The policy this of the late reign, when Tiberius
frustrated every request of the soldiers, by referring all to Augustus;
now Drusus was come with the same artifices to delude them: were they
never to have a higher visit than from the children of their Prince? It
was, indeed, unaccountable, that to the Senate the Emperor should leave no
part in the direction of the army, only the rewarding of the soldiery:
ought not the same Senate to be consulted as often as a battle was to be
fought, or a private man to be punished? or, were their recompenses to be
adjudged by many masters, but their punishments to remain without any
restraint or moderator whatsoever?"
At last they abandoned the tribunal, and with menaces and insults fell
upon all they met belonging to Drusus, either as guards or friends;
meditating thus to provoke a quarrel, and an introduction to blood.
Chiefly enraged they were against Cneius Lentulus, as one for years and
warlike renown superior to any about the person of Drusus, and thence
suspected to have hardened the Prince, and been himself the foremost to
despise these outrages in the soldiery: nor was it long after, that as he
was leaving Drusus, and from the foresight of danger returning to the
winter quarters, they surrounded him and demanded "whither he went? to the
Emperor or Senate? there also to exercise his enmity to the legions, and
oppose their interest?" and instantly assaulted him with stones.
Pages:
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97