WIVES OF THE C.ESAIIS. 143 



favourite of Li via, and was cited by authority before a competent 

 tribunal ; but she was bold enough, relying on the empress's protec- 

 tion, to spurn the summons., and demand that her defensive deposi- 

 tions should be taken by a praetor, specially deputed for that purpose 

 to her private dwelling. In these exorbitant pretensions the favourite 

 was indecently maintained by Livia's effrontery. She was indignant 

 and amazed that the authority of law contested her superiority ; and 

 interceded with Tiberius to espouse her arrogant assumption. She 

 had, however, read but ill the rigid humour of her son, who silently 

 condemned the contumacy of her dependant ; and beheld with secret 

 satisfaction an irrevocable judgment given in the case, by which the 

 favourite was compelled to pay a weighty sum, which Livia lent her 

 for that purpose. To her, who in the life-time of Augustus had ex- 

 ercised unlimited authority, and who had furthermore conferred the 

 power by which her own was secretly curtailed, the humiliation was 

 offensive to the last degree. Tiberius listened to her violent remon- 

 strances with a cynical composure which embittered her disgust, and 

 taught her to expect the subsequent restrictions of his morose and 

 jealous policy. Ygt, notwithstanding the ungracious conduct of her 

 son, such was the ardour of her inveterate ambition, that her appre- 

 hensions were incessantly alive to every possibility by which the per- 

 manence of his authority might be endangered. 



Germanicus,* the son of Drusus and Antonia, was equally distin- 

 guished by his talents and his virtues. His achievement in the Ger- 

 man war had proved him a consummate captain ; and the generous 

 and loyal promptitude, with which he quelled the insubordination of 

 his army, and repelled the offer of the empire, thrice repeated to him 

 by the soldiery, deserved the confidence and gratitude of Tiberius. 

 But the sinister suspicions of the mother and the son beheld in the af- 

 fection of the legions who adored Germanicus the precarious tenure 

 of their own detestable authority; and thenceforth viewed with envy 

 and mistrust the popular ascendant of a military chief, whose virtues 

 darkened by their contrast the palpable demerits of the reigning 

 prince. Livia and Tiberius were little scrupulous of means, when 

 consulting their ambition or security ; and instruments of guilt were 

 always ready at the court of Rome to purchase, by atrocity however 

 deep, the grace and favour of the great. Germanicus was therefore to 

 be sacrificed. Beyond the confirmation of her son's authority, Livia 

 had a strong incentive to the act, in her hate of Agrippina, the wor- 

 thy consort of so great and good a man. She was the presiding fa- 

 vourite in Rome ; her illustrious descent endeared her to the people ; 

 her virtue was the theme of common approbation, at a season when 



* " Juveni civile ingenium, mira comitas el diversa a Tiberii sermone, vultu, 

 arrogantibus et obscuris. * * ' nobilitatem due-is, decorem' alius, plurimi, ' pa- 

 tientiam, comitatem, per seria, per jocos eundem animum' laudibas ferrent : 

 * * neque multo post extinguitur, ingenti luctu provincise et circumjacentium 

 populorum. IndoJuere exterse nationes, Regesque ; tanta illi comitas insocios, 

 mansuetudo in hostes ; visuque et auditu juxta venerabilis, cum magnitudinetn 

 et gravitatem summse Fortunse retineret, invidiam et arrogantiam effugerat." 

 Tacit. Ann. 1.1. 1. 2. in loc. 



