More
probable it is, that this hasty murder was purely the work of Tiberius and
Livia; that the young Prince, hated and dreaded by both, fell thus
untimely, to rid the one of his apprehensions and a rival, and to satiate
in the other the rancorous spirit of a step-mother. When the Centurion,
according to the custom of the army, acquainted Tiberius, "that his
commands were executed;" he answered, "he had commanded no such execution,
and the Centurion must appear before the Senate, and for it be answerable
to them." This alarmed Sallustius Crispus, who shared in all his secret
counsels, and had sent the Centurion the warrant: he dreaded that he
should be arraigned for the assassination, and knew it equally perilous
either to confess the truth, and charge the Emperor; or falsely to clear
the Emperor, and accuse himself. Hence he had recourse to Livia, and
warned her, "never to divulge the secrets of the palace, never to expose
to public examination the ministers who advised, nor the soldiers who
executed: Tiberius should beware of relaxing the authority of the Prince,
by referring all things to that of the Senate; since it was the
indispensable prerogative of sovereignty for all men to be accountable
only to one.
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