" It appeared absurd that amongst so many attending slaves besides
his own, in so great a presence, and under the eye of Germanicus, he would
attempt it: he himself required that the waiters might be racked, and
offered to the rack his own domestics: but the Judges were implacable,
implacable from different motives; Tiberius for the war raised in the
province; and the Senate could never be convinced that the death of
Germanicus was not the effect of fraud. Some moved for the letters written
to Piso from Rome; a motion opposed by Tiberius no less than by Piso. From
without, at the same time, were heard the cries of the people, "that if he
escaped the judgment of the Senate, they would with their own hands
destroy him." They had already dragged his statues to the place from
whence malefactors were precipitated, and there had broken them; but by
the orders of Tiberius they were rescued and replaced. Piso was put into a
litter and carried back by a tribune of a Praetorian cohort; an attendance
variously understood, whether as a guard for his safety, or a minister of
death.
Plancina was under equal public hatred, but had more secret favour: hence
it was doubted how far Tiberius durst proceed against her.
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