 Section 19 of the complete works of Tacitus, edited by Thomas Gordon. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Nicholas James Bridgewater. The complete works of Tacitus, to which are prefixed political discourses upon that author, edited and translated by Thomas Gordon with introductory essays by Thomas Gordon. Volume 1, The Annals Book 2, Part 1, Conflict in Armenia. During the consulship of Sisennas-Statilius Taurus and Lucius Libo, the kingdoms and Roman provinces of the east were involved in war, begun by the Parthians, having sought and accepted a king from Rome, did afterwards, though he was of the race of the Arsacides, condemn him as a foreigner. This was Venones, who had been given as a hostage to Augustus by Fragates. For Fragates, though he had defeated the Roman captains and armies, yet had courted Augustus with all the reverence of a dependent, and sent him to bind their friendship part of his offering. So much through fear of the Romans as distrusting the ill faith of the Parthians. After the death of Fragates and the succeeding kings, ambassadors from the chief men of Parthia arrived at Rome to call home Venones his eldest son in order to end their intestines slaughters. Tiberius found his own grandeur and glory in this embassy, and dismissed him with great pomp and presence. Barbarians too received him with rapture and exaltation, a spirit which commonly animates the people when their governors are yet new and untried. But shame soon succeeded. Shame for the degeneracy of the Parthians to have thus sent to another world for a king, one debauched with the manners and maxims of their enemies. The imperial throne of the Arsacides, they said, was now deemed and given as a Roman province. Where was the glory of those brave Parthians who slew Crassus, of those who exterminated Mark Anthony? If they were reduced so low as to receive from the Lord of Parthia slave or Caesar's, inured so many years to foreign bondage. His own behaviour inflamed their disdain. He abandoned the customs of his ancestors, was seldom in the chase, took small delight in horses, travelled luxuriously through their towns in a litter, and despised the Parthians' feasts. They ridiculed his Greek attendance and the mean care of sealing up his domestic moveables with his signet. But his easiness of access, his flowing courtesy, virtues unknown to the Parthians, were to them so many new vices. And every part of his manners, the lordable and the bad, were subject to equal hatred, because foreign from their own. They therefore sent for Artavanus, of the blood of the Arsacides, bred amongst the Dahans. In the first engagement he was routed, but repaired his forces and gained the kingdom. The vanquished Venones found a retreat in Armenia, a vacant throne, and a people wavering between the neighbouring powers of Parthia and Rome. From us they were alienated by the fraud and iniquity of Mark Antony, who, having by shows and professions of friendship, ensnared into his power, Artavastes king of the Armenians loaded him with chains, and at last put him to death. Artaxios' son, for his father's sake, hating us, defended himself and his kingdom by the protection and forces of the Arsacides. Artaxios being slain by a conspiracy of his kindred, Tigranis was by Augustus set over the Armenians, and by Tiberius Nero, put in possession of the kingdom. But neither was the reign of Tigranis lasting, nor that of his children, however associated together according to the mode and politics of the east by the double ties of marriage and government. Artavastes was next established by the appointment of Augustus and then expelled, but a great expense of Roman blood. Caio's Caesar was then chosen to settle Armenia. By him, Ario Barzanes, by descent Amid, was for his graceful person and eminent endowments placed over the Armenians with their own consent. Ario Barzanes being killed by an accident, they would not bear the rule of his children, but tried the government of a woman, her name Erato, and quickly expulsed her. After this unsettled and wavering, rather exempt from tyranny than possessed of liberty, they received the fugitive Venones for their king. But anon, when he saw himself threatened by Artabanus, small reliance on the Armenians and no protection from the Romans without a war with the Parthians, he accepted the offer of Creticus Silanus, governor of Cyrena, who invited him dither. But when he came, set a guard upon him, leaving him still the name and luxury of royalty. What attempts Venones made to escape from this mock majesty we will relate in its place. The commotions in the east happened not ungrateful to Tiberius. Since then he had a colour for separating Germanicus from his old unfaithful legions, for setting him over strange provinces and exposing him at once to casual perils and the efforts of fraud. But he, the more ardent he found the affections of the soldiers and the greater the hatred of his uncle, so much the more intent upon a decisive victory weighed with himself all the methods of that war, with all the disasters and successes which had befallen him in it to this his third year. He remembered that the Germans were ever routed in a fair battle and upon equal ground that woods and bogs, short summers and early winters were their chief resources, that his own men suffered not so much from their wounds as from tedious marches in the loss of their arms. The Gauls were weary of furnishing horses long and cumbersome with his train of baggage, easily surprised and with difficulty defended. But if he entered the country by sea, the invasion would be easy and the enemy unapprised. Besides, the war would be earlier begun, the legions and provisions would be carried together and the cavalry brought with safety through the mouths and channels of the rivers into the heart of Germany. On that method therefore he fixed, whilst Publius Vitelius and Publius Cantius were sent to collect the tribute of the Gauls, Silius, Anteus and Caikina had the direction of building the fleet. A thousand vessels were thought sufficient and with this batch finished, some were short, sharp at both ends and wide in the middle, the easier to endure the agitations of the waves, some had flat bottoms that without damage they might bear to run aground. Several had helms at each end that by suddenly turning the oars only they might work either way. Many were arched over for carrying the engines of war. They were fitted for holding horses and provisions, to fly with sails, to run with oars and the spirit and alacrity of the soldiers heightened the show and terror of the fleet. They were to meet at the Isle of Batavia which was chosen for its easy landing, for its convenience to receive the forces and thence to transport them to the war. The mine flowing in one continual channel or only broken by small islands is at the extremity of Batavia divided as it were into two rivers, one running still through Germany and retaining the same name and violent current till it mixes with the ocean, the other washing the Gallic shore with a broader and more gentle stream is by the inhabitants called by another name the Wahal, which it soon after changes for that of the Meose by whose immense mouth it is discharged into the same ocean. While the fleet sailed, Germanicus commanded Silius his lieutenant with a flying ban to invade the Cattians and he himself upon hearing that the fort upon the River Lupia was besieged led six legions thither. But the sudden rains prevented Silius from doing more than taking some small plunder with the wife and daughter of Arpus, Prince of the Cattians, nor did the besieger stay to fight Germanicus but upon the report of his approach stole off and dispersed as they had however thrown down the common tomb lately raised over the Varian legions and the old altar erected by Drusus he restored the altar and performed in person with the legions the funeral ceremony of running courses to the honor of his father. To replace the tomb was not thought fit but all the space between Fort Aliso and the Rhine he fortified with a new barrier. The fleet was now arrived the provisions were sent forward ships were assigned to the legions and the allies and he entered the canal cut by Drusus and called by his name here he invoked his father to be propitious to his son attempting the same enterprises to inspire him with the same councils and animate him by his example hence he sailed successfully through the lakes and the ocean to the river Amicia at the town of Amicia the fleet was left upon the left shore and it was a fault that it sailed no higher for he landed the army on the right shore so that in making bridges many days were consumed the horse and the legions passed over without danger as it was yet ebb but the returning tide disordered the rear especially the Batavians while they played with the waves and showed their dexterity in swimming and some were drowned whilst Germanicus was in camping he was told of the revolt of the Angrivarians behind him and thither he dispatched a body of horse and light foot under Stertinius who with fire and slaughter took vengeance on the perfidious revoltors between the Romans and the Keroskons flowed the river Visurgis and on the banks of it stood Arminius with the other chiefs he inquired whether Germanicus was come and being answered that he was there he prayed leave to speak with his brother this brother of his was in the army his name Flavius one remarkable for his lasting faith towards the Romans and for the loss of an eye in the war under Tiberius this request was granted Flavius stepped forward and was saluted by Arminius who having removed his own attendance desire that our archers ranged upon the opposite banks might retire when they were withdrawn how came you says he to his brother by that deformity in your face the brother having informed him where and in what fight was next asked what reward he had received Flavius answered increase of pay the chain the crown another military gifts all which Arminius treated with the region as the vile wages of servitude here began a warm contest Flavius pleaded the grandeur of the Roman Empire the power of the Emperor the Roman clemency to submitting nations the heavy yoke of the vanquished and that neither the wife nor son of Arminius was used like a captive Arminius to all this opposed the natural rights