The twelve Caesars

발행: 1957년

분량: 324페이지

출처: archive.org

분류: 미분류

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II9everything possibi e to advince Tiberius's reputation, especialty after having to diso Agrippa Postumus: for by this time it had become pretiy clear Who the nexi Emperor must be. 16. Tiberius was gi ven another three years of tribuniciat power, with the task of pacifying Germany: and the Parthian enuoys who visited Augustus at Rome, with messages frona their tang, were instructed to present thenaselves bes ore Tiberius, too, in Germany. There followed the Illyrian revoli, which he was sent to Suppress, and whicli proved to be the most bitterly fought os ali foret gn wars since Rome had de aled Carthage. Tiberius conducted it for three years at the head offfleen regular legions and a correspondingly large forceos auxiliaries. Supplies were always shori, and conditions arduous: but, though osten called back to Rome, he never allowed the powersuland active enemy forces to assume the offensive. Tiberius was wellpa id for his stubbori ess, by finalty reducing the whole of Illyricum an enormous stretch of country enclosed by Northerii Italy, Noricum, the Danube, Thrace, Macedonia, and the Adriatic Sea - to complete

submission.

II. This feat appeared in a stili more glorious light when Quinctilius Varus feli in Germany with his three legions: but for the timelyconquest os Illyricum, most peopte realized, the victorious Germans Would have made common cause with the Pannonians. Tiberius was there re voted a triumph and many other distinctions. Proposais were made sor decreeing him the surname Pannonicus, or 'the Unconquered', or 'the Devoted'; but Augustus vetoed ali these in turn, promising on each occasion that Tiberius would be satisfied with thatos 'Augustus', which he intended to bequeath him. Tiberius himself postponed his triumph because of the public mourning sor Varus: but entered Rome dressed in a senatorial gown and wreathed with lauret. A tribunal had been bulli in the Enclosiare: on it were fourchairs of state, bellind whicli the Senate stood, ranged in a semicircle. Tiberius mo ted the steps and took his seat at Augustus's fide, thet o outer chairs being occupied by the Consuls. Frona this place of honour he acknowledged the popular cheers, and was then escortedaround the appropriate temples. 18. In the following year Tiberius visited Germany and, finding that the disaster there had been due to Varus's rasi ess and neglect of precautions against surpri se, refrained frona taking any strategic deciasions without the assent of his generat staff. Tlus was a notable depa

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ture froni habit: hitherio he had always had complete confidence in his own judgement, but was now relying on a large military coincit. His attention to detest increased. At every crossing of the Rhine hestrictly limited the amount of permissiste baggage, and would notsignat the advince Oless he had first inspected every transportwagon, to miae fure that none carried anything but necessities. Onceacross ine river, he made it his practice to eat on the bare tur sleptin the open as osten as not, and always committed his Datly and Emergency Orders to writing. Moreover, any officer who did notunderstand his instructions was required to consuli him personalty at

19. Tiberius imposed the severest discipline on his men: revivingobsolete methods of punishment or branding them with igno ny r mlabellariour. He even degraded a general because he had sent a

hunting inere. Although leaving so litile to chance, Tiberius wouldenter a batile Mili far greater confidence is, on the previous night, the

a reliable omen of good luch. At the conclusion of his Campaign a Bructerian assassin gained admittance to headquarters, disguised as an attendant, but betrayed himself by nervousness and confessed under

ao. o years after going to Germany Tiberius returned and celebrated the postponed Illyrian triumph: and with him went those generals whom he had recommended for triumphat regalia. Yet hebrohe his progress through the City at the Triumphal Gate where Augustus, Who was presiding over the ceremontes, waited sor his atine head of the Senate. He then dismounted and taeli at the feet os his adoptive fallier be re proceeding up the Capitoline Hill to the Temple of Juppiter. Tiberius silowed gratitude to the Pannonianteader Bato, who had chivalrousty allowed the Roman army to escape when trapped in a gorge, by giving him ricli presenis and a home at Ravenna - instead of having him strangled, as the triumphal traditiondemanded. Then he provided a thousantitable public banquet, and gave three gold pieces to every male guest. The money setched by the sale of his spoils went to restore the Temple of Concord and that of the Heavenly Twlas: both bulldings being rededicated in his ovinname and that of his dead brother Drusus.

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II. Soon aste ards the Consuls introduced a measure whicli gave Tiberius joint controi of the provinces with Augustus, and the task of assisting him to carry out the nev five-year census. When the usual

purificatory sacrifices had completed the censusI Tiberius set ois for Illyricum; but was immediately recalled by Augustus, whom he und in the throes of his last illesess. They spent a whole day together in confidentiat talia. I a1n weli aware of the story that, when Tiberius finalty took his departure, Augustus gasped to his attendanis: 'Poor Rome, doomed to be masticated by those sto moving jawsi' Ι amatSO aware that, accordi g to sonae writers, he so frankly di siled

ever he entered: and that, when begged by Livia to adopi her son, he is suspected of having agreed the more readi ly because he foresa that, with a successor like Tiberius, his death would be increasinglyregretted as the years went by. Yet how could so prudent and farsighted an Emperor have acted as blindly as illis in a matter of such importance 3 My belles is that Augustus weighed Tiberius's good qualities against the bad, and decided that the good tipped the scale: he had, after ali, publicly sworn that his adoption os Tiberius was in the national interest, and had osten reserred to him as an ouistanding generat and the only one capable os defending Rome against herenenates. In support of my contention let me quote the folio ingpassages frona Augustus's corresponden e GoOdbye, my very dear Tiberius, and the best os luck go withyou in your batiles on my belial f - and the Musest Goodbye, dearestand bravest of men and the most conscientious generat alivet Isanythinggoes Wrong with you. I shali never smile again l

YOUr summer campaigias, dear Tiberius, deserve my hearti est prat se: I am sure that no other man alive could have conducted them

1. See Augustus 9T.

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22. Tiberius revesed Augustus's death oesy aster geliing rid ofyoung Agrippa Postumus, whom the colonei appossited to guard him in the prison istand had received a written order to execute. So muchis known, but sonae doubi remaius whether this order was lesit by Augustus to be acted on when he died: or whether Livia wrole it in his name; or whether, is so, Tiberius taew anything of the matter. At ali evenis, when the colonet arrived to repori that he had done his dui , Tiberius disowned the order and threatened to maiae hiananswerable for this unauthoriged execution. Tiberius was, it seems, trying merely to avoid immediate unpopulari ty; for he shelved the inqui and allowed the incident to be forgoiten. 23. With Agrippa out of the way, Tiberius used his tribunicialpower to convene the Senate and breali the news of Augustus's death. Aster reading a few words of a prepared speech, he suddenly groaraedaloud aiid, protesting that grief had robbed him of his voice and thathe wished his life would also be taken, handed the scroti to his sonDrusus, who sinished the task. A Deedman then read Augustus's willsoud: ait senators present who had witnessed the document beingfirst called upon to acknowledge their seals - witnesses of lower rankwould presently do the sanie oulside the House. The preamble to the will ran as follows: 'Since fate has crueily carried off my sons Gaius and Lucius, Tiberius must inherit two-thirds of my properib ...' This ungractous wording strengthened the suspicion that Augustus had nominated Tiberius as his successor only for want of any beller

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guard; which was to be emperor in faci and in appearance. Yet a longlime elapsed besore he assumed the titie of Emperor. When his friends urged him to accepi it he went through the farce of scolding them for the suggestion, saying that they did not realige what a monstrous beast the monarchy was: and kept the Senate guessing by his caresulty evasive answers and hesitations, even when they thre themselves at his feet imploring him to change his mind. This madesonae of them lose patience, and in the confusion a voice was heard shouting: 'Oh, let him et ther take ii or leave iti' And another senatoropenly taunted his With: 'Some peopte are flow to do what theypromise; you are flow to promise What you have at ready done.' Finalty, with a great show of reluctance, and complainis that theywere forcing him to become a miserable and overworked flave, Tiberius accepted the titie of Emperor: but hinted that he might laterresign it. His actuat words were: 'Untii Ι grow so old that you maybe good enough to grant me a respite.'23. His hesitation was caused by threats of danger froni many quarters. One Clemens had recrui ted a Lirly large force of sellowStaVes, sworn to aVenge their dead master Agrippa Postumus: Lucius Scribonius Liber, a nobi eman, was planissing a revolt; and campnautinies now broke out in Illyricum and Germany. Both bodies of mutineers demanded very large concessions - particularly that theyshould be paid at the fame rate as the Praetorians. The army in Germany also refused to acknowledge an Emperor whom they hadnot chosen thenaseives, and did ali they could to miae thetr Commandemin-clites, Germanicus, accepi the titie despite his flat refusat. A fear that they might succeed was the main reason sor Tiberius'splea to the Senate: 'Pray assign me any part in the goVerninent youplease; but remember that no single man can bear the whole burdenos Empire - I need a colleague, or perhaps severat colleagues.' He thengave out that he was dangerousty sit, so that Germanicus would wait for his death be re agreeing to become Eniperor and meanwhile besatisfied to aci as his colleague. However, both mulinies were Suppressed; Tiberius triched Clemens into surrender; and in the fosso

ing year he dared bring Libo in front of a Senatoris Court - thoughhitherio he had meret y hept on his guard, not seeling powerfulenough to take active measures against him. Thus, when Libo took

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part in a pontifical sacrifice, Tiberius, who was with him, had substia tuted a leaden knise for the sharp doubleinladed fleel one whicli Libowould use: and later refused his plea for a private audience inlessDrusus were present, and even then pretended to need the support of Libo's arm as they waled up and down together, and clung tightlyto it. 26. These immediate anxieties past, Tiberius at first bellaved with great discretion, and almost as modestly as is he had never heid publicoffice. of the many high honours voted him, he accepted none but asew unimportant ones, and could hardly be persuaded to let his birthday, whicli fell on the day of the Plebeian Games, be honoured by the addition os a two-horse chariot to the state procession in the Circus. He vetoed ali bilis for the dedication os temples and priesis tollis divini ty, and reserved the right to sanction even the setting up oflus statues and busis - whicli might not be placed among the images of the gods, but used only to decorate private houses. Proposais thatali citi gens should swear to approve his past and future actions, and that the monilis of September and October should be renamed respectively 'Tiberius' and 'Livius' after his motherin met with his veto. He also declined to set the titie 'Emperor' bes ore his name, or Father of His Country' after: or to let the Civic Crown - which hadbeen voted to Augustus for preserving the lives of this fellow-citigens be fixed above his own palace door; and even refrained nom using the titie 'Augustus', though his by right of inheritance, in any letters except those addressed to foretgn monarchs. On becoming Emperor, he held no more than three consulsi psλ: one for a sew days, the neXt for three monilis, and the third - during his absence in Capri from New Year untii 15 May. 27. Such was his halred os flatterers that he refused to let senators approach his litter, whether in greeting or on busin ess: and one day, when an e Consul came to apologize for some fauit and tried toembrace his taees in suppliant fashion Tiberius retrealed so hurriedly

pations', and a third said that he had 'approached the Senate by the

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Emperor's authority': Tiberius made them change these Words tofyour laborious occupations' and 'at the Emperor's instance'. 28. He was, moreOUer, quite unperturbed by abuse, Stander, or

one will take this opportunity of airing sonae private sevd.' A remar ably modest state1nent of his is recorded in the Procee lings of the Senate: 'Is So-and-so chalimges me, I shali lay be re you a careses account of what I have said and done: is that does not satis' him, Ishali reciprocate his distise of me.'

servant of the Senate: and osten of the peopte as a whole: and sonae- times of private citigens, too. I do not regret this vlew, because Ι have always found you to be generous, just, and indulgent masters.'3O. He eVen made a preteiace at restoring popular liberti es by seeing that the Senate and magistrates ei oyed their former dignities; and by referring ali public bus ess, however important Or Unimportant, tothe House, asking for advice in every matter that concerned thenational revenue, the allocation os monopolies, and the constructionor repair os public bulldings. He actualty consul ted them about thedrasting or disbanding of troops, the stationing of legions and

auxiliaries, the extension of military commands, the choice of generat sto conduci particular campaigiis, and how to an swer letters fronas rei gn potentates. When a cavat ry generat was accused of robberywith violence, Tiberius did not take summary action but ordered binito plead his case bes ore the Senate. He always entered the House Unattended, eXcept for one day when he was sicli and carried in on alitter: and even then he disinissed his bearers immediately.

