The Lives of the Twelve Caesars — Chapter 4 in Latin
By Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus
Nam qui res Augusti memoriae mandarunt, Germanicum exacto consulatu in Galliam missum consentiunt iam nato Gaio. Germanicus, the father of Caius Caesar, and son of Drusus and the younger Antonia, was, after his adoption by Tiberius, his uncle, preferred to the quaestorship five years before he had attained the legal age, and immediately upon the expiration of that office, to the consulship. Having been sent to the army in Germany, he restored order among the legions, who, upon the news of Augustus's death, obstinately refused to acknowledge Tiberius as emperor, and offered to place him at the head of the state. In hoc negotio difficile est dictu utrum pietas filialis an firmitudo propositi magis in eo conspicua fuerit. In which affair it is difficult to say, whether his regard to filial duty, or the firmness of his resolution, was most conspicuous. Mox post inimicos uicit et triumphales honores adeptus est. Soon afterwards he defeated the enemy, and obtained the honours of a triumph. Tunc iterum consul factus, priusquam in munus suum intrare posset, repente in orientem proficisci coactus est, ubi post regem Armeniae uictum et Cappadociam in formam prouinciae redactam, Antiochiae morbo diuturno obiit, anno aetatis suae tricesimo quarto, non sine suspicione ueneni. Being then made consul for the second time, before he could enter upon his office he was obliged to set out suddenly for the east, where, after he had conquered the king of Armenia, and reduced Cappadocia into the form of a province, he died at Antioch, of a lingering distemper, in the thirty-fourth year of his age, not without the suspicion of being poisoned. Nam praeter loca liuida quae per totum corpus apparuerunt et spumam ex ore; cum corpus crematum esset, cor integrum inter ossa inuentum est; cuius natura talis esse putatur, ut ueneno infectum, ab igne indelibile sit. For besides the livid spots which appeared all over his body, and a foaming at the mouth; when his corpse was burnt, the heart was found entire among the bones; its nature being such, as it is supposed, that when tainted by poison, it is indestructible by fire.
Praevalet opinio eum ab Tiberio per Cnei Pisonis consilium e vita sublatum esse. It was a prevailing opinion, that he was taken off by the contrivance of Tiberius, and through the means of Cneius Piso. Hic vir, qui eodem tempore praefectus Syriae erat neque celabat se in ea condicione esse ut aut patrem aut filium offendere deberet, Germanicum etiam aegroto maxima et turpissima convicia tum verbis tum factis oneravit; quapropter Romam reversus vix ab populo discerpi non est passus, et morte a senatu damnatus est. This person, who was about the same time prefect of Syria, and made no secret of his position being such, that he must either offend the father or the son, loaded Germanicus, even during his sickness, with the mot unbounded and scurrilous abuse, both by word and deed; for which, upon his return to Rome, he narrowly escaped being torn to pieces by the people, and was condemned to death by the senate.
Constat Germanicum omnes generosas corporis et animi dotes maiore quam quisquam unquam acceperat gradu possedisse; formam praeclarum, virtutem singularem, eloquentiae et aliarum disciplinarum Graecarum et Romanarum peritiam eximiam; praeterea humanitatem singularem et mores tam suaves ut omnium qui circa eum erant affectus sibi conciliaret. It is generally agreed, that Germanicus possessed all the noblest endowments of body and mind in a higher degree than had ever before fallen to the lot of any man; a handsome person, extraordinary courage, great proficiency in eloquence and other branches of learning, both Greek and Roman; besides a singular humanity, and a behavior so engaging, as to captivate the affections of all about him. Gracilitas crurum symmetriae et pulchritudini reliqui corporis non respondebat; sed hoc vitium equitando post cenam exercitando tandem correctum est. The slenderness of his legs did not correspond with the symmetry and beauty of his person in other respects; but this defect was at length corrected by his habit of riding after meals. In proeliis hostis singulari certamine saepe congressus et interfectus est. In battle, he often engaged and slew an enemy in single combat. Causas etiam postquam triumphi honorem adeptus erat postulabat. He pleaded causes, even after he had the honour of a triumph. Ex studiorum fructibus inter cetera fabulas Graecas comicas reliquit. Among other fruits of his studies, he left behind him some Greek comedies. Domi militiaeque semper se maxime modeste gessit. Both at home and abroad he always conducted himself in a manner the most unassuming. Cum in liberam et foederatam civitatem intraret, lictores nunquam sibi praeferebat. On entering any free and confederate town, he never would be attended by his lictors. Quoties in itineribus sepulcra clarorum virorum audivit, dis inferis super eas sacrificia faciebat. Whenever he heard, in his travels, of the tombs of illustrious men, he made offerings over them to the infernal deities. Ei tumulum communem, aggerem terrae, per loca dispersa reliquias legiariorum sub Varo caesis dedit, et primus manu sua cadavera colligenda et ad sepulturam deferenda suscepit. He gave a common grave, under a mound of earth, to the scattered relics of the legionaries slain under Varus, and was the first to put his hand to the work of collecting and bringing them to the place of burial. Adeo erat mitis et clemens erga hostes, quicumque essent et quaecumque de causa inimicitias exercerent, ut, licet Piso decreta sua rescinderet et diu ministros eius vexaret, nullam omnino offensionem praebuerit, donec se carminibus et devotionibusmalefeciis oppugnari sentiret; tum vero solum fecit ut amicitiam secundum vetus morem abnegaret et servos suos adhortaretur ut mortem suam vindicarent, si quid mali sibi evenisset. He was so extremely mild and gentle to his enemies, whoever they were, or on what account soever they bore him enmity, that, although Piso rescinded his decrees, and for a long time severely harassed his dependents, he never showed the smallest resentment, until he found himself attacked by magical charms and imprecations; and even then the only steps he took was to renounce all friendship with him, according to ancient custom, and to exhort his servants to avenge his death, if any thing untoward should befal him.
Fructum dignitatum suarum largissime percepit, adeo ut ab amicis esset dilectus et honoratus, ut Augustus (ut de ceteris ne dicam) diu dubitaverit num eum successorem constitueret, tandem ab Tiberio iussus eum adoptavit. He reaped the fruit of his noble qualities in abundance, being so much esteemed and beloved by his friends, that Augustus (to say nothing of his other relations) being a long time in doubt, whether he should not appoint him his successor, at last ordered by Tiberius to adopt him. Erat ita valde popularis, ut multi auctores nobis referant, multitudines eorum qui obviam ei irent cum in aliquem locum venisset, vel qui eum prosequi debuissent cum discederet, tam prodigiosas fuisse, ut aliquando vitae suae periculo esset; et cum ex Germania rediisset, postquam seditionem in exercitu ibi compressisset, omnes cohortes praetorianorum illi obviam marcharent, licet iussum esset ut duae tantum irent; et omnis populus Romanus, tam viri quam mulieres, omnis aetatis, sexus et ordinis, ad vigesimum miliarium convolassent ut eius adventum prosequi possent. He was so extremely popular, that many authors tell us, the crowds of those who went to meet him upon his coming to any place, or to attend him at this departure, were so prodigious, that he was sometimes in danger of his life; and that upon his return from Germany, after he had quelled the mutiny in the army there, all the cohorts of the pretorian guards marched out to meet him, notwithstanding the order that only two should go; and that all the people of Rome, both men and women, of every age, sex, and rank, flocked as far as the twentieth milestone to attend his entrance.