95 



ascertained if any such indications existed. Supposing, however, the 

 narrative of Suetonius to be correct, it would still Le impossible to say 

 what was the cause of the reported phenomena. The credulit)' of the 

 time, it appears, was prepared to swallow ever^'thing, however prepos- 

 terous. It was stated at the trial of Piso by one of the accusers, that 

 the heart of Germauicus remained untouched by the fire of the funeral 

 pile, and this was a sure proof that he died of poison. 



In the absence of all medical evidence that the death of Germanicus 

 resulted from foul play and not from natural causes, we have to inquire 

 into the circumstances attending that death, and more particularly into 

 the conduct of the suspected assassins. L. Piso, as we have seen, 

 was personally opposed to Germanicus. He thwarted and annoyed him 

 on eveiy occasion. Let this conduct be explained, as it generally is, 

 as the result of a secret order of Tiberius, still this supposition entirely 

 fails in explaining his subsequent proceedings, which go far to prove 

 that he acted on his own responsibility, and contrary to the wishes of 

 Tiberius. Being ordered by Germanicus to quit the province of Syria, 

 he delayed ins voyage to Italy until he obtained the intelligence of the 

 death of his enemy. He then suddenly returned and attempted to 

 regain possession of the province by force of arms. Failing in this 

 attempt he returned to Piome, where he was put on his trial for the 

 mm'der of Germanicus, and for the treasonable attempt of levying war 

 against the legal authorities. The trial seems to have been conducted 

 with great impartiality. Tiberius, after the preliminaiy investigations, 

 brought it before the highest tribunal of the realm, and rigidly ab- 

 stained from taking any part in it. The charge of murder could not 

 be maintained,-.^ and seems to have been acknowledged frivolous and 

 unfounded ; but the charge of raising civil war assumed so grave an 

 aspect, and Piso saw himself so utterly abandoned by the Emperor to 

 the course of the law, that he anticipated the condemnation which he 

 expected by a voluntary death. 



The attitude of Tiberius during this trial was highly dignified. The 

 speech he delivered on the occasion before the senate cannot be read by 

 any one free from prejudice without producing the conviction that his 

 hands were free from blood, f The object of this speech was to 



• Tacit. Aunal. II. 13. Solum veneni crimen visus est diliiisse. 



+ Tac. Anna). III. 12.—" He told the senators that they would have to try a friend of 

 Augustus, whom, at their recommendation, he had sent to assist Germauicus iu settling iho 

 affairs of the East. They would have to fr^e their minds from all prejudices, and to decide 

 if he was really guilty of the crime of murder or only of haughty heliaviour, hostility towards 

 the young man, and exultation at Ids death. " " For," eoutinusd he, " if he has neglected ids 

 duties as a legate, and set at nought the respect due to his superior commander, and rejoiced 

 in bis dentil and my iidliclion, I shall liate him and interdict him my house, and I shall iiot 

 «ilh my puMic autliorily revenge my private wrongs. If. however, you discover a eriiiic, 



