By his
example, Tiberius now advanced Drusus to the supreme Magistracy; whereas,
while Germanicus yet lived, he acted without distinction towards both. In
the beginning of his letter he besought the Gods "that by his counsels the
Republic might prosper," and then added a modest testimony concerning the
qualities and behaviour of the young Prince, without aggravation or false
embellishments; "that he had a wife and three children, and was of the
same age with himself, when called by the deified Augustus to that office:
that Drusus was not now by him adopted a partner in the toils of
government, precipitately; but after eight years' experience made of his
qualifications; after seditions suppressed, wars concluded, the honour of
triumph, and two Consulships."
The Senators had foreseen this address; hence they received it with the
more elaborate adulation. However, they could devise nothing to decree,
but "statues to the two Princes, altars to the Gods, arches," and other
usual honours: only that Marcus Silanus strove to honour the Princes by
the disgrace of the Consulship: he proposed "that all records public and
private should, for their date, be inscribed no more with the names of the
Consuls, but of those who exercised the Tribunitial power.
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