[-15-] To this Augustus replied:  “Wife, I too know that nothing great is ever free from envy and plots,—­least of all sole power.  We should be peers of the gods if we did not have troubles and cares and fears beyond all private individuals.  But to me it is also a source of grief that this is inevitably so and that no cure for it can be found.”

“Yet,” said Livia, “since some men are so constituted as to want to do wrong in any event, let us guard against them.  We have many soldiers who protect us,—­some marshaled against foreign foes and others about your person,—­and a large retinue, so that by their help we may live safely both at home and abroad.”

“I do not need,” said Augustus, interrupting, “to state that many men on many occasions have perished at the hands of their immediate associates.  For in addition to other disadvantages this, too, is a most distressing thing in monarchies, that we fear not only enemies (like other people) but also our friends.  Many more rulers have been plotted against by such persons than by those who had nothing to do with them.  This is to be expected, since the inner circle is with the potentate day and night, exercising and eating, and he has to take food and drink that they have prepared.  Moreover, against acknowledged enemies you can array these very men, but against the latter themselves there is no one else to employ as an ally.  To us, therefore, the whole time through, solitude is dreadful, company dreadful:  to be unguarded is terrifying, but most terrifying are the guards themselves:  enemies are difficult to deal with, but still greater difficulties are presented by our friends.  They must all be called friends, whether they are such or not, but even if one should find them most reliable, even so one may not trust one’s self in their company with a clear, carefree, unsuspecting heart.  This, then, and the fact that it is requisite to take measures of defence against ordinary conspirators, make the situation overwhelmingly dreadful.  For to be always compelled to be inflicting punishment and chastisement upon somebody is highly repugnant to men of character.”

[-16-] “You are right,” answered Livia, “and I have some advice to give you,—­at least, if you prove willing to receive it and willing not to censure me that, woman as I am, I dare to make suggestions to you which no one else, even of your most intimate friends, would venture.  And this is not through any lack of knowledge on their part, but because they are not bold enough to speak.”

“Say on,” rejoined Augustus, “and let us have it.”