I CANNOT REMEMBER MY FATHER, WHO DIED WHEN I WAS an infant, but as a young man I never lost an opportunity of gathering1 information of the most detailed2 sort about his life and character from every possible person-senator, soldier or slave-who had known him. I began writing his biography as my apprentice-task in history, and though that was soon put a stop to by my grandmother, Livia, I continued collecting material in the hope of one day being able to finish the work. I finished it, actually, just the other day, and even now there is no sense in trying to put it into circulation. It is so republican in sentiment" that the moment Agrippinilla-my present wife-came to hear of its publication every copy would be suppressed and my unfortunate copying-scribes would suffer for my indiscretions. They would be lucky to escape with their arms unbroken and their thumbs and index-fingers unlopped, which would be a typical indication of Agrippinilla's displeasure. How that woman loathes3 me!
My father's example has guided me throughout life more strongly than that of any other person whatsoever4, with the exception of my brother Germanicus. And Germanicus was, all agree, my father's very image in feature, body (but for his thin legs), courage, intellect and nobility; so I readily combine them in my mind as a single character. If I could start this story fairly with an account of my infancy5, going no farther back than my parents, I would certainly do so, for genealogies6 and family histories are tedious. But I shall not be able to avoid writing at some length about my grandmother Livia (the only one of my four grandparents who was alive at my birth) because unfortunately she is the chief character in the first part of my story and unless I give a clear account of her early life her later actions will not be intelligible7. I have mentioned that she was married to the Emperor Augustus: this was her second marriage, following her divorce by my grandfather. After my father's death she became the virtual head of our family, supplanting8 my mother Antonia, my Uncle Tiberius (the legal head) and Augustus himself—to whose powerful protection my father had committed us children in his will.
Livia was of the Claudian family, one of the most ancient of Rome, and so was my grandfather. There is a popular ballad9, still sometimes sung by old people, of which the refrain is that the Claudian tree bears two sorts of fruit, the sweet apple and the crab10, but that the crabs11 outnumber the apples. Among the crab sort the balladist reckons Appius Claudius the Proud who put all Rome in a tumult12 by trying to enslave and seduce13 a free-born girl called Virginia, and Claudius Drusus who in republican days tried to make himself King of all Italy, and Claudius the Fair, who, when the sacred chickens would not feed, threw them into the sea, crying "Then let them drink", and so lost an important sea-battle. And of the former sort the balladist mentions Appius the Blind, who dissuaded15 Rome from a dangerous league with King Pyrrhus, and Claudius the Tree-trunk who drove the Carthaginians out of Sicily, and Claudius Nero (which in the Sabine dialect means The Strong) who defeated Hasdrubal as he came out of Spain to join forces with his brother, the great Hannibal. These three were all virtuous16 men, besides being bold and wise. And the balladist says that of the Claudian women too, some are apples and some are crabs, but that again the crabs outnumber the apples.
My grandfather was one of the best of the Claudians. Believing that Julius Caesar was the one man powerful enough to give Rome peace and security in those difficult times, he joined the Caesarean parry and fought bravely for Julius in the Egyptian War. When he suspected that Julius was aiming at personal tyranny, my grandfather would not willingly further his ambitions in Rome, though he could not risk an open breach18. He therefore asked for and secured the office of pontiff and was sent in that capacity to France to found colonies of veteran soldiers there. On his return after Julius's assassination19 he incurred20 the enmity of young Augustus, Julius's adopted son, who was then known as Octavian, and of his ally, the great Mark Antony, by boldly proposing honours for the tyrannicides. He had to flee from Rome. In the disturbances21 that followed he sided now with this party and now with that according as the right seemed to lie here or there. At one time he was with young Pompey, at another he fought with Mark Antony's brother against Augustus at Perusia in Etruria. But convinced at last that Augustus, though bound by loyalty22 to avenge23 the murder of Julius, his adopted father-a duty which he ruthlessly performed-was not tyrant-hearted and aimed at the restoration of the ancient liberties of the people, he came over to his side and settled at Rome with my grandmother Livia, and my uncle Tiberias, then only two years old. He took no more part in the Civil Wars, contenting himself with his duties as a pontiff.
