"
While the public was engaged in these and the like debates, the illness of
Augustus waxed daily more grievous; and some strongly suspected the
pestilent practices of his wife. For there had been, some months before, a
rumour abroad, that Augustus having singled out a few of his most faithful
servants, and taken Fabius Maximus for his only companion, had, with no
other retinue, sailed secretly over to the Island of Planasia, there to
visit his Grandson Agrippa; that many tears were shed on both sides, many
tokens of mutual tenderness shown, and hopes from thence conceived, that
the unhappy youth would be restored to his own place in his Grandfather's
family. That Maximus had disclosed it to Martia, she to Livia; and thence
the Emperor knew that the secret was betrayed: that Maximus being soon
after dead (dead, as it was doubted, through fear, by his own hands),
Martia was observed, in her lamentations and groans at his funeral, to
accuse herself as the sad cause of her husband's destruction. Whatever
truth was in all this, Tiberius was scarce entered Illyrium, but he was
hastily recalled by his mother's letters: nor is it fully known whether at
his return to Nola, he found Augustus yet breathing, or already
breathless.
Pages:
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67