§63Quam inter haec non modo inuisus ac detestabilis, sed praetrepidus quoque atque etiam contumeliis obnoxius uixerit, multa indicia sunt.
There are many proofs of how, during these events, he lived not only hated and detestable, but also in extreme fear and even exposed to insults.
haruspices secreto ac sine testibus consuli uetuit.
He forbade the haruspices to be consulted secretly and without witnesses.
uicina uero urbi oracula etiam disicere conatus est, sed maiestate Praenestinarum sortium territus destitit, cum obsignatas deuectasque Romam non repperisset in arca nisi relata rursus ad templum.
Indeed, he even attempted to destroy the oracles near the city, but desisted, terrified by the majesty of the Praenestine lots, since, having been sealed and brought to Rome, they were not found in the chest except after being returned again to the temple.
unum et alterum consulares oblatis prouinciis non ausus a se dimittere usque eo detinuit, donec successores post aliquot annos praesentibus daret, cum interim manente officii titulo etiam delegaret plurima assidue, quae illi per legatos et adiutores suos exequenda curarent.
Having offered provinces to one or two men of consular rank, and not daring to let them go from his presence, he detained them for so long, until after some years he gave them successors who were present; while in the meantime, the title of their office remaining, he also continually delegated many duties which they were to see executed through their legates and assistants.
§64nurum ac nepotes numquam aliter post damnationem quam catenatos obsutaque lectica loco mouit, prohibitis per militem obuiis ac uiatoribus respicere usquam uel consistere.
He never moved his daughter-in-law and grandchildren after their condemnation in any other way than in chains and in a sewn-up litter, with bystanders and travelers forbidden by soldiers to look back at all or to stop.
§65Seianum res nouas molientem, quamuis iam et natalem eius publice celebrari et imagines aureas coli passim uideret, uix tandem et astu magis ac dolo quam principali auctoritate subuertit.
Although he already saw Sejanus's birthday publicly celebrated and his golden images worshipped everywhere, he barely at last, and more by craft and guile than by imperial authority, overthrew him when he was plotting revolution.
nam primo, ut a se per speciem honoris dimitteret, collegam sibi assumpsit in quinto consulatu, quem longo interuallo absens ob id ipsum susceperat.
For first, in order to dismiss him from his presence under the appearance of honor, he took him as his colleague in his fifth consulship, which he had assumed while absent after a long interval for that very purpose.
deinde spe affinitatis ac tribuniciae potestatis deceptum inopinantem criminatus est pudenda miserandaque oratione, cum inter alia patres conscriptos precaretur, mitterent alterum e consulibus, qui se senem et solum in conspectum eorum cum aliquo militari praesidio perduceret.
Then, when Sejanus was deceived by the hope of an alliance and tribunician power and was off his guard, he accused him in a shameful and pitiable speech, in which, among other things, he begged the conscript fathers to send one of the consuls to lead him, an old and lonely man, into their presence with some military escort.
sic quoque diffidens tumultumque metuens Drusum nepotem, quem uinculis adhuc Romae continebat, solui, si res posceret, ducemque constitui praeceperat.
Distrusting even thus and fearing a tumult, he had ordered his grandson Drusus, whom he still held in chains at Rome, to be released if the situation demanded, and to be appointed leader.
aptatis etiam nauibus ad quascumque legiones meditabatur fugam, speculabundus ex altissima rupe identidem signa, quae, ne nuntii morarentur, tolli procul, ut quidque factum foret, mandauerat.
He had also prepared ships for flight to any legions whatsoever, repeatedly watching from a very high cliff for the signals which, lest messengers should delay, he had ordered to be raised from afar as each event occurred.
uerum et oppressa coniuratione Seiani nihilo securior aut constantior per nouem proximos menses non egressus est uilla, quae uocatur Ionis.
But even after the conspiracy of Sejanus was crushed, being no more secure or resolute, he did not leave the villa called Ionis for the next nine months.
§66Vrebant insuper anxiam mentem uaria undique conuicia, nullo non damnatorum omne probri genus coram uel per libellos in orchestra positos ingerente.
Moreover, various insults from all sides harassed his anxious mind, with every single condemned person heaping every kind of reproach on him to his face or through pamphlets placed in the orchestra.
quibus quidem diuersissime adficiebatur, modo ut prae pudore ignota et celata cuncta cuperet, nonnumquam eadem contemneret et proferret ultro atque uulgaret.
Indeed, he was affected by these in the most contrasting ways; at one time, out of shame, he wished all unknown and concealed things to remain so, and at another time he despised them and went so far as to publish and spread them of his own accord.
quin et Artabani Parthorum regis laceratus est litteris parricidia et caedes et ignauiam et luxuriam obicientis monentisque, ut uoluntaria morte maximo iustissimoque ciuium odio quam primum satis faceret.
Furthermore, he was torn to pieces by a letter from Artabanus, king of the Parthians, who charged him with parricides, murders, laziness, and luxury, and advised him to satisfy the great and most just hatred of the citizens as soon as possible by a voluntary death.
§67postremo semet ipse pertaesus, tali epistulae principio tantum non summam malorum suorum professus est: 'quid scribam uobis, p. c. , aut quo modo scribam, aut quid omnino non scribam hoc tempore, dii me deaeque peius perdant quam cotidie perire sentio, si scio. '
Existimant quidam praescisse haec eum peritia futurorum ac multo ante, quanta se quandoque acerbitas et infamia maneret, prospexisse; ideoque, ut imperium inierit, et patris patriae appellationem et ne in acta sua iuraretur obstinatissime recusasse, ne mox maiore dedecore impar tantis honoribus inueniretur.
Finally, weary of himself, he all but confessed the sum of his evils in the beginning of a letter to the Senate: "What I should write to you, conscript fathers, or how I should write, or what I should not write at all at this time, may the gods and goddesses destroy me more wretchedly than I feel myself perishing daily, if I know." Some think that he foreknew these things through his skill in the future and foresaw long before how great bitterness and infamy awaited him eventually; and for that reason, when he entered upon his empire, he most obstately refused both the title of "Father of his Country" and the oath to his acts, lest he should soon be found unequal to such great honors with greater disgrace.
quod sane ex oratione eius, quam de utraque re habuit, colligi potest; uel cum ait: similem se semper sui futurum nec umquam mutaturum mores suos, quam diu sanae mentis fuisset; sed exempli causa cauendum esse, ne se senatus in acta cuiusquam obligaret, quia aliquo casu mutari posset.
This can indeed be gathered from his speech which he delivered on both matters; as when he says that he would always be like himself and would never change his character as long as he was of sound mind; but that for the sake of example, care must be taken lest the Senate should bind itself to the acts of anyone, because by some chance they might be changed.
et rursus:
'Si quando autem,' inquit, 'de moribus meis deuotoque uobis animo dubitaueritis,—quod prius quam eueniat, opto ut me supremus dies huic mutatae uestrae de me opinioni eripiat— nihil honoris adiciet mihi patria appellatio, uobis autem exprobrabit aut temeritatem delati mihi eius cognominis aut inconstantiam contrarii de me iudicii. '
And again: "But if ever," he says, "you doubt my character and my devoted mind toward you—which, before it happens, I pray that my last day may snatch me away from this changed opinion of yours about me—the title of 'Father of his Country' will add no honor to me, but will reproach you either with the rashness of having conferred that surname on me, or with the inconsistency of a contrary judgment concerning me."