[-7-] Now when no further news of a revolutionary nature came, but all parts of the Roman world began to yield a steady acquiescence to his leadership, he no longer practiced dissimulation regarding the acceptance of sovereign power, and managed the empire, so long as Germanicus lived, in the way I am about to describe.  He did little or nothing, that is, on his own responsibility, but brought even the smallest matters before the senate and communicated them to that body.  In the Forum a platform had been erected on which he sat in public to transact business, and he always gathered about him advisers, after the manner of Augustus.  Moreover, he did not take any step of consequence without making it known to the rest.  He stated his own opinion openly and not only granted every one the right to oppose it freely in speech, but sometimes even endured to have some vote directly against it.  Often he would cast a vote himself.  Drusus did this, like the rest, now voting first and again after some others.  The emperor would sometimes remain silent and sometimes give his opinion first, or after a few others, or even last; in some cases he would speak out directly, but generally (to avoid appearing to have cut short their freedom of speech), he would say:  “If I were to give my views I should propose this or that.”  This had equal influence with the other method, only those who came after were not prevented by him from stating what appeared good to them.  But frequently he would outline one plan and those who came after him would prefer something different; occasionally they even prevailed.  Yet for all that he harbored anger against no one.  He held court himself, as I have stated, but he also attended the magistrates’ courts, both when summoned by them and without an invitation.  These officials he allowed to sit in their own places:  he himself took his seat on the bench located opposite them and as presiding officer made any remarks that seemed to him pertinent.

[-8-] In all other matters, too, he behaved in this same way.  He would not allow himself to be called “master” by the freedmen, nor “imperator” except by the soldiers; the title of Pater Patriae he put away from him entirely:  that of Augustus he did not assume (for he never permitted the question to be put to vote), but endured to hear it spoken and to read it when written.  Moreover, when he sent messages to any kings he would regularly include this title in his letter.  In general he spoke of himself as Caesar, sometimes as Germanicus (from the exploits of Germanicus), and Princeps Senatus, according to ancient usage.  Often he used to say:  “My position is that of master of the slaves, imperator of the soldiers, and first citizen among the rest.”  He would pray, whenever it happened that he was so engaged, that he might live and rule so long a time as should be to the advantage of the public.  And he was so democratic in all circumstances alike that on his birthday he did not permit any unusual