accused was acquitted, but all were convicted,—­the majority from documents contributed by Tiberius and the statements under torture obtained by Macro, the rest by what these two suspected they were planning.  It was rumored that the real reason why Tiberius did not come to Rome was to avoid being disgraced while present by the sentences of condemnation.  Among various persons who perished either at the hands of the executioners or by their own acts was Pomponius Labeo.  He, who had once governed Moesia for eight years after his praetorship, was, with his wife, indicted for receiving bribes and voluntarily destroyed both her and himself.  Mamercus AEmilius Scaurus, on the other hand, who had never governed anybody nor received bribes, was convicted because of a tragedy and fell a victim to a worse fate than any he had depicted.  Atreus was the name of the composition, and in the manner of Euripides[16] it advised some one of the subjects of that monarch to endure the folly of the ruling prince.  Tiberius, when he heard of it, declared that the verse had been composed against him at this juncture and that “Atreus” was merely a pretence used on account of that monarch’s bloodthirstiness.  And adding quietly “I will have him play the part of Ajax,” he brought pressure to bear to make him commit suicide.  The above was not the accusation made against him; instead, he was charged with having kept up a liaison with Livilla.  Many others had been punished on her account, some with good reason and some as the result of blackmail.

[-25-] While matters at Rome were in this condition, the subject territory was not quiet either.  The very moment a certain youth who declared he was Drusus appeared in the region of Greece and Ionia, the cities both received him enthusiastically and supported his cause.  He would have proceeded to Syria and taken possession of the legions, had not some one recognized him and putting an end to his success taken him to Tiberius.

[A.D. 35 (a. u. 788)] After this Gaius Gallus and Marcus Servilius became consuls.  Tiberius was at Antium holding fete in honor of the nuptials of Gaius.  Not even for such a purpose would he enter Rome, because of the case of one Fulcinius Trio.  The latter, who had been a friend of Sejanus but had stood high in the favor of Tiberius on account of his readiness at blackmail, was, when accused, delivered up for punishment; and through fear he slew himself beforehand after abusing roundly both the emperor and Macro in his testament.  His children did not dare to publish it, but Tiberius, learning what had been written, ordered it to be presented before the senate.  Little did he trouble himself about such matters.  Sometimes he would voluntarily give to the public denunciations of his conduct that were being kept secret, as another man would eulogies.  Indeed, he took all that Drusus had uttered in distress and misfortune, and this, too, he sent in to the senate.—­So much, then, for the death of Trio.  Poppaeus Sabinus, who had governed both the Mysias and Macedonia besides during almost all the reign of Tiberius up to this time, withdrew from life with the greatest good-will before any charge could be brought against him.  He was succeeded by Regulus with equal authority.  For, according to some reports, Macedonia and Achaea were both assigned to the new ruler without lots being cast for them.