of their country their ancient liberty the domestic gods of Germany he urged the prayers of their common mother joined to his own that he would not prefer the character of a deserter that of a betrayer of his family his countrymen and kindred to the glory of being their commander by degrees they fell into reproaches nor would the interposition of the river have restrained them from blows had not Stertinius tasted to lay hold on Flavius full of rage and calling for his arms and his horse on the opposite side was seen Arminius swelling with ferocity and threats and announcing battle for of what he said much was said in Latin since as the general of his countrymen he had served in the Roman armies next day the German army stood in battle beyond the Vesurgis Germanicus who thought it became not a general to endanger the legions till for their passage and security he had placed bridges and guards made the horse fought over they were led by Stertinius and by Arminius Lieutenant Colonel of a legion and these two officers crossed the river in distant places to divide the foe Cariovalda captain of the Batavians passed it where most rapid and was by the Kiroskans who feigned flight drawn into a plain surrounded with woods whence they rushed out upon him and assaulted him on every side overthrew those who resisted and pressed vehemently upon those who gave way the distressed Batavians formed themselves into a ring but were again broken partly by a close assault partly by distant showers of darts Cariovalda having long sustained the fury of the enemy exorted his men to draw up its platoons and break through the prevailing host he himself forced his way into their centre and fell with his horse under a shower of darts and many of the principal Batavians round him the rest were saved by their own bravery or rescued by the cavalry under Stertinius and Arminius Germanicus having passed the Visurgis learnt from a deserter that Arminius had marked out the place of battle that more nations had also joined him that they rendezvoused in a woods sacred to Hercules and would attempt to storm our camp by night the deserter was believed the enemy's fires were discerned and the scouts having advanced towards them reported that they had heard the neighing of horses and the hollow murmur of a mighty and tumultuous host in this important conjuncture upon the approach of a decisive battle Germanicus thought it behoved him to learn the inclinations and spirit of the soldiers and deliberated with himself how to be informed without fraud for the reports of the tribunes and centurions used to be often a pleasing than true his freedmen still had slavish souls incapable of free speech friends were apt to flatter there was the same uncertainty in an assembly where the council proposed by a few was want to be echoed by all the minds of the soldiery were then best known when they were least watched when free and over their meals they frankly disclosed their hopes and fears in the beginning of night he went out at the all-girl gate with a single attendant himself disguised with the skin of a wild beast hanging over his shoulders and choosing secret ways he escaped the notice of a watch entered the lanes of the camp listened from tent to tent and enjoyed the pleasing display of his own popularity and fame as one was magnifying the imperial birth of his general another is graceful person all his patience, condescension and the equality of his soul in every temper pleasant or grave they confessed the gratitude due to so much merit and that in battle they ought to express it and to sacrifice at the time to glory and revenge these perfidious Germans who forever violated stipulations and peace in the meantime one of the enemy who understood Latin rode up to the palisades and with a loud voice offered in the name of Arminius to every deserter a wife and land and as long as the war lasted a hundred cisterces a day this continually kindled the wrath of legions let day come they cried let battle be given the soldiers would seize and not accept the lands of the Germans take cannot receive German wives they however received the offer as an omen of victory and considered the money in women as their destined prey near the third watch of the night they approached and insulted the camp but without striking a blow they found the ramparts covered thick with cohorts and no advantage given Germanicus had the same night a joyful dream he thought he sacrificed and in place of his own robe besmeared with the sacred blood received one affair from the hands of his grandmother Augusta so that elevated by the omen and by equal encouragement from the auspices he called an assembly where he opened his deliberations concerning the approaching battle and all the advantages contributing to victory that to the Roman soldiers not only planes and dales but with due circumspection even woods and forests were commodious places for an engagement the huge targets, the enormous spears of the barbarians could never be wielded amongst thickets and trunks of trees like Roman swords and javelins and armor adjusted to the shape and size of their bodies so that with these tractable arms they might thicken their blows and strike with certainty at the naked faces of the enemy since the Germans were neither furnished with headpiece nor coat of mail nor were their bucklers bound with leather or fortified with iron but all bare basket work or painted boards and though their first ranks were armed with pikes the rest had only stakes burnt at the end or short and contemptible darts for their persons as they were terrible to sight and violent in the onset so they were utterly impatient of wounds unaffected with their own disgrace unconcerned for the honour of their general whom they ever deserted and fled in distressed cowards in prosperity despisers of all divine of all human laws to conclude if the army after their fatigues at sea and their tedious marches by land longed for an utter end of their labour by this battle they might gain it the Elbe was now nearer than the Rhine and if they would make him a conqueror in those countries where his father and his uncle had conquered the war was concluded the order of the soldiers followed the speech of the general and the signal for the onset was given neither did Arminius or the other chiefs neglected a clear to their several bans that these Romans were the cowardly fugitives of the Varian army who because they could not endure to fight had afterwards chosen to rebel but some with backs deformed by wounds some with limbs maimed by tempests forsaken of hope and the gods against them were once more presenting their lives to their vengeful foes hitherto a fleet and unfrequented seas had been the resources of their cowardice against an assaulting or pursuing enemy but now that they were to engage hand to hand vain would be their relief from wind and oars after defeat the Germans needed only remember their repine cruelty and pride and that to themselves nothing remained but either to maintain their native liberty or by death to prevent bondage the enemy thus inflamed and calling for battle were led into a plain called it is Tavisus it lies between the Visorgis and the hills and winds unequally along as it is straightened by the swellings of the mountains or enlarged by the circuits of the river behind rose a forest of high trees thick of branches above but clear of bushes below the army of barbarians kept the plain and the entrances of the forest only the Kyruskans sat down upon the mountain in order to pour down from vents upon the Romans as soon as they became engaged in the fight our army marched thus the Auxiliary Gauls and Germans in front after them the foot archers next four legions then Germanicus with two Praetorian cohorts and the choice of the cavalry and four legions more and the light foot with archers and horseback and the other troops of the allies the men all careful to march in order of battle and ready to engage as they marched as the impatient bands of Kyruskans were now perceived descending fiercely from the hills Germanicus commanded a body of the best horse to charge them in the flank and Sleirtinius with the rest to wheel around to attack them in the rear and promised to be ready to assist them in person during this a joyful omen appeared eight Eagles were seen to fly toward the wood and to enter it a presage of victory to the general advanced he cried follow the Roman birds follow the tutular deities of the legions instantly the foot charged the enemies front and instantly the detached cavalry attacked their flank and rear this double assault at a strange event the two divisions of their army fled opposite ways that in the woods ran to the plain that in the plain rushed into the woods the Kyruskans between both were driven from the hills amongst the Marminius remarkably brave who with his hand his voice and distinguished wounds were still sustaining the fight he'd assaulted the archers and would have broken through them but the cohorts of the Retians, the Vindelikians and the Gauls marched to their relief however by his own spirit and the vigor of his horse he escaped his face besmeared with his own blood to avoid being known some have related that the Kalkians who were among the Roman auxiliaries knew him and let him go the same bravery or deceit procured in Guiomaro's scissorscape the rest were everywhere slain and great numbers attempting to swim the Visorgis were destroyed in it either pursued with darts or swallowed by the current or overwhelmed with the weight of the crowd or buried under the falling banks some seeking a base refuge on the tops of trees and concealment amongst the branches were shot in sport by the archers or squashed as the trees were felled this was a mighty victory and to us far from bloody the slaughter of the foe from the fifth hour of the day till night filled the country for ten miles with carcasses and arms amongst the spoils chains were found which sure of conquering they had brought to bind the Roman captives the soldiers proclaimed Tiberius Imperator upon the field of battle and raising a mount placed upon it as trophies the German arms with the names of all the vanquished nations inscribed below this sight filled the Germans with more anguish and rage than all their wounds past afflictions and slaughters they who were just prepared to