19. Such were the honours paid to Augustus, whose power began in the slaughter, and terminated in the happiness of his subjects; so that it was said of him, "that it had been good for mankind if he had never been born, or if he had never died." 20. It is possible that the cruelties exercised in his triumvirate were suggested by his colleagues. In the case of Caesar"s death, he might think that revenge was virtue. Certain it is, that severities were necessary to restore public tranquillity; for, until the Roman spirit should be eradicated, no monarchy could be secure. 21. He indulged his subjects in the appearance of a republic, while he made them really happy in the effects of a most absolute monarchy, administered with the most consummate prudence. In this last quality he seems to have excelled most monarchs; and indeed, could we separate Octavius from Augustus, he was one of the most faultless princes in history. 22. About this time our Saviour was born in Jude"a.[5]
_Questions for Examination_.
1. What was the general conduct of Augustus?
2. Mention some instances of his moderation?
3. What farther instance of his moderation is on record?
4. How did he most decidedly show the alteration in his disposition?
5. In what was he particularly remarkable?
6. Was he happy in domestic life?
7. What family had she, and what was the character of her son?
8. Had he no other domestic trials?
9. In what way was she punished?
10. Was the reign of Augustus of considerable length?
11. Did he a.s.sociate Tiberius with him in the government?
12. By what means did he lighten the burden of government?
13. By what measure did he prepare for his approaching end?
14. What omen portended his death?
15. How did he meet his end?
16. How were the people affected by his death, and why was it for a time concealed?
17. How was his funeral celebrated?
18. What honours were decreed him?
19. Were those honours deserved?
20. What excuses may be made for his early cruelties?
21. By what means did he secure his power?
22. What remarkable event happened in his reign?
SECTION III.
Thy acts, Thy fame, Germanicus, will long outlive The venomed shafts of envy; and the praise Of patriot tongues shall follow thee in death.--_Clarke._
[Sidenote: U.C. 762. A.D. 10.]
1. Tibe"rius was fifty-six years old when he took upon him the government of the Roman empire. He had lived in a state of profound dissimulation under Augustus, and was not yet hardy enough to show himself in his real character. In the beginning of his reign nothing appeared but prudence, generosity, and clemency.[6] 2. But the successes of his nephew, German"icus, son of his late brother Dru"sus, over the Germans, first brought his natural disposition to light, and discovered the malignity of his mind without disguise. 3. He was hardly settled on his throne, when he received intelligence that the legions in Panno"nia, hearing of the death of Augustus, and desirous of novelty, had revolted; but these were soon quieted, and Percen"nius, their leader, slain. 4. A commotion in Germany was attended with much more important consequences. The legions in that part of the empire were conducted by German"icus, a youth of most admirable qualities, who had been at the late emperor"s request, adopted, in order to succeed to the empire. These forces had taken the opportunity of his absence to revolt, and now began to affirm that the whole Roman empire was in their power, and that its princ.i.p.al grandeur was owing to the success of their arms; when German"icus returned, therefore, they unanimously resolved to choose him emperor. 5. This general was the darling of the soldiers, and almost idolized, so that he might, with very little difficulty, have raised himself to the highest dignity in the state; but his duty prevailed over his ambition; he rejected their offers with the utmost indignation, and used the most indefatigable endeavours to quell the sedition. This he effected, though with extreme hazard, by cutting off many of the princ.i.p.al revolters, and then by leading the troops against the Germans, who were considered as the common enemies of the empire.
6. Tiberius was as much pleased with the loyalty of German"icus, as he was distressed at his superior popularity; his success, also, immediately after, against the Germans, still more excited the emperor"s envy and private disgust. He overthrew the enemy in several battles, subduing many wild and extensive countries. 7. These victories, however, only served to inflame the emperor"s jealousy: and every virtue in the general now became a new cause of offence. This dislike began to appear by Tiberius"s making use of every pretence to draw German"icus from the legions: but he was obliged to postpone his purpose on account of a domestic insurrection made in Italy by one Cle"mens, whom he put to death by a private execution in a secret apartment of the palace.
