BOOK VII. xLv. 149-.XLV1. 151 



against her father's life, the insolent withdrawal of 

 his stepson Nero," another adultery, that of his 

 grand-daughter * ; then the long series of mis- 

 fortunes — lack of army funds, rebellion of Illyria, 

 enUstment of slaves, shortage of man power, plague 

 at Rome, famine in Italy, resolve on suicide and 

 death more than half achieved by four davs' starva- 

 tion ; next the disa^ter of Varus <^ and the foul 

 slur upon his dignity ; the disowning of Postumius 

 Agrippa after liis adoption as heir, and the sense of 

 loss that followed his banishment ; then his suspicion 

 in regard to Fabius and the betrayal of secrets ; 

 afterwards the intrigues of his wife and Tiberius 

 that tormented his latest days. In fine, this god — 

 whether deified more by his OAvn action or by his 

 merits I know not— departed from life leaving his 

 enemy's son his heir. 



XLVI. In this review there come to mind the Oracuiar 

 Delphic oracles sent forth by the god as if for the tJS."^ 

 purpose of chastising the vanity of mankind. Here 

 are two : ' The happiest of men is Pedius, who lately 

 fell in battle for his country ' ; and secondly, when 

 the oracle was consulted by Gyges, then the 

 wealthiest king in the world, ' Aglaus of Psophis is 

 happier.' This was an elderly man who cultivated 

 an estate, small but amply sufficient for his yearly 

 provision, in a very shut in corner of Arcadia, and 

 who had never left it, and being (as his kind of hfe 

 showedj a man of very small desires experienced a 

 very small amount of misfortune in hfe. 



* Julia, daufrhter of Julia and Agrippa, wifo of L. Aemiliua 

 Pauliis ; banished b}' Augustus for adultor}' with D. Silanus. 



' Quintihua Varus and his army annihilated at Saltus Teuto- 

 burgonsis by German robela under Arminius, 9 B.o. 



607 



