They at last met at Cyrrum, the
winter quarters of the tenth legion, whither each came with a prepared
countenance; Piso to betray no fear, and Germanicus would not be thought
to threaten. He was indeed, as I have observed, of a humane and
reconcilable spirit: but, officious friends expert at inflaming
animosities, aggravated real offences, added fictitious, and with manifold
imputations charged Piso, Plancina, and their sons. To this interview
Germanicus admitted a few intimates, and began his complaints in words
such as dissembled resentment dictates. Piso replied with disdainful
submissions; and they parted in open enmity. Piso hereafter came rarely to
the tribunal of Germanicus; or, if he did, sate sternly there, and in
manifest opposition: he likewise published his spite at a feast of the
Nabathean King's, where golden crowns of great weight were presented to
Germanicus and Agrippina; but to Piso and the rest, such as were light:
"This banquet," he said, "was made for the son of a Roman prince, not of a
Parthian monarch:" with these words, he cast away his crown, and uttered
many invectives against luxury: sharp insults and provocations these to
Germanicus; yet he bore them.
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