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！
he afterwards appeared worthy of admiration。 But now Antonia took
Agrippa's misfortune to heart： however； to speak to Tiberius on
his behalf； she took to be a very difficult thing； and indeed
quite impracticable； as to any hope of success； yet did she
procure of Macro； that the soldiers that kept him should be of a
gentle nature； and that the centurion who was over them and was
to diet with him； should be of the same disposition； and that he
might have leave to bathe himself every day； and that his
freed…men and friends might come to him； and that other things
that tended to ease him might be indulged him。 So his friend
Silas came in to him； and two of his freed…men； Marsyas and
Stechus； brought him such sorts of food as he was fond of； and
indeed took great care of him； they ；also brought him garments；
under pretense of selling them； and when night came on； they laid
them under him； and the soldiers assisted them； as Macro had
given them order to do beforehand。 And this was Agrippa's
condition for six months' time； and in this case were his
affairs。
8。 But for Tiberius； upon his return to Caprein； he fell sick。 At
first his distemper was but gentle； but as that distemper
increased upon him； he had small or no hopes of recovery。
Hereupon he bid Euodus； who was that freed…man whom he most of
all respected； to bring the children （23） to him； for that he
wanted to talk to them before he died。 Now he had at present no
sons of his own alive for Drusus； who was his only son； was dead；
but Drusus's son Tiberius was still living； whose additional name
was Gemellus： there was also living Caius； the son of Germanicus；
who was the son （24） of his brother ＇Drusus＇。 He was now grown
up； and had a liberal education； and was well improved by it； and
was in esteem and favor with the people； on account of the
excellent character of his father Germanicus； who had attained
the highest honor among the multitude； by the firmness of his
virtuous behavior； by the easiness and agreeableness of his
conversing with the multitude； and because the dignity he was in
did not hinder his familiarity with them all； as if they were his
equals； by which behavior he was not only greatly esteemed by the
people and the senate； but by every one of those nations that
were subject to the Romans； some of which were affected when they
came to him with the gracefulness of their reception by him； and
others were affected in the same manner by the report of the
others that had been with him； and； upon his death； there was a
lamentation made by all men； not such a one as was to be made in
way of flattery to their rulers； while they did but counterfeit
sorrow； but such as was real； while every body grieved at his
death； as if they had lost one that was near to them。 And truly
such had been his easy conversation with men； that it turned
greatly to the advantage of his son among all； and； among others；
the soldiery were so peculiarly affected to him； that they
reckoned it an eligible thing； if need were； to die themselves；
if he might but attain to the government。
9。 But when Tiberius had given order to Euodus to bring the
children to him the next day in the morning； he prayed to his
country gods to show him a manifest signal which of those
children should come to the government； being very desirous to
leave it to his son's son； but still depending upon what God
should foreshow concerning them more than upon his own opinion
and inclination； so he made this to be the omen； that the
government should be left to him who should come to him first the
next day。 When he had thus resolved within himself； he sent to
his grandson's tutor； and ordered him to bring the child to him
early in the morning； as supposing that God would permit him to
be made emperor。 But God proved opposite to his designation； for
while Tiberius was thus contriving matters； and as soon as it was
at all day； he bid Euodus to call in that child which should be
there ready。 So he went out； and found Caius before the door； for
Tiberius was not yet come； but staid waiting for his breakfast；
for Euodus knew nothing of what his lord intended； so he said to
Caius； 〃Thy father calls thee；〃 and then brought him in。 As soon
as Tiberius saw Caius； and not before； he reflected on the power
of God； and how the ability of bestowing the government on whom
he would was entirely taken from him； and thence he was not able
to establish what he had intended。 So he greatly lamented that
his power of establishing what he had before contrived was taken
from him； and that his grandson Tiberius was not only to lose the
Roman empire by his fatality； but his own safety also； because
his preservation would now depend upon such as would be more
potent than himself； who would think it a thing not to be borne；
that a kinsman should live with them； and so his relation would
not be able to protect him； but he would be feared and bated by
him who had the supreme authority； partly on account of his being
next to the empire； and partly on account of his perpetually
contriving to get the government； both in order to preserve
himself； and to be at the head of affairs also。 Now Tiberius had
been very much given to astrology； （25） and the calculation of
nativities； and had spent his life in the esteem of what
predictions had proved true； more than those whose profession it
was。 Accordingly； when he once saw Galba coming in to him； he
said to his most intimate friends； that there came in a man that
would one day have the dignity of the Roman empire。 So that this
Tiberius was more addicted to all such sorts of diviners than any
other of the Roman emperors； because he had found them to have
told him truth in his own affairs。 And indeed he was now in great
distress upon this accident that had befallen him； and was very
much grieved at the destruction of his son's son； which he
foresaw； and complained of himself； that he should have made use
of such a method of divination beforehand； while it was in his
power to have died without grief by this knowledge of futurity；
whereas he was now tormented by his foreknowledge of the
misfortune of such as were dearest to him； and must die under
that torment。 Now although he was disordered at this unexpected
revolution of the government to those for whom he did not intend
it； he spake thus to Caius； though unwillingly； and against his
own inclination： 〃O child！ although Tiberius be nearer related to
me than thou art； I； by my own determination； and the conspiring
suffrage of the gods； do give and put into thy hand the Roman
empire； and I desire thee never to be unmindful when thou comest
to it； either of my kindness to thee； who set thee in so high a
dignity； or of thy relation to Tiberius。 But as thou knowest that
I am； together with and after the gods； the procurer of so great
happiness to thee； so I desire that thou wilt make me a return
for my readiness to assist thee； and wilt take care of Tiberius
because of his near relation to thee。 Besides which； thou art to
know； that while Tiberius is alive； he will be a security to
thee； both as to empire and as to thy own preservation； but if he
die； that will