abandon their dwellings and flip beyond the Elbe meditate war and grasp their arms people, nobles, youth age from all quarters rushed suddenly upon the Roman army in its march and disorder it they next chose their camp a straight and moist plain shut in between a river and a forest the forest too surrounded with a deep marsh except on one side which was closed with a barrier raised by the Angrivarians between them and the Keroskans here stood their foot their horse were distributed and concealed amongst the neighbouring groves then spiced by surprise to beset the legions in the rear as soon as they had entered the wood nothing of all this was a secret to Germanicus he knew their councils, their stations pursued what measures they concealed and to the destruction of the enemy turned their own subtlety and devices to Seus Tuberot his lieutenant he committed the horse in the field the infantry he so disposed that part might pass the level approaches into the wood and the rest forced the rampart this was the most arduous task and to himself he reserved it the rest he left to his lieutenants those who had the even ground to traverse broke easily in but those who were to assail the rampart were as grievously battered from above as if they had been storming a wall the general perceived the inequality of this close attack and drawing off the legions a small distance ordered the slingers to throw and the engineers to play to beat off the enemy immediately showers of darts were poured from the engines and the defenders of the barrier the more bold than exposed they were with the more wounds they were beaten down Germanicus having taken the rampart first forced his way at the head of the Batorian cohorts into the woods and there it was fought foot to foot behind the enemy was beguert with the morass the Romans with the mountains or the river no room father to retreat no hope but in valor no safety but in victory the Germans had not inferior courage but they were exceeded in the fashion of arms and art of fighting their mighty multitude hampered in narrow places could not push nor recover their long spears nor practice in a close combat their usual boundings and velocity of limbs on the country our soldiers with handy swords and their breasts closely guarded with a buckler delved the large bodies and naked faces of the barbarians and open themselves away with a havoc of the enemy besides the activity of Arminius now failed him either spent through his continual efforts are slackened by a wound just received In Guiomerus was everywhere on the spur animating the battle but fortune rather than courage deserted him Guirmanicus to be the easier known pulled off his helmet and exhorted his men to prosecute the slaughter they wanted no captives he said only the cutting off that people root and branch would put an end to the war it was now late in the day and he drew off a legion to make a camp the rest glutted themselves till night with the blood of the foe the horse fought with doubtful success Guirmanicus in a speech from the tribunal praised his victorious army and raised a monument of arms with a proud inscription that the army of Tiberius Caesar having vanquished entirely the nations between the Rhine and the Elbe had consecrated that monument to Mars to Jupiter and to Augustus of himself he made no mention either fearful of provoking envy or that he thought it sufficient praise to have deserved it he had next commanded Stertinius to carry the war amongst the Angrivarians what they instantly submitted and these supplicants by yielding without articles obtain pardon without reserve End of Section 19 Section 20 of the Complete Works of Tacitus edited by Thomas Corden this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recorded by Claude Banta the Complete Works of Tacitus to which are prefixed political discourses upon that author edited and translated by Thomas Corden with introductory essays by Thomas Corden Volume 1 The Annals Book 2 Part 2 The summer now declining some of the legions were sent back into winter quarters by land more were embarked with Germanicus upon the river Amicia to go from thence by the ocean the sea at first was serene no sound or agitation except from the oars or sails of a thousand ships but suddenly a black host of clouds poured a storm of hail furious winds roared on every side and the tempest darkened the deep so that all prospect was lost and it was impossible to steer the soldiers too unaccustomed to the terrors of the sea in the hurry of fear disordered the mariners or interrupted the skillful by unskillful help at last the south wind mastering all the rest drove the ocean and the sky this derived new force from the windy mountains and swelling rivers of Germany as well as from an immense train of clouds and contracting with all fresh vigor from the boisterous neighborhood of the north it hurled the ships and tossed them into the open ocean or against islands shored with deep rocks or dangerously beset with covered shoals the ships by degrees with great labor and the change of the tide and the rocks and sands but remained at the mercy of the winds their anchors could not hold them they were full of water nor could all the pumps discharge it hence to lighten and raise the vessels swallowing at their decks the invading waves the horses, beasts, baggage and even the arms were cast into the deep by how much the German ocean is more outrageous than the rest of the sea when climate excels in vigor by so much this ruin was reckoned to exceed in greatness and novelty they were engaged in a tempestuous sea believed deep without bottom vast without bounds no shores near but hostile shores part of the fleet were swallowed up many were driven upon remote islands void of human culture where the men perished through famine or were kept alive by the carcasses of horses cast in by the flood only the galley of Germanicus landed upon the coast of the Shossians where wandering sadly day and night upon the rocks and prominent shore and incessantly accusing himself as the author of such mighty destruction he was hardly restrained by his friends from casting himself desperately into the same hostile floods at last with the returning tide and an assisting gale the ships began to return all maimed almost destitute of oars or with coats spread for sails and some utterly disabled were dragged by those that were less he repaired them hastily and dispatched them to search the islands and by this care many men were gleamed up many were by the Angrivarians our new subjects redeemed from their maritime neighbors and restored and some were driven into Great Britain where sent back by the little British kings those who had come from afar recounted wonders at their return the impotuosity of whirlwinds wonderful birds, sea monsters of ambiguous forms between man and beast strange flights or the effects of imagination and fear the noise of this wreck as it animated the Germans with hopes of renewing the war and Germanicus also to restrain he commanded Chia Cilius with 30,000 foot and 3,000 horse to march against the Cateans he himself with the greater force invaded the Marcians where he learned from Malo Venes their general lately taken into our subjection that the eagle of one of Varus's legions was hid underground in a neighboring grove and kept by a slender guard instantly two parties were dispatched one to face the enemy and provoke them from their post the other to beset their rear and dig up the eagle and success attended both hence Germanicus advanced with greater alacrity laid waste to the country and smote the foe either not daring to engage or wherever they engaged suddenly defeated nor as we learned from the prisoners where they ever seized with greater dismay the Romans, they cried are invincible no calamities can subdue them they have wrecked their fleet their arms are lost our shores are covered with the bodies of their horses and men yet they attack us with their usual ferocity with the same firmness and with numbers as it were increased the army was from thence led back into winter quarters full of joy to have balanced by this prosperous expedition their late misfortune at sea and by the bounty of Germanicus their joy was heightened since to each sufferer he caused to be paid as much as he declared he had lost neither was it doubted but the enemy were humbled and concerning measures for obtaining peace and that the next summer would terminate the war but Tiberius by frequent letters urged him to come home there to celebrate the triumph already decreed him he had already tried enough of events and tempted abundant hazards he had indeed fought great and successful battles but he must likewise remember his losses and calamities which however owing to wind and waves and no fault of the general were yet great and grievous he himself had been sent nine times into Germany by Augustus and effected much more by policy than arms it was thus he had brought the Russians into subjection thus drawn the Suavians and king Mara Buddhis under the bonds of peace the Shuraskans too and the other hostile nations now the Roman vengeance was satiated might be left to pursue their own national feuds Germanicus besought one year to accomplish his conquest but Tiberius assailed his modesty with a new bait and fresh importunity by offering him another consulship for the administration of which he was to attend in person at Rome he added that if the war was still to be prosecuted Germanicus should leave the field of glory to his brother Drusus to whom there now remained no other since the empire had nowhere a war to maintain but in Germany and thence only Drusus could acquire the title of Imperator and merit the triumphal laurel Germanicus persisted no longer though he knew that this was all feigned and hollow and saw himself inviduously torn away from harvest of ripe glory about this time Libodrusus of the Scribonian family was arraigned for meditating attempts against the state and because then first were devised those pestilent arts and impeachments which for so many years devoured the commonwealth I will lay open with more exactness the beginning progress and issue of this affair Fermius Catus the senator a close confidant of Libo traitorsly misled that youth unwary as he was and easy to be ensnared with specious delusions engaged him to try the predictions of the