At the death of Germanicus Tiberius and Livia were thoroughly pleased, but everybody else was mightily afflicted.  He was a man who possessed the most striking physical beauty and likewise the noblest of spirits.  Both in education and in strength he was conspicuous [and whereas he was the bravest of the brave against the enemy, he was the mildest of the mild to his friend.  Though as a Caesar he had extreme power he kept his ambitions on the same plane as weaker men.  He in no wise conducted himself oppressively toward his subjects] or with jealousy toward Drusus or in any way to deserve censure toward Tiberius. [In brief, he belonged to the few men of all time who have neither sinned against the fortune allotted to them nor been destroyed by it.]

Although on several occasions he might [with the free consent not only of the soldiers but of the people and senate as well] have obtained the imperial power, he refused to do so.  His death occurred in Antioch as the result of a plot formed by Piso and Plancina.  Bones of men buried in the house where he dwelt and sheets of lead containing certain curses along with his name were found while he yet breathed.

[A.D. 20 (a u. 773)]

Piso was brought before the senate by Tiberius himself on the charge of having murdered Germanicus, but succeeded in securing a postponement and committed suicide.

  Germanicus left three sons, whom Augustus in his testament denominated
  Caesars.  The eldest of these, Nero, at that time had his name
  placed among the number of the iuvenes.

[-19-] Tiberius, who had hitherto been the author of manifold meritorious works and had made but few errors, now, when he ceased to have a rival in view, changed to precisely the reverse of his previous conduct, which had included many excellent deeds.  Among other ways in which his rule became cruel he pushed to the bitter end the trials for maiestas, in cases where complaint was made against any one for committing any improper act or uttering any improper speech not only against Augustus but against Tiberius personally and against his mother.

  And towards those suspected of plotting against him he was inexorable.

Tiberius was stern in his chastisement of persons accused of an offence.  He would remark as follows:  “Nobody willingly submits to be ruled, but a man is driven into it reluctantly.  Not only do subjects like to refuse obedience, but, more than that, they enjoy plotting against their rulers.  And he would accept accusers indiscriminately:  a slave might denounce a master or a son a father.

Indeed, by indicating to certain persons his wish for the death of certain others he brought about the destruction of the latter through the medium of the former, and there was no secrecy about these transactions.

Not only were slaves tortured to make them testify against their own masters, but freedmen and citizens