was a freedman,—­and secured exemption from taxes for both himself and the members of his profession, not only those then living but also those of coming generations.  But he who assumed the powers of Fortune and Fate was destined soon after to be well worsted.  Augustus had been saved in this manner:  but Marcellus, falling sick not much later, was treated in the same way by Musas and died.  Augustus gave him a public burial with the usual eulogies, placed him in the monument which was being built, and honored his memory by calling the theatre, the foundations of which had already been laid by the former Caesar, the Theatre of Marcellus.  He ordered also that a gold image of the deceased, a golden crown, and his chair of office be carried into the theatre at the Ludi Romani and be placed in the midst of the officials having charge of the function.  This he did later.

[-31-] After being restored to health on this occasion he brought his will into the senate and wished to read it, by way of showing people that he had left no successor to his position.  He did not, however, read it, for no one would permit that.  Quite every one, however, was astonished at him in that since he loved Marcellus as son-in-law and nephew yet he failed to trust him with the monarchy but preferred Agrippa before him.  His regard for Marcellus had been shown by many honors, among them his lending aid in carrying out the festival which the young man gave as aedile; the brilliance of this occasion is shown by the fact that in midsummer he sheltered the Forum by curtains overhead and introduced a knight and a woman of note as dancers in the orchestra.  But his final attitude seemed to show that he was not yet confident of the youth’s judgment and that he either wanted the people to get back their liberty or Agrippa to receive the leadership from them.  He understood well that Agrippa and the people were on the best of terms and he was unwilling to appear to be delivering the supreme power with his own hands. [-32-] When he recovered, therefore, and learned that Marcellus on this account was not friendly toward Agrippa, he immediately despatched the latter to Syria, so that no delay and desultory dispute might arise by their being in the same place.  Agrippa forthwith started from the City but did not make his way to Syria, but, proceeding even more moderately than usual, he sent his lieutenants there and himself lingered in Lesbos.

Besides doing this Augustus appointed ten praetors, feeling that he did not require any more.  This number remained constant for several years.  Some of them were intended to fulfill the same duties as of yore and two of them to have charge of the administration of the finances each year.  Having settled these details he resigned the consulship and went to Albanum.  He himself ever since the constitution had been arranged had held office for the entire year, as had most of his colleagues, and he wished now to interrupt this custom again, in order that as many as possible might be consuls.  His resignation took place outside the city to prevent his being hindered in his purpose.