90 



secure a strict investigation and a fair trial. Nor did the conduct 

 of the Emperor belie his words. He kept entirely aloof from the 

 proceedings, and allowed justice to take its course. Had he wished 

 to save Piso, one word, or a hint, or a look would have been sufficient ; 

 had he wished to crush him at once,, and with bis death to quash all 

 possible evidence of his own guilt, it would have been equally easy for 

 him. He did neither the one nor the other. He trusted that a fair 

 and open trial would establish the truth, and clear him also of the 

 slanders which be knew to be in circulation, but which he thought it 

 beneath him to notice. 



I am afraid I have dwelt too long on this subject, but I deemed it 

 necessary to exhibit, in one glaring example, the injustice with which 

 Tiberius had been treated by his contemporaries and by history. Wc 

 shall henceforward be able to occupy higher ground, to form our own 

 opinion of his motives, his character, words and actions, without paying 

 too much deference to the impressions of his contemporaries, whose 

 spite and antipathy has imparted a false colouring to Tacitus and other 

 early writers. We shall of course have to go to these same sources to 

 draw our facts, but the judgment we reserve to ourselves. 



Chaptee V. 



The death of Germauicus deprived Tiberius of a strong support, and 

 the new form of government of much of its prospect of continuance. 

 Tiberius, like Augustus, was anxious to gather round him members of 

 his own family, to gain for his house and government that stability 

 which is secui"ed in modern Europe by along continuance of hereditary 

 succession. It is the most natural and necessary precaution which the 



which even in the case of the lowest citizen calls lor punishment, then give just consolation 

 to the children of Germany, ami to me — his parent. Consider this point also, if in hio 

 relations to the troops, Piso showed a neglect of discipline, a spirit of insubordination, and a 

 desire to gain the favour of the soldiers by popularity ; if he attempted to regain his province 

 by force of arms, or if these charges are false or exaggerated by his accusers, whom I justly 

 blame for their excess of zeal. For what end could it serve to expose the body of Germaui- 

 cus, naked, to the eyes of the populace, and to spread a report even among foreign nations 

 that he was poisoned, if even now this fact is doubtful and has to be inquired into. I 

 mourn for my son, and shall always mourn for him, hot I would not prevent the accused from 

 producing all the evidence he can to prove his innocence; or, if Germauicus was guilty of 

 unfair treatment of him, to show it; and I entreat you not to consider imputed crimes as 

 proved, because this trial is painful to my feelings. Let those who, on account of 

 their relationship or attachment, defend the accused, strain every nerve to assist him in his 

 peril with their eloquence and zeal ; the same activity and the same perseverance I enjoin on 

 the accusers. One privilege only I will grant to Germanicu.s, that this case shall be tried 

 not before the regular judges in the forum, but in the curia by the senate. In e^ery other 

 respect the common procedure shall be adhered to. Lcl nobody pay any Rltention to the 

 tears of Dnisus, nor to my own grief, nor to idle gossip directed ngitinst me." 



