Nominative
Accusative
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Vocative
Locative
Passive
Deponent
Tiberius (Suetonius)
Rainbow Latin Reader
[Close]
 

Tiberius

Author: Suetonius
Translator: Alexander Thomson
1
Patricia
gens
Claudia
fuit
enim
et
alia
plebeia
,
nec
potentia
minor
nec
dignitate
orta
est
ex
Regillis
oppido
Sabinorum
.
inde
Romam
recens
conditam
cum
magna
clientium
manu
conmigrauit
auctore
Tito
Tatio
consorte
Romuli
,
uel
,
quod
magis
constat
,
Atta
Claudio
gentis
principe
,
post
reges
exactos
sexto
fere
anno
;
atque
in
patricias
cooptata
agrum
insuper
trans
Anienem
clientibus
locumque
sibi
ad
sepulturam
sub
Capitolio
publice
accepit
.
deinceps
procedente
tempore
duodetriginta
consulatus
,
dictaturas
quinque
,
censuras
septem
,
triumphos
sex
,
duas
ouationes
adepta
est
.
cum
praenominibus
cognominibusque
uariis
distingueretur
,
Luci
praenomen
consensu
repudiauit
,
postquam
e
duobus
gentilibus
praeditis
eo
alter
latrocinii
,
caedis
alter
conuictus
est
.
inter
cognomina
autem
et
Neronis
assumpsit
,
quo
significatur
lingua
Sabina
fortis
ac
strenuus
.
The patrician family of the Claudii (for there was a plebeian family of the same name, no way inferior to the other either in power or dignity) came originally from Regilli, a town of the Sabines. They removed thence to Rome soon after the building of the city, with a great body of their dependants, under Titus Tatius, who reigned jointly with Romulus in the kingdom; or, perhaps, what is related upon better authority, under Atta Claudius, the head of the family, who was admitted by the senate into the patrician order six years after the expulsion of the Tarquins. They likewise received from the state, lands beyond the Anio for their followers, and a burying place for themselves near the capitol. After this period, in process of time, the family had the honour of twenty-eight consulships, five dictatorships, seven censorships, seven triumphs, and two ovations. Their descendants were distinguished by various praenomina and cognomina, but rejected by common consent the praenomen of Lucius, when, of the two races who bore it, one individual had been convicted of robbery, and another of murder. Amongst other cognomina, they assumed that of Nero, which in the Sabine language signifies strong and valiant.
2
Multa
multorum
Claudiorum
egregia
merita
,
multa
etiam
sequius
admissa
in
rem
p
.
extant
.
sed
ut
praecipua
commemorem
,
Appius
Caecus
societatem
cum
rege
Pyrro
ut
parum
salubrem
iniri
dissuasit
.
Claudius
Caudex
primus
freto
classe
traiecto
Poenos
Sicilia
expulit
. †
Tibus
Nero
aduenientem
ex
Hispania
cum
ingentibus
copiis
Hasdrubalem
,
prius
quam
Hannibali
fratri
coniungeretur
,
oppressit
.
contra
Claudius
Regillianus
,
decemuir
legibus
scribendis
,
uirginem
ingenuam
per
uim
libidinis
gratia
in
seruitutem
asserere
conatus
causa
plebi
fuit
secedendi
rursus
a
patribus
.
Claudius
Drusus
statua
sibi
diademata
ad
Appi
Forum
posita
Italiam
per
clientelas
occupare
temptauit
.
Claudius
Pulcher
apud
Siciliam
non
pascentibus
in
auspicando
pullis
ac
per
contemptum
religionis
mari
demersis
,
quasi
ut
biberent
quando
esse
nollent
,
proelium
nauale
iniit
;
superatusque
,
cum
dictatorem
dicere
a
senatu
iuberetur
,
uelut
iterum
inludens
discrimini
publico
Glycian
uiatorem
suum
dixit
.
Extant
et
feminarum
exempla
diuersa
aeque
,
siquidem
gentis
eiusdem
utraque
Claudia
fuit
,
et
quae
nauem
cum
sacris
Matris
deum
Idaeae
obhaerentem
Tiberino
uado
extraxit
,
precata
propalam
,
ut
ita
demum
se
sequeretur
,
si
sibi
pudicitia
constaret
;
et
quae
nouo
more
iudicium
maiestatis
apud
populum
mulier
subiit
,
quod
in
conferta
multitudine
aegre
procedente
carpento
palam
optauerat
,
ut
frater
suus
Pulcher
reuiuisceret
atque
iterum
classem
amitteret
,
quo
minor
turba
Romae
foret
.
praeterea
notatissimum
est
,
Claudios
omnis
,
excepto
dum
taxat
P
.
Clodio
,
qui
ob
expellendum
urbe
Ciceronem
plebeio
homini
atque
etiam
natu
minori
in
adoptionem
se
dedit
,
optimates
adsertoresque
unicos
dignitatis
ac
potentiae
patriciorum
semper
fuisse
atque
aduersus
plebem
adeo
uiolentos
et
contumaces
,
ut
ne
capitis
quidem
quisquam
reus
apud
populum
mutare
uestem
aut
deprecari
sustinuerit
;
nonnulli
in
altercatione
et
iurgio
tribunos
plebi
pulsauerint
.
etiam
uirgo
Vestalis
fratrem
iniussu
populi
triumphantem
ascenso
simul
curru
usque
in
Capitolium
prosecuta
est
,
ne
uetare
aut
intercedere
fas
cuiquam
tribunorum
esset
.
