willing to evade than oppose their enmity.  He, therefore, took a voyage into Egypt, under pretence of viewing the celebrated antiquities of that country; but, in reality, to avoid the machinations of Pi’so, and those of his wife, which were still more dangerous. 17.  Upon his return he fell sick, and, whether from a mind previously alarmed, or from more apparent marks of treachery, he sent to let Pi’so know, that he broke off all further connections.  Growing daily worse, his death appeared to be inevitable. 18.  Finding his end approaching, he addressed his friends, who stood around his bed, to the following effect:  “Had my death been natural, I might have reason to complain of being thus snatched away from all the endearments of life, at so early an age; but my complaints are aggravated, in falling the victim of Pi’so’s and Planci’na’s treachery.  Let the emperor, therefore, I conjure you, know the manner of my death, and the tortures I suffer.  Those who loved me when living—­those who even envied my fortune—­will feel some regret, when they hear of a soldier, who had so often escaped the rage of the enemy, falling a sacrifice to the treachery of a woman.  Plead then my cause before the people—­you will be heard with pity—­and if my murderers should pretend to have acted by command, they will either receive no credit or no pardon.” 19.  As he spoke these words, he stretched forth his hand, which his weeping friends tenderly pressing, most earnestly vowed that they would lose their lives rather than their revenge.  The dying prince, then turning to his wife, conjured her, by her regard to his memory, and by all the bonds of nuptial love, to submit to the necessity of the times, and to evade the resentment of her more powerful enemies by not opposing it.[8] 20.  Nothing could exceed the distress of the whole empire, upon hearing of the death of German’icus, and the people of Rome seemed to set no bounds to it. 21.  In this universal confusion, Pi’so seemed marked for destruction.  He and his wife stood charged with the death of German’icus, by giving him a slow poison.  Indeed, even the emperor himself, with his mother Liv’ia, incurred a share of the general suspicion. 22.  This was soon after greatly increased by the arrival of Agrippi’na, the widow of German’icus, a woman of invincible courage, and in high esteem for her virtue.  She appeared bearing the urn containing the ashes of her husband, and, attended by all her children, went to the tomb of Augustus. 23.  When she approached the city, she was met by the senate and people of Rome, both with acclamations and expressions of sorrow.  The veteran soldiers, who had served under German’icus, gave the sincerest testimonies of their concern.  The multitude, while the ashes were depositing, regarded the ceremony in profound silence; but presently broke out into loud lamentations, crying out, The commonwealth is now no more.

24.  Tibe’rius permitted the accusation of Pi’so, though he was justly supposed to be merely the instrument of his own vengeance.  This general was accused before the senate of the death of German’icus, and of other crimes.