The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

IX. Clemens a bondslaue, counterfeiteth himselfe to be Agrippa: and his bold answere.

THe same yeere, an audacious part of a bondslaue had shaken the whole state with ciuill wars and discord; had it not beene preuented in good time. A bondman of Agrippas called Clemens, vnderstanding of Augustus death: with a courage more then seruile, purposed to go to the Iland Planasia, and by fraud or force bring away Agrippa to the German campe. But his enterprise was hinde∣red by the slownes of a ship of burden: and in the meane season Agrippa being murdered, bending his mind to greater and dangerouser attempts; stealeth away his ashes: and being come to Coram, a promontorie of Ethruria, in vnknowen pla∣ces hideth himselfe, vntill his beard and haire were growen out; being in fauour and yeeres not vnlike his Lord. This done, he whispereth it abroad, by fit compani∣ons of his secrets: first (as in things forbidden commonly it is wont to be) by priuie rumors, that Agrippa was yet aliue: then openly, in the credulous eares of the

weaker sort; or busie headed and turbulent: and therefore most desirous of nouel∣ties. His manner was towards night to go to small townes; shewing himselfe a∣broad, but seldome: nor stay long in a place. And bicause time, and the eie trie out truth; and falshood winneth credit on a sudden, and by vncertainties, he either left some speech of him where he had beene, or preuented it, before any was begun. In the mean time it was commonly reported throughout Italy, and beleeued at Rome, that Agrippa by the goodnes of the gods was preserued aliue. In so much that being arriued at Hostia: there great multitudes, and in the citie secret assemblies shewed signes of ioy: Tiberius being doubtfull and perplexed, whether he should make away his bondman by souldiers; or suffer that vaine credulousnes to vanish away with time. Thus wauereing betwixt shame and feare: sometimes thinking it no policie to make light of any thing: and sometime lesse to feare all things: in the end committed the matter to Sallustius Crispus. He chuseth two of his followers (or as some saie souldiers) and perswadeth them, as though they had fled for some of∣fence to goe to him; offer him money; promise him loyaltie; and that they would stand to him in all dangers. They fulfilling his commaundement, espieng a night when he had no guarde: with aide sufficient, bound him, stopped his mouth, and drew him to the pallace. And when Caesar asked him, How he was made Agrip∣pa: it is reported hee answered, As thou wast made Caesar. He could not bee brought by any meanes to disclose his confederates. Neither durst Tiberius punish him openly; but in a secret part of the pallace commaunded him to be murdered; and his bodie priuily to be conueied away. And although many of the Princes own house, Senators, and gentlemen, were reported to haue sustained him with their goods, & aided him with their counsell; yet there was no further enquirie made. In the end of this yeere a triumphall arch was erected neere to Saturnus Temple, for the recouerie of the ensignes lost with Varus, vnder the conduct of Germanicus, and Caesars good fortune. And a Temple built also of strong fortune, neere Tyber in the gardens which Caesar the Dictator had bequeathed to the people of Rome: and a Chappell dedicated to the Iulian familie; and an image to Augustus at Bouilles.