Tiberius by a letter excused himself to the Senate, for not having paid his last offices to his mother; and, though he rioted in private luxury without abatement16, pleaded "the multitude of public affairs." He likewise abridged17 the honours decreed to her memory, and, of a large number, admitted but very few: for this restriction18 he pretended modesty19, and added, "that no religious worship should be appointed her; for that the contrary was her own choice." Nay20, in a part of the same letter, he censured21 feminine friendships; obliquely22 upbraiding23 the Consul2 Fusius, a man highly distinguished24 by the favour of Augusta, and dexterous25 to engage and cajole the affections of women; a gay talker, and one accustomed to play upon Tiberius with biting sarcasms26; the impressions of which never die in the hearts of Princes.
From this moment, the domination waxed completely outrageous27 and devouring28: for while she lived, some refuge still remained, as the observance of Tiberius towards his mother was ever inviolate29; nor durst Sejanus arrogate30 precedence of the authority of a parent: but now, as let loose from all restraint, they broke out with unbridled fury: so that letters were despatched avowedly31 against Agrippina and Nero; and as they were read in the Senate soon after the death of Augusta, the people believed them to have been sent before and by her suppressed. The expressions were elaborately bitter; and yet by them no hostile purpose of taking arms, no endeavour to change the State, was objected to the youth; but only "the love of boys, and other impure32 pleasures:" against Agrippina he durst not even feign33 so much; and therefore arraigned34 "her haughty35 looks, her impetuous and stubborn spirit." The Senate were struck with deep silence and affright: but, as particular men will always be drawing personal favour from public miseries36, there were some who, having no hopes founded upon uprightness, demanded that "they should proceed upon the letters:" amongst these the foremost in zeal37 was Cotta Messalinus, with a terrible motion: but, the other leading men, and chiefly the magistrates38, were embarrassed by fear: for Tiberius, though he had sent them a flaming invective39, left all the rest a riddle40.
In the Senate was one Junius Rusticus, appointed by the Emperor to keep a journal of their proceedings41, and therefore thought well acquainted with his purposes. This man, by some fatal impulse (for he had never before shown any instance of magnanimity) or blinded by deceitful policy, while forgetful of present and impending42 dangers, he dreaded43 future possibilities, joined the party that hesitated, and even warned the Consuls1 "not to begin the debate:" he argued "that in a short moment the highest affairs might take a new turn: and an interval44 ought to be allowed to the old man to change his passion into remorse45." At the same time, the people, carrying with them the images of Agrippina and Nero, gathered about the Senate, and proclaiming their good wishes for the prosperity of the Emperor, cried earnestly, "that the letters were counterfeit46; and, against the consent of the Prince, the doom47 of his family was pursued:" so that nothing tragical48 was that day transacted49. There were also dispersed50 amongst them several speeches, said to have been uttered in Senate by the Consulars, as their motions and advices against Sejanus; but all framed, and with the more petulance51 as the several authors exercised their satirical wit in the dark. Hence Sejanus boiled with greater rage, and hence had a handle for branding the Senate, "that by them the anguish52 and resentments53 of the Prince were despised: the people were revolted; popular and disaffected54 harangues55 were publicly read and listened to: new and arbitrary acts of Senate were passed and published: what more remained, but to arm the populace and place at their head, as leaders and Imperial commanders, those whose images they had already chosen for standards?"
Tiberius having therefore repeated his reproaches against his grandson and daughter-in-law: having chastised56 the people by an edict, and complained to the Senate, "that by the fraud of a single Senator the Imperial dignity should be battled and insulted, required that the whole affair should be left to himself, entire and untouched." The Senate hesitated no longer, but instantly proceeded, not now in truth to decree penalties and capital vengeance57; for that was forbid them; but to testify "how ready they were to inflict58 just punishments, and that they were only interrupted by the power and pleasure of the Prince."...
