sent once to their government ＇to stay there a long while＇； out
of regard to the subjects that were under them； for that all
governors are naturally disposed to get as much as they can； and
that those who are not to fix there； but to stay a short time；
and that at an uncertainty when they shall be turned out； do the
more severely hurry themselves on to fleece the people； but that
if their government be long continued to them； they are at last
satiated with the spoils； as having gotten a vast deal； and so
become at length less sharp in their pillaging； but that if
successors are sent quickly； the poor subjects； who are exposed
to them as a prey； will not be able to bear the new ones； while
they shall not have the same time allowed them wherein their
predecessors had filled themselves； and so grew more unconcerned
about getting more； and this because they are removed before they
have had time ＇for their oppressions＇。 He gave them an example to
show his meaning： A great number of flies came about the sore
places of a man that had been wounded； upon which one of the
standers…by pitied the man's misfortune； and thinking he was not
able to drive those flies away himself； was going to drive them
away for him； but he prayed him to let them alone： the other； by
way of reply； asked him the reason of such a preposterous
proceeding； in preventing relief from his present misery； to
which he answered； 〃If thou drivest these flies away； thou wilt
hurt me worse； for as these are already full of my blood； they do
not crowd about me； nor pain me so much as before； but are
somewhat more remiss； while the fresh ones that come almost
famished； and find me quite tired down already； will be my
destruction。 For this cause； therefore； it is that I am myself
careful not to send such new governors perpetually to those my
subjects； who are already sufficiently harassed by many
oppressions； as may； like these flies； further distress them； and
so； besides their natural desire of gain； may have this
additional incitement to it； that they expect to be suddenly
deprived of that pleasure which they take in it。〃 And； as a
further attestation to what I say of the dilatory nature of
Tiberius； I appeal to this his practice itself； for although he
was emperor twenty…two years； he sent in all but two procurators
to govern the nation of the Jews； Gratus； and his successor in
the government； Pilate。 Nor was he in one way of acting with
respect to the Jews； and in another with respect to the rest of
his subjects。 He further informed them； that even in the hearing
of the causes of prisoners； he made such delays； because
immediate death to those that must be condemned to die would be
an alleviation of their present miseries； while those wicked
wretches have not deserved any such favor； 〃but I do it； that； by
being harassed with the present calamity； they may undergo
greater misery。〃
6。 On this account it was that Eutychus could not obtain a
bearing； but was kept still in prison。 However； some time
afterward； Tiberius came from Capreae to Tusculanum； which is
about a hundred furlongs from Rome。 Agrippa then desired of
Antonia that she would procure a hearing for Eutychus； let the
matter whereof he accused him prove what it would。 Now Antonia
was greatly esteemed by Tiberius on all accounts； from the
dignity of her relation to him； who had been his brother Drusus's
wife； and from her eminent chastity； （21） for though she was
still a young woman； she continued in her widowhood； and refused
all other matches； although Augustus had enjoined her to be
married to somebody else； yet did she all along preserve her
reputation free from reproach。 She had also been the greatest
benefactress to Tiberius； when there was a very dangerous plot
laid against him by Sejanus； a man who had been her husband's
friend； and wire had the greatest authority； because he was
general of the army； and when many members of the senate and many
of the freed…men joined with him； and the soldiery was corrupted；
and the plot was come to a great height。 Now Sejanus had
certainly gained his point； had not Antonia's boldness been more
wisely conducted than Sejanus's malice； for when she had
discovered his designs against Tiberius； she wrote him an exact
account of the whole； and gave the letter to Pallas； the most
faithful of her servants； and sent him to Caprere to Tiberius；
who； when he understood it； slew Sejanus and his confederates； so
that Tiberius； who had her in great esteem before； now looked
upon her with still greater respect； and depended upon her in all
things。 So when Tiberius was desired by this Antonia to examine
Eutychus； he answered； 〃If indeed Eutychus hath falsely accused
Agrippa in what he hath said of him； he hath had sufficient
punishment by what I have done to him already； but if； upon
examination； the accusation appears to be true； let Agrippa have
a care； lest； out of desire of punishing his freed…man； he do not
rather bring a punishment upon himself。〃 Now when Antonia told
Agrippa of this； he was still much more pressing that the matter