My grandmother Livia was one of the worst of the Claudians. She may well have been a re-incarnation of that Claudia, sister of Claudius the Fair, who was arraigned25 for high treason because once when her coach was held up by a street crowd she called out, "If only my brother was alive He knew how to clear crowds away. He used his whip." When one of the Protectors of the People ("tribunes", in Latin) came up and angrily ordered her to be silent, reminding her that her brother, by his impiety26, had lost a Roman fleet: "A very good reason for wishing him alive," she retorted. "He might lose another fleet, and then another. God willing, and thin off this wretched crowd a little." And she added: "You're a Protector of the People, I see, and your person is legally inviolable, but don't forget that we Claudians have had some of you protectors well thrashed before now, and be damned to your inviolability."
That was exactly how my grandmother Livia spoke27 at this time of the Roman people. "Rabble28 and slaves. The Republic was always a humbug29. What Rome really needs is a king again." That at least is how she talked to my grandfather urging him that Mark Antony, and Augustus (or Octavian, I should say), and Lepidus (a rich but unenergetic nobleman), who between them now ruled the Ro-, man world, would in time fall out; and that, if he played his hand well, he could use his dignity as a pontiff and the reputation for integrity which was conceded him by all factions31 as a means to becoming king himself. My grandfather replied sternly that if she spoke in this strain again he would divorce her; for in the old style of Roman marriage the husband could put his wife away without a public explanation, returning the dowry that had come with her- but keeping the children. At this my grandmother was silent and pretended to submit, but all love between them died from that moment. Unknown to my grandfather, she immediately set about engaging the passions of Augustus.
This was no difficult matter, for Augustus was young and impressionable and she had made a careful study of his tastes: besides which, she was by popular verdict one of the three most beautiful women of her day. She picked on Augustus as a better instrument for her ambitions than Antony-Lepidus did not count-and that he would stick at nothing to gain his ends the proscriptions had shown two years before, when two thousand knights32 and three hundred senators belonging to the opposing faction30 had been summarily put to death, by far the greatest number of these at Augustus's particular instance. When she had made sure of Augustus she urged him to put away Scribonia-a woman older than himself, whom he had married for political reasons-telling him that she had knowledge of Scribonia's adultery with a close friend of my grandfather's. Augustus was ready to believe this without pressing for detailed evidence. He divorced Scribonia, though she was quite innocent, on the very day that she bore him his daughter, Julia; whom he took from the birth-chamber before Scribonia had as much as seen the little creature, and gave to the wife of one of his freedmen to nurse. My grandmother-who was still only seventeen years old, nine years younger than Augustus-then went to my grandfather and said, "Now divorce me. I am already five months gone with child, and you are not the father. I made a vow33 that I would not bear another child to a coward, and I intend to keep it." My grandfather, whatever he may have felt when he heard this confession34, said no more than "Call the adulterer here to me and let us discuss the matter together in private." The child was really his own, but he was not to know this, and when my grandmother said that it was another's he believed her.
My grandfather was astonished to find that it was his pretended friend Augustus who had betrayed him, but concluded that Livia had tempted35 him and that he had not been proof against her beauty; and perhaps Augustus still bore a grudge36 against him for the unlucky motion that he had once introduced in the Senate for rewarding Julius Caesar's assassins. However it may have been, he did not reproach Augustus. All that he said was: "If you love this woman and will marry her honourably37, take her; only let the decencies be observed." Augustus swore that he would marry her immediately and never cast her off while she continued faithful to him; he bound himself by the most frightful38 oaths. So my grandfather divorced her. I have been told that he regarded this infatuation of hers as a divine punishment on himself because once in Sicily at her instigation he had armed slaves to fight against Roman citizens; moreover, she was a Claudian, one of his own family, so for these two reasons he was unwilling39 to show her public dishonour40. It was certainly not for fear of Augustus that he assisted in person at her marriage a few weeks later, giving her away as a father would his daughter and pining in the wedding hymn41. When I consider that he had loved her dearly and that by his generosity42 he risked the name of coward and pander43, I am filled with admiration44 for his conduct.
