that she had not been possessed by some divine power, but had done it intentionally.  Inasmuch, however, as the populace were terribly wrought up over the wars and the famine (which had now set in once more), he, too, affected to believe what was said and did anything that would lead to the encouragement of the multitude as a matter of course.  In view of the stringency in the grain supply he again appointed two grain commissioners from among the ex-consuls, together with lictors.  As there was need of further money for operations against the enemy and the support of night-watchmen, he introduced the tax of two per cent. on the sale of slaves, and he ordered that the money delivered from the public treasury to the praetors who gave armed combats should no longer be expended.

[-32-]The reason that he sent Germanicus and not Agrippa to take the field was that the latter possessed a servile nature and spent most of his time fishing, wherefore he also used to call himself Neptune.  He used to give way to violent anger and slandered Julia as a stepmother, while upon Augustus he heaped abundant reproaches in the matter of his paternal inheritance.  When he could not be made to moderate his conduct he was banished and his property was given to the aerarium militare:  he himself was put ashore on Planasia, the island near Corsica.—­These were the events in the City.

Germanicus reached Pannonia, where armies from various points were shortly to assemble; the Batos watched for Severus, who was approaching from Moesia, and fell upon him unexpectedly, while he was encamped near the Volcaean marshes.  The pickets outside the ramparts they frightened and hurled back within it, but as the men inside stood their ground, the attacking party was defeated.  After this the Romans divided, in order that many detachments might overrun the country in separate places at one time.  Most of them did nothing worthy of note during this enterprise, but Germanicus conquered in battle and badly demoralized the Maezei, a Dalmatian tribe.—­These were the results of that year.

[A.D. 8 (a. u. 761)]

[-33-] In the consulship of Marcus Furius with Sextus Nonius the Dalmatians and Pannonians decided they would like to make peace because they were in distress primarily from famine and then from disease that followed it, due to their using grasses of various sorts and roots for food.  They did not attempt, however to open any negotiations, being restrained by those who had no hope of preservation at the hands of the Romans.  So even as they were they still resisted.  And one Scenobardus, who had feigned a readiness to change sides, and had had dealings on this very business with Manius Ennius, commander of the garrison in Siscia, declaring that he was ready to desert, became afraid that he might be injured ere his project was complete, and [19] ...