按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a fugitive； out of the places under his government； and put it
out of his power to get the money of him。 When Caesar had read
this letter； he was much troubled at it； and gave order that
Agrippa should be excluded from his presence until he had paid
that debt： upon which he was no way daunted at Caesar's anger；
but entreated Antonia； the mother of Germanicus； and of Claudius；
who was afterward Caesar himself； to lend him those three hundred
thousand drachmae； that he might not be deprived of Tiberius's
friendship； so； out of regard to the memory of Bernice his
mother； （for those two women were very familiar with one
another；） and out of regard to his and Claudius's education
together； she lent him the money； and； upon the payment of this
debt； there was nothing to hinder Tiberius's friendship to him。
After this； Tiberius Caesar recommended to him his grandson； （20）
and ordered that he should always accompany him when he went
abroad。 But upon Agrippa's kind reception by Antonia； he betook
him to pay his respects to Caius； who was her grandson； and in
very high reputation by reason of the good…will they bare his
father。 Now there was one Thallus； a freed…man of Caesar； of whom
he borrowed a million of drachmae； and thence repaid Antonia the
debt he owed her； and by sending the overplus in paying his court
to Caius； became a person of great authority with him。
5。 Now as the friendship which Agrippa had for Caius was come to
a great height； there happened some words to pass between them；
as they once were in a chariot together； concerning Tiberius；
Agrippa praying ＇to God＇ （for they two sat by themselves） that
Tiberius might soon go off the stage； and leave the government to
Caius； who was in every respect more worthy of it。 Now Eutychus；
who was Agrippa's freed…man； and drove his chariot； heard these
words； and at that time said nothing of them； but when Agrippa
accused him of stealing some garments of his； （which was
certainly true；） he ran away from him； but when he was caught；
and brought before Piso； who was governor of the city； and the
man was asked why he ran away； be replied； that he had somewhat
to say to Caesar； that tended to his security and preservation：
so Piso bound him； and sent him to Capreae。 But Tiberius；
according to his usual custom； kept him still in bonds； being a
delayer of affairs； if ever there was any other king or tyrant
that was so； for he did not admit ambassadors quickly； and no
successors were despatched away to governors or procurators of
the provinces that had been formerly sent； unless they were dead；
whence it was that he was so negligent in hearing the causes of
prisoners； insomuch that when he was asked by his friends what
was the reason of his delay in such cases； he said that he
delayed to hear ambassadors； lest； upon their quick dismission；
other ambassadors should be appointed； and return upon him； and
so he should bring trouble upon himself in their public reception
and dismission： that he permitted those governors who had been
sent once to their government ＇to stay there a long while＇； out
of regard to the subjects that were under them； for that all
governors are naturally disposed to get as much as they can； and
that those who are not to fix there； but to stay a short time；
and that at an uncertainty when they shall be turned out； do the
more severely hurry themselves on to fleece the people； but that
if their government be long continued to them； they are at last
satiated with the spoils； as having gotten a vast deal； and so
become at length less sharp in their pillaging； but that if
successors are sent quickly； the poor subjects； who are exposed
to them as a prey； will not be able to bear the new ones； while
they shall not have the same time allowed them wherein their
predecessors had filled themselves； and so grew more unconcerned
about getting more； and this because they are removed before they
have had time ＇for their oppressions＇。 He gave them an example to
show his meaning： A great number of flies came about the sore
places of a man that had been wounded； upon which one of the
standers…by pitied the man's misfortune； and thinking he was not
able to drive those flies away himself； was going to drive them
away for him； but he prayed him to let them alone： the other； by
way of reply； asked him the reason of such a preposterous
proceeding； in preventing relief from his present misery； to
which he answered； 〃If thou drivest these flies away； thou wilt
hurt me worse； for as these are already full of my blood； they do
not crowd about me； nor pain me so much as before； but are
somewhat more remiss； while the fresh ones that come almost
famished； and find me quite tired down already； will be my
destruction。 For this cause； therefore； it is that I am myself
careful not to send such new governors perpetually to those my
subjects； who are already sufficiently harassed by many
oppressions； as may； like these flies； further distress them； and
so； besides their natural desire of gain； may have this
additional incitement to it； that they expect to be suddenly
deprived of that pleasure which they take in it。〃 And； as a
further attestation to what I say of the dilatory nature of
Tiberius； I appeal to this his practice itself； for although he
was emperor twenty…two years； he sent in all but two procurators
to govern the nation of the Jews； Gratus； and his successor in
the government； Pilate。 Nor was he in one way of acting with
respect to the Jews； and in another with respect to the rest of
his subjects。 He further informed them； that even in the hearing
of the causes of prisoners； he made such delays； because
immediate death to those that must be condemned to die would be
an alleviation of their present miseries； while those wicked
wretches have not deserved any such favor； 〃but I do it； that； by
being harassed with the present calamity； they may undergo
greater misery。〃
6。 On this account it was that Eutychus could not obtain a
bearing； but was kept still in prison。 However； some time
afterward； Tiberius came from Capreae to Tusculanum； which is
about a hundred furlongs from Rome。 Agrippa then desired of
Antonia that she would procure a hearing for Eutychus； let the
matter whereof he accused him prove what it would。 Now Antonia
was greatly esteemed by Tiberius on all accounts； from the
dignity of her relation to him； who had been his brother Drusus's
wife； and from her eminent chastity； （21） for though she was
still a young woman； she continued in her widowhood； and refused
all other matches； although Augustus had enjoined her to be
married to somebody else； yet did she all along preserve her
reputation free from reproach。 She had also been the greatest
benefactress to Tiberius； when there was a very dangerous plot
laid against him by Sejanus； a man who had been her husband's
friend； and wire had the greatest authority； because he was
general of the army； and when many members of the senate and many
of the freed…men joined with him； and the soldiery was corrupted；
and the plot was come to a great height。 Now Sejanus had
certainly gained his point； had not Antonia's boldness been more