Nor has any writer appeared so
outrageous to charge it upon Tiberius; though in other instances they have
sedulously collected and inflamed every action of his. My own purpose in
recounting and censuring this rumour, was to blast, by so glaring an
example, the credit of groundless tales; and to request of those into
whose hands our present undertaking shall come, that they would not prefer
hearsays, void of credibility and rashly swallowed, to the narrations of
truth not adulterated with romance.
To proceed; whilst Tiberius was pronouncing in public the panegyric of his
son, the Senate and People assumed the port and accent of mourners, rather
in appearance than cordially; and in their hearts exulted to see the house
of Germanicus begin to revive. But this dawn of fortune, and the conduct
of Agrippina, ill disguising her hopes, quickened the overthrow of that
house. For Sejanus, when he saw the death of Drusus pass unrevenged upon
his murderers, and no public lamentation following it; undaunted as he was
in villainy since his first efforts had succeeded; cast about in himself,
how he might destroy the sons of Germanicus, whose succession to the
Empire was now unquestionable.
Pages:
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297