9. Having thus got rid of his domestic enemy, he turned his thoughts to the most specious means of bringing home German"icus from the legions in Germany. He began by procuring him a triumph for his late victories, and when writing to him to return in order to enjoy those honours which the senate had decreed; adding, that he had reaped enough of glory in a country to which he had been sent nine times, and been each time victorious; concluding, that so great a number of triumphs was sufficient; and the most signal vengeance which could be inflicted on this turbulent people was to permit them to continue their intestine divisions. 10. German"icus was met on his return, many miles from the city, by a vast mult.i.tude, who received him with marks of adoration rather than respect. The gracefulness of his person; his triumphal chariot, in which were carried his five children; and the recovered standards of the army of Va"rus, threw the people into a phrenzy of joy and admiration.[7]
11. German"icus was now appointed to a new dignity. He departed from Rome on an expedition to the east, carrying with him his wife Agrippi"na, and his children. 12. But Tibe"rius, to restrain his power, had sent Cne"ius Pi"so governor into Syr"ia. This Pi"so was a person of furious and headstrong temper, and, in every respect, fit to execute those fatal purposes for which he was designed. 13. His instructions were, to oppose German"icus upon every occasion, to excite hatred against him, and even to procure his death if an opportunity should offer. He accordingly took every opportunity of abusing German"icus; and taxed him with diminishing the Roman glory, by his peculiar protection of the Athe"nians. 14. German"icus disregarded his invectives, being more intent on executing the business of his commission, than on counteracting the private designs of Pi"so. 15. Piso, however, and his wife Planci"na, who is recorded as a woman of an implacable and cruel disposition, continued to defame him. German"icus opposed only patience and condescension to all their invectives, and, with that gentleness which was peculiar to him, repaid their resentments by courtesy. 16. He was not ignorant of their motives, and was rather willing to evade than oppose their enmity. He, therefore, took a voyage into Egypt, under pretence of viewing the celebrated antiquities of that country; but, in reality, to avoid the machinations of Pi"so, and those of his wife, which were still more dangerous. 17. Upon his return he fell sick, and, whether from a mind previously alarmed, or from more apparent marks of treachery, he sent to let Pi"so know, that he broke off all further connections. Growing daily worse, his death appeared to be inevitable.
18. Finding his end approaching, he addressed his friends, who stood around his bed, to the following effect: "Had my death been natural, I might have reason to complain of being thus s.n.a.t.c.hed away from all the endearments of life, at so early an age; but my complaints are aggravated, in falling the victim of Pi"so"s and Planci"na"s treachery. Let the emperor, therefore, I conjure you, know the manner of my death, and the tortures I suffer. Those who loved me when living--those who even envied my fortune--will feel some regret, when they hear of a soldier, who had so often escaped the rage of the enemy, falling a sacrifice to the treachery of a woman. Plead then my cause before the people--you will be heard with pity--and if my murderers should pretend to have acted by command, they will either receive no credit or no pardon." 19. As he spoke these words, he stretched forth his hand, which his weeping friends tenderly pressing, most earnestly vowed that they would lose their lives rather than their revenge. The dying prince, then turning to his wife, conjured her, by her regard to his memory, and by all the bonds of nuptial love, to submit to the necessity of the times, and to evade the resentment of her more powerful enemies by not opposing it.[8] 20.
Nothing could exceed the distress of the whole empire, upon hearing of the death of German"icus, and the people of Rome seemed to set no bounds to it. 21. In this universal confusion, Pi"so seemed marked for destruction. He and his wife stood charged with the death of German"icus, by giving him a slow poison. Indeed, even the emperor himself, with his mother Liv"ia, incurred a share of the general suspicion. 22. This was soon after greatly increased by the arrival of Agrippi"na, the widow of German"icus, a woman of invincible courage, and in high esteem for her virtue. She appeared bearing the urn containing the ashes of her husband, and, attended by all her children, went to the tomb of Augustus. 23. When she approached the city, she was met by the senate and people of Rome, both with acclamations and expressions of sorrow. The veteran soldiers, who had served under German"icus, gave the sincerest testimonies of their concern. The mult.i.tude, while the ashes were depositing, regarded the ceremony in profound silence; but presently broke out into loud lamentations, crying out, The commonwealth is now no more.
24. Tibe"rius permitted the accusation of Pi"so, though he was justly supposed to be merely the instrument of his own vengeance. This general was accused before the senate of the death of German"icus, and of other crimes.
25. He put an end to his trial, which had been drawn out to a great length, by committing suicide.[9] His wife Planci"na, who was universally believed to be most culpable, escaped punishment by the interest of Liv"ia.
26. Tibe"rius, having now no object of jealousy to keep him in awe, began to pull off the mask, and appear more in his natural character than before. 27. In the beginning of his cruelties, he took into his confidence Seja"nus, a Roman knight, who found out the method of gaining his affection by the most refined degree of dissimulation, and was an overmatch for his master in his own arts.[10] It is not well known whether he was the adviser of all the cruelties that ensued; but certain it is, that from the beginning of his ministry, Tibe"rius seemed to become more fatally suspicious.
_Questions for Examination_.
1. What were the age and character of Tiberius on his accession?
2. What first showed him in his true colours?
3. What was the first news he heard?
4. Was there not a more formidable revolt?
5. Did Germanicus accept this dignity?
6. Did Tiberius properly appreciate this conduct?
7. Was he pleased with his success?
8. How did this appear?
9. What followed this execution?
10. How was Germanicus received?
11. How was he next employed?
12. What restraints were imposed on him?