs, or to be Aedile at Vlubra, which is almost uninhabited, and judge of Measures, and cause them to be broken which are not just? Thou must needs then confess that Sejanus never knew what he ought to have desired. For in seeking after those great honours, and those great riches, he did no other than prepare a Scaffold upon a high Tower, to fall down and precipitate himself from the greater height. Who turned Crassus and Pompey upside-down? and who was he that tamed the old Romans, and brought them to endure the whip like slaves? High places which are mounted unto by cunning or deceit and great desires, which are heard by the malign stars become the ruin of them that make them.  
Few Tyrants have come quietly to the Son in Law of Ceres, and to a natural death; their death hath seldom been dry, and blood hath not been spared to temper with it.  
Seneca saw this Execution, and yet nevertheless hath written nothing of it, although he were of an age that he might well have observed it: for he was at Rome fifteen years before the death of Augustus. He was amazed that of the body of so great and so mighty a man; there remained nothing for Sepulture.  
If an overgreat joy slew a Mother, 
Si ad mortem agere matres magnum, gaudium, quid magnus dolour? Sen. Cratisiclea had desired that they would put her to death before her children, but the executioners slew them before her face. Plut.  what ought an extreme sorrow to do? Apicata was assailed with an incredible sorrow when she saw her children at the Gibbets foot. Cratesiclea the Mother of Cleomones King of Sparta, whose head Ptolomee caused to be cut off, and his body fastened to the Cross, seeing his children slain before her eyes, said, Alas! my children, whether are you going? Apicata said to these innocents which she saw upon this infamous place; Poor children, where are you? In this extremity of sorrow she retired herself to her house, where she wrote a Discourse of the death of Drusus, sent it to Tiberius, and that being done, she slew herself.  

Ordo sceleris per A●icatam Seiani prodi tus tormentis Eudemi ac Lygdi patefactus est. Tac.  She had not so long forborn to reveal this enormous offence, if the pity of her children had not restrained her, for she knew well, that in crimes of treason, they bear the punishment of the Father. She accused Sejanus, Livilla, Ligdus and Eudemus. They being put to the torture, confessed all. Tiberius caused many to be tormented, to know who were the complices. 
Errore detecto occidi iussit, ne divulgaret iniuriam Suet.  It was told him that a man of Rhodes was arrived, and not remembering what it was his host had bad him do, he caused him presently to be put to the rack, and having discovered the error, commanded that he should be slain, to the end he should not discover the wrong he had received. This was to conserve the reputation of a just Prince by a a notorious injustice.  

Mihi vita tanti non est, ut armis tegenda sit. Tac.  The death of Sejanus gave much confidence and security to Tiberius: and when he was moved to choose twenty Senators near about him armed, he answered, That his life was not so dear, that he would submit it to be conserved no way but by arms. But he left not for all that his vicious and unbridled manners, and not killing his vices before his own death, he enjoyed not that content to see his enemies dye before him. Nevertheless he felt the remorse of conscience so violent, that he protested to the Senate, 
Tandem facinora & flagitia in supplicium vertuntur. T c  corpora verberibus itam saevitia ac libidine Tyrannorum animus dilaceratur. Tac.  that he suffered death daily. He could not naturally endure to be subject to the judgement of men, but he remained convicted in his conscience, that accused, condemned, and executed him. Whereupon one wise man said who lived in those times, That if the hearts of Tyrants might be seen, they would appear more ulcerous through voluptuousness then the bodies of those they had slain by their cruelty would do with their wounds.  
Of all his outrages the most pernicious was the death of that Architect, who so handsomely rebuilt and repaired the Portall of Rome, which was fallen down; and who having presented him a Glass, 
Ferunt Tiberio Principe excogitatum vitri temperamentum ut flex bile esset, & totam artificis officinam ab litam, ne ae is, argenti, auri, metalli pretia detraherentur.  broke it, and recollecting the pieces, made it up again in the same place; having discovered the Art that this material the last work of the fire, might be made obedient and pliable to the hammer. Pliny saith that he abolished it, to the end that Gold, Silver, and Brass might not be less prized. What an ornament to the world would this have been, if of an herb which hath neither beauty nor smell, which is good in the taste neither of men nor beasts, one could have made a material hard, solid and transparent?  
An Invention nevertheless that precedent ages have been ignorant of, 
Priscis temporibus summum c●rtamen inter homin s, ne quid profuturum seculis diu lateret. Petr.  and that the present admired, and that ours will always bemoan: for we have not many men that are passionate not to permit that which may profit posterity, to remain long hidden. Tiberius spared nothing in his excessive voluptuous and superfluous expenses. 
Malus Imperato●, ●ui ex visceribus prounicialium homines non necessarios nec Reip utiles alit. Lamp.  He entertained with the sweatings and labours of the people an infinite number of persons, not only unprofitable but hurtful to the Common wealth, and put them to death whose industry might bring ornament and profit. O what a disorder both of the times and men! They repine at the recompense of an admirable Art, and Sejanus sells one of his Eunuches for 3500. sesterces. But this was during the miseries of this reign, and when no man was permitted to reprove these profusions.  
Tiberius' rule was yet more terrible and cruel after Sejanus than it had been before. He would not admit the people by his death to repair those ills which he had done in his life.  