{Here begins a lamentable59 chasm60 in this "Annal" for almost three years; and by it we have lost the detail of the most remarkable61 incidents in this reign62, the exile of Agrippina into the Isle63 of Pandataria; of Nero, into that of Pontia; and the murder of both there by the orders of Tiberius: the conspiracy64 and execution of Sejanus, with that of all his friends and dependents: the further wickedness of Livia, and her death.}
Now though the rage of the populace was expiring, and though most men were mollified by former executions; it was determined65 to condemn66 the other children of Sejanus. They were therefore carried both to prison, the boy sensible of his impending doom; but the girl so ignorant, that she frequently asked; "For what offence? and whither did they drag her? she would do so no more; and they might take the rod and whip her." The writers of that time relate, "that as it was a thing unheard, for a virgin67 to suffer capital punishment, she was deflowered by the executioner just before he tied the rope; and that being both strangled, the tender bodies of these children were cast into the place where the carcasses of malefactors are exposed, before they are flung into the Tiber."...
点击收听单词发音
1 consuls | |
领事( consul的名词复数 ); (古罗马共和国时期)执政官 (古罗马共和国及其军队的最高首长,同时共有两位,每年选举一次) | |
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2 consul | |
n.领事;执政官 | |
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3 consulship | |
领事的职位或任期 | |
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4 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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5 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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6 adoption | |
n.采用,采纳,通过;收养 | |
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7 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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8 smitten | |
猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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9 inclinations | |
倾向( inclination的名词复数 ); 倾斜; 爱好; 斜坡 | |
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10 antiquity | |
n.古老;高龄;古物,古迹 | |
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11 complaisance | |
n.彬彬有礼,殷勤,柔顺 | |
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12 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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13 comporting | |
v.表现( comport的现在分词 ) | |
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14 dissimulation | |
n.掩饰,虚伪,装糊涂 | |
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15 encomium | |
n.赞颂;颂词 | |
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16 abatement | |
n.减(免)税,打折扣,冲销 | |
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17 abridged | |
削减的,删节的 | |
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18 restriction | |
n.限制,约束 | |
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19 modesty | |
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
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20 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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21 censured | |
v.指责,非难,谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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22 obliquely | |
adv.斜; 倾斜; 间接; 不光明正大 | |
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23 upbraiding | |
adj.& n.谴责(的)v.责备,申斥,谴责( upbraid的现在分词 ) | |
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24 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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25 dexterous | |
adj.灵敏的;灵巧的 | |
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26 sarcasms | |
n.讥讽,讽刺,挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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27 outrageous | |
adj.无理的,令人不能容忍的 | |
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28 devouring | |
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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29 inviolate | |
adj.未亵渎的,未受侵犯的 | |
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30 arrogate | |
v.冒称具有...权利,霸占 | |
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31 avowedly | |
adv.公然地 | |
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32 impure | |
adj.不纯净的,不洁的;不道德的,下流的 | |
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33 feign | |
vt.假装,佯作 | |
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34 arraigned | |
v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 );控告;传讯;指责 | |
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35 haughty | |
adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
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36 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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37 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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38 magistrates | |
地方法官,治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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39 invective | |
n.痛骂,恶意抨击 | |
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40 riddle | |
n.谜,谜语,粗筛;vt.解谜,给…出谜,筛,检查,鉴定,非难,充满于;vi.出谜 | |
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41 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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42 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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43 dreaded | |
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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44 interval | |
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
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45 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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46 counterfeit | |
vt.伪造,仿造;adj.伪造的,假冒的 | |
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47 doom | |
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定 | |
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48 tragical | |
adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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49 transacted | |
v.办理(业务等)( transact的过去式和过去分词 );交易,谈判 | |
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50 dispersed | |
adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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51 petulance | |
n.发脾气,生气,易怒,暴躁,性急 | |
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52 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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53 resentments | |
(因受虐待而)愤恨,不满,怨恨( resentment的名词复数 ) | |
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54 disaffected | |
adj.(政治上)不满的,叛离的 | |
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55 harangues | |
n.高谈阔论的长篇演讲( harangue的名词复数 )v.高谈阔论( harangue的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56 chastised | |
v.严惩(某人)(尤指责打)( chastise的过去式 ) | |
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57 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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58 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
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59 lamentable | |
adj.令人惋惜的,悔恨的 | |
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60 chasm | |
n.深坑,断层,裂口,大分岐,利害冲突 | |
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61 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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62 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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63 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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64 conspiracy | |
n.阴谋,密谋,共谋 | |
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65 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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66 condemn | |
vt.谴责,指责;宣判(罪犯),判刑 | |
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67 virgin | |
n.处女,未婚女子;adj.未经使用的;未经开发的 | |
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