Shaldeans the superstitious rites of the magicians and the interpreters of dreams and to flatter his hopes and ambition was incessantly magnifying the nobility of his race for that Pompey was his great-grandfather Scribonia once the wife of Augustus his aunt the Caesar's his kinsmen and his house full of images tempted him to luxury and borrowing was associated with him in his debauches surity for his debts and all to accumulate more matter for crimes and evidence when he found himself furnished witnesses and amongst them some of Libo's slaves who were also privy to the obnoxious conduct of their master he sought admittance to the emperor having first by flakus Vescalarius a Roman knight intimate with Tiberius represented to him Libo as a criminal as also a detail of his crimes Tiberius slighted not his information but denied him access for that the communication might still be managed by the same flakus in the meantime he preferred Libo to the praetorship entertain him at his table shoot no strangeness in his countenance no resentment in his words so deeply had he smothered his vengeance and when he might have restrained all the dangerous speeches and practices of Libo he chose rather to permit them in order to know and punish them nor were they checked or made public till one junius who was dealt with to call up by charms the infernal shades discovered this to falcinius trio a distinguished accuser one greedy of renown in wickedness instantly trio marked out the doom of the accused hastened to the consuls and one of them demanded that the senate might meet and adjudge him this the fathers were forthwith summoned and even prized upon an affair of mighty moment and horrible tendency to the state they were to deliberate Libo the while having changed his dress went covered with mourning from house to house accompanied by ladies of the noblest rank and implored the mediation of his kindred that they would protect him against impending ruin and speak in his behalf but every one of them declined his suit each upon a different pretense yet in reality all from the same fear the day the senate sat for his trial vanquished with dread and sinking under sickness or as summer late feigning it he was born in a litter to the court and leaning upon his brother with supplicant hands and words he accosted and strove to soften Tiberius who received him with accountants perfectly unmoved it was the emperor who next recited the charge against him and the authors of the charge but with such wary moderation that he might seem neither to soften nor sharpen his crimes Tutriot and Cattus two other accusers Phonteus Agrippa and Caes Vibius joined themselves and strove who should have the right to impede the accused at last when neither would yield and Libo was come unprovided with a pleader Vibius undertook to maintain distinctly the several heads of the charge and produced articles so extravagant that amongst the rest it was one how Libo had consulted the fortune tellers whether he should ever be master of opulence sufficient to cover the great Appian road with money as far as Brondosium there were other accusers of the same kind foolish, chimerical, or taken in tenderer sense deserving pity the article formed upon a paper containing the names of the Caesars as well as those of some senators with mysterious characters and malignant notes joined to them this the accuser urged against Libo as written in his own hand Libo denied it and hence it was proposed to examine by torture his conscious slaves but seeing it was forbid by an ancient law of the senate to put the servants to the question in a trial touching the life of their master the crafty Tiberius invented a new law to elude the old and ordered these slaves to be sold to the public steward that by this expedient evidence against Libo might be racked from his servants without violating the law in this state of despondency Libo requested respite till the next day and then returning to his own house transmitted by his kinsman his last prayers to the emperor who replied that he must make his request to the senate his house was in the meantime encompassed with a band of soldiers who with studied noise and terror were filling all the court on purpose to create certain attention and alarm just when Libo sat down to the banquet which as the ultimate pleasure of his life he had prepared but then feeling agonies instead of pleasure he called for a minister of death successively grasped the hands of his slaves and into them by turns strove to squeeze a sword but they as they trembled and shunned the sad task through the hurry of fear and flight overturning the lamp that illuminated the table in this ominous and tragical darkness he gave himself two deadly stabs in the bowels as he groaned and fell his freedmen sprang in and the soldiers seeing the slaughter perpetrated retired the charge against him however was pushed in the senate with the same unrelenting eagerness yet Tiberius vowed that he would have interceded for his life notwithstanding his treason if he had not thus hastily died by his own hands his estate was divided amongst his accusers and those of them who bore the rank of senators were without the regular way of election preferred to praetorships then Cota Messalinas proposed that the image of Libo might not accompany the funerals of his posterity Neus lentilus that none of the Scriboni should henceforth assume the surname of Drusus and at the motion of Pompeius flakas days of thanksgiving were appointed that gifts should be prepared to Jupiter and to the godness concord and that the 13th of September the day on which Libo slew himself should be an established festival were the votes of Lucius Publius of Asinius Gallus of Papius Motilius and of Lucius Apronius I have related the votes and psychonfacy of these men to shoo that adulation is an inveterate evil in the state Decrees of the senate were likewise made for driving astrologers and magicians out of Italy and one of the herd Lucius Pitonius was precipitated from the Tarpetian rock Publius Marcius another was by judgment of the consuls at the sound of trumpet executed without the Escaline gate according to the ancient form End of section 20 section 21 of the complete works of Tacitus edited by Thomas Gordon this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org recorded by Graham Redman the complete works of Tacitus to which are prefixed political discourses upon that author edited and translated by Thomas Gordon with introductory essays by Thomas Gordon volume 1 the annals book 2 section 3 debates in the senate next time the senate sat long discourses against the luxury of the city were made by Quintus Hatterius a consular and by Octavius Fronto formerly Preta and a law was passed against using table plate of solid gold and against men's debasing themselves with gorgeous and silks Fronto went farther and desired that the quantities of silver plate, the expense of furniture and the number of domestics might be limited for it was yet common for senators to depart from the present debate and offer as their advice whatever they judged conducing to the interests of the common wheel against him it was argued by the empire private riches were likewise grown and it was no new thing for citizens to live according to their conditions but indeed agreeable to the most primitive usage the ancient Fabricii and the latter Scipios having different wealth lived differently but all suitably to the several stages of the common wealth public poverty was accompanied by the great rose to such a height of magnificence the magnificence of particulars rose too as to plate and train and expense there was no standard of excess or frugality but from the fortunes of men the law indeed had made a distinction between the fortunes of senators and of knights not for any natural difference between them but that they who excelled in place rank sell to in other particulars such as conduced to the health of the body or to the peace and soliciment of the soul unless it were expected that the most illustrious citizens should sustain the sharpest cares and undergo the heaviest fatigues and dangers but continue destitute of every alleviation of fatigue and danger and care Gallus easily prevailed whilst under worthy names he avowed and supported popular vices in an assembly engaged in them Tiberius too had said that it was not a season for reformation or if there were any corruption of manners there would not be wanting one to correct them during these transactions Lucius Piso after he had declaimed bitterly in the senate against the cabals and intrigues of the forum tribunals and the inhumanity of the pleaders breathing continual terror and impeachments declared he would entirely relinquish Rome and retire into a quiet corner of the country far distant and obscure with these words he left the senate Tiberius was provoked and yet not only soothed him with gentle words but likewise obliged Piso's relations with her authority or entreaties to retain him the same Piso gave soon after an equal instance of the indignation of a free spirit by prosecuting a suit against Ergulania a lady whom the partial friendship of Livia had set at defiance with the laws Ergulania being carried for protection to the palace despised the efforts of Piso so that neither did she submit he desist not withstanding the complaints and resentments of Livia that in the prosecution violence and indignity were done to her own person Tiberius promised to attend the trial and assist Ergulania but only promised in civility to his mother for so far he thought it became him and thus left the palace ordering his guards to follow at a distance people the while crowded about him and he walked with a slow and composed air as he lingered and prolonged the time and way with various discourse the trial went on Piso would not be modified by the importunity of his friends and hence at last the Empress ordered the payment of the money claimed by him this was the issue of the affair by it Piso lost no renown and it signally increased the credit of Tiberius the power however of Ergulania was so exorbitant to the state that she disdained to appear a witness in a certain cause before the senate and when it had been always usual even for the Vestal Virgins to attend the forum and courts of justice as oft as their evidence was required a preter