§28sed et aduersus conuicia malosque rumores et famosa de se ac suis carmina firmus ac patiens subinde iactabat in ciuitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere;
But even against insults and evil rumors and defamatory verses about himself and his family, he was firm and patient, and often declared that in a free state tongue and mind ought to be free.
et quondam senatu cognitionem de eius modi criminibus ac reis flagitante: 'non tantum,' inquit, 'otii habemus, ut implicare nos pluribus negotiis debeamus; si hanc fenestram aperueritis, nihil aliud agi sinetis: omnium inimicitiae hoc praetexto ad uos deferentur. ' extat et sermo eius in senatu perciuilis: 'siquidem locutus aliter fuerit, dabo operam ut rationem factorum meorum dictorumque reddam; si perseuerauerit, in uicem eum odero. ' §29Atque haec eo notabiliora erant, quod ipse in appellandis uenerandisque et singulis et uniuersis prope excesserat humanitatis modum.
And once, when the senate demanded an investigation of such charges and the accused: "We do not have so much leisure," he said, "that we ought to involve ourselves in more business; if you open this window, you will allow nothing else to be done, for everyone's enmities will be brought to you under this pretext." There is also a very civic speech of his in the senate: "If indeed he speaks otherwise, I will take care to render an account of my deeds and words; if he persists, I will hate him in turn." And these things were the more remarkable because he himself, in addressing and honoring both individuals and the whole body, had almost exceeded the bounds of politeness.
dissentiens in curia a Q. Haterio: 'ignoscas,' inquit, 'rogo, si quid aduersus te liberius sicut senator dixero. ' et deinde omnis adloquens: 'dixi et nunc et saepe alias, p. c. , bonum et salutarem principem, quem uos tanta et tam libera potestate instruxistis, senatui seruire debere et uniuersis ciuibus saepe et plerumque etiam singulis; neque id dixisse me paenitet, et bonos et aequos et fauentes uos habui dominos et adhuc habeo. ' §30Quin etiam speciem libertatis quandam induxit conseruatis senatui ac magistratibus et maiestate pristina et potestate.
When disagreeing in the senate with Quintus Haterius, he said: "I ask you to forgive me, if as a senator I say anything too freely against you." And then addressing everyone: "I have said both now and often at other times, conscript fathers, that a good and beneficial prince, whom you have invested with such great and free power, ought to serve the senate and often the whole body of citizens, and mostly even individuals; and I do not regret having said this, and I have had and still have you as good, just, and favoring masters." Nay, he even introduced a certain appearance of liberty by preserving to the senate and the magistrates both their ancient majesty and power.
neque tam paruum quicquam neque tam magnum publici priuatique negotii fuit, de quo non ad patres conscriptos referretur: de uectigalibus ac monopoliis, de extruendis reficiendisue operibus, etiam de legendo uel exauctorando milite ac legionum et auxiliorum discriptione, denique quibus imperium prorogari aut extraordinaria bella mandari, quid et qua forma regum litteris rescribi placeret.
There was nothing of public or private business, whether so small or so great, about which he did not refer to the conscript fathers: about taxes and monopolies, about constructing or repairing public works, even about enrolling or discharging soldiers and the distribution of legions and auxiliaries, and finally, to whom command should be prolonged or extraordinary wars entrusted, and what and in what form it pleased them to write back to the letters of kings.
praefectum alae de ui et rapinis reum causam in senatu dicere coegit.
He compelled a prefect of a cavalry squadron, who was accused of violence and plunder, to plead his cause in the senate.
numquam curiam nisi solus intrauit; lectica quondam intro latus aeger comites a se remouit.
He never entered the senate house except alone; once when he was carried in on a litter because he was ill, he dismissed his attendants.
§31quaedam aduersus sententiam suam decerni ne questus quidem est.
He did not even complain that certain things were decreed contrary to his opinion.
negante eo destinatos magistratus abesse oportere, ut praesentes honori adquiescerent, praetor designatus liberam legationem impetrauit.
Though he said that designated magistrates ought not to be absent, so that they might be present to enjoy their honor, a praetor-elect obtained a free embassy.
iterum censente, ut Trebianis legatam in opus noui theatri pecuniam ad munitionem uiae transferre concederetur, optinere non potuit quin rata uoluntas legatoris esset.
Again, when he recommended that the money bequeathed to the people of Trebia for the construction of a new theater should be transferred to the paving of a road, he could not carry his point against the will of the testator being held valid.
cum senatus consultum per discessionem forte fieret, transeuntem eum in alteram partem, in qua pauciores erant, secutus est nemo.
When a decree of the senate happened to be made by division, and he walked over to the other side where there were fewer, no one followed him.
Cetera quoque non nisi per magistratus et iure ordinario agebantur, tanta consulum auctoritate, ut legati ex Africa adierint eos querentes, trahi se a Caesare ad quem missi forent.
Other things too were not done except through the magistrates and by ordinary law, with so great authority of the consuls that ambassadors from Africa approached them, complaining that they were being delayed by Caesar, to whom they had been sent.
nec mirum, cum palam esset, ipsum quoque eisdem et assurgere et decedere uia.
Nor was it a wonder, since it was plain that he himself also rose to them and gave way to them on the street.
§32corripuit consulares exercitibus praepositos, quod non de rebus gestis senatui scriberent quodque de tribuendis quibusdam militaribus donis ad se referrent, quasi non omnium tribuendorum ipsi ius haberent.
He reproved consulars in command of armies because they did not write to the senate about their achievements and because they referred to him about granting certain military rewards, as if they did not themselves have the right of granting all of them.
praetorem conlaudauit, quod honore inito consuetudinem antiquam rettulisset de maioribus suis pro contione memorandi.
He praised a praetor because, upon entering office, he had revived the ancient custom of mentioning his ancestors in a speech before the assembly.
quorundam illustrium exequias usque ad rogum frequentauit.
He attended the funerals of certain illustrious men even to the funeral pyre.
Parem moderationem minoribus quoque et personis et rebus exhibuit.
He showed equal moderation to minor persons and matters.
cum Rhodiorum magistratus, quod litteras publicas sine subscriptione ad se dederant, euocasset, ne uerbo quidem insectatus ac tantum modo iussos subscribere remisit.
When he had summoned the magistrates of the Rhodians because they had sent him official letters without a signature, he did not reprove them even with a word, but sent them back merely having ordered them to sign.
Diogenes grammaticus, disputare sabbatis Rhodi solitus, uenientem eum, ut se extra ordinem audiret, non admiserat ac per seruolum suum in septimum diem distulerat; hunc Romae salutandi sui causa pro foribus adstantem nihil amplius quam ut post septimum annum rediret admonuit.
Diogenes the grammarian, who was accustomed to dispute on the Sabbath at Rhodes, had not admitted him when he came to hear him outside the regular hours, but had put him off to the seventh day by his little slave; when this man was standing before his doors in Rome to pay his respects, Tiberius admonished him of nothing more than to return after the seventh year.
praesidibus onerandas tributo prouincias suadentibus rescripsit boni pastoris esse tondere pecus, non deglubere.
To governors who advised that the provinces should be burdened with tribute, he wrote back that it was the part of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to flay them.