It appears from record, that many of the Claudii have performed signal services to the state, as well as committed acts of delinquency. To mention the most remarkable only, Appius Caecus dissuaded the senate from agreeing to an alliance with Pyrrhus, as prejudicial to the republic. Claudius Candex first passed the straits of Sicily with a fleet, and drove the Carthaginians out of the island. Claudius Nero cut off Hasdrubal with a vast army upon his arrival in Italy from Spain, before he could form a junction with his brother Annibal. On the other hand, Claudius Appius Regillanus, one of the Decemvirs, made a violent attempt to have a free virgin, of whom he was enamoured, adjudged a slave; which caused the people to secede a second time from the senate. Claudius Drusus erected a statue of himself wearing a crown at Appii Forum, and endeavoured, by means of his dependants, to make himself master of Italy. Claudius Pulcher, when, off the coast of Sicily, the pullets used for taking augury would not eat, in contempt of the omen threw them overboard, as if they should drink at least, if they would not eat; and then engaging the enemy, was routed. After his defeat, when he was ordered by the senate to name a dictator, making a sort of jest of the public disaster, he named Glycias, his apparitor. The women of this family, likewise, exhibited characters equally opposite to each other. For both the Claudias belonged to it; she, who, when the ship freighted with things sacred to the Idaean Mother of the Gods, stuck fast in the shallows of the Tiber, got it off, by praying to the Goddess with a loud voice, "Follow me, if I am chaste;" and she also, who, contrary to the usual practice in the case of women, was brought to trial by the people for treason; because, when her litter was stopped by a great crowd in the streets, she openly exclaimed, "I wish my brother Pulcher was alive now, to lose another fleet, that Rome might be less thronged." Besides, it is well known, that all the Claudii, except Publius Claudius, who, to effect the banishment of Cicero, procured himself to be adopted by a plebeian, and one younger than himself, were always of the patrician party, as well as great sticklers for the honour and power of that order; and so violent and obstinate in their opposition to the plebeians, that not one of them, even in the case of a trial for life by the people, would ever condescend to put on mourning, according to custom, or make any supplication to them for favour; and some of them in their contests, have even proceeded to lay hands on the tribunes of the people. A Vestal Virgin likewise of the family, when her brother was resolved to have the honour of a triumph contrary to the will of the people, mounted the chariot with him, and attended him into the capitol, that it might not be lawful for any of the tribunes to interfere and forbid it.
3
Ex
hac
stirpe
Tiberius
Caesar
genus
trahit
,
et
quidem
utrumque
:
paternum
a
Tiberio
Nerone
,
maternum
ab
Appio
Pulchro
,
qui
ambo
Appi
Caeci
filii
fuerunt
.
insertus
est
et
Liuiorum
familiae
adoptato
in
eam
materno
auo
.
quae
familia
,
quanquam
plebeia
,
tamen
et
ipsa
admodum
floruit
octo
consulatibus
,
censuris
duabus
,
triumphis
tribus
,
dictatura
etiam
ac
magisterio
equitum
honorata
;
clara
et
insignibus
uiris
ac
maxime
Salinatore
Drusisque
.
Salinator
uniuersas
tribus
in
censura
notauit
leuitatis
nomine
,
quod
,
cum
se
post
priorem
consulatum
multa
inrogata
condemnassent
,
consulem
iterum
censoremque
fecissent
.
Drusus
hostium
duce
Drauso
comminus
trucidato
sibi
posterisque
suis
cognomen
inuenit
.
traditur
etiam
pro
praetore
ex
prouincia
Gallia
rettulisse
aurum
Senonibus
olim
in
obsidione
Capitolii
datum
nec
,
ut
fama
est
,
extortum
a
Camillo
.
eius
abnepos
ob
eximiam
aduersus
Gracchos
operam
patronus
senatus
dictus
filium
reliquit
,
quem
in
simili
dissensione
multa
uarie
molientem
diuersa
factio
per
fraudem
interemit
.
From this family Tiberius Caesar is descended; indeed both by the father and mother's side; by the former from Tiberius Nero, and by the latter from Appius Pulcher, who were both sons of Appius Caecus. He likewise belonged to the family of the Livii, by the adoption of his mother's grandfather into it; which family although plebeian, made a distinguished figure, having had the honour of eight consulships, two censorships, three triumphs, one dictatorship, and the office of master of the horse; and was famous for eminent men, particularly, Salinator and the Drusi. Salinator, in his censorship, branded all the tribes, for their inconstancy in having made him consul a second time, as well as censor, although they had condemned him to a heavy fine after his first consulship. Drusus procured for himself and his posterity a new surname, by killing in single combat Drausus, the enemy's chief. He is likewise said to have recovered, when pro-praetor in the province of Gaul, the gold which was formerly given to the Senones, at the siege of the capitol, and had not, as is reported, been forced from them by Camillus. His great-great-grandson, who, for his extraordinary services against the Gracchi, was styled the "Patron of the Senate," left a son, who, while plotting in a sedition of the same description, was treacherously murdered by the opposite party.
