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Tiberius. There seems to liave been sufficient grouiul for at least 

 some of these charges, and Claudia was found guilty. Upon this 

 Agrippina, in the greatest excitement and passion, I'ushed into the pre- 

 sence of the emperor, whom she upbraided in the most violent language 

 with hostility to the true descendents of Augustus, arguing that the 

 condemnation of Claudia was merely a blow aimed at herself. Tiberius, 

 with his usual coolness, showed no signs of anger, but contented himself 

 with calmly saying, in the words of a Greek poet, " My daughter, do 

 you consider yourself harshly treated if you are not allowed to reign ? " 



It might appear that the hostility between the Emperor and Agrippina 

 had proceeded far enough to produce the result desired by Sejanus; but 

 the latter had in store still more powerful engines to consummate his 

 designs. By his emissaries he warned her to avoid the hospitality of 

 Tiberius, suggesting that he intended to poison her. The proud 

 Agrippina could not brook to be suspected of fear. She purposely 

 appeared at the imperial table. Her suspicions had in the mean time 

 been communicated to Tiberius, who, to test the truth of the report, 

 offered her some fruit with his own hand. Upon her refusal to taste 

 it, he felt stung to the quick, and in unequivocal terms declared his 

 resentment. 



Whatever was the extent of distrust and aversion existing between 

 Tiberius and Agrippina, it is evident that the former extended his affec- 

 tion for Germanicus to his and Agrippina's cliildren. At the Empei'or's 

 request, his son Drusus had adopted them, and he likewise continued to 

 them the same feelings of love and kindness which had so nobly distin- 

 guished his intercourse with Germanicus. After the untimely death of 

 Drusus, which Tiberius bore with dignified resignation, and the manliness 

 of a great prince, his affection seems to have been revived for the young 

 men who were a second time bereaved of a pai'ent and protector. In the 

 increasing desolation of his house, he saw in them the frail hope of that 

 stability of his dynasty and of the new order of things, which he naturally 

 had much at heart : but though as yet he could not suspect the awful 

 crime to which Drusus had succumbed, he dreaded the unseen minister 

 of death that was evidently hovering round the members of the Augus- 

 tan house. Taking his two eldest grand-nephews, Nero and Drusus, 

 by the hand, he implored the senate to love them and protect them as 

 fathers. He then clearly designated them as his successors, being 

 evidently more anxious to secure, in case of his decease, the stability 

 and peace of the state than the succession of his own grandchildren. 



What a different picture presents itself a few years later. We find 

 Tiberius urging the senate to inflict condign punishment upon Nero, 

 whom he charges with unnatural profligacy. The unfortunate prince 