But Livia was ungrateful-angry and ashamed that he seemed to take the matter so calmly, giving her up tamely as if she were a thing of little worth. And when her child, my father, was bom three months later she was deeply vexed45 with Augustus's sister Octavia, Mark Antony's wife-these were my two other grandparents-because of a Greek epigram to the effect that parents were fortunate who had three-months' children; such short gestation46 had hitherto been confined to cats and bitches. I do not know whether Octavia was truly the author of this verse, but, if she was, Livia made her pay dearly for it before she had done. It is unlikely that she was the author, for she had herself been married to Mark Antony while with child by a husband who had died; and, in the words of the proverb, cripples do not mock cripples. Octavia's was, however, a political marriage and legalized by a special decree of the Senate; it was not brought about by passion on one side and personal ambition on the other. If it is asked how it happened that the College of Pontiffs consented to admit the validity of Augustus's marriage with Livia, the answer is that my grandfather and Augustus were both pontiffs, and that the High Pontiff was Lepidus, who did exactly what Augustus told him.
As soon as my father was weaned Augustus sent him back to my grandfather's house, where he was brought up with my uncle Tiberius, the elder by four years. My grandfather, as soon as the children reached the age of understanding, took their education in hand himself, instead of entrusting47 it to a tutor, as was already the general custom. He never ceased to instill in them a hatred48 of tyranny and a devotion to ancient ideals of justice, liberty, and virtue49. My grandmother Livia had long grudged50 that her two boys were out of her charge-though indeed they visited her daily at Augustus's palace, which was quite close to their home on the Palatine Hill-and when she found in what way they were being educated she was greatly annoyed.
My grandfather died suddenly while dining with some friends, and it was suspected that he had been poisoned, but thematter was hushed up because Augustus and Livia had been among the guests. In his will the boys were left to Augustus's guardianship51. My uncle Tiberius, aged52 only nine, spoke the oration24 at my grandfather's funeral.
Augustus loved his sister Octavia dearly and had been much grieved on her account when, soon after her marriage, he learnt that Antony, after starting out for the East to fight a war in Parthia, had stopped on the "'ay to renew his intimacy53 with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt; and still more grieved at the slighting letter that Octavia had received from Antony when she went out to help him Ac next year with men and money for his campaign. The letter, which reached her when she was half-way on her journey, ordered her coldly to return home and attend to her household affairs; yet he accepted the men and money. Livia was secretly delighted at the incident, having long been assiduous in making misunderstandings and jealousies54 between Augustus and Antony, which Octavia had been as assiduous in smoothing out. When Octavia returned to Rome, Livia asked Augustus to invite her to leave Antony's house and stay with them. She refused to do so, partly because she did not trust Livia and partly because she did not wish to appear a cause of the impending55 war. Finally Antony, incited56 by Cleopatra, sent Octavia a bill of divorce and declared war on Augustus. This was the last of the Civil Wars, a duel57 to the death between the only two men left on their feet-if I may use the metaphor-after an all-against-all sword-fight in the universal amphitheatre. Lepidus was still alive, to be sure, but a prisoner in all but name, and quite harmless-he had been forced to fall at Augustus's feet and beg for his life. Young Pompey, too, the only other person of importance, whose fleet had for a long time commanded the Mediterranean58, had by now been defeated by Augustus, and captured and put to death by Antony. The duel between Augustus and Antony was short. Antony was totally defeated in the sea battle off Actium, in Greece. He fled to Alexandria and there took his own life-as did Cleopatra, too. Augustus assumed Antony's Eastern conquests as his own and became, as Livia had intended, the sole ruler of the Roman world. Octavia remained true to the interests of Antony's children-not only his son by a former wife, but actually his three children by Cleopatra, a girl and two boys-bringing them up with her own two daughters, one of whom, Antonia the younger, was my mother. This nobility of mind excited general admiration at Rome.
Augustus ruled the world, but Livia ruled Augustus. And I must here explain the remarkable59 hold that she had over him. It was always a matter of wonder that there were no children of the marriage, seeing that my grandmother had not shown herself unfruitful and that Augustus was reported to be the father of at least four natural children, besides his daughter Julia, who there is no reason for doubting was his own daughter. He was known, moreover to be passionately60 devoted62 to my grandmother. The truth will not easily be credited. The truth is that the marriage was never consummated63 Augustus, though capable enough with other women, found himself as impotent as a child when he tried to have commerce with my grandmother. The only reasonable explanation is that Augustus was, at bottom, a pious64 man, though cruelty and even ill-faith had been forced on him by the dangers that followed his granduncle Julius Caesar's assassination. He knew that the marriage was impious: this knowledge, it seems, affected65 him nervously66, putting an inner restraint on his flesh.