4
Pater
Tiberi
,
Nero
,
quaestor
C
.
Caesaris
Alexandrino
bello
classi
praepositus
,
plurimum
ad
uictoriam
contulit
.
quare
et
pontifex
in
locum
P
.
Scipionis
substitutus
et
ad
deducendas
in
Galliam
colonias
,
in
quis
Narbo
et
Arelate
erant
,
missus
est
.
tamen
Caesare
occiso
,
cunctis
turbarum
metu
abolitionem
facti
decernentibus
,
etiam
de
praemiis
tyrannicidarum
referendum
censuit
.
praetura
deinde
functus
,
cum
exitu
anni
discordia
inter
triumuiros
orta
esset
,
retentis
ultra
iustum
tempus
insignibus
L
.
Antonium
consulem
triumuiri
fratrem
ad
Perusiam
secutus
,
deditione
a
ceteris
facta
,
solus
permansit
in
partibus
ac
primo
Praeneste
,
inde
Neapolim
euasit
seruisque
ad
pilleum
frustra
uocatis
in
Siciliam
profugit
.
sed
indigne
ferens
nec
statim
se
in
conspectum
Sexti
Pompei
admissum
et
fascium
usu
prohibitum
,
ad
M
.
Antonium
traiecit
in
Achaiam
.
cum
quo
breui
reconciliata
inter
omnis
pace
Romam
redit
uxoremque
Liuiam
Drusillam
et
tunc
grauidam
et
ante
iam
apud
se
filium
enixam
petenti
Augusto
concessit
.
nec
multo
post
diem
obiit
,
utroque
liberorum
superstite
,
Tiberio
Drusoque
Neronibus
.
But the father of Tiberius Caesar, being quaestor to Caius Caesar, and commander of his fleet in the war of Alexandria, contributed greatly to its success. He was therefore made one of the high-priests in the room of Publius Scipio; and was sent to settle some colonies in Gaul, and amongst the rest, those of Narbonne and Arles. After the assassination of Caesar, however, when the rest of the senators, for fear of public disturbances, were for having the affair buried in oblivion, he proposed a resolution for rewarding those who had killed the tyrant. Having filled the office of praetor, and at the end of the year a disturbance breaking out amongst the triumviri, he kept the badges of his office beyond the legal time; and following Lucius Antonius the consul, brother of the triumvir, to Perusia, though the rest submitted, yet he himself continued firm to the party, and escaped first to Praeneste, and then to Naples; whence, having in vain invited the slaves to liberty, he fled over to Sicily. But resenting his not being immediately admitted into the presence of Sextus Pompey, and being also prohibited the use of the fasces, he went over into Achaia to Mark Antony; with whom, upon a reconciliation soon after brought about amongst the several contending parties, he returned to Rome; and, at the request of Augustus, gave up to him his wife Livia Drusilla, although she was then big with child, and had before borne him a son. He died not long after; leaving behind him two sons, Tiberius and Drusus Nero.
5
Tiberium
quidam
Fundis
natum
existimauerunt
secuti
leuem
coniecturam
,
quod
materna
eius
auia
Fundana
fuerit
et
quod
mox
simulacrum
Felicitatis
ex
s
.
c
.
publicatum
ibi
sit
.
sed
ut
plures
certioresque
tradunt
,
natus
est
Romae
in
Palatio
XVI
.
Kal
.
Dec
.
M
.
Aemilio
Lepido
iterum
L
.
Munatio
Planco
conss
.
per
bellum
Philippense
.
sic
enim
in
fastos
actaque
in
publica
relatum
est
.
nec
tamen
desunt
,
qui
partim
antecedente
anno
,
Hirti
ac
Pansae
,
partim
insequenti
,
Seruili
Isaurici
L
.
que
Antoni
consulatu
,
genitum
eum
scribant
.
Some have imagined that Tiberius was born at Fundi, but there is only this trifling foundation for the conjecture, that his mother's grandmother was of Fundi, and that the image of Good Fortune was, by a decree of the senate, erected in a public place in that town. But according to the greatest number of writers, and those too of the best authority, he was born at Rome, in the Palatine quarter, upon the sixteenth of the calends of December [16th Nov.], when Marcus AEmilius Lepidus was second time consul, with Lucius Munatius Plancus, after the battle of Philippi; for so it is registered in the calendar, and the public acts. According to some, however, he was born in the preceding year, in the consulship of Hirtius and Pansa; and others say, in the year following, during the consulship of Servilius Isauricus and Antony.
6
Infantiam
pueritiamque
habuit
laboriosam
et
exercitatam
,
comes
usque
quaque
parentum
fugae
;
quos
quidem
apud
Neapolim
sub
inruptionem
hostis
nauigium
clam
petentis
uagitu
suo
paene
bis
prodidit
,
semel
cum
a
nutricis
ubere
,
iterum
cum
a
sinu
matris
raptim
auferretur
ab
iis
,
qui
pro
necessitate
temporis
mulierculas
leuare
onere
temptabant
.
per
Siciliam
quoque
et
per
Achaiam
circumductus
ac
Lacedaemoniis
publice
,
quod
in
tutela
Claudiorum
erant
,
demandatus
,
digrediens
inde
itinere
nocturno
discrimen
uitae
adiit
flamma
repente
e
siluis
undique
exorta
adeoque
omnem
comitatum
circumplexa
,
ut
Liuiae
pars
uestis
et
capilli
amburerentur
.
munera
,
quibus
a
Pompeia
Sex
.
