and his son.  Moreover, they had given him the proconsular authority and had likewise voted that word be sent to all such as were consuls from year to year to emulate him in their office.  So Tiberius had honored him with the priesthoods, but he did not send for him:  instead, when his minister requested that he might go to Campania, pleading as an excuse that his fiancee was ill, the emperor directed him to stay where he was, giving as a reason that he would himself arrive in Rome in almost no time.

[-8-] As a result, then, of this, Sejanus was again gradually alienated and his vexation was increased by the fact that Tiberius appointed Gaius priest with the imperial commendation and gave some hints to the effect that he should make the new appointee his successor in the empire.  The angry favorite would have begun rebellious measures, especially as the soldiers were ready to obey him in everything, had he not perceived that the populace was hugely pleased at what was said in regard to Gaius, out of reverence for the memory of Germanicus his father.  Sejanus had previously thought that these persons, too, were on his side, and now, finding them enthusiastic for Gaius, he became dejected.  He felt sorry that he had not shown open revolt during his consulship.  The rest were strongly influenced against him by the course of events [5] as also by Tiberius’s action in releasing soon after an enemy of Sejanus, chosen ten years before to govern Spain and just now being tried on certain charges.  Because of Sejanus the emperor also granted temporary immunity from such suits to such others as were going to govern any provinces or to administer any similar public business.  And in writing to the senate about the death of Nero he used simply the name Sejanus, with no phrases added as had been his custom.  Moreover, he forbade offering sacrifice to any human being (because sacrifice was often offered to this man) and the introduction of any business looking to his own honor (because many honorary measures were being passed for his rival’s benefit).  He had forbidden this practice still earlier, but now, on account of Sejanus, he renewed his injunction.  For naturally, if he allowed nothing of the sort to be done in his own case, he would not permit it in the case of another.

[-9-] In view of all this, the people began to look down on Sejanus more and more, to the point of drawing aside at his approach and leaving him alone,—­and that openly, without pretence of concealment.  When Tiberius learned of it, his courage revived:  he felt that he should have the cooeperation of the people and the senate, and accordingly began an attack upon his enemy.  First, in order to take him off his guard to the fullest possible extent, be spread a report that he would give him the office of tribune.  Then he despatched a communication against him to the senate by the hands of Naevius Sertorius Macro, whom he had privately appointed to command the body-guards