Tiberius | Page 8

for me and the Muses [326]. Farewell, my most
dear, and (as I hope to prosper) most gallant man, and accomplished
general." Again. "The disposition of your summer quarters? In truth,
my dear Tiberius, I do not think, that amidst so many difficulties, and
with an army so little disposed for action, any one could have behaved

more prudently than you have done. All those likewise who were with
you, acknowledge that this verse is applicable to you:"
Unus homo nobis vigilando restituit rem. [327] One man by vigilance
restored the state.
"Whenever," he says, "anything happens that requires more than
ordinary consideration, or I am out of humour upon any occasion, I still,
by Hercules! long for my dear Tiberius; and those lines of Homer
frequently occur to my thoughts:"
Toutou d' espomenoio kai ek pyros aithomenoio Ampho nostaesuimen,
epei peri oide noaesai. [328]
Bold from his prudence, I could ev'n aspire To dare with him the
burning rage of fire.
"When I hear and read that you are much impaired by the (208)
continued fatigues you undergo, may the gods confound me if my
whole frame does not tremble! So I beg you to spare yourself, lest, if
we should hear of your being ill, the news prove fatal both to me and
your mother, and the Roman people should be in peril for the safety of
the empire. It matters nothing whether I be well or no, if you be not
well. I pray heaven preserve you for us, and bless you with health both
now and ever, if the gods have any regard for the Roman people."
XXII. He did not make the death of Augustus public, until he had taken
off young Agrippa. He was slain by a tribune who commanded his
guard, upon reading a written order for that purpose: respecting which
order, it was then a doubt, whether Augustus left it in his last moments,
to prevent any occasion of public disturbance after his decease, or Livia
issued it, in the name of Augustus; and whether with the knowledge of
Tiberius or not. When the tribune came to inform him that he had
executed his command, he replied, "I commanded you no such thing,
and you must answer for it to the senate;" avoiding, as it seems, the
odium of the act for that time. And the affair was soon buried in
silence.
XXIII. Having summoned the senate to meet by virtue of his tribunitian
authority, and begun a mournful speech, he drew a deep sigh, as if
unable to support himself under his affliction; and wishing that not his
voice only, but his very breath of life, might fail him, gave his speech
to his son Drusus to read. Augustus's will was then brought in, and read
by a freedman; none of the witnesses to it being admitted, but such as

were of the senatorian order, the rest owning their hand-writing without
doors. The will began thus: "Since my ill-fortune has deprived me of
my two sons, Caius and Lucius, let Tiberius Caesar be heir to
two-thirds of my estate." These words countenanced the suspicion of
those who were of opinion, that Tiberius was appointed successor more
out of necessity than choice, since Augustus could not refrain from
prefacing his will in that manner.
XXIV. Though he made no scruple to assume and exercise immediately
the imperial authority, by giving orders that he (209) should be
attended by the guards, who were the security and badge of the
supreme power; yet he affected, by a most impudent piece of acting, to
refuse it for a long time; one while sharply reprehending his friends
who entreated him to accept it, as little knowing what a monster the
government was; another while keeping in suspense the senate, when
they implored him and threw themselves at his feet, by ambiguous
answers, and a crafty kind of dissimulation; insomuch that some were
out of patience, and one cried out, during the confusion, "Either let him
accept it, or decline it at once;" and a second told him to his face,
"Others are slow to perform what they promise, but you are slow to
promise what you actually perform." At last, as if forced to it, and
complaining of the miserable and burdensome service imposed upon
him, he accepted the government; not, however, without giving hopes
of his resigning it some time or other. The exact words he used were
these: "Until the time shall come, when ye may think it reasonable to
give some rest to my old age."
XXV. The cause of his long demur was fear of the dangers which
threatened him on all hands; insomuch that he said, "I have got a wolf
by the ears." For a slave of Agrippa's, Clemens by name, had