The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

XVI. An accusation against Granius Marcellus, Orders against suing for dignities.

NOt long after, Granius Marcellus Pretor of Bithynia, was accused of treason by Caepio Crispinus his Quaestor: Romanus Hispo subscribed thereto: who en∣tered into a course of life, which the calamities of times, and mens boldnes made famous. For being needie, obscure, and a busie companion, by secret informa∣tion he so crept into the cruell humor of the Prince, that he was able in short time to endanger the estate of the best in the citie: thereby getting credit and authoritie with one, and hatred of many. He gaue an example, which many following, of beg∣gers became rich, of base and contemptible persons, feared; procuring destruction to others, and in the end to themselues. He accused Marcellus to haue vttered bad speeches against Tiberius: which was an accusation ineuitable; because that ha∣uing chosen out the greatest blemishes of Tiberius life and manners, because they were true; were beleeued. Hispo added, that Marcellus image was placed higher then those of the Caesars; and that the head of another of Augustus being cut off, Tiberius image was put vpon it: which so incensed him, that breaking silence, he cried out that he would himselfe, and that sworne, giue open sentence in that cause: to the end the rest should be inforced to do as he had done; for as yet there were some marks of dying libertie left in the Senate. Then said C. Piso. What place wilt thou take Caesar to deliuer thy censure? If thou wilt speake first, I shall haue a president to follow: if last, I feare I shall swarue from thee vncircumspectly. Aba∣shed with this, the hotter vnaduisedly he had growne, the more repenting; he suffered the arraigned of treason to be quit. As concerning the extorsions, the cause was put ouer to the delegates. And not contented with the iudgements of the Senators, he assisted in the hearing of causes himselfe, and sate in the end of the Tribunal, least he should put the Pretor out of his chaire. Many orders were giuen in his presence against canuasing for offices, and noblemens suites: but whilest he laboured for iustice, libertie went to wracke. Whilest these things were adoing, Pius Aurelius a Senator, complained that his house was decayed and growne to ruine, by the raysing vp of a publick way, and conueyance of water: and craued aide of the Lords of the Senate in that behalfe. And where the Treasurers opposed themselues against it, he was relieued by Caesar, who payed him the value of his house: desirous to employ his money in honest actions: which vertue he long re∣tained after he had shaken off al others. He bestowed * 1.1 ten hundred thousand sester∣ties vpō Propertius Celer, once Pretor, and now crauing licence to giue vp his roome, by reason of the pouertie his father left him in; and commanded others which made the same sute, to make it knowen to the Senate, that their petition was true: desirons to be accounted seuere in things well done: which caused others rather to indure their pouertie with silence, then by acknowledging it, receiue a benefit at his hands. The same yeere, through continuall raines the riuer Tibris rose so high, that it co∣uered all the flat places of the citie; and in falling, there insued a great ruine of men and buildings. Whereupon a remedie being consulted of in Senate, Asinius Gallus was of opinion, that the bookes of the Sybils should be searched: which Tiberius hindered; as one who would hide from them, as well things diuine as humane. But he committed that charge vnto Ateius Capito, and L. Arruntius. Achaia and Mace∣donia