might be examined into； so Antonia； upon Agrippa's lying hard at
her continually to beg this favor； took the following
opportunity： As Tiberius lay once at his ease upon his sedan； and
was carried about； and Caius； her grandson； and Agrippa； were
before him after dinner she walked by the sedan； and desired him
to call Eutychus； and have him examined； to which he replied； 〃O
Antonia！ the gods are my witnesses that I am induced to do what I
am going to do； not by my own inclination； but because I am
forced to it by thy prayers。〃 When he had said this； he ordered
Macro； who succeeded Sejanus； to bring Eutychus to him；
accordingly； without any delay； he was brought。 Then Tiberius
asked him what he had to say against a man who had given him his
liberty。 Upon which he said； 〃O my lord！ this Caius； and Agrippa
with him； were once riding in a chariot； when I sat at their
feet； and； among other discourses that passed； Agrippa said to
Caius； Oh that the day would once come when this old fellow will
dies and name thee for the governor of the habitable earth！ for
then this Tiberius； his grandson； would be no hinderance； but
would be taken off by thee； and that earth would be happy； and I
happy also。〃 Now Tiberius took these to be truly Agrippa's words；
and bearing a grudge withal at Agrippa； because； when he had
commanded him to pay his respects to Tiberius； his grandson； and
the son of Drusus； Agrippa had not paid him that respect； but had
disobeyed his commands； and transferred all his regard to Caius；
he said to Macro； 〃Bind this man。〃 But Macro； not distinctly
knowing which of them it was whom he bid him bind； and not
expecting that he would have any such thing done to Agrippa； he
forbore； and came to ask more distinctly what it was that he
said。 But when Caesar had gone round the hippodrome； he found
Agrippa standing： 〃For certain；〃 said he； 〃Macro； this is the man
I meant to have bound；〃 and when he still asked； 〃Which of these
is to be bound？〃 he said 〃Agrippa。〃 Upon which Agrippa betook
himself to make supplication for himself； putting him in mind of
his son； with whom he was brought up； and of Tiberius ＇his
grandson＇ whom he had educated； but all to no purpose； for they
led him about bound even in his purple garments。 It was also very
hot weather； and they had but little wine to their meal； so that
he was very thirsty； he was also in a sort of agony； and took
this treatment of him heinously： as he therefore saw one of
Caius's slaves； whose name was Thaumastus； carrying some water in
a vessel； he desired that he would let him drink； so the servant
gave him some water to drink； and he drank heartily； and said； 〃O
thou boy！ this service of thine to me will be for thy advantage；
for if I once get clear of these my bonds； I will soon procure
thee thy freedom of Caius who has not been wanting to minister to
me now I am in bonds； in the same manner as when I was in my
former state and dignity。〃 Nor did he deceive him in what he
promised him； but made him amends for what he had now done； for
when afterward Agrippa was come to the kingdom； he took
particular care of Thaumastus； and got him his liberty from
Caius； and made him the steward over his own estate； and when he
died； he left him to Agrippa his son； and to Bernice his
daughter； to minister to them in the same capacity。 The man also
grew old in that honorable post； and therein died。 But all this
happened a good while later。
7。 Now Agrippa stood in his bonds before the royal palace； and
leaned on a certain tree for grief； with many others；。 who were
in bonds also； and as a certain bird sat upon the tree on which
Agrippa leaned； （the Romans call this bird bubo；） ＇an owl；＇ one
of those that were bound； a German by nation； saw him； and asked
a soldier who that man in purple was； and when he was informed
that his name was Agrippa； and that he was by nation a Jew； and
one of the principal men of that nation； he asked leave of the
soldier to whom he was bound； （22） to let him come nearer to him；
to speak with him； for that he had a mind to inquire of him about
some things relating to his country； which liberty； when he had
obtained； and as he stood near him； he said thus to him by an
interpreter： 〃This sudden change of thy condition； O young man！
is grievous to thee； as bringing on thee a manifold and very
great adversity； nor wilt thou believe me； when I foretell how
thou wilt get clear of this misery which thou art now under； and
how Divine Providence will provide for thee。 Know therefore （and
I appeal to my own country gods； as well as to the gods of this
place； who have awarded these bonds to us） that all I am going to
say about thy concerns shall neither be said for favor nor
bribery； nor out of an endeavor to make thee cheerful without
cause； for such predictions； when they come to fail； make the
grief at last； and in earnest； more bitter than if the party had
never heard of any such thing。 However； though I run the hazard
of my own self； I think it fit to declare to thee the prediction
of the gods。 It cannot be that thou shouldst long continue in
these bond