was sent to examine Ergulania at her own house the procrastination which happened this year in the public affairs I should not mention but that the different opinions of Tinius Piso and Asinius Gallus about it are worth knowing their dispute was occasioned by a declaration of Tiberius that he was about to be absent and it was the motion of Piso that for that very reason the prosecution of public business was the rather to be continued since as in the prince's absence the senate and equestrian order might administer their several parts the same would become the dignity of the Commonwealth this was a declaration for liberty and in it Piso had prevented Gallus who now in opposition said that nothing sufficiently illustrious nor suiting the dignity of the Roman people could be transacted by the eye of the emperor and therefore the conflicts of suitors and the affairs from Italy and the provinces must by all means be reserved for his presence Tiberius heard and was silent while the debate was managed on both sides with mighty vehemence but the adjournment was carried a debate too arose between Gallus and the emperor for Gallus moved that the magistrate should be henceforth elected but once every five years that the legates of the legions who had never exercised the preterships should be appointed preters and that the prince should nominate twelve candidates every year it was not doubted but this motion had a deeper aim and that by it the secret springs and reserves of imperial power were invaded but Tiberius as if he rather apprehended the augmentation of his authority argued that it was a heavy task upon his moderation to choose so many magistrates and to postpone so many candidates that disgusts from disappointments were hardly avoided in yearly elections though for their solicement fresh hopes remained of approaching success in the next now how great must be the hatred how lasting the resentment of such whose pretensions were to be rejected beyond five years and whence could it be foreseen that in so long a tract of time the same men would continue to have the same dispositions the same alliances and fortunes even an annual designation to power made men imperious how imperious would it make them if they bore the honor for five years besides it would multiply every single magistrate into five and utterly subvert the laws which had proscribed a proper space for exercising the diligence of the candidates and for soliciting as well as enjoying preferments by this speech in appearance popular he still retained the spirit and force of the sovereignty he likewise sustained by gratuities the dignity of some necessitous senators hence it was the more that he received with haughtiness and repulse the petition of Marcus Hortelus a young man of signal quality and manifestly poor he was the grandson of Hortensius the orator and had been encouraged by the deified Augustus with the bounty of a thousand great sistercies to marry for posterity purely to prevent the extinction of a family so eminently illustrious the senate was sitting in the palace and Hortelus having set his four children before the door fixed his eyes now upon the statue of Hortensius placed amongst the orators then upon that of Augustus and instead of speaking to the question then debated began on this wise conscript fathers you see there the number and infancy of my children not mine by my own choice but in compliance with the advice of the prince such too was the splendor of my ancestors that it merited to be perpetuated in their race but for my own particular who marred by the revolution of the times could not raise wealth nor engage popular favour nor cultivate the hereditary fortune of our house the fortune of eloquence deemed it sufficient if in my narrow circumstances I lived no disgrace to myself no burden to others commanded by the emperor I took a wife behold the offspring of so many consuls behold the descendants of so many dictators nor is this remembrance invidiously made but made to move mercy in the progress of your reign Caesar these children may arrive at the honours in your gift defend them in the meantime from want they are the great grandsons of Hortensius they are the foster sons of Augustus the inclination of the senate was favourable an incitement to Tiberius the more eagerly to thwart Hortulus these were in effect poor recur hither for a provision of money to their children the public will certainly fail yet particulars never be satiated our ancestors when they permitted a departure from the question to propose somewhat more important to the state did not therefore permit it that we might hear transact domestic matters and augment our private rents an employment invidious both in the senate and the prince either they grant or deny the petition bounties either the people or the petitioners will ever be offended but these in truth are not petitions they are demands made against order and made by surprise while you are assembled upon other affairs he stands up and urges your pity by the number and infancy of his children with the same violence he changes the attack to me and as it were bursts open the exchequer but if by popular bounties we exhaust it by rapine and oppression we must supply it the deified Augustus gave you money Hortulus but without solicitation he gave it and on no condition that it should always be given otherwise diligence will languish sleuth will prevail and men having no hopes for the purposes of their own no anxiety for themselves but all securely relying on foreign relief will become private sluggards and public burdens these and the like reasonings of Tiberius were differently received with approbation by those whose way it is to extol without distinction all the doings of princes worthy and unworthy by most however low and discontented murmurs Tiberius perceived it and having paused a little said his answer was particularly to Hortulus but if the Senate thought fit he would give his sons two hundred great sistercies each for this all the Senators presented their thanks only Hortulus said nothing perhaps through present or or perhaps possessed even in poverty with the grandeur of his ancient nobility nor did Tiberius ever show father pity though the house of Hortensius was fallen into shameful distress end of section 21 section 22 of the complete works of Tacitus edited by Thomas Gordon this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org recorded by Claude Banta the complete works of Tacitus to which are prefixed political discourses upon that author edited and translated by Thomas Gordon volume 1 the annals book 2 part 4 various rebellions the same year the boldness of a single bondman had but for early prevention born the state with great combustions and civil arms a slave of posthumous Agrippa his name Clemens having learnt the death of Augustus conceived a design to sail to Planassia and there releasing Agrippa by art or force to carry him to the armies in Germany no slavish design but the slowness of the laden vessel defeated his bold purpose for Agrippa was already murdered hence he conceived views still higher and more daring he stole the funeral ashes and sailing to Cosa a promontory of Iteria hid himself in desert places till his hair and beard were grown long for an age and person he was not unlike his master then a report spread by trusty emissaries and the associates of the plot that Agrippa lived began to thicken it first crept abroad in dark whispers as usual in matters of dangerous tendency but becoming soon a prevailing rumour it filled the greedy ears of the credulous or was encouraged by turbulent minds such as are ever fond of public agitations and changes he himself when he entered the neighboring towns did it in the gloom of the day never to be seen publicly nor long in the same place but as truth is strengthened by observation and time lies by haste and uncertainty he outran fame here he stayed not to be known there he arrived before his name arrived it flew through Italy in the meantime that by the bounty of the gods Agrippa was preserved it was even believed at Rome his supposed arrival at Ostia was celebrated by great multitudes abroad and in the city by clandestine cabals whilst divided cares distracted Tiberius whether he should suppress his slave by the power of the sword or suffer the empty credulity of the public to vanish with time now he thought that nothing was needed now that everything was not to be dreaded wavering between shame and fear at last he committed the affair to Celestius Crispus chose two of his creatures some say two soldiers and directed them to go directly to him to feign themselves his adherents men who were conscious that he was the genuine Agrippa to present him with money and to promise him without reserve their faith and fortunes they instantly executed these orders and afterwards spying him one night without guards and being themselves furnished with a proper band of men they carried him to the palace gagged and bound to Tiberius when he asked him how he was become Agrippa he is said to have answered just as you became Caesar he could never be constrained neither dared Tiberius ventured to execute him publicly but ordered him to be dispatched in a secret part of the palace and his body to be carried privately away and though many of the princes household many knights and senators were said to have supported him with money and assisted him with their councils no enquiry followed at the end of the year he was raised near the temple of Saturn as a monument for the recovery of the Varian Eagles under the conduct of Germanicus and the auspices of Tiberius a temple was directed to happy fortune near the Tiber in the gardens bequeathed to the Roman people by Caesar the dictator a chapel was consecrated to the Julian family and statues to the Deified Augustus in the suburbs called Boville in the consulship of Caicelius and Lucius Pomponius the 6th and 20th of May Germanicus Caesar triumphed over the Churuscans the Catians, the Angrivarians and the other nations as far as the Elbe in the triumph were carried all the spoils and captives with the representations of mountains of rivers and of battles so that his conquests because he was restrained from completing them were taken for complete his own graceful person and his chariot filled with his five children heightened the shoe and the