In his old age he preserved with the Prince
rather the outside than the vitals of authority: the same had happened to
Maecenas. It is the fate of power, which is rarely perpetual; perhaps from
satiety on both sides, when Princes have no more to grant, and Ministers
no more to crave.
Next followed the Consulship of Tiberius and Drusus; to Tiberius the
fourth, to Drusus the second: a Consulship remarkable, for that in it the
father and son were colleagues. There was indeed the same fellowship
between Tiberius and Germanicus, two years before; but besides the
distastes of jealousy in the uncle, the ties of blood were not so near. In
the beginning of the year, Tiberius, on pretence of his health, retired to
Campania; either already meditating a long and perpetual retirement; or to
leave to Drusus, in his father's absence, the honour of executing the
Consulship alone: and there happened a thing which, small in itself, yet
as it produced mighty contestation, furnished the young Consul with matter
of popular affection. Domitius Corbulo, formerly Praetor, complained to
the Senate of Lucius Sylla, a noble youth, "that in the show of
gladiators, Sylla would not yield him place.
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