complaining of their heauie taxations: it was agreed in Senate, that they should no longer be gouerned by a proconsull, but by Caesar. Drusus being made ouerseer of a play of fencers, set foorth in his owne and his brother Germanicus name; because he seemed to take ouer great pleasure in shedding of blood; stroake a feare into the peoples minds, and as it is reported, was disliked of his father. Why Tiberius forbare to see this spectacle, it was diuersly construed: some thought be∣cause he loathed to be in great assemblies: some because he was of a melancholy sad disposition: and also misdoubting least some should fall into comparison, betwixt him and Augustus, who was woont to be present at such plaies with courteous and milde cariage. I cannot thinke that his meaning was, to giue his sonne occasion to shew his crueltie, and mooue the people to offence; although some haue so repor∣ted. The licentiousnes begun in the Theator the last yeere, grew now to a farther outrage: many not onely of the common people slaine; but soldiers and Centuri∣ons, and a Captaine of the guarde, whilest they went about to bridle the insolencie of the people, and hinder them from vsing lauishing speeches against magistrates. That sedition was debated in Senate: many being of opinion that it it was conue∣nient, that the Pretor should haue authoritie to whip the stage-plaiers. But Hate∣rius Agrippa Tribune of the people contradicted him: whom Asinius Gallus re∣buked in an oration: Tiberius holding his peace; suffering the Senate to vse that shadow of libertie. Yet Haterius preuailed, bicause Augustus had once declared the stage-plaiers to be free from stripes: and therefore not lawfull for Tiberius to infringe it. Many orders were layd downe touching the moderation and charges bestowed vpon plaies: and against the insolent behauiour of their fauourers; wher∣of the chiefest are these. That no Senator should enter into a plaiers house: that the gentlemen of Rome should not accompanie them in publike places: that it was not lawfull to see their plaies but on the Theater. And that the Pretor should haue authoritie to banish such lookers on, as behaued themselues disorderly. The Spaniards had licence graunted them, at their request, to erect a Temple in honour of Augustus, in the free towne of Tarracon; which was a president for all the other prouinces to follow. The people making supplication, that they might be vnburde∣ned of the imposition of one in the hundred of all things bought and sold, which began after the wars were begun: Tiberius answered by an edict that it was the one∣ly stay of souldiers wages: and that the state would be ouercharged if the olde soldiers should not be dismissed after twentie yeeres seruice: and by this meanes, the order wrunge out to appease the soldiers, that the soldiers shoulde be dismissed af∣ter sixteene yeeres seruice, was abrogated. After this it was propounded in Senate by Arruntius and Ateius, whether for the repressing of the inundations of Tiber, it were conuenient to diuert the course of the riuers and lakes, which were cause of his rising. Vpon this occasion, the ambassadors of other free townes and colonies were heard: and especially the deputies from the citie of Florence; requesting that Clanis might not be turned out of his owne chanell into Arne, as a matter greatly to their hurt. The like speech the Interamnates vsed, shewing that the fertilest tract of Italie should be lost, if (as it was intended) the riuer Nar should be cut into manie branches; and so all become a standing poole, if the new chanels were not capable of so much water. The Reatins did not in this case hold their peace: no way yeelding that the mouth of the lake Velinus should be dammed vp, where it discargeth it self into Nar: for so it would ouerflow al about it. And that nature had wel prouided for the necessitie of mans vse: hauing giuen all riuers, their course and mouth, and as well their bounds, as beginnings. That the religion of their allies was to be consi∣dered,

who consecrated vnto the riuers of their countrey, woods and altars. Yea that Tiber would not be depriued of his neighbour-riuers, and so run his course with lesser glory. In the end either through the intreatie of the Colonies, or difficul∣tie of the worke, or superstition, Pisoes opinion was approued, which was, that there should be nothing changed. Poppaeus Sabinus was continued in the gouernment of Maesia, and Achaia and Macedonia added to his charge. For it was Tiberius man∣ner, to continue men in their office and charge, either of warre, or iurisdiction, sometimes during their life; whereof there were diuers reasons giuen. Some said he did it, to auoid the tedious care of often prouiding; and that he would haue that to continue which he had thought once well done: some did interpret it to be done of enuie, because many should not enioy them: some, that as he was of a sub∣tile wit, so of no resolute iudgement; as not choosing men of excellent vertue: and on the other side, hating vices. He feared least the best would attempt some∣what against him, and the worst dishonor the state. Which doubtfulnes brought him to that passe at last, that he gaue the gouernment of prouinces to some, which he would not suffer to depart the citie. Concerning the election of Consuls, which was first obserued vnder this Prince, and afterward by others, I dare assure nothing: not only the authors, but the Prince himselfe doth so much differ in his orations. For sometimes not naming the suters, he described euery mans beginning, life, and what pay he had receiued; that a man might easily gesse who they were. At ano∣ther time, not touching any of those particulars, he perswaded the suters, not to disturbe the elections, by bribing and canuasing: promising that himselfe would be a meane for them. And oftentimes he sayd, there were no more which pretended to be suters, but such only, whose names he had presented vnto the Consuls: and that others might bring in their names likewise, if they would trust either to their merit or fauor. But all was but faire words, and in deede deceiptfull and without ef∣fect: and by how much the more they were masked with a colour of libertie, by so much the heauier and greeuouser a seruitude they were like to bring after them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  About 7. thou∣sand eight hun∣dred and twelue pounds ten shillings.