Tiberius | Page 9

drawn
together a considerable force to revenge his master's death; Lucius
Scribonius Libo, a senator of the first distinction, was secretly
fomenting a rebellion; and the troops both in Illyricum and Germany
were mutinous. Both armies insisted upon high demands, particularly
that their pay should be made equal to that of the pretorian guards. The
army in Germany absolutely refused to acknowledge a prince who was
not their own choice; and urged, with all possible importunity,
Germanicus [329], who commanded them, to take the government on
himself, though he obstinately refused it. It was Tiberius's apprehension

from this quarter, which made him request the senate to assign him
some part only in the administration, such as they should judge proper,
since no man could be sufficient for the whole, without one or more to
assist him. He pretended likewise to be in a bad state of health, that
Germanicus might the more patiently wait in hopes of speedily
succeeding him, or at least of being (210) admitted to be a colleague in
the government. When the mutinies in the armies were suppressed, he
got Clemens into his hands by stratagem. That he might not begin his
reign by an act of severity, he did not call Libo to an account before the
senate until his second year, being content, in the mean time, with
taking proper precautions for his own security. For upon Libo's
attending a sacrifice amongst the high- priests, instead of the usual
knife, he ordered one of lead to be given him; and when he desired a
private conference with him, he would not grant his request, but on
condition that his son Drusus should be present; and as they walked
together, he held him fast by the right hand, under the pretence of
leaning upon him, until the conversation was over.
XXVI. When he was delivered from his apprehensions, his behaviour
at first was unassuming, and he did not carry himself much above the
level of a private person; and of the many and great honours offered
him, he accepted but few, and such as were very moderate. His
birth-day, which happened to fall at the time of the Plebeian Circensian
games, he with difficulty suffered to be honoured with the addition of
only a single chariot, drawn by two horses. He forbad temples, flamens,
or priests to be appointed for him, as likewise the erection of any
statues or effigies for him, without his permission; and this he granted
only on condition that they should not be placed amongst the images of
the gods, but only amongst the ornaments of houses. He also interposed
to prevent the senate from swearing to maintain his acts; and the month
of September from being called Tiberius, and October being named
after Livia. The praenomen likewise of EMPEROR, with the cognomen
of FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY, and a civic crown in the vestibule of
his house, he would not accept. He never used the name of
AUGUSTUS, although he inherited it, in any of his letters, excepting
those addressed to kings and princes. Nor had he more than three
consulships; one for a few days, another for three months, and a third,
during his absence from the city, until the ides [fifteenth] of May.

XXVII. He had such an aversion to flattery, that he would never suffer
any senator to approach his litter, as he passed the streets in it, either to
pay him a civility, or upon business. (211) And when a man of consular
rank, in begging his pardon for some offence he had given him,
attempted to fall at his feet, he started from him in such haste, that he
stumbled and fell. If any compliment was paid him, either in
conversation or a set speech, he would not scruple to interrupt and
reprimand the party, and alter what he had said. Being once called
"lord," [330] by some person, he desired that he might no more be
affronted in that manner. When another, to excite veneration, called his
occupations "sacred," and a third had expressed himself thus: "By your
authority I have waited upon the senate," he obliged them to change
their phrases; in one of them adopting persuasion, instead of
"authority," and in the other, laborious, instead of "sacred."
XXVIII. He remained unmoved at all the aspersions, scandalous reports,
and lampoons, which were spread against him or his relations;
declaring, "In a free state, both the tongue and the mind ought to be
free." Upon the senate's desiring that some notice might be taken of
those offences, and the persons charged with them, he replied, "We
have not so much time upon our hands, that we ought to involve
ourselves in more business. If you once make an opening [331] for such
proceedings, you will soon