Pompei
sorore
in
Sicilia
donatus
est
,
chlamys
et
fibula
,
item
bullae
aureae
,
durant
ostendunturque
adhuc
Bais
.
post
reditum
in
urbem
a
M
.
Gallio
senatore
testamento
adoptatus
hereditate
adita
mox
nomine
abstinuit
,
quod
Gallius
aduersarum
Augusto
partium
fuerat
.
Nouem
natus
annos
defunctum
patrem
pro
rostris
laudauit
.
dehinc
pubescens
Actiaco
triumpho
currum
Augusti
comitatus
est
sinisteriore
funali
equo
,
cum
Marcellus
Octauiae
filius
dexteriore
ueheretur
.
praesedit
et
asticis
ludis
et
Troiam
circensibus
lusit
ductor
turmae
puerorum
maiorum
.
His infancy and childhood were spent in the midst of danger and trouble; for he accompanied his parents everywhere in their flight, and twice at Naples nearly betrayed them by his crying, when they were privately hastening to a ship, as the enemy rushed into the town; once, when he was snatched from his nurse's breast, and again, from his mother's bosom, by some of the company, who on the sudden emergency wished to relieve the women of their burden. Being carried through Sicily and Achaia, and entrusted for some time to the care of the Lacedaemonians, who were under the protection of the Claudian family, upon his departure thence when travelling by night, he ran the hazard of his life, by a fire which, suddenly bursting out of a wood on all sides, surrounded the whole party so closely, that part of Livia's dress and hair was burnt. The presents which were made him by Pompeia, sister to Sextus Pompey, in Sicily, namely, a cloak, with a clasp, and bullae of gold, are still in existence, and shewn at Baiae to this day. After his return to the city, being adopted by Marcus Gallius, a senator, in his will, he took possession of the estate; but soon afterwards declined the use of his name, because Gallius had been of the party opposed to Augustus. When only nine years of age, he pronounced a funeral oration in praise of his father upon the rostra; and afterwards, when he had nearly attained the age of manhood, he attended the chariot of Augustus, in his triumph for the victory at Actium, riding on the left-hand horse, whilst Marcellus, Octavia's son, rode that on the right. He likewise presided at the games celebrated on account of that victory; and in the Trojan games intermixed with the Circensian, he commanded a troop of the biggest boys.
7
Virili
toga
sumpta
adulescentiam
omnem
spatiumque
insequentis
aetatis
usque
ad
principatus
initia
per
haec
fere
transegit
.
munus
gladiatorium
in
memoriam
patris
et
alterum
in
aui
Drusi
dedit
,
diuersis
temporibus
ac
locis
,
primum
in
foro
,
secundum
in
amphitheatro
,
rudiaris
quoque
quibusdam
reuocatis
auctoramento
centenum
milium
;
dedit
et
ludos
,
sed
absens
:
cuncta
magnifice
,
inpensa
matris
ac
uitrici
.
Agrippinam
,
Marco
Agrippa
genitam
,
neptem
Caecili
Attici
equitis
R
.,
ad
quem
sunt
Ciceronis
epistulae
,
duxit
uxorem
;
sublatoque
ex
ea
filio
Druso
,
quanquam
bene
conuenientem
rursusque
grauidam
dimittere
ac
Iuliam
Augusti
filiam
confestim
coactus
est
ducere
non
sine
magno
angore
animi
,
cum
et
Agrippinae
consuetudine
teneretur
et
Iuliae
mores
improbaret
,
ut
quam
sensisset
sui
quoque
sub
priore
marito
appetentem
,
quod
sane
etiam
uulgo
existimabatur
.
sed
Agrippinam
et
abegisse
post
diuortium
doluit
et
semel
omnino
ex
occursu
uisam
adeo
contentis
et
umentibus
oculis
prosecutus
est
,
ut
custoditum
sit
ne
umquam
in
conspectum
ei
posthac
ueniret
.
cum
Iulia
primo
concor
diter
et
amore
mutuo
uixit
,
mox
dissedit
et
aliquanto
grauius
,
ut
etiam
perpetuo
secubaret
,
intercepto
communis
fili
pignore
,
qui
Aquileiae
natus
infans
extinctus
est
.
Drusum
fratrem
in
Germania
amisit
,
cuius
corpus
pedibus
toto
itinere
praegrediens
Romam
usque
peruexit
.
After assuming the manly habit, he spent his youth, and the rest of his life until he succeeded to the government, in the following manner: he gave the people an entertainment of gladiators, in memory of his father, and another for his grandfather Drusus, at different times and in different places: the first in the forum, the second in the amphitheatre; some gladiators who had been honourably discharged, being induced to engage again, by a reward of a hundred thousand sesterces. He likewise exhibited public sports, at which he was not present himself. All these he performed with great magnificence, at the expense of his mother and father-in-law. He married Agrippina, the daughter of Marcus Agrippa, and granddaughter of Caecilius Atticus, a Roman knight, the same person to whom Cicero has addressed so many epistles. After having by her his son Drusus, he was obliged to part with her, though she retained his affection, and was again pregnant, to make way for marrying Augustus's daughter Julia. But this he did with extreme reluctance; for, besides having the warmest attachment to Agrippina, he was disgusted with the conduct of Julia, who had made indecent advances to him during the lifetime of her former husband; and that she was a woman of loose character, was the general opinion. At divorcing Agrippina he felt the deepest regret; and upon meeting her afterwards, he looked after her with eyes so passionately expressive of affection, that care was taken she should never again come in his sight. At first, however, he lived quietly and happily with Julia; but a rupture soon ensued, which became so violent, that after the loss of their son, the pledge of their union, who was born at Aquileia and died in infancy, he never would sleep with her more. He lost his brother Drusus in Germany, and brought his body to Rome, travelling all the way on foot before it.
