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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

soners.

that had been formerly sent, unless they were dead. Whence it it was, that he was so negligent in hearing the causes of priInsomuch that when he was asked by his friends, what was the reason of his delay in such cases? he said that he delayed to hear ambassadors, lest upon their quick dimission, other ambassadors should be appointed, and return upon him; and so he should bring trouble upon himself, in their public reception and dismission. That he permitted those governors who had been once sent to their governments to stay there a great while, out of regard to the subjects that were under them. For that all governors are naturally disposed to get as much as they can : and that those who are not to fix there, but to stay a short time, aud that at an uncertainty when they shall be turned out, do the more severely hurry themselves on to fleece the people. But that if their government be long continued, they are, at last, satiated with the spoils; and so become less sharp in their pillaging. But that if successors are sent quickly, the poor subjects who are exposed to them, as a prey, will not be able to bear the new ones while they shall not have the same time allowed them wherein their predecessors had filled themselves, and so grow more unconcerned about getting more. And this because they are removed before they have had time for their oppressions. He gave them an example to show his meaning. A great number of flies came about the sore places of a man that had been wounded. Upon which one of the standers by pitied the mans's misfortune; and thinking he was not able to drive those flies away himself, was going to drive them away for him. But he prayed him to let them alone. The other, by way of reply, asked him the reason of such a preposterous proceeding in preventing relief from his present misery? To which he answered, if thou drivest these flies, thou wilt hurt me worse. For as these are already full of my blood, they do not crowd about me, nor pain me so much as before, but are sometimes more remiss; while the fresh ones that come almost famished, and find me quite tired down, will be my destruction. "For this cause therefore," said Tiberius, "I am careful not to send such new governors perpetually to those of my subjects, who are already sufficiently harassed by many oppressions, as may, like these

flies, farther distress them. And so, besides their natural desire of gain, may have this additional incitement to it, that they expect to be suddenly deprived of that pleasure which they take in it."

Now as a farther attestation to what I say of the dilatory nature of Tiberius, I appeal to this practice itself. For although he were emperor twenty-two years, he sent in all but two procurators to govern the nation of the Jews; viz. Gratus, and his successor in the government, Pilate. Nor was he in one way of acting with respect to the Jews; and in another with respect to the rest of his subjects. He farther informed them, that even in the hearing of the causes of prisoners he made such delays; “Because," said he," immediate death to those that must be condemned to die would be an alleviation of their present miseries; while those wicked wretches have not deserved any such favour: but I do it, that by being harassed with the present calamity, they may undergo greater misery."

On this account it was that Eutychus could not obtain a hearing but was kept still in prison. However, some time afterward, Tiberius came from Capreæ to Tuscalanum: which is about a hundred furlongs from Rome. Agrippa then desired of Antonia that she would procure a hearing for Eutychus, let the matter whereof he accused him prove what it would. Now Antonia was greatly esteemed by Tiberius on all accounts; from the dignity of her relation to him, who had been his brother Drusus's wife; and from her *eminent chastity. For though she were still a young woman, she continued in her widowhood, and refused all other matches: although Augustus had enjoined her to be married to somebody else. Yet did she all along pre

*This high commendation of Antonia for marrying but once, given here, and supposed elsewhere, XVII. 13. and this, notwithstanding the strongest temptations, shows how honourable single marriages were, both among the Jews and the Romans, in the days of Josephus, and of the Apostles, and takes away much of that surprise which the modern protestants have at those laws of the Apostles, where no widows, but those who had been the wives of one husband only, are taken into the church list: and no bishops, priests, or deacons, are allowed to marry more than once, without leaving off to officiate as clergymen any longer. See Luke ii. 36. 1 Tim. v. 11, 12. iii. 2, 12. Tit. i. 6. Constitut. Apost. II. 1,2. III 1, 2. VI. 17. Can. XVII. Grot. in Luke ii, 36.

serve her reputation from reproach. She had been also the greatest benefactress to Tiberius when there was a very dangerous plot laid against him by Sejanus; a man who had been her husband's friend, and who had the greatest authority, because he was general of the army, and when many members of the senate, and many of the freedmen joined with him, and the soldiery was corrupted, and the plot was come to a great height. Now Sejanus had certainly gained his point, had not Antonia's boldness been more wisely conducted, than Sejanus's malice.For when she had discovered his designs against Tiberius, she wrote him an exact account of the whole; and gave the letter to Pallas, the most faithful of her servants, and sent him to Capreæ, To Tiberius: who, when he understood it, slew Sejanus, and his confederates. So that Tiberius, who had her in great esteem before, now looked upon her with still greater respect, and depended upon her in all things. Accordingly, when Tiberius was desired by Antonia to examine Eutychus, he answered; "If, indeed, Eutychus hath falsely accused Agrippa of what he hath said of him, he hath had sufficient punishment, by what I have done to him already: but if, upon examination, the accusation appear to be true, let Agrippa have a care, lest, out of a desire of punishing his freedman, he do not rather bring a punishment upon himself." Now when Antonia told Agrippa of this, he was still more pressing that the matter might be examined into. So Antonia, upon Agrippa's entreating her continually to beg this favour, took the following opportunity: As Tiberius once lay at ease on his sedan, and was carried about ; and Caius, her grandson, and Agrippa, were before him, after dinner she walked by the sedan, and desired him to call Eutychus, and have him examined. To which he replied, “O Antonia! the gods are my witnesses, that I am induced to do what I am going to do, not by my own inclination, but because I am forced to it by thy prayers." When he said this, he ordered Macro, who succeeded Sejanus, to bring Eutychus to him. Accordingly without any delay he was brought. Then Tiberius asked him what he had to say against this man who had given him his liberty? Upon which he said, “O my lord, this Caius, and Agrippa with him, were once riding in a chariot, when

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