" He explained the genuine
purposes of that embassy, and lamented with affecting eloquence "the
outrage committed upon Plancus, altogether brutal and unprovoked; the foul
violence done to the sacred person of an Ambassador, and the mighty
disgrace from thence derived upon the legion." Yet as the assembly showed
more stupefaction than calmness, he dismissed the deputies under a guard
of auxiliary horse.
During this affright, Germanicus was by all men censured, "that he retired
not to the higher army, whence he had been sure of ready obedience, and
even of succour against the revolters: already he had taken wrong measures
more than enow, by discharging some, rewarding all, and other tender
counsels; if he despised his own safety, yet why expose his infant son,
why his wife big with child, to the fury of outrageous traitors, wantonly
violating all the most sacred rights amongst men? It became him at least
to restore his wife and son safe to Tiberius and to the State." He was
long unresolved; besides Agrippina was averse to leave him, and urged,
that "she was the grand-daughter of Augustus, and it was below her spirit
to shrink in a time of danger.
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