8
Ciuilium
officiorum
rudimentis
regem
Archelaum
Trallianos
et
Thessalos
,
uaria
quosque
de
causa
,
Augusto
cognoscente
defendit
;
pro
Laodicenis
Thyatirenis
Chiis
terrae
motu
afflictis
opemque
implorantibus
senatum
deprecatus
est
;
Fannium
Caepionem
,
qui
cum
Varrone
Murena
in
Augustum
conspirauerat
,
reum
maiestatis
apud
iudices
fecit
et
condemnauit
.
interque
haec
duplicem
curam
administrauit
,
annonae
quae
artior
inciderat
,
et
repurgandorum
tota
Italia
ergastulorum
,
quorum
domini
in
inuidiam
uenerant
quasi
exceptos
supprimerent
non
solum
uiatores
sed
et
quos
sacramenti
metus
ad
eius
modi
latebras
compulisset
.
When he first applied himself to civil affairs, he defended the several causes of king Archelaus, the Trallians, and the Thessalians, before Augustus, who sat as judge at the trials. He addressed the senate on behalf of the Laodiceans, the Thyatireans, and Chians, who had suffered greatly by an earthquake, and implored relief from Rome. He prosecuted Fannius Caepio, who had been engaged in a conspiracy with Varro Mursena against Augustus, and procured sentence of condemnation against him. Amidst all this, he had besides to superintend two departments of the administration, that of supplying the city with corn, which was then very scarce, and that of clearing the houses of correction throughout Italy, the masters of which had fallen under the odious suspicion of seizing and keeping confined, not only travellers, but those whom the fear of being obliged to serve in the army had driven to seek refuge in such places.
9
Stipendia
prima
expeditione
Cantabrica
tribunus
militum
fecit
,
dein
ducto
ad
Orientem
exercitu
regnum
Armeniae
Tigrani
restituit
ac
pro
tribunali
diadema
imposuit
.
recepit
et
signa
,
quae
M
.
Crasso
ademerant
Parthi
.
post
hoc
Comatam
Galliam
anno
fere
rexit
et
barbarorum
incursionibus
et
principum
discordia
inquietam
.
exin
Raeticum
Vindelicumque
bellum
,
inde
Pannonicum
,
inde
Germanicum
gessit
.
Raetico
atque
Vindelico
gentis
Alpinas
,
Pannonico
Breucos
et
Dalmatas
subegit
,
Germanico
quadraginta
milia
dediticiorum
traiecit
in
Galliam
iuxtaque
ripam
Rheni
sedibus
adsignatis
conlocauit
.
quas
ob
res
et
ouans
et
curru
urbem
ingressus
est
,
prius
,
ut
quidam
putant
,
triumphalibus
ornamentis
honoratus
,
nouo
nec
antea
cuiquam
tributo
genere
honoris
.
Magistratus
et
maturius
incohauit
et
paene
iunctim
percucurrit
,
quaesturam
praeturam
consulatum
;
interpositoque
tempore
consul
iterum
etiam
tribuniciam
potestatem
in
quinquennium
accepit
.
He made his first campaign, as a military tribune, in the Cantabrian war. Afterwards he led an army into the East, where he restored the kingdom of Armenia to Tigranes; and seated on a tribunal, put a crown upon his head. He likewise recovered from the Parthians the standards which they had taken from Crassus. He next governed, for nearly a year, the province of Gallia Comata, which was then in great disorder, on account of the incursions of the barbarians, and the feuds of the chiefs. He afterwards commanded in the several wars against the Rhaetians, Vindelicians, Pannonians, and Germans. In the Rhaetian and Vindelician wars, he subdued the nations in the Alps; and in the Pannonian wars the Bruci, and the Dalmatians. In the German war, he transplanted into Gaul forty thousand of the enemy who had submitted, and assigned them lands near the banks of the Rhine. For these actions, he entered the city with an ovation, but riding in a chariot, and is said by some to have been the first that ever was honoured with this distinction. He filled early the principal offices of state; and passed through the quaestorship, praetorship, and consulates almost successively. After some interval, he was chosen consul a second time, and held the tribunitian authority during five years.
10
tot
prosperis
confluentibus
integra
aetate
ac
ualitudine
statuit
repente
secedere
seque
e
medio
quam
longissime
amouere
:
dubium
uxorisne
taedio
,
quam
neque
criminari
aut
dimittere
auderet
neque
ultra
perferre
posset
,
an
ut
uitato
assiduitatis
fastidio
auctoritatem
absentia
tueretur
atque
etiam
augeret
,
si
quando
indiguisset
sui
res
p
.
quidam
existimant
,
adultis
iam
Augusti
liberis
,
loco
et
quasi
possessione
usurpati
a
se
diu
secundi
gradus
sponte
cessisse
exemplo
M
.
