temples to Ju’piter and Augustus.  Growing weary, however, of places where mankind might follow him with their complaints and distresses, he withdrew himself into the delightful island of Ca’preae; and buried in this retreat, gave himself up to abandoned pleasures, regardless of the miseries of his subjects. 3.  From this time he became more cruel, and Seja’nus increased his distrusts.  Secret spies and informers were placed in all parts of the city, who converted the most harmless actions into subjects of offence. 4.  In consequence of this, Ne’ro and Dru’sus, the children of German’icus, were declared enemies to the state, and afterwards starved to death in prison; while Agrippi’na, their mother, was sent into banishment.  Sabi’nus, Asin’ius, Gal’lus, and Syria’eus, were, upon slight pretences, condemned and executed. 5.  In this manner Seja’nus proceeded, removing all who stood between him and the empire; and every day increasing his confidence with Tibe’rius, and his power with the senate.  The number of his statues exceeded even those of the emperor; people swore by his fortune, in the same manner as they would have done had he been upon the throne; and he was more dreaded than even the tyrant who actually enjoyed the empire. 6.  But the rapidity of his rise seemed only preparatory to the greatness of his downfall.  All we know of his first disgrace with the emperor is, that Sati’rus Secun’dus was the man who had the boldness to accuse him of treason; and Anto’nia, the mother of German’icus, seconded the accusation. 7.  The senate, who had long been jealous of his power, and dreaded his cruelty, immediately took this opportunity of going beyond the orders of Tibe’rius; instead of sentencing him to imprisonment, they directed his execution.[11] 8.  Whilst he was conducting to his fate, the people loaded him with insult and execration; pursued him with sarcastic reproaches; and threw down his statues.  He himself was strangled by the executioner.

9.  His death only lighted up the emperor’s rage for farther executions.  Planci’na, the wife of Pi’so, and others, were put to death for being attached to Seja’nus.  He began to grow weary of single executions, and gave orders that all the accused should be put to death together, without further examination.  The whole city was, in consequence, filled with slaughter and mourning. 10.  When one Carnu’lius killed himself, to avoid the torture, “Ah!” cried Tibe’rius, “how has that man been able to escape me!” When a prisoner had earnestly entreated that he would not defer his death:  “Know,” said the tyrant, “I am not sufficiently your friend to shorten your torments.”

11.  In this manner he lived, odious to the world, and troublesome to himself; an enemy to the lives of others, a tormentor of his own.[12] At length, in the 22d year of his reign, he began to feel the approaches of dissolution, and his appetite totally forsook him. 12.  He now, therefore, found it was time to think of a successor, and fixed upon Calig’ula:[13] willing, perhaps, by the enormity of Calig’ula’s conduct, with which he was well acquainted, to lessen the obloquy of his own.