But as the equality
of the whole was extinguished by the sovereignty of one, all men regarded
the orders of the Prince as the only rule of conduct and obedience; nor
felt they any anxiety, while Augustus yet retained vigour of life, and
upheld the credit of his administration with public peace, and the
imperial fortune of his house. But when he became broken with the pressure
of age and infirmities; when his end was at hand, and thence a new source
of hopes and views was presented, some few there were who began to reason
idly about the blessings and recovery of Liberty; many dreaded a civil
war, others longed for one; while far the greater part were uttering their
several apprehensions of their future masters; "that naturally stern and
savage was the temper of Agrippa, and by his public contumely enraged into
fury; and neither in age nor experience was he equal to the weight of
Empire. Tiberius indeed had arrived at fulness of years, and was a
distinguished captain, but possessed the inveterate pride entailed upon
the Claudian race; and many indications of a cruel nature escaped him, in
spite of all his arts to disguise it; besides that from his early infancy
he was trained up in a reigning house, and even in his youth inured to an
accumulation of power and honours, consulships and triumphs: nor during
the several years of his abode at Rhodes, where, under the plausible name
of retirement, a real banishment was covered, did he exercise other
occupation than that of meditating future vengeance, studying the arts of
treachery, and practising secret, abominable sensualities: add to these
considerations, that of his mother, a woman inspired with all the tyranny
of her sex; yes, the Romans must be under bondage to a woman, and moreover
enthralled by two youths, who would first combine to oppress the State,
and then falling into dissension, rend it piecemeal.
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