Agrippae
,
qui
M
.
Marcello
ad
munera
publica
admoto
Mytilenas
abierit
,
ne
aut
obstare
aut
obtrectare
praesens
uideretur
.
quam
causam
et
ipse
,
sed
postea
,
reddidit
.
tunc
autem
honorum
satietatem
ac
requiem
laborum
praetendens
commeatum
petit
;
neque
aut
matri
suppliciter
precanti
aut
uitrico
deseri
se
etiam
in
senatu
conquerenti
ueniam
dedit
.
quin
et
pertinacius
retinentibus
,
cibo
per
quadriduum
abstinuit
.
facta
tandem
abeundi
potestate
,
relictis
Romae
uxore
et
filio
confestim
Ostiam
descendit
,
ne
uerbo
quidem
cuiquam
prosequentium
reddito
paucosque
admodum
in
digressu
exosculatus
.
Surrounded by all this prosperity, in the prime of life and in excellent health, he suddenly formed the resolution of withdrawing to a greater distance from Rome. It is uncertain whether this was the result of disgust for his wife, whom he neither durst accuse nor divorce, and the connection with whom became every day more intolerable; or to prevent that indifference towards him, which his constant residence in the city might produce; or in the hope of supporting and improving by absence his authority in the state, if the public should have occasion for his service. Some are of opinion, that as Augustus's sons were now grown up to years of maturity, he voluntarily relinquished the possession he had long enjoyed of the second place in the government, as Agrippa had done before him; who, when M. Marcellus was advanced to public offices, retired to Mitylene, that he might not seem to stand in the way of his promotion, or in any respect lessen him by his presence. The same reason likewise Tiberius gave afterwards for his retirement; but his pretext at this time was, that he was satiated with honours, and desirous of being relieved from the fatigue of business; requesting therefore that he might have leave to withdraw. And neither the earnest entreaties of his mother, nor the complaint of his father-in-law made even in the senate, that he was deserted by him, could prevail upon him to alter his resolution. Upon their persisting in the design of detaining him, he refused to take any sustenance for four days together. At last, having obtained permission, leaving his wife and son at Rome, he proceeded to Ostia, without exchanging a word with those who attended him, and having enbraced but very few persons at parting.
11
ab
Ostia
oram
Campaniae
legens
inbecillitate
Augusti
nuntiata
paulum
substitit
.
sed
increbrescente
rumore
quasi
ad
occasionem
maioris
spei
commoraretur
,
tantum
non
aduersis
tempestatibus
Rhodum
enauigauit
,
amoenitate
et
salubritate
insulae
iam
inde
captus
cum
ad
eam
ab
Armenia
rediens
appulisset
.
hic
modicis
contentus
aedibus
nec
multo
laxiore
suburbano
genus
uitae
ciuile
admodum
instituit
,
sine
lictore
aut
uiatore
gymnasio
interdum
obambulans
mutuaque
cum
Graeculis
officia
usurpans
prope
ex
aequo
.
Forte
quondam
in
disponendo
die
mane
praedixerat
,
quidquid
aegrorum
in
ciuitate
esset
uisitare
se
uelle
;
id
a
proximis
aliter
exceptum
iussique
sunt
omnes
aegri
in
publicam
porticum
deferri
ac
per
ualitudinum
genera
disponi
.
perculsus
ergo
inopinata
re
diuque
quid
ageret
incertus
,
tandem
singulos
circuit
excusans
factum
etiam
tenuissimo
cuique
et
ignoto
.
unum
hoc
modo
neque
praeterea
quicquam
notatum
est
,
in
quo
exeruisse
ius
tribuniciae
potestatis
uisus
sit
:
cum
circa
scholas
et
auditoria
professorum
assiduus
esset
,
moto
inter
antisophistas
grauiore
iurgio
,
non
defuit
qui
eum
interuenientem
et
quasi
studiosiorem
partis
alterius
conuicio
incesseret
.
sensim
itaque
regressus
domum
repente
cum
apparitoribus
prodiit
citatumque
pro
tribunali
uoce
praeconis
conuiciatorem
rapi
iussit
in
carcerem
.
Comperit
deinde
Iuliam
uxorem
ob
libidines
atque
adulteria
damnatam
repudiumque
ei
suo
nomine
ex
auctoritate
Augusti
remissum
;
et
quamquam
laetus
nuntio
,
tamen
officii
duxit
,
quantum
in
se
esset
,
exorare
filiae
patrem
frequentibus
litteris
et
uel
utcumque
meritae
,
quidquid
umquam
dono
dedisset
,
concedere
.
transacto
autem
tribuniciae
potestatis
tempore
,
confessus
tandem
,
nihil
aliud
secessu
deuitasse
se
quam
aemulationis
cum
C
.
Lucioque
suspicionem
,
petit
ut
sibi
securo
iam
ab
hac
parte
,
conroboratis
his
et
secundum
locum
facile
tutantibus
,
permitteretur
reuisere
necessitudines
,
quarum
desiderio
teneretur
.
sed
neque
impetrauit
ultroque
etiam
admonitus
est
,
dimitteret
omnem
curam
suorum
,
quos
tam
cupide
reliquisset
.
