Satrius Secundus and Pinarius Natta were his accusers;
creatures of Sejanus: a mortal omen this to the accused; besides that
Tiberius received his defence with a countenance settled into cruelty. He
began it on this wise, casting away all hopes of life:
"As to facts, I am so guiltless, Conscript Fathers, that my words only are
accused: but neither are any words of mine pointed against the Emperor, or
his mother; who are the only persons comprehended in the law concerning
violated majesty. It is alleged that I have praised Brutus and Cassius;
men whose lives and actions have been compiled by a cloud of writers, and
their memory treated by none but with honour. Titus Livius, an historian
eminently famous for eloquence and veracity, signalised Pompey with such
abundant encomiums, that he was thence by Augustus named Pompeianus; nor
did this prejudice their common friendship. Neither Scipio, nor Afranius,
nor even this same Cassius, nor this same Brutus, are anywhere mentioned
by him as _traitors_ and _parricides_, the common nicknames now bestowed
on them; but often, as great and memorable men.
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