He was even said to have sung to Germanicus his hastening fate, but as
oracles are wont, in terms dark and doubtful.
But Cneius Piso, hurrying to the execution of his purposes, terrified the
city of Athens by a tempestuous entry, and reproached them in a severe
speech, with oblique censure of Germanicus, "that debasing the dignity of
the Roman name, he had paid excessive court, not to the Athenians by so
many slaughters long since extinct, but to the then mixed scum of nations
there; for that these were they who had leagued with Mithridates against
Sylla, and with Anthony against Augustus." He even charged them with the
errors and misfortunes of ancient Athens; her impotent attempts against
the Macedonians; her violence and ingratitude to her own citizens. He was
also an enemy to their city from personal anger; because they would not
pardon at his request one Theophilus condemned by the Areopagus for
forgery. From thence sailing hastily through the Cyclades, and taking the
shortest course, he overtook Germanicus at Rhodes, but was there driven by
a sudden tempest upon the rocks: and Germanicus, who was not ignorant with
what malignity and invectives he was pursued, yet acted with so much
humanity, that when he might have left him to perish, and to casualty have
referred the destruction of his enemy; he despatched galleys to rescue him
from the wreck.
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