delight of the beholders yet they were checked with secret fears as they remembered that popular favor had proved malignant to his father Drusus that his uncle Marcellus was snatched in his youth from the burning affections of the populace and that ever short lived and unfortunate were the favorites of the Roman people Tiberius distributed to the people in the name of Germanicus 300 cestorsek a man and named himself his colleague in the consulship nor even thus did he gain the opinion of tenderness and sincerity in effect on pretence of investing the young prince with fresh performant and honors he resolved to alienate him from Rome and to accomplish it he leftily framed an occasion or snatched such a one as chance presented Archelaus had enjoyed the kingdom of Cappadocia now 50 years a prince under the deep displeasure of Tiberius because in his retirement at Rhodes the king had paid him no sort of court nor distinction an omission which proceeded from no disdain but from the warnings given him by the justice for that the young Caia Caesar the presumptive heir to the sovereignty then lived and was sent to compose and administer the affairs of the east hence the friendship of Tiberius was reckoned then dangerous but when by the utter fall of the family of the caesars he had gained the empire he enticed Archelaus to Rome by means of letters from his mother who without dissembling her son's resentment offered the king his mercy provided he came and in person implored it he who was either ignorant of the snare or dreaded violence if he had appeared to perceive it hastened to the city where he was received by Tiberius with great sternness and wrath and soon after accused as a criminal in the senate the crimes alleged against him were mere fictions yet as equal treatment is unusual to kings and to be treated like malifactors intolerable Archelaus who was broken with grief as well as age by choice or fate ended his life his kingdom was reduced into a province and by its revenues Tiberius declared the tax of the hundredth penny would be abated and reduced it for the future to the two hundredth at the same time died Antiochus king of Comagina as also Philopater king of Cilicia and great combustions shook these nations whilst many of the people desired the roman government and many were addicted to domestic monarchy the princes too of Syria and Judea as they were oppressed with impositions prayed an abatement of tribute these affairs and such as I have above related concerning Armenia Tiberius represented to the fathers and that the commotions of the east could only be settled by the wisdom and abilities of Germanicus for himself his age now declined and that of Drusus was not yet sufficiently ripe the provinces beyond the sea were then decreed to Germanicus with authority superior to all those who obtained provinces by lot or the nomination of the prince but Tiberius had already taken care to remove from the government of Syria Cretica Cilinus one united to Germanicus domestic alliance by having betrothed his daughter to Nero the eldest son of Germanicus in his room he had preferred Neus Piso a man of violent temper incapable of subjection and heir to all the ferocity and haughtiness of his father Piso the same who the civil war assisted the reviving party against Caesar in Africa with vehement efforts then followed Brutus and Cassius but had at last leave to come home yet disdain to sue for any public offices Ne was even courted by Augustus to accept the consulship his son besides his hereditary pride and impetuosity was elevated with the nobility and wealth of his wife scarce yielded he to Tiberius and as men far beneath him despised the sons of Tiberius neither did he doubt but he was set over Syria on purpose to defeat all the views of Germanicus some even believed that he had to this purpose secret orders from Tiberius as it was certain that Livia directed Plancina to exert the spirit of the sex by constant emulation and indignities to persecute Agrippina for the whole court was rent and their affection secretly divided between Drusus and Germanicus Tiberius was partial to Drusus as his own son by generation others loved Germanicus the more for the aversion of his uncle and for being by his mother of more illustrious descent as Mark Antony was his grandfather and Augustus his great uncle on the other side Pomponius Atticus a Roman knight by being the great grandfather of Drusus seemed thence to have derived a stain upon the images of the Claudian house besides Agrippina the wife of Germanicus did in the fruitfulness of her body and the reputation of her virtue far excel Livia the wife of Drusus but the two brothers lived in amiable dearness and concord no wife shaken or estranged by the reigning contention amongst their separate friends and adherents Drusus was soon after sent into Illyricum in order to enear him to war and gain him the affections of the army besides Tiberius thought that the youth who lived wantoning in the luxuries of Rome would be reformed in the camp and that his own army would be enlarged when both his sons were at the head of the legions but the pretense for sending him was a protection of the Swayvians who were then imploring assistance against the power of the Shiruscans for these nations who since the departure of the Romans saw themselves no longer threatened with terrors from abroad and were then particularly engaged in a national competition for glory which was used as usual into their old intestine feuds and turned their arms upon each other these two people were equally powerful their two leaders equally brave but differently esteemed as the title of king had drawn upon Moribodis the hate and aversion of their countrymen whilst Arminius as a champion warring for the defense of liberty was the universal object of popular affection hence not only the Shiruscans and their Confederates they who had been the ancient soldiery of Arminius took arms but to him too revolted the Semnones and Lengobards both Swayvian nations and even subjects of Moribodis and by their accession he would have exceeded in Poissons but Ingeomerus with his band of followers deserted to Moribodis for no other cause than disdain then an old man and an uncle like himself should obey Arminius a young man his nephew both armies were drawn out with equal hopes nor disjointed like the old German battles into scattered parties for loose and random attacks for by long war with us they had learnt to follow their ensigns to strengthen their main body with parties of reserve and to observe the orders of their generals Arminius was now on horseback viewing all the ranks as he rode through them he magnified their past feats their liberty recovered the slaughtered legions the spoils of arms rested from the Romans monuments of victory still retained in some of their hands upon Moribodis he fell with Contamellius names as a fugitive one of no abilities in war who had sought defense from the gloomy coverts of the Hercinian wood and then by gifts and solicitations courted the alliance of Rome a betrayer of his country a lifeguard man of Caesar's worthy to be exterminated with no less hostile vengeance than in the slaughter of Quintilius Varus they had shown let them only remember so many battles bravely fought these events of which particularly their expulsion of the Romans were sufficient proofs with whom remained the glory of the war neither did Moribodis fail to boast himself and depreciate the foe in the person of Ingeomerus he said holding him by the hand rested the whole renown of the Shuruscans and from his councils began all their exploits that ended in success Arminius a man of frantic spirit and a novice in affairs assumed to himself the glory of another for having by treachery surprised three legions which expected no foe and their leader who feared no fraud a base surprise revenged since on Germany with heavy slaughters and on Arminius himself with domestic infamy while his wife and his son still bore the bonds of captivity for himself when attacked at the head of twelve legions he had preserved unstained the glory of Germany and unequal terms ended the war nor did he repent of the treaty since it was still in their hands to wage a new equal war with the Romans or save blood and maintain peace the armies besides the incitements from these speeches were animated by national stimulations of their own the Shuruscans fought for their ancient renown the Lengubards for their recent liberty and the Swayvians and their king on the contrary were struggling for the augmentation of their monarchy never did armies make a fiercer onset never had onset a more ambiguous event for both the right wings were routed and hence a fresh encounter was certainly expected until Maribotus drew off his army and encamped upon the hills a manifest sign that he was humbled frequent desertions too leaving him at last naked of forces he retired to the Marcomanians and thence sent ambassadors to Tiberius to implore succors they were answered that he had no right to invoke aid of the Roman arms against the Shuruscans since to the Romans while they were warring with the same foe he had never administered any assistance Drusus was however sent away as I have said with the character of a negotiator of peace the same year twelve noble cities of Asia were overturned by an earthquake the ruin happened in the night and the more dreadful as its warnings were unobserved neither availed the usual sanctuary against such calamities namely a flight to the fields since those who fled the gaping earth devoured it is reported that mighty mountains subsided planes were heaved into high hills and that with flashes and eruptions of fire the mighty devastation was everywhere accompanied the Sardians felt most heavily the rage of the concussion and therefore most compassion Tiberius promised them a hundred thousand great cester set and remitted their taxes for five years the inhabitants of Magnesia under Mount Sipolis were held next in sufferings and had proportionable release the Temnians Philadelphians the Ajatians Apollonians with those called the Mostinians or Macedonians of Arcania the cities too of Herosesaria Myrnia, Syme and Smolis were all for the same term east of tribute it was likewise resolved to view the desolations and administer proper remedies Marcus Alitus was therefore chosen one of Praetorian