His own absence from these shows was variously construed: by some it
was ascribed to his impatience of a crowd; by others to his reserved and
solitary genius, and his fear of an unequal comparison with Augustus, who
was wont to be a cheerful spectator. But, that he thus purposely furnished
matter for exposing the cruelty of his son there, and for raising him
popular hate, is what I would not believe; though this too was asserted.
The dissensions of the theatre, begun last year, broke out now more
violently, with the slaughter of several, not of the people only, but of
the soldiers, with that of a Centurion. Nay, a Tribune of a Praetorian
cohort was wounded, whilst they were securing the magistrates from
insults, and quelling the licentiousness of the rabble. This riot was
canvassed in the Senate, and votes were passing for empowering the
Praetors to whip the players. Haterius Agrippa, Tribune of the People,
opposed it; and was sharply reprimanded by a speech of Asinius Gallus.
Tiberius was silent, and to the Senate allowed these empty apparitions of
liberty. The opposition, however, prevailed, in reverence to the authority
of Augustus; who, upon a certain occasion, had given his judgment, "that
players were exempt from stripes:" nor would Tiberius assume to violate
any words of his.
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