realm.  But Asinius Gallus, who employed the frank speech of old days more than was good for him, replied:  “Choose whichever part you wish.”  Tiberius rejoined:  “How is it feasible for the same man both to make the division and to choose?” Gallus, perceiving into what a plight he had fallen, framed his words to flatter him, interrupting to the effect that:  “I not setting before you the idea of your having a third but the impossibility of the empire’s being divided.”  In fact, however, he did not mollify Tiberius, but after first undergoing many dire sufferings was subsequently murdered.  For Gallus had married the former wife of the new ruler and claimed Drusus as his son, and consequently there had been hatred between them before this.

[-3-] Tiberius acted in this way at that time chiefly because it was his nature and he had determined upon that policy, but partly also because he was suspicious of the Pannonian and Germanic legions and feared Germanicus, the ruler of the Germany of that day and a favorite of theirs.  He had previously made sure of the soldiers in Italy by means of the oaths established by Augustus; but as he was suspicious of the others he waited for either possible outcome, intending to save himself by retiring to private life in case the legions should revolt and prevail.  For this reason he often feigned sickness and remained at home, so as not to be compelled to say or do anything definite.  I have even heard that when it began to be said that Livia against the will of Augustus had kept the empire for him, he took such action[1] that he might appear to have received it not from her (with whom he was on very bad terms), but under compulsion from the senators through surpassing them in excellence.  Again I have heard that when he saw that people were cool toward him he waited and delayed in order that they in the hope of his voluntarily resigning the empire might no adopt rebellious measures until he had secured an unshakable control of the government.  Still, I do not record these stories as the true causes of his delay, but rather his usual disposition and the disturbance among the soldiers.  He sent some one from Nola and had Agrippa killed at once.  Yet he declared this had not been done by his orders and he threatened the perpetrator of the deed.  Instead of punishing him, however, he allowed men to invent versions of the affair some to the effect that Augustus had put him out of the way just before his death, others that the centurion who was guarding him slew him on his own responsibility for some revolutionary dealings, others that Livia and not Tiberius had ordered his death.