rank because a consular senator then governing Asia had another of the like quality been sent an emulation between equals was apprehended and consequently opposition and delays the credit of this noble bounty to the public he increased by private liberalities and proved equally popular the estate of the wealthy Emily Musa claimed by the exchequer as she died into state he surrendered to Emilius Lepidus to whose family she seemed to belong as also to Marcus Servilius the inheritance of Potilius a rich Roman knight though part of it he had bequeathed to himself but he found Servilius named Solhair in a former and well attested will he said such was a nobility of both that they deserved to be supported nor did he ever accept to himself any man's inheritance but where former friendship gave him a title the wills of such as were strangers to him and of such as from hate and prejudice to others had appointed the prince their heir he utterly rejected but as he relieved the honest poverty of the virtuous so he degraded from the senate or suffered to quit it of their own accord Vibidius Varro, Marius Nepos Apius Apianus Cornelius Sila and Quintius Vitelius all prodigals and only through debauchery indigent End of section 22 section 23 of the complete works of Tacitus edited by Thomas Gordon This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording via Lizzie Driver The Complete Works of Tacitus to which are prefixed political discourses upon that author edited and translated by Thomas Gordon with introductory essays by Thomas Gordon Volume 1 The Annals Booked by Thomas Gordon The Annals Book 2, Part 5 The African Conflicts About this time Tiberius finished and consecrated what Augustus began The Temples of the Gods consumed by age or fire The Near the Great Circus Vowed by Ullus Posumius The Dictator Tobaccus, Prosepina and Ceres In the same place the Temple of Flora founded by Lucius Publiceus and Marcus Publiceus while they were Edals The Temple of Janus built in the Herb Market by Caus Deulius who first signalized the Roman power at sea and merited a naval triumph over the Carthaginians That of Hope was dedicated by Germanicus This Temple at Ilius had vowed in the same war The law of violated majesty in the mean time waxed in tents and by it an accuser impleded a purely of a rillia grand knees to Augustus by his sister For that with a probious words she had revived the defied Augustus Tiberius and his mother and being nearly ally to the emperor had stained by adultery the Caesarean blood Concerning the adultery sufficient provision was thought already made by the Julian law and the crimes of state Tiberius desired might be separated If she had uttered empire speeches of Augustus she must be condemned but for evictives against himself he would not have called her to any account The council asked him what would be his sentiments if she were convicted of defaming his mother to this he made no answer but next sitting of the senate he prayed too in her name that no word spoken against her might to anyone be imputed for crimes and acquitted a pullure of her treason of her punishment too for adultery he begged a mitigation and prevailed that by the example of our ancestors she should be removed by a kindred two hundred miles from Rome Manlius, her adulterer was inter-directed Italy and Africa A debate at this time arose about substituting a Priator in the room of Vipsanius Gallus removed by death Germanicus and Drusus for they were yet at Rome espoused Heterius a gripper kinsman to Germanicus many on the contrary insisted that the number of children should decide it and the candidate who had most to be preferred for this was the voice of the law Tiberius rejoiced to see the senate engage in a contention between his sons and the laws the law without doubt was vanquished yet not instantly and by a small majority but with the same struggle that laws were vanquished when laws were in force this year a war began in Africa conducted by Tachphorinas he was a native of Numidia and had served amongst the auxiliaries in the Roman armies but, deserting the service gathered together by the allurements of booty and raping at first a herd of vagabonds and men enured to robberies then formed them, like an army into regular companies of foot and troops of horse under distinct standards and colours at length he was no longer esteemed the leader of a disorderly gang but considered as general of the Mussolanians this powerful people bordered upon the deserts of Africa still wild and without towns took arms and drew into the war the neighbouring moors these two had a general of their own he had a general of his own he had a general of his own he had a general of his own he had a general of his own he had a general of his own his name Mazippa and between the two leaders the army was divided that whilst Tachphorinas encamped with the best men armed after the fashions of Romans and accustomed then to discipline and command Mazippa with a flying band might make excursions on every side with fire, slaughter and alarms they had likewise forced the Sinithians into their measures a nation no wise despicable when furious Camileus proconsul of Africa marched against the enemy with one legion and watched troops of the allies around to his command a handful of men at most when compared to the multitude of Numidians and Moors but it was his first care not to intimidate them with numbers and thence tempt them to elude fighting and prolong the war indeed he gave them hopes of victory only to enable himself to vanquish them the legion was placed in the center the light cohorts and two wings of horse on the right and left nor did Tachphorinas decline the combat the Numidians were routed and after a long series of years military renown recovered to the name of Furious for since Camileus the restorer of Rome and his son the glory of command and victory and the glory of war and the glory of war and the glory of war the glory of command and victory continued in other families even he whom I have mentioned passed Raman destitute of military abilities and experience in war hence Tiberius magnified with the more unfaigned alacrity his exploits to the senate and to him the fathers decreed the ensigns of triumph yet to Camileus all the merit and distinction proved to snare protected as he was by life singularly modest and retired the councils for the following year were Tiberius the third time Germanicus the second this dignity overtook Germanicus at Nicopolis a city of Achia wither he arrived by the coast of Illyricrum from visiting his brother Drusus then abiding in Dalmatia and had suffered a tempestuous passage both in the Adriatic and Ionian sea he therefore spent a few days to repair his fleet and viewed the war the Bay of Actium renowned for the naval victory there as also the spoils consecrated by Augustus and the camp of Antony with an affecting remembrance of these his ancestors for Antony as I have said was his great uncle Augustus his father hence this scene proved to Germanicus a mighty source of images pleasing and sad next he proceeded to Athens where in concession to that ancient city allied to Rome he would use but one Lictor the Greeks received him with the most elaborate honours and to dignify their personal flattery carried before him tabulators of the signal deeds and sayings of his ancestors hence he sailed to Ubocia then to Lesbos where Agropena was delivered of Julia who proved her last child then he kept the coast of Asia and visited Perinthus and Byzantium cities of Thrace and entered the Straits of Propontis and the mouth of the Yuxin fond of beholding ancient places long celebrated by fame he relieved at the same time the provinces were ever distracted with intestine factions or aggravated with the oppressions of the magistrates in return he strove to see the religious rights of the Samothracians but by the violence of the north wind was repulsed from the shore as he passed he saw Troy and her remains venerable for the vicitude of her fate and for the birth of Rome regaining the coast of Asia he pulled in a colophon to consult there the oracle of the Clarion Apollo it is known Pythones that represents the god here as at Delphos but a priest one chosen from certain families chiefly of Miletus neither requires he more than just to hear the names and numbers of the queerists and then descends into the oricular cave where after a draft of water he could spring though ignorant for the most part of letters and poetry he yet utters his answers in verse which has for its subject the conceptions and wishes of cash consultant he was even said to have sung to Germanicus his hastening fate but as oracles I want in terms dark and doubtful now Seneus Piso hurring to the execution of his purposes terrified the city of Athens by a tempestuous entry and reproached them in a severe speech with the bleak censure of Germanicus that debasing the dignity of the Roman name he had paid excessive court not the Athenians by so many slaughterers long since extinct but the then mixed scum of nations there for that these were they who had leagued with Mithridates against Scylla against Augustus he even charged them with the arrows and misfortunes of ancient Athens her impotent attempts against the Macedonians her violence and ingratitude to her own citizens he was also an enemy to their city from personal anger because they would not pardon at his request one Theophilus condemned by the Aeropagus for forgery from thence sailing hastily through the Cyclades and taken the shortest course he ever took Germanicus at Rhodes but was there driven by a sudden tempest upon the rocks and Germanicus who was not ignorant with what malignity and invictives he was pursued yet acted with so much humanity that when he might have left him to perish and referred to casualty the destruction of his enemy he dispatched galleys to rescue him from the wreck this generous kindness however assuade not the animosity of Piso scarce could he brook a day's delay with Germanicus but left him in haste to arrive in Syria before him nor was he sooner there and found himself amongst the legions then he began to court the common men by bounties and caresses to assist them with his countenance and credit to form factions and every tribune of remarkable discipline and severity and in their places to put dependence of his own or