The most agreeable Tribute was the 20. which ●hey took of inheritances & legatories, the kindred and poor excepted.  Augustus had ordained a Military Treasury, which he kept full with three sorts of tributes, as with three living Springs, with the twentieth part of Inheritances, the five and twentieth part of the Sale of Slaves, and the hundreth part of all that which was Trafficked for.  
Tiberius' having reduced the Realm of Cappadocia to a Province, supposed that by the increase of this revenue the people might be so much the more eased, and therefore instead of the hundreth part he ordained that they should pay but the two hundreth part. 
Extraneis facile, domesticis grave. Plin.  But after the death of Sejanus, as if repenting himself of this favour, he raised it to the hundreth part again. The necessity of his affairs excused him, that could not endure that the Tributes might be touched: this is a fury which taketh the State by the throat, if it be not appeased. They which are destinated to this charge, 
Da operam, ut omnes intelligant si salui esse velint necessitat esse parendum. Cic. M. Antony in Asia, after the battle of Phillippi So Themistocles demanding money of the Audriaus, told them that he was accompanied with two Goddesses, Persuasion, & Costraint. Plut.  aught to make the people capable of this truth; If you will peaceably possess your particular estates, you must needs secure the public necessities. When Anthony the Triumuir was sent into Asia to fetch succours from thence, h●e represented no other reason then this necessity.  
To the end (saith he) that you be not driven from your Towns and your Lands, you must needs part with money for the entertainment of the Soldiers. They demand no more than you would give them freely. You have given in two years to Cassius and Brutus our enemies, the tributes of ten years. We need only this to dispatch our affairs, provided that you give it at once. He raised hereby 200000. talents, which was 20000. a year, which came to twelve Millions.  
The State if it be weak cannot be maintained in Peace, nor fortified without Arms; 

