Had that last known, how should he escape being bowed down with grief:  then in those years when all his powers and energies were needed?  Octavian had gone through storm and silence long since:  in the days of the Triumvirate, and his enforced partnership in its nefarious deeds;—­now his personal mind and his hands were needed to guide the Empire:  and needed clear and untrammeled with grief...  Until Tiberius should be ready; at least until Tiberius....  So I imagine it possible that the soul of Augustus kept from its personality that wounding knowledge about Julia.

Tiberius was not the one to interfere with its purposes.  Why did he not get a divorce?  The remedy was clear and easy; and he would have ceased to be the laughing stock of Rome.  He did not get a divorce; or try to; he said no word; he would not lighten his own load by sharing it with the Teacher he loved.  He would not wound that Teacher to save himself pain or shame.  Augustus had made severe laws for punishing such offenses as Julia’s; and—­well, Tiberius would bear his griefs alone.  No sound escaped him.

But, as no effort of his could help or save her, live with Julia, or in Rome, he could not.  His health broke down; he threw up all offices, and begged leave to retire to Rhodes.  Augustus was (apparently) quite unsympathetic; withheld the permission until (they say) Tiberius had starved himself for four days to show it was go or die with him.  And no, he would not take Julia; and he would give no reason for not taking her.  Well; what was Augustus to do, having to keep up human appearances, and suit his action to the probabilities?  What, but appear put out, insulted, angry?  Estrangement followed; and Tiberius went in (apparent) disgrace.  I find the explanation once more in Light on the Path; thus—­

“In the early state in which a man is entering upon the silence he loses knowledge of his friends, of his lovers, of all who have been near and dear to him:  and also loses sight of his teachers.”

So in this case.  “Scarce one passes through,” we read, “without bitter complaint.”  But I think Tiberius did.

How else to explain the incident I cannot guess.  Or indeed, his whole life.  Tacitus’ account does not hang together at all; the contraditions trip each other up, and any mud is good enough to fling.  Mr. Baring-Gould’s version goes far towards truth; but the well is deep for his tackle, and only esotericism, I think, can bring up the clear water.  Whether Augustus knew all personally, or was acting simply on the promptings of his inner nature, or of Those who stoood behind him,—­he took the course, it seems to me, which as an Occult Teacher he was bound to take.  His conduct was framed in any case to meet the needs of his disciple’s initiation.  He, for the Law, had to break that disciple’s outer life; and then send him lonely into the silence to find the greater life within.  Truly these waters are deep; and one may be guessing with the utmost presumption.  But hear Light on the Path again; and judge whether the picture that emerges is or is not consistent.  It says: