§1Δεύτερος μετὰ Σηιανὸν Φλάκκος Ἀουίλλιος διαδέχεται τὴν κατὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐπιβουλήν, σύμπαν μὲν ἀδικῆσαι τὸ ἔθνος ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος ἄντικρυς οὐ δυνηθείς — ἐλάττους γὰρ εἶχε τὰς εἰς τοῦτ’ ἀφορμάς —, ἐφ’ ὅσους δ’ ἔφθανεν, ἀθρόους ἀνηκέστοις περιέπειρε κακοῖς.
Second after Sejanus, Avillius Flaccus succeeded to the plot against the Jews. Although he was not able, like Sejanus, to outright injure the entire nation—for he had fewer resources for this—yet, upon as many as he could reach, he inflicted fatal disasters all at once.
οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ μέρει δόξας ἐπιτίθεσθαι τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν ἐξέτεινεν ἐπιὼν τοὺς πανταχοῦ πάντας διὰ τέχνης τὸ πλέον ἢ δυνάμεως· οἷς γὰρ ἰσχὺς οὐ πρόσεστι τῶν τὰς φύσεις τυραννικῶν, πανουργίαις τὰς ἐπιβουλὰς κατορθοῦσιν.
Moreover, though appearing to attack only a part, he extended his plot by assailing all people everywhere through cunning rather than force; for those of tyrannical nature who lack power achieve their plots through craftiness.
§2ὁ Φλάκκος οὖν οὗτος ἐν τοῖς ἑταίροις κριθεὶς παρὰ Τιβερίῳ Καίσαρι μετὰ τὴν Ἱβήρου τελευτήν, ὃς ἐπετέτραπτο Αἴγυπτον, καθίσταται τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας καὶ τῆς χώρας ἐπίτροπος, ἄνθρωπος ἐν ἀρχῇ μυρία καλοκαγαθίας ὅσα τῷ δοκεῖν ἐξενεγκὼν δείγματα·
¦10 This Flaccus, having been chosen among the companions of Tiberius Caesar after the death of Iberus, who had been entrusted with Egypt, was appointed governor of Alexandria and the country.
πυκνός τε γὰρ ἦν καὶ συνεχὴς καὶ ὀξὺς νοῆσαι καὶ τὰ βουλευθέντα πρᾶξαι καὶ προχειρότατος εἰπεῖν καὶ πρὸ τοῦ λεγομένου τὸ ἡσυχαζόμενον αἰσθέσθαι.
At the beginning of his rule, he displayed countless signs of virtue, at least in appearance; for he was diligent, persistent, sharp to comprehend, quick to execute his decisions, most ready to speak, and capable of perceiving what was kept silent even before it was spoken.
§3παντάπασιν οὖν ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ τῶν κατὰ τὴν Αἴγυπτον πραγματειῶν ἐθὰς γίνεται· πολύτροποι δ’ εἰσὶ καὶ ποικίλαι, μόλις τοῖς ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας τὸ ἔργον ἐπιτήδευμα πεποιημένοις γνωριζόμεναι.
Thus, in a very short time, he became thoroughly familiar with the affairs of Egypt, which are multifaceted and complex, and are only with difficulty mastered by those who have made them their lifelong business.
περιττὸς ὄχλος ἦσαν οἱ γραμματεῖς, ἤδη πρὸς πάντα μικρὰ καὶ μεγάλα φθάνοντος αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἐμπειρίαις, ὡς μὴ μόνον ὑπερβαλεῖν ἀλλὰ χάριν ἀκριβείας ἀντὶ γνωρίμου διδάσκαλον γεγενῆσθαι τῶν τέως ὑφηγητῶν.
The scribes became a superfluous crowd, as he was already forestalling all matters great and small by his experience, so that he not only surpassed but, for the sake of accuracy, became the teacher of those who had previously been his instructors rather than a mere acquaintance.
§4καὶ ὅσα μὲν περὶ λογισμοὺς καὶ τὴν τῶν προσοδευομένων κατώρθου διοίκησιν, εἰ καὶ μεγάλα καὶ ἀναγκαῖα ἦν, ἀλλ’ οὐδέν γε δεῖγμα ψυχῆς ὑπέφαινεν ἡγεμονικῆς, ἃ δὲ λαμπροτέραν καὶ βασιλικὴν ἐδήλου φύσιν, μετὰ πλείονος παρρησίας ἐπεδείκνυτο·
And as for his successful administration of the accounts and revenues, although these were great and necessary, they showed no sign of a governing soul; but those things which displayed a more brilliant and kingly nature he exhibited with greater openness.
οἷον σεμνότερον ἦγεν αὑτόν — ἄρχοντι δὲ λυσιτελέστατον ὁ τῦφος —, ἐδίκαζε τὰ μεγάλα μετὰ τῶν ἐν τέλει, τοὺς ὑπεραύχους καθῄρει, μιγάδων καὶ συγκλύδων ἀνθρώπων ὄχλον ἐκώλυεν ἐπισυνίστασθαι·
For instance, he conducted himself with greater dignity—and dignity is most profitable for a ruler—judged major cases with the magistrates, humbled the arrogant, and prevented crowds of mixed and turbulent people from gathering.
τάς τε ἑταιρείας καὶ συνόδους, αἳ ἀεὶ ἐπὶ προφάσει θυσιῶν εἱστιῶντο τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐμπαροινοῦσαι, διέλυε τοῖς ἀφηνιάζουσιν ἐμβριθῶς καὶ εὐτόνως προσφερόμενος.