My grandmother, who had wanted Augustus as an instrument of her ambition rather than as a lover was more glad than sorry for this impotence. She found that she could use it as a weapon for subjecting his will to hers. Her practice was to reproach him continually for having seduced67 her from my grandfather, whom she protested that she had loved, by assurances to her of deep passion and by secret threats to him that if she were not given up he would be arraigned as a public enemy. (This last was perfectly68 untrue.) Now look, she said, how she had been tricked! The passionate61 lover had turned out to be no man at all; any poor charcoal-burner or slave was more of a man than he! Even Julia was not his real daughter, and he knew it. All that he was good for, she said, was to fondle and fumble69 and kiss and make eyes like a singing eunuch. It was in vain that Augustus protested that with other women he was a Hercules. Either she would refuse to believe it or she would accuse him of wasting en other women what he denied her. But that no scandal of this should go about she pretended on one occasion to be with child by him and then to have a miscarriage70. Shame and unslakable passion bound Augustus closer to her than if their mutual71 longings72 had been nightly satisfied or than if she had borne him a dozen fine children. And she took the greatest care of his health and comfort, and was faithful to him, not being naturally lustful73 except of power; and for this he was so grateful that he let her guide and rule him in all his public and private acts. I have heard it confidently stated by old palace officials that, after marrying my grandmother, Augustus never looked at another woman. Yet all sorts of stories were current at Rome about his affairs with the wives and daughters of notables; and after his death, in explaining how it was that she had so complete a command of his affections, Livia used to say that it was not only because she was faithful to him but also because she never interfered74 with his passing -love-affairs. It is my belief that she put all these scandals about herself in order to have something to reproach him with.
If I am challenged as to my authority for this curious history I will give it. The first part relating to the divorce I heard from Livia's own lips in the year she died. The remainder, about Augustus's impotence, I heard from a woman called Briseis, a wardrobe-maid of my mother's, who had previously75 served my grandmother as a page-girl, and being then only seven years old had been allowed to overhear conversations that she was thought too young to understand. I believe my account true and will continue to do so until it is supplanted76 by one that fits the facts equally well. To my way of thinking, the Sibyl's verse about "wife, no wife" confirms the matter. No, I cannot close the matter here. In writing this passage, with the idea, I suppose, of shielding Augustus's good name, I have been holding something back which I shall now after all set down. Because, as the proverb says, "truth helps the story on". It is this. My grandmother Livia ingeniously consolidated77 her hold on Augustus by secretly giving him, of her own accord, beautiful young women to sleep with whenever she noticed that passion made him restless. That she arranged this for him, and without a word said beforehand or afterwards, forbearing from the jealousy78 that, as a wife, he was convinced that she must feel; that everything was done very decently and quietly, the young women (whom she picked out herself in the Syrian slave-market-he preferred Syrians) being introduced into his bedroom at night with a knock and the rattle79 of a chain for signal, and called away again early in the morning by a similar knock and rattle; and that they kept silence in his presence as if they were succubi who came in dreams-that she contrived80 all this so thoughtfully and remained faithful to him herself in spite of his impotence with her, he must have considered a perfect proof of the sincerest love. You may object that Augustus, in his position, might have had the most beautiful women in the world, bond or free, married or unmarried, to feed his appetite, without the assistance of Livia as procuress. That is true, but it is true nevertheless that after his marriage to Livia he tasted no meat, as he once said himself, though perhaps in another context, that she had not passed as fit for eating.
Of women, then, Livia had no cause to be jealous, except only of her sister-in-law, my other grandmother, Octavia, whose beauty excited as much admiration as her virtue. Livia had taken malicious81 pleasure in sympathizing with her over Antony's faithlessness. She had gone so far as to suggest that it had been largely Octavia's own fault in dressing82 in so modest a way and behaving with such decorum. Mark Antony, she pointed83 out, was a man of strong passions, and to hold him successfully a woman must temper the chastity of a Roman matron with the arts and extravagances of an Oriental courtesan. Octavia should have taken a leaf from Cleopatra's book: for the Egyptian, though Octavia's inferior in looks and her senior by eight or nine years, knew well how to feed his sensual appetite. "Men such as Antony, real men, prefer the strange to the wholesome," Livia finished sententiously. *They find maggoty green cheese more tasty than freshly pressed curds84."
"Keep your maggots to yourself' Octavia flared85 at her.
