Chapter 13 Summary

This chapter focuses on events occurring from 11 AD to 14 AD. A public reading is arranged for Claudius. Although it begins well enough, an incident makes him collapse into a fit of nervous laughter from which he cannot recover. The reading will be the sole public reading Claudius ever undertakes for his own material.

Augustus grows old, his health begins to fail, and his death is imminent. Livia's constant plotting and scheming ensures that Tiberius is the heir-apparent. Meanwhile, Claudius informs Germanicus of Postumus' innocence. Some inquiries lead Germanicus to realize that Livia, in fact, had arranged for the innocent Postumus' banishment. Germanicus seeks a private audience with Augustus and pleads the case of Postumus. Rather late, Augustus begins to suspect Livia of treachery. He uses a complicated excuse to go to the island where Postumus has been banished, and substitutes a look-alike hostage...