Commanded by the Emperor, I
took a wife; behold the offspring of so many Consuls; behold the
descendants of so many Dictators! nor is this remembrance invidiously
made, but made to move mercy. In the progress of your reign, Caesar, these
children may arrive at the honours in your gift; defend them in the
meantime from want: they are the great-grandsons of Hortensius; they are
the foster sons of Augustus."
The inclination of the Senate was favourable; an incitement this to
Tiberius the more eagerly to thwart Hortalus. These were in effect his
words: "If all that are poor recur hither for a provision of money to
their children, the public will certainly fail, and yet particulars never
be satiated. Our ancestors, when they permitted a departure from the
question, to propose somewhat more important to the State, did not
therefore permit it, that we might here transact domestic matters, and
augment our private rents: an employment invidious both in the Senate and
the Prince; since, whether they grant or deny the petitioned bounties,
either the people or the petitioners will ever be offended.
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