From Ostia, journeying along the coast of Campania, he halted awhile on receiving intelligence of Augustus's being taken ill, but this giving rise to a rumour that he stayed with a view to something extraordinary, he sailed with the wind almost full against him, and arrived at Rhodes, having been struck with the pleasantness and healthiness of the island at the time of his landing there in his return from Armenia. Here contenting himself with a small house, and a villa not much larger, near the town, he led entirely a private life, taking his walks sometimes about the Gymnasia, without any lictor or other attendant, and returning the civilities of the Greeks with almost as much complaisance as if he had been upon a level with them. One morning, in settling the course of his daily excursion, he happened to say, that he should visit all the sick people in the town. This being not rightly understood by those about him, the sick were brought into a public portico, and ranged in order, according to their several distempers. Being extremely embarrassed by this unexpected occurrence, he was for some time irresolute how he should act; but at last he determined to go round them all, and make an apology for the mistake, even to the meanest amongst them, and such as were entirely unknown to him. One instance only is mentioned, in which he appeared to exercise his tribunitian authority. Being a constant attendant upon the schools and lecture-rooms of the professors of the liberal arts, on occasion of a quarrel amongst the wrangling sophists, in which he interposed to reconcile them, some person took the liberty to abuse him as an intruder, and partial in the affair. Upon this, withdrawing privately home, he suddenly returned attended by his officers, and summoning his accuser before his tribunal, by a public crier, ordered him to be taken to prison. Afterwards he received tidings that his wife Julia had been condemned for her lewdness and adultery, and that a bill of divorce had been sent to her in his name, by the authority of Augustus. Though he secretly rejoiced at this intelligence, he thought it incumbent upon him, in point of decency, to interpose in her behalf by frequent letters to Augustus, and to allow her to retain the presents which he had made her, notwithstanding the little regard she merited from him. When the period of his tribunitian authority expired, declaring at last that he had no other object in his retirement than to avoid all suspicion of rivalship with Caius and Lucius, he petitioned that, since he was now secure in that respect, as they were come to the age of manhood, and would easily maintain themselves in possession of the second place in the state, he might be permitted to visit his friends, whom he was very desirous of seeing. But his request was denied; and he was advised to lay aside all concern for his friends, whom he had been so eager to quit.
12
remansit
igitur
Rhodi
contra
uoluntatem
,
uix
per
matrem
consecutus
,
ut
ad
uelandam
ignominiam
quasi
legatus
Augusto
abesset
.
Enimuero
tunc
non
priuatum
modo
,
sed
etiam
obnoxium
et
trepidum
egit
mediterraneis
agris
abditus
uitansque
praeternauigantium
officia
,
quibus
frequentabatur
assidue
,
nemine
cum
imperio
aut
magistratu
tendente
quoquam
quin
deuerteret
Rhodum
.
et
accesserunt
maioris
sollicitudinis
causae
.
namque
priuignum
Gaium
Orienti
praepositum
,
cum
uisendi
gratia
traiecisset
Samum
,
alieniorem
sibi
sensit
ex
criminationibus
M
.
Lolli
comitis
et
rectoris
eius
.
uenit
etiam
in
suspicionem
per
quosdam
beneficii
sui
centuriones
a
commeatu
castra
repetentis
mandata
ad
complures
dedisse
ambigua
et
quae
temptare
singulorum
animos
ad
nouas
res
uiderentur
.
de
qua
suspicione
certior
ab
Augusto
factus
non
cessauit
efflagitare
aliquem
cuiuslibet
ordinis
custodem
factis
atque
dictis
suis
.
He therefore continued at Rhodes much against his will, obtaining, with difficulty, thrqugh his mother, the title of Augustus's lieutenant, to cover his disgrace. He thenceforth lived, however, not only as a private person, but as one suspected and under apprehension, retiring into the interior of the country, and avoiding the visits of those who sailed that way, which were very frequent; for no one passed to take command of an army, or the government of a province, without touching at Rhodes. But there were fresh reasons for increased anxiety. For crossing over to Samos, on a visit to his step-son Caius, who had been appointed governor of the East, ihe found him prepossessed against him, by the insinuations of Marcus Lollius, his companion and director. He likewise fell under suspicion of sending by some centurions who had been promoted by himself, upon their return to the camp after a furlough, mysterious messages to several persons there, intended, apparently, to tamper with them for a revolt. This jealousy respecting his designs being intimated to him by Augustus, he begged repeatedly that some person of any of the three Orders might be placed as a spy upon him in every thing he either said or did.
13
equi
quoque
et
armorum
solitas
exercitationes
omisit
redegitque
se
deposito
patrio
habitu
ad
pallium
et
crepidas
atque
in
tali
statu
biennio
fere
permansit
,
contemptior
in
dies
et
inuisior
,
adeo
ut
imagines
eius
et
statuas
Nemausenses
subuerterint
ac
familiari
quondam
conuiuio
mentione
eius
orta
extiterit
qui
Gaio
polliceretur
,
confestim
se
,
si
iuberet
,
Rhodum
nauigaturum
caputque
exulis
sic
enim
appellabatur
relaturum
.
quo
praecipue
non
iam
metu
sed
discrimine
coactus
est
,
tam
suis
quam
matris
inpensissimis
precibus
reditum
expostulare
,
impetrauitque
adiutus
aliquantum
etiam
casu
.
destinatum
Augusto
erat
,
nihil
super
ea
re
nisi
ex
uoluntate
maioris
fili
statuere
;
is
forte
tunc
M
.
