"He, in
truth, was not ignorant," he said, "that he might be censured, for having
thus in the first throbs of sorrow, beheld the face of the Senate; when
most of those who feel the fresh pangs of mourning, can scarce endure the
soothings of their kindred, scarce behold the day: neither were such to be
condemned of weakness: but for himself, he had more powerful consolations;
such as arose from embracing the Commonwealth, and pursuing her welfare."
He then lamented "the extreme age of his mother, the tender years of his
grandsons, his own days in declension;" and desired that, "as the only
alleviation of the present evils, the children of Germanicus might be
introduced." The Consuls therefore went for them, and having with kind
words fortified their young minds, presented them to the Emperor. He took
them by the hand and said, "Conscript Fathers, these infants, bereft of
their father, I committed to their uncle; and besought him that, though he
had issue of his own, he would rear and nourish them no otherwise than as
the immediate offspring of his blood; that he would appropriate them as
stays to himself and posterity.
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