Also, the clubs and associations, which were always feasting under the pretext of sacrifices and behaving riotously against the state, he dissolved, opposing the unruly with severity and vigor.
§5εἶτ’ ἐπειδὴ τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὴν χώραν ἀνέπλησεν εὐνομίας, ἐν μέρει πάλιν ταῖς στρατιωτικαῖς δυνάμεσιν ἐφήδρευεν ἐκτάττων, συγκροτῶν, γυμνάζων πεζούς, ἱππεῖς, τοὺς τῆς κούφης ὁπλίσεως, τοὺς ἡγεμόνας, ἵνα μὴ τὰς μισθοφορὰς τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἀφαιρούμενοι πρὸς λῃστείας καὶ ἁρπαγὰς αὐτοὺς ἀλείφωσι, πάλιν τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἕκαστον, ἵνα μηδὲν ἔξω τῶν κατὰ τὴν στρατείαν περιεργάζηται μεμνημένος, ὅτι τέτακται καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην διαφυλάττειν.
Then, when he had filled the city and the country with good order, he turned his attention to the military forces, marshaling, organizing, and training infantry, cavalry, light-armed troops, and their commanders, so that the latter might not deprive the soldiers of their pay and incite them to plundering and robbery, and again, so that each of the soldiers might busy himself with nothing outside his military duties, remembering that he had been stationed to preserve peace.
§6Ἴσως δ’ ἄν τις εἴποι· „σὺ δ’, ὦ οὗτος, ἐγνωκὼς ἀνθρώπου κατηγορεῖν ἔγκλημα μὲν οὐδὲν διεξῆλθες, μακροὺς δ’ ἐπαίνους συνείρεις·
Perhaps someone might say, "But you, my good man, though intending to accuse the man, have detailed no charge, but are weaving long praises.
μὴ ἄρα παραπαίεις καὶ μέμηνας; “— οὐ μέμηνα, ὦ οὗτος, οὐδ’ ἠλίθιός τίς εἰμι, ὡς μὴ δύνασθαι πράγματος ἀκολουθίαν ἰδεῖν.
Are you perhaps out of your mind and mad?" I am not mad, my good man, nor am I so foolish as not to be able to see the consequence of things.
§7ἐπαινῶ τὸν Φλάκκον, οὐκ ἐπειδὴ προσῆκεν ἐχθρὸν ἐγκωμιάζειν, ἀλλ’ ἵν’ αὐτοῦ τὴν μοχθηρίαν ἀριδηλοτέραν παραστήσω·
I praise Flaccus, not because it is fitting to eulogize an enemy, but in order to make his wickedness more manifest.
τῷ μὲν γὰρ ἀγνοίᾳ τοῦ κρείττονος διαμαρτάνοντι συγγνώμη δίδοται, ὁ δ’ ἐξ ἐπιστήμης ἀδικῶν ἀπολογίαν οὐκ ἔχει προεαλωκὼς ἐν τῷ τοῦ συνειδότος δικαστηρίῳ.
For to one who errs through ignorance of the better course, pardon is granted; but he who does wrong with knowledge has no defense, having been already convicted in the tribunal of his own conscience.
§8ἑξαετίαν γὰρ τὴν ἐπικράτειαν λαβὼν πέντε μὲν ἔτη τὰ πρῶτα, ζῶντος Τιβερίου Καίσαρος, τήν τε εἰρήνην διεφύλαξε καὶ οὕτως εὐτόνως καὶ ἐρρωμένως ἀφηγήσατο, ὡς τοὺς πρὸ αὐτοῦ πάντας ὑπερβαλεῖν.
For having received the government for six years, during the first five years, while Tiberius Caesar was alive, he preserved the peace and governed with such vigor and strength as to surpass all who went before him.
§9τῷ δ’ ὑστάτῳ, Τιβερίου μὲν τελευτήσαντος, Γαΐου δ’ ἀποδειχθέντος αὐτοκράτορος, ὑφιέναι καὶ χαλᾶν ἤρξατο τὰ πάντα εἴτε διὰ τὸ ἐπὶ Τιβερίῳ βαρύτατον πένθος — δῆλος γὰρ ἦν ὡς ἐπ’ οἰκειοτάτῳ περιπαθῶν ἔκ τε τῆς συνεχοῦς κατηφείας καὶ τῆς τῶν δακρύων φορᾶς, ἃ καθάπερ ἀπὸ πηγῆς ἀπαύστως ἐξεχεῖτο — εἴτε καὶ κακόνους ὢν τῷ διαδόχῳ διὰ τὸ τὴν τῶν γνησίων πρὸ τῆς τῶν θετῶν τεθεραπευκέναι μερίδα εἴτε καὶ τῶν συνεπιθεμένων τῇ Γαΐου μητρί, καθ’ ὃν χρόνον εἶχε τὰς αἰτίας ἐφ’ αἷς ἀνῃρέθη, γεγονὼς καὶ διὰ φόβον ἁλώσεως ἐπιλελησμένος.
But in the last year, after Tiberius died and Gaius was declared emperor, he began to relax and slacken in everything, either because of his heavy grief for Tiberius— for he was clearly mourning deeply as if for his closest kin, as was shown by his continuous dejection and the flood of tears which poured out unceasingly as if from a spring—or because he was ill-disposed toward the successor because he had supported the party of the legitimate heirs rather than that of the adopted ones, or because he had been among those who attacked Gaius's mother at the time when she faced the charges for which she was destroyed, and had now lost his wits out of fear of arrest.