By the quality of the Tribute one may judge of the power of the Tributary.  
Nec quies gentium sine armis, ●ec arma fine stipendijs, nec stipendia fine Tributis haberi queunt Tac.  
Malo tondere pecus quam deglubere. Tib.   A●mes cannot be entertained without money, and money comes not but by Tributes. But there must be a moderation, and the Prince imitating Tiberius must shear his Sheep without s●arri●ying them, and must render the dispensation chas●e, sincere and pure, as of the blood of swearers, and of the tears of the people, for profitable, necessary, and glorious expenses, not for profusions, which bring neither contentment nor reputation.  
Happy is the Prince that findeth honest men in whom to repose the care of his Exchequer, whereon depends the honour of his Designs, the Majesty of his Crown, and the tranquillity of his Estate: for these are the sinews that give motion, & the veins that preserve life; and as by the resolution or retiring of the sinews the Natural body is sometimes deprived of motion and sense; so the politic without money cannot be mou●d nor sustained: in one word, 
Tune conditus imo E●ruitur templo multis intactus ab annis Romani census populi. Lucan.  with Treasure may every thing be wrought and brought to an end. He that hath the last Crown hath the last triumph: They are sacred, the custody thereof is given to Saturn, or within his Temple.  
Caesar had not known how to ruin the liberty, had he not begun by Sacrilege, despoiling the Treasure of the Commonwealth, which was ramassed together of all the spoils of the East, and of that which the Fabricij, the Scipios, the Cato's, and the Pompey's had acquired by their victories. One may draw the first remarkable note of the desolation of an Estate from the unjust and irregular administration of the Treasures.  
It is not enough that those who have the government thereof, 
Res familiaris iji rebus quae ●atura quibus ab est turpicudo. Cic.  have their eyes open to see that the expense exceedeth not the receipt: the State hath great interest that the means of particular persons, may be managed without excess, with order and modesty, as they ought to be acquired, without base dealing. 
Conviviorum luxuria & vestium aegrae ciui●atis indicia ●unt. Sen.  The disorders which may be observed in Feast in Buildings, in the delights and superfluities of private houses are symptoms of an estate not only sick but dying. Troubles and seditions for the most part are not fomented but by the desperateness of forlorn people, and who have nothing to lose; 
Hoc in Rep. seminarium Catilinarium.  of this quality were those that entered into the conspiracy of Catiline. Great and excessive disorders during the reign of Tiberius, but such as were descended from fare off, for he used to say that the Romans had learned to expend their own substance from the Civil wars, and that of others from strangers. It was a wonder that having provided for so many other excesses he would not correct the luxury, nor the dissoluteness which were overflown by reason of the disesteeming of the Sumptuary Laws. This it may be happened, because he would not begin the example of the reformation in his own house, 
Non sum offensionum avidus, graves pro Rep suscipio, inanes & irritas jure deprecor. Tac.  which surfeited with excesses, or that disorderliness was fall'n into a custom and discipline; or that he would not pull upon himself unprofitably and without effect the public hatred. His greatest reason was that he would not expose his commands to dissesteeme, nor open the vein before he had a swathing-band ready to stay the blood.  
These excellent words which he spoke to the Senate of this subject aught to be represented to Kings ever when they make Ordinances, whereof the effects are doubtful and difficult. 
Omittenda p●tius prae●●lida & adulta vitia, quam hoc adsequi ut palam fiat quibus flag ij●● impaired sumus. Tac.  A Prince ought rather to dissemble an inveterate disorder, and which hath a great many followers or supporters, then to put his authority in hazard, and make his want of power be known publicly, and that there be things which he cannot remedy.  
After the execution of Sejanus, the Senate commanded that the Statue of Liberty should be erected in the public place, and that yearly upon the same day on which Sejanus was slain, a Combat on horseback should be represented, and that diverse kinds of living Creatures should be slain; a thing that never was done before. It was ordained also that immoderate honours should be given to no man, and that none should swear by any other name than that of the Emperor.  
All Sejanus his friends ran the like fortune with him, and received that which they looked for. 
Quam male est extra legem viventibus, quicquid ●e●erunt semper expectant. Petr.  The Prisons were filled, some condemned to death, others banished, all bereft of their places of Charge. The City resembled a field where nought else was to be seen but bodies dismembered, or Ravens that dismembered them.  

jacuit immensa strages, omnis sexus, omnis aetas, illustres, ignobiles. Tac. Feminae quia occupandae reip. argui non poterant ob lacrymas incusabantur. Tac.  Tiberius' accustomed himself in this manner to executions, that he caused all those to be put to death which were in the prisons accused to have any intelligence with Sejanus: they cast forth upon the pavement a great number of dead men of all ages & conditions, illustrious, noble, base, no man being permitted to stay to behold them, nor to withdraw themselves to bemoan them; for both the one and the other was a crime. Vitia was punished by death for that she had lamented Geminus her Son; and because they could not accuse women for attempting against the State, their tears were criminal.  

Interciderat sortis humanae commercium, ut metus, quamtunque saevitiae glicebatur miseratio arcebatur. Tac.  They judged of grief by the countenance, and of passion by the vehemency of the grief; in such manner, that the bodies which the River Tiber had cast up upon her banks remained unburied; so much had fear broken the commerce between nature and compassion.  

Ausus est amplecti amicitiam quam caeterifalso exuerant. Tac.  There was none which disclaimed not the friendship of Sejanus. Only one Roman Knight Marcus Terentius being accused to be his friend, avowed it freely then when others seemed to have renounced him. He spoke in this manner before the Senate.  
It may be I might do better for my fortune to deny the crime whereof I am accused, 
Minus expedit agnoscere crimen quam abnuere. Tac. There were 7 of them in all, in the City, and 3 in other garrisons.  then to confess it: But whatsoever shall happen I will not say but I was Sejanus his friend, that I desired to be so, and did rejoice that I was possessed of his love. I saw that he was his Father's companion in the command of the Praetorian Cohorts, and that at one and the same time he managed the affairs of the City and of the Wars. 

