" Thus was
Caecina's motion eluded.
When the Senate met next, they had a letter from Tiberius. In it he
affected to chide the fathers, "that upon him they cast all public cares;"
and named them M. Lepidus and Junius Blesus, to choose either for
Proconsul of Africa. They were then both heard as to this nomination:
Lepidus excused himself with earnestness; he pleaded "his bodily frailty,
the tender age of his children, and a daughter fit for marriage." There
was another reason too, of which he said nothing; but it was easily
understood: Blesus was uncle to Sejanus, and therefore had the prevailing
interest. Blesus too made a show of refusing, but not with the like
positiveness, and was heard with partiality by the flatterers of power.
The same year the cities of Gaul, stimulated by their excessive debts,
began a rebellion. The most vehement incendiaries were Julius Florus and
Julius Sacrovir; the first amongst those of Treves, the second amongst the
Aeduans. They were both distinguished by their nobility, and by the good
services of their ancestors, who thence had acquired of old the right of
Roman citizens; a privilege rare in those days, and then only the prize of
virtue.
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