Lollio
offensior
,
facilis
exorabilisque
in
uitricum
fuit
.
permittente
ergo
Gaio
reuocatus
est
,
uerum
sub
condicione
ne
quam
partem
curamue
rei
p
.
attingeret
.
He laid aside likewise his usual exercises of riding and arms; and quitting the Roman habit, made use of the Pallium and Crepida. In this condition he continued almost two years, becoming daily an object of increasing contempt and odium; insomuch that the people of Nismes pulled down all the images and statues of him in their town; and upon mention being made of him at table, one of the company said to Caius, "I will sail over to Rhodes immediately, if you desire me, and bring you the head of the exile;" for that was the appellation now given him. Thus alarmed not only by apprehensions, but real danger, he renewed his solicitations for leave to return; and, seconded by the most urgent supplications of his mother, he at last obtained his request; to which an accident somewhat contributed. Augustus had resolved to determine nothing in the affair, but with the consent of his eldest son. The latter was at that time out of humour with Marcus Lollius, and -therefore easily disposed to be favourable to his father-in-law. Caius thus acquiescing, he was recalled, but upon condition that he should take no concern whatever in the administration of affairs.
14
Rediit
octauo
post
secessum
anno
,
magna
nec
incerta
spe
futurorum
,
quam
et
ostentis
et
praedictionibus
ab
initio
aetatis
conceperat
.
Praegnans
eo
Liuia
cum
an
marem
editura
esset
,
uariis
captaret
ominibus
,
ouum
incubanti
gallinae
subductum
nunc
sua
nunc
ministrarum
manu
per
uices
usque
fouit
,
quoad
pullus
insigniter
cristatus
exclusus
est
.
ac
de
infante
Scribonius
mathematicus
praeclara
spopondit
,
etiam
regnaturum
quandoque
,
sed
sine
regio
insigni
,
ignota
scilicet
tunc
adhuc
Caesarum
potestate
.
et
ingresso
primam
expeditionem
ac
per
Macedoniam
ducente
exercitum
in
Syriam
,
accidit
ut
apud
Philippos
sacratae
olim
uictricium
legionum
arae
sponte
subitis
conlucerent
ignibus
;
et
mox
,
cum
Illyricum
petens
iuxta
Patauium
adisset
Geryonis
oraculum
,
sorte
tracta
,
qua
monebatur
ut
de
consultationibus
in
Aponi
fontem
talos
aureos
iaceret
,
euenit
ut
summum
numerum
iacti
ab
eo
ostenderent
;
hodieque
sub
aqua
uisuntur
hi
tali
.
ante
paucos
uero
quam
reuocaretur
dies
aquila
numquam
antea
Rhodi
conspecta
in
culmine
domus
eius
assedit
;
et
pridie
quam
de
reditu
certior
fieret
,
uestimenta
mutanti
tunica
ardere
uisa
est
.
Thrasyllum
quoque
mathematicum
,
quem
ut
sapientiae
professorem
contubernio
admouerat
,
tum
maxime
expertus
est
affirmantem
naue
prouisa
gaudium
afferri
;
cum
quidem
illum
durius
et
contra
praedicta
cadentibus
rebus
ut
falsum
et
secretorum
temere
conscium
,
eo
ipso
momento
,
dum
spatiatur
una
,
praecipitare
in
mare
destinasset
.
He returned to Rome after an absence of nearly eight years, with great and confident hopes of his future elevation, which he had entertained from his, youth, in consequence of various prodigies and predictions. For Livia, when pregnant with him, being anxious to discover, by different modes of divination, whether her offspring would be a son, amongst others, took an egg from a hen that was sitting, and kept it warm with her own hands, and those of her maids, by turns, until a fine cock-chicken, with a large comb, was hatched. Scribonius, the astrologer, predicted great things of him when he was a mere child. " He will come in time," said the prophet, "to be even a king, but without the usual badge of royal dignity;" the rule of the Caesars being as yet unknown. When he was making his first expedition, and leading his army through Macedonia into Syria, the altars which had been formerly consecrated at Philippi by the victorious legions, blazed suddenly with spontaneous fires. Soon after, as he was marching to Illyricum, he stopped to consult the oracle of Geryon, near Padua; and having drawn a lot by which he was desired to throw golden tali into the fountain of Aponus, for an answer to his inquiries, he did so, and the highest numbers came up. And those very tali are still to be seen at the bottom of the fountain. A few days before his leaving Rhodes, an eagle, a bird never before seen in that island, perched on the top of his house. And the day before he received the intelligence of the permission granted him to return, as he was changing his dress, his tunic appeared to be all on fire. He then likewise had a remarkable proof of the skill of Thrasyllus, the astrologer, whom, for his proficiency in philosophical researches, he had taken into his family. For, upon sight of the ship which brought the intelligence, he said good news was coming: whereas every thing going wrong before, and quite contrary to his predictions, Tiberius had intended that very moment, when they were walking together, to throw him into the sea, as an impostor, and one to whom he had too hastily entrusted his secrets.