Livia herself dressed very richly and used the most expensive Asiatic perfumes; but she did not allow the least extravagance in her household, which she made a boast of running in old-fashioned Roman style. Her rules were plain but plentiful86 food, regular family worship, no hot baths after meals, constant work for everyone, and no waste. "Everyone" was not merely the slaves and freedmen but every member of the family. The unfortunate child Julia was expected to set an example of industry. She led a very weary life. She had a regular daily task of wool to card and spin, and cloth to weave, and needlework to do, and was made to rise from her hard bed at dawn, and even before dawn, in the winter months, to be able to get through it. And because her stepmother believed in a liberal education for girls, she was set, among other tasks, to leam the whole of Homer's lliad and Odyssey88 by heart.
Julia had also to keep a detailed diary, for Livia's benefit, of what work she did, what books she read, what conversations she had, and so on: which was a great burden to her. She was allowed no friendships with men, though her beauty was much toasted. One young man of ancient family and irreproachable89 morals, a Consul90's son, was bold enough to introduce himself to her one day at Baize on some polite pretext91, when she was taking the half-hour's walk allowed her by the seaside, accompanied Only by her duenna. Livia, who was jealous of Julia's good looks, and of Augustus's affection for her, had the young man sent a very strong letter, telling him that he must never expect to hold public office under the father of the girl whose good name he had tried to besmirch92 by this insufferable familiarity. Julia herself was punished by being forbidden to take her walk outside the grounds of the villa93. About this time Julia went quite bald. I do not know whether Livia had a hand in this: it seems not improbable, though certainly baldness was in the Caesar family. At all events, Augustus found an Egyptian wig94-maker who made her one of the most magnificent fair wigs95 that was ever seen, and her charms were thus rather increased than diminished by her mischance; she had not had very good hair of her own. It is said that the wig was not built, in the usual way, on a base of hair net but was the whole scalp of a German chieftain's daughter shrunk to the exact size of Julia's head and kept alive and pliant96 by occasional rubbing with a special ointment97. But I must say that I don't believe this.
Everyone knew that Livia kept Augustus in strict order and that, if not actually frightened of her, he was at any rate very careful not to offend her. One day, in his capacity as Censor98, he was lecturing some rich men about allowing their wives to bedizen themselves with jewels, "For a woman to overdress," he said, "is unseemly. It is the husband's duty to restrain his wife from luxury." Carried away by his own eloquence99 he unfortunately added: "I : ' sometimes have occasion to admonish100 my own wife about this." There was a delighted cry from the culprits. "Oh, Augustus," they said, "do tell us in what words you admonish Livia. It will serve as a model for us." Augustus was embarrassed and alarmed. "You mis-heard me," he said, "I did not say that I had ever had occasion to reprimand Livia. As you know well, she is a paragon101 of matronly modesty102. But I certainly would have no hesitation103 in reprimanding her, were she to forget her dignity by dressing, as some of your wives do, like an Alexandrian dancing-girl who has by some queer turn of fate become an Armenian queen-dowager." That same evening Livia tried to make Augustus look small by appearing at the dinner table in the most fantastically gorgeous finery she could lay her hands on, the foundation of which was one of Cleopatra's ceremonial dresses. But he got well out of an awkward situation by praising her for her witty104 and opportune105 parody106 of the very fault he had been condemning107
Livia had grown wiser since the time that she had advised my grandfather to put a diadem108 on his head and proclaim himself king. The title "king" was still execrated109 at Rome on account of the unpopular Tarquin dynasty to which, according to legend, the first Brutus (I call him this to distinguish him from the second Brutus, who murdered Julius) had put an end-expelling the royal family from the City and becoming one of the first two Consuls110 of the Roman Republic. Livia realized now that the title of king? could be waived111 so long as Augustus could control the substantial powers of kingship. By following her advice he gradually concentrated in his single person all the important Republican dignities. He was Consul at Rome, and when he passed on the office to a reliable friend he took in exchange the "High Command"-which, though nominally112 on a level with the consulship113, ranked in practice above this or any other magistracy. He had absolute control of the provinces, too, and power to appoint the provincial114 governors-general, together with the command of all armies and the right of levying115 troops and of making peace.
In Rome he was voted the life-office of People's Protector, which secured him against all interference with his authority, gave him the power of vetoing the decisions of other office-holders and carried with it the inviolability of his person. The title "Emperor", which once merely meant "field-marshal" but has recently come to mean supreme116 monarch117, he shared with other successful generals. He also had the Censorship, which gave him authority over the two leading social orders, those of Senators and Knights; on the pretext of moral shortcomings he could disqualify any member of either order from its dignities and privileges-a disgrace keenly felt. He had control or the Public Treasury118: he was supposed to render periodic accounts, but nobody was ever bold enough to demand an audit119, though it was known that there was constant juggling120 between the Treasury and Privy121 Purse.