Cunctos qui novissimi consilij expertes fuimus, unius discrimine defendam. Tac.  
Non est nostrum aestima re quem supra caeteros et quibus de causis e●tollas Tibi summum iudicium dij dedere, nobis obsequij gloria relicta est. Tac.   That they that were near him in friendship were powerful in the Emperor's love, and all others in continual fear & in the estate of accused persons.  
I will not here allege any one for example, but I will with the alone peril of my life defend all such as have had no part in these his last designs. For we did not our service to Sejanus of Vulsine, but we followed the party of the House of Claudius, whereof by all ance he had made himself the chief. We did honour (Caesar) your Son-in-Law, your companion in the Consulat, and who exercised your function in the Commonwealth.  
It belongs not to us to judge what he should be, or for what cause you raise one man above all others. The gods have given you the Sovereign disposition of things, and there remains only for us the glory of obedience. We consider what we see, to whom you give riches and honour, and who may most hurt us or profit us, and none can deny but all this was in Sei●nus.  
It is not lawful to sound the depth of the Prince's intentions, nor that which he prepareth in secret; 
Abditos Principis sensus & si quid occultius parat exquirere inlicitum. Tac.  that is doubtful, and therefore we cannot arrive to it. Consider not the last day of Sejanus, but the sixteen years of his prosperity, in those days we did honour unto Satrius and Pomponius his Freemen, and it was a great matter to be known of his Servants and of his Porter. What then? Shall we make no difference between those which have served Sejanus as Servants to the Emperor, 
Insidiae in Remp. consilia caedis duersum Impetraorem pun●antur. de amici jam & officijs idem et te Caesar et nos absoluerit. Tac.  and such as have followed him in his designs against the Emperor?  
It is necessary that this distinction should be reduced unto the just bounds thereof, to the end they may punish the treasons and co spiracies against the State, and the plotting of the Emperor's death, but for the friendship and the respect we have had of him, one and the same reason O Caesar may well excuse both you and us.  
The boldness and constancy of this discourse, which had reference to all that other men could think, was of so great force, that those which had been accused of being friends to Sejanus, were distinguished from his complices, and Tiberius was praised for having confirmed the Decree of the Senate touching the Innocency of Terentius, who had not loved his friend, to hate him afterwards or disavow him.  

Getulicus effusae clementiae, modicus severitate micum amorem adsecutus. Tac.  Lentulus Getulicus went yet another way than Varro. Abudius Rufus accused him to have treated about the marriage of his Daughter with Sejanus his Son: this man was in great credit and authority in Almany, by reason of his sweetness and modesty. He spoke a fare off, and on Horseback, and near the Armies. Tiberius therefore caused his accuser to be banished, and condemned. An Act of the wisdom of a Prince never to threaten him that is secure from not being hurt by his blows.  

Boldness proceeds not always from courage, but from place & from the cause Idem error Principis fine fraud, alijs exition non est habendus. Tac.  Getulicus was advertised thereof, and knowing the humour of Tiberius, who was fast to his opinion, retired not himself easily, and according to the temper of his choler hasted or foreslowed his revenge, gave him to understand that he was in such estate, that he would not forget his own safety for that of another's, and sent him this Letter alike proud and bold.  
The alliance of which (O Caesar) I have treated with Sejanus, is not altogether of my motion, but by your Counsel. It may be I have been deceived after you, but one and the same fault ought not to be the discharge of the one, and the ruin of the other. My faith hath been entire hitherto, and shall not change if they do not raise some party against me, 
Successorem non aliter quam inditium mortis acceptutum. Tac.  and whosoever shall come to succeed in my charge, I shall receive him as one who hath attempted upon my life. Let us agree by way of treaty, let the Empire remain to you, to me my Government.  
Nothing but the distance of place excused, 
Princeps caeterarum rerum potiatur ipse prouniciam re●ine m. Tac. Publico odio & extrema aetate res principis stant magis fama quam vi. Tac.  the incivility of this Letter. He alone of Sejanus his friends after Terentius saved himself: Tiberius held down his head, and shrunk up his shoulders, for his matters were sustained more by reputation then by power. His decayed old age retrenched his hopes, and public hatred increased his distrusts.  
Mamercus Scaurus was one of Sejanus his friends, 
Haud minus validum ad exitia Macronis edium qui easdem artes occultius exercebat. Tac.  but his friendship had not so much power to ruin him as the hatred of Macro, who was no less sharp than the other in ruining his enemies, but he went about it more cunningly and secretly. He was worthy of the friendship of Sejanus for the conformity of his humours to his pleasures, which Seneca reporteth to be so beastly, that the only thinking of them, sullies the Spirit, he tarried not till he was condemned, but believed Sextia his wise, who persuaded him to kill himself.  
P. Vitellius who had so constantly upheld the cause of Germanicus against Piso, 
P. Vitellius aerari● praefectus militarem pecuniam rebus novis obtulerat. Tac.  was accused to have offered to Sejanus the moneys belonging to the Commonwealth, for he was one of the Officers of the Treasury. His Brothers answered for him, but perceiving that his process hung long, he grew weary with languishing between hope and fear, and opened a vein with a launcer. His friends staunched the blood and bound up that Spirit which was going out, loathing to lodge in a body which being most ready to dye, stayed not itself but with much grief and sorrow.  