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ΤΗΕ ΤWELVE CAESAR S31. Is decrees were passed in defiance of his wishes, he abstainedfrom complaint: for example, when he had insisted that City magistrates should stay at home and transaci their ossiciat business, but the Senate allowed a praeto elect to traVel overseas, with use of the diplomatic bag. And on expressing the opinion stat a road could

lowards the bullding of a new theatre, he was overruled and the , testator's intentions were respected. Once it happened that the Senate put a motion to the vote; Tiberius went into the minority lobby and not a fota followed him. He lest a great deal os public business to the magistrates and the ordinary processes of law; and the Consuls grew so importist again that in African embassy came be re them, complaining that theycould mae no headway with Caesar, to Nhom they had been sent. Nor was this at si remar ille; everyone taew that he even stood up when the Consuls appeared, and made way on meeting them in the

32. Some goVernorS-generat os consular rank earned a rebuE byaddressing their despatches to Tiberius rather than the Senate and

were not entilled to give these at their own discretion. He also congratulated a praetor who, when he assumed ossice, revived the ancient custom os publicly eulogizing his own ancestors: and heattended the funerais os important citigens, to the extent of wimessing their cremation. Tiberius never presumed on his position by riding rough-shod over men os tesser rank. He summoned to Rome the

odian magistrates who had sent him a public report without adding the usus complimentary formula os prayers for his health, yet did notreprimand them when they appeared; merely instructing them torepair the omissiora, and sending them home again. During his stayat Rhodes a professor of literature named Diogenes used to lecture every 'Sabbath' - and, when Tiberius Wanted to hear him some otherday of the week, sent a flave out to say: 'Come back on the seventhdayi' Diogenes now turned up at Rome and waited at the Palace doorto pay Tiberius his respecis: Tiberius's oesy revenge was a mildmessage: 'Come bach in the severath year.' He answered sonae governors who had written to recommend an increase in the burdenos provinciat laxation, with: 'A good shepherd shears his sock: he

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he nevertheless took considerable palas to further the nationalinterest. At first, too, he intervened in matters of state only when

Senate, and somelimes offering to sit on the tribunal beside the magisi trates, or at one end of the curved dais, in an advisory capacity. Andis it came to his ears that influence was being used to acquit a criminal in sonae couri or other, he would suddenly appear and address the jury either from the floor or from the tribunal; asking them toremember the sanctity of the Law and their oath to uphold it, and theserious nature of the crime on whicli their verdict was required. Hesso undertook to arrest any decline in public morality due tonegligence or licence. 34. Tiberius cui down the expenses of public entertainments bylowering the pay of actors and setting a limit to the number of gladiatorial combais on any g en festius. Once he protested violently against an absurd rise in the cost os Corinthian bronge

statues, and of high quality fish - three mulleis had been offered forsale at Ioo gold pieces eachi His proposat was that a celling should beimposed on the prices of household furniture, and that market valuesinould be annualty regulated by the Senate. At the fame time the aediles were to restrict the amount of od offered for sale in cookshops and eating-houses; even banning breadstussi. And lo set an example in his campesgn against waste he osten served, at formal

formerly at ways returned one four times as valvabie, and presented

been dented an audience on New Year's Day. 33. An ancient Roman custom revived by Tiberius was the punishment of married women guilty of improprieties, by the decision os afami ly councit; so long as a public prosecutor had not intervened. When one Roman knight had swom that he would never divorce his wife whatever sile did, but found her in bed with his son, Tiberius

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reputation mere beginning to pla openly as prostitutes, and to escape punishment for their adulteries by renouncing the privileges of their class: and wastreis of both the Senatorial and Equestrian Orders pur- posely got thenaseives reduced in rank so as to evade the law forbid ding their appearance on the stage or in the arena. As such offenders were now exiled, whicli discouraged any similar sheltering belland the letter of the law. Tiberius degraded a senator on hearing that he

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