to the wall, pretending that he would reveal to him some secrets of the Parthian king, and then wounded him.  In the consequent siege he maintained a prolonged resistance.  When he was at last overthrown, not only Augustus but Gaius, too, assumed the title of imperator, and Armenia passed into the control of Ariobarzanes.  Soon after the latter died, and his son Artabazus received it as the gift of Augustus and the senate.  Gaius fell ill from the wound, and though he was not in any way robust and the condition of his health had, in fact, injured his mind, he now grew still more feeble.  At length he begged leave to retire to private life, and it was his wish to take up his abode somewhere in Syria.  Augustus, in the depth of grief, communicated his desire to the senate, and urged him to come at any rate to Italy and then do what he pleased.  So Gaius resigned at once all the duties of his office and took a coastwise trading vessel to Lycia, where, at Limyra, he breathed his last.  Prior to his demise the spark of Lucius’s life had also paled. (He, too, was being given practice in many places, sent now here, now there; and he was wont to read personally the letters of Gaius before the senate, so often as he was present.) His death was due to a sudden illness.  In connection with both these cases, therefore, suspicion rested upon Livia, and particularly because the return of Tiberius from Rhodes to Rome occurred at this time. [-11-] As for him he was so extremely well versed in the art of divination by the stars, having with him Thrasyllus, who was a past master of all astrology, that he had understood accurately what was fated both for himself and for them.  And the story goes that once in Rhodes he was about to push Thrasyllus from the walls, because the latter was the only one aware of all he had in mind; observing, however, that his intended victim looked gloomy, he asked him why his face was overcast.  When the other replied that he suspected some danger, he was surprised [8] and gave up his murderous designs.  Thrasyllus had such a clear knowledge of all things that when he descried approaching afar off the boat which brought to Tiberius the message from his mother and Augustus to return to Rome, he told him in advance what news it would bring.

[-12-] The bodies of Lucius and of Gaius were brought to Rome by the military tribunes and by the chief men of each city.  The targes and the golden spears which they had received from the knights on entering the class of iuvenes were set up in the senate-house.

Augustus was once called “master” by the people, but he not only forbade that any one should use this form of address to him but took very good care in every way to enforce his command.

[A.D. 3 (a. u. 756)]

When his third ten-year period had been accomplished, he then accepted the rulership for the fourth time,—­of course under compulsion!  He had become milder through age and more hesitating in regard to offending any of the senators and now wished to have no differences with any of them.