men recommended only by their crimes he permitted sloth in the camp licentiousness in the towns a rambling and disorderly soldiery and carried the corruption so high that in the discourses of the herd he was starled father of the legions nor did Plancena restrain herself to a connoisseur who was the father of the legions and Plancena restrain herself to a conduct seemingly in her sex but frequented the exercises of the cavalry and attended the decursions of the cohorts everywhere in weighing against Agrippena everywhere against Germanicus and some even of the most deserving soldiers became prompt to base obedience from a rumour whispered abroad that all this was not unacceptable and serious these doings were all known to Germanicus but his more instant care was to visit Armenia an inconstant and restless nation from the beginning from the genius of the people as well as from the situation of their country which bordering with a large frontier on our provinces and stretching vents quite to Medea is enclosed between the two great empires and often at variance with them with the Romans through antipathy and hatred with the Parthians through competition and envy at this time and ever since the removal of Anonis they had no king but the affections of the nations lean towards Zeno son of Helmon king of Pontus because by an attachment from his infancy to the fashions and customs of the Armenians by hunting, feasting and other usages practised amongst the barbarians he had equally won the nobles and people upon his head therefore at the city of Artaxata with the approbation of the nobles in a great assembly Germanicus put the regal diadem and the Armenians doing homage to their king saluted him Artaxius a name which from that at their city they gave him the Cappadocians at this time reduced into the form of a province recede for their governor Quintus Ferenius and to raise their hopes of the gentler dominion of Rome several of the royal taxes were lessened Quintus Servius was set over the Comogenians then first subjected to the jurisdiction of a Priator from the affairs of the allies Thassel successfully settled Germanicus reaped no pleasure through the perverseness and pride of Paeso who was ordered to lead by himself or his son part of the legions into Armenia but contemptuously neglected to do either they at last met at Sirium the winter quarters of the 10th legion where they each came with a prepared countenance Paeso to betray no fear and Germanicus would not be thought to threaten he was indeed as I have observed of a humane and reconcilable spirit but of vicious friends expert in flaming animosities aggravated real offences added fictitious and with manifold imputations charged Paeso Placinia and their sons to this interview Germanicus admitted a few intimates and began his complaints in such words as dissembled resentment usually dictates Paeso replied with disdainful submissions and they parted in open enmity Paeso hereafter came rarely to the tribunal of Germanicus or, if he did, sate sternly there and in manifest opposition he likewise published his spite at a feast of the Nabathian kings where golden crowns of great weight were presented to Germanicus and Agropania and to Paeso and the rest such as were light this banquet, he said was made for the son of a Roman prince not a Parthian monarch with these words he cast away his crown and uttered many invictives against luxury sharp insults upon Germanicus yet he bore them at this time arrived ambassadors from Aratabanus king of the Parthians he sent them to represent the state of the mutual league and friendship between the two empires how desirous he was to renew it that, in honour to Germanicus he would come to receive him as far as the banks of the Euphrates and requested in the meantime that Fanonis might not be continued in Syria lest, taking the advantage of so near a neighbourhood he should, by corresponding with the Grandi's Apathia engage in civil dissension and rebellion the answer given by Germanicus as far as related to the alliance of the Romans and the Parthians was conceived in terms of dignity and grandeur but of the coming of the king and the court and veneration intended to himself he spoke with becoming complacence and modesty Fanonis was removed to Pompeo polis a maritime city of Cilicia a concession made not the request of Eritrebanus only but incontumily to Piso with whom Fanonis was in high favour for the assiduous court and many presents by which he had won Plancina in the consulship of Marcus Salanis and Lucius Norbanus Germanicus travelled to Egypt to view the famous antiquities of the country though for the notice of the journey the care and inspection of the province were publicly alleged and indeed by opening the granaries he mitigated the price of corn and practiced many things grateful to the people walking without guards his feet bare and his habit the same with that of the Greeks after the example of Publius Scipio who, we are told was constant in the same practices in Sicily even during the rage of the Punic War there for these he assumed manners and foreign habit Tiberius blamed him in a gentle style but censured him with great asperity for violating an establishment of Augustus and entering Alexandria without consent of the prince for Augustus amongst other secrets of power had set apart an appropriated Egypt and restrained the Senators and dignified Roman knights from going thither without license as he apprehended that Italy might be distressed with famine by any who sees that province the key to the empire by sea and land and defensible by a light band of men against potent armies Germanicus not yet informed that his journey was censured sailed up the Nile beginning at Canopus one of its mouths built by the Spartans there was a monument to Canopus a pilot buried there at the time when Menelaus returning to Greece was driven to different seas in the Liberian continent hence he visited the next mouth of the river sacred to Hercules him the natives of Verre to have been born amongst them that he was the most ancient of the name and that all the rest who with equal virtues followed his example after him next he visited the mighty antiquities of ancient Thebes where upon huge obelisks yet remained Egyptian characters describing its former opulency one of the oldest priests was ordered to interpret them he said they related that it once contained 700,000 fighting men that with that army King Ramesses had conquered Libya, Ethiopia, the Medes Persians, the Bactrains and Scythians and to his empire had added the territories of the Syrians, Armenians and the neighbours the Cappadocians a tract of countries reaching from the sea of Bithania to that of Lycia here also was read the assessment of tribute laid on the several nations what weight of silver and gold what number of horses and arms what ivory and perfumes as gift to the temples what measures of grain what quantities of all necessaries were by each people paid revenues equally grand with those extracted by the domination of the Parthians or by the power of the Romans Germanicus was intent upon seeing other wonders the chiefs were the effigies of Memnon a colossus of stone yielding when struck by the solar rays a vocal found the pyramids rising like mountains amongst rolling and almost impossible waves of sand proud monuments of the emulation and opulency of Egyptian kings the artificial lake a receptacle of the overflowing Nile and elsewhere abysses of such immense death that those who tried could never fathom thence he proceeded to El Fentina and Syen two islands formerly frontiers of the Roman Empire which is now widened to the Red Sea while Germanicus spent this summer in several provinces Drusus was sowing feuds among the Germans and thence reaped no light reward and as the power from a robertus was already broken he engaged them to persist and complete his ruin amongst the Gotonis was a young man of quality his name Caciuelda a fugitive long since from the violence of Marbo Dois but now in his distress resolved on revenge hence with a stout hand he entered the borders of the Marcomaniens and corrupting their chiefs into his alliance stormed the Regal Palace and the castle situate near it in the pillage were found the ancient stores of prey accumulated by the Swervians as also many victuellas and traders from our provinces men who were drawn hither from their several homes first by privilege of traffic then retained by a passion to multiply gain and at last through utter oblivion of their own country fixed like natives in a hostile soil to Marobertus on every side forsaken no other refuge remained but the mercy of Caesar he therefore passed the Danube where it washes the province of Norica and wrote to Tiberius not however in the language of a fugitive or supplicant but with a spirit suitable to his late grandeur that many nations invited him to them as a king once so glorious but he preferred to all the friendship or Rome the emperor answered that in Italy he should have a safe and honourable retreat and when his affairs required his presence the same security to return but to the Senate he declined that he never had Philip of Macedon being so terrible to the Athenians nor Pyrrhus nor Antiochus to the Roman people the speech is extant in it he magnifies the greatness of the man the fierceness and bravery of the nations his subjects the alarming nearness of such an enemy to Italy and his own artful measures to destroy him Morobidus was kept at Dravena for a check and terror to the Swerveians as if when at any time they grew turbulent he were there in readiness to recover their subjugation yet in eighteen years he left not Italy but grew old in exile there his renowned too became eminently diminished such was the price he paid for an over-passionate life the same sate at Catuelda and no other sanctuary he was soon after expulsed by the forces of the Hermundurians led by Vibulius and being received under the Roman protection was conveyed to Forum Julium a colony in Narbonne Gaul the barbarians their followers lest had they been mixed with the provinces they would have been lest had they been mixed with the provinces they might have disturbed their present quiet were placed beyond the Danube between the rivers Marius and Corsus and for their king had assigned them Vanius by nation Aquadian End of section 23