In custodia morbo perijt, Suet. Dum fortunam adversam aequus tolerat, Tiberio superstes fuit. Tac. Honoribus functus es? Numquid aut tam v●iuersis quam Sejanus? Sen.  Pomponius was sick in the same Hospital where the rest were, but his patience made him survive, Tiberius would have him put to death because Velius Gallus was thrown into his Garden the same day that Sejanus was drawn through the streets.  
Tiberius' lamented Sejanus not for loss of him, but for his own interest; for as long as he lived, whatsoever he did that was unjust or cruel, he cast all the blame upon him, and after his death there was none took part with him in the public hatred.  
By so much as the prosperity of Sejanus had been admired, by so much his fall ministered terror and astonishment. Never any man before him had received more great, more universal, more unlooked for honours; and all the favours and dignities which all the Kings of Europe could heap together to raise a man, could not be paralleled with these here. He made his power be known to all, 
Diu multumque singulis quid posset ostendit. Sen.  and a long time and every where. For sixteen years space he possessed the sovereign power of an Empire that commanded over all the world, and which first had taken for its limits the rising and the setting of the Sun. Euphrates shut up the frontiers thereof towards the East; the Mont Atlas, 
Clausam mari aut fluminibut lonquiquis imperium. Tac.  the Cataracts of Nile, and the Deserts of Africa towards the South; the Ocean Sea towards the West and Danubius towards the North; so that whethersoever the Sun went, thither went also his commands. What glory ever mounted more high, or descended more low?  
Whosoever shall behold a high Mountain peering over a great Valley to be made level, to be digged down & swallowed up in an instant of time, 
To see great ones ruined is to see great mountains leveled.  will he not be astonished? yet this is not more strange then to see those great Colossi to be cast down in a moment. We find in it cause of astonishment, and yet neglect the example: Every man trusts to his own judgement, thinking to walk the same way, but the passages of some are more secure than of others. 
Every man thinks to do better and to guide himself more wisely than those that are lost.  One only Vessel which shall be prosperously returned from a long Navigation is able to make a hundred persons resolute to undertake the same voyage; and the shipwreck of one hundred Vess ls hath not the power to hinder one only; for every one thinks that ill fortune is not ordained for him.  
Macro Cap aine of the Guard, and La●o Knight of the Watch were better advised, 
Great service done for the State, aught to be recompensed with honour, and not with money.  the Senate for this great service of theirs appointed to them great honours. To the first the Office of Praetor, with power to sit in the rank of the Senators, clothed with a purple robe at Plays and public assemblies; and to the second the Office of Quaestor: they refused them, and Dion attributeth the reason of their refusal, to the terror of an example so fresh in their memories.  
They supposed it would be a great impudence in them to run against the same rock on which Sejanus had perished. 
Optimum aliena insania frui Pl●ni. There be some that cannot become wise by others examples, but by their own ruin.  It is much better to be taught by another's misfortune then by a man's own; the wise man make his profit out of the shame and hurt that toucheth not him at all: and as treacle is made of Vipers, and they extract healthful medicines from poisons themselves, so from the falls and miseries of bad men good men may draw precepts for their guidance.  

Nemo unquam imperium flagit o acquisitum bonis artibus exercuit. Tac.  Sejanus shall be ever alleged as a prodigious example of extreme insolency, and of unfortunate ambition; and his Tragical end may teach us that no man can ever use power well which is ill gotten; that we must not judge of a man's happiness before his death, 
Aluares de Luna, told them who admire● his fortune with the K. of Casti e, you do wrong to commend the building, before it be finished.  nor of the day before the evening, nor of the building that is not finished; Death, Fortune, Time, and Course change in a moment. That favour which is acquired by merit or good fortune is lost through insolency, and the most confident and assured ought not to depend but upon the supreme grace of the Prince.  
FINIS.