Thus he had the command of the armies, the control of the laws-for his influence on the Senate was such that they voted whatever he suggested to them-the control of public finances, the control or social behaviour, and inviolacy122 of person. He even had the right of summarily condemning any Roman citizen, from ploughman to senator, to death or perpetual banishment123. The last dignity that he assumed was that of High Pontiff, which gave him control of the entire religious system. The Senate were anxious to vote him whatever title he would accept, short of King: they were afraid to vote him the kingship for fear of the people. His real wish was to be called Romulus, but Livia advised him against this. Her argument was that Romulus had been a king and that the name was therefore dangerous, and further that he was one of the Roman tutelary124 deities125 and that to take his name would seem blasphemous126. But her real feeling was that it was not a grand enough tide. Romulus had been a mere87 bandit-chieftain and was not among the first rank of the Gods. On her advice he therefore signified to the Senate that the title Augustus would be agreeable to him. So they voted him that. "Augustus" had a semi-divine connotation, and the common title of King was nothing by comparison.
How many mere kings paid tribute to Augustus! How many were marched in chains in Roman triumphs! Had not even the High King of remote India, hearing of Augustus's fame, sent ambassadors to Rome, begging for the protection of his friendship, with propitiatory127 presents of remarkable silks and spices; and rubies128, emeralds and sardonyx; and tigers, then for the first time seen in Europe and the Indian Hermes, the famous armless boy, who could do the most extraordinary things with his feet? Had -. not Augustus put an end to that line of kings in Egypt that went back at least five thousand years before the foundation of Rome? And at that fateful interruption of history what monstrous129 portents130 had not been seen? Had there not been flashes of armour131 from the clouds and bloody132 rain falling? Had not a serpent of gigantic size appeared in the main street of Alexandria and uttered an incredibly loud hiss133? Had not the ghosts of dead Pharaohs appeared? Had not their statues frowned? Had not Apis, the sacred bull of Memphis, uttered a bellow134 of lamentation135 and burst into tears? This was how my grandmother reasoned with herself.
Most women are inclined to set a modest limit to their ambitions; a few rare ones set a bold limit. But Livia was unique in setting no limit at all to hers, and yet remaining perfectly level-headed and cool in what would be judged in any other woman to be raving136 madness. It was only little by little that even I, with such excellent opportunities for observing her, came to guess generally what her intentions were. But even so, when the final disclosure came, it came as a shock of surprise. Perhaps I had better record her various acts in historical sequence, without dwelling137 on her hidden motives138. On her advice, Augustus prevailed on the Senate to create two new Divinities, namely, the Goddess Roma, who represented the female soul of the Roman Empire, and the Demigod Julius, the warlike hero who was Julius Caesar in apotheosis139. (Divine honours had been offered to Julius, in the East, while he was still alive; that he had not refused them was one of the reasons tor his assassination.) Augustus knew the value of a religious bond to unite the provinces with the City, a bond far stronger than one based merely on fear or gratitude140. It sometimes happened that after long residence in Egypt or Asia Minor141 even true-born Romans turned to the worship of the gods they found there and forgot their own, thereby142 becoming foreigners in all but name. On the other hand Rome had imported so many religions from the cities she had conquered, giving alien deities, such as Isis and Cybele, noble temples in the City -and not merely for the convenience of visitors-that it was reasonable that she should now, in fair exchange, plant gods of her own in these cities. Roma and Julius, then, were to be worshipped by such provincials143 as were Roman citizens and wished to be reminded of their national heritage.
The next step that Livia took was to arrange for delegations144 of provincials not fortunate enough to possess full citizenship145 to visit Rome and beg to be given a Roman God whom they might worship loyally and without presumption146. On Livia's advice Augustus told the Senate, halfjokingly, that these poor fellows, while obviously they could not be allowed to worship the superior deities, Roma and Julius, must not be denied some sort of God, however humble147. At this, Mascenas, one of Augustus's ministers, with whom Augustus had already discussed the advisability of taking the name of Romulus, said: "Let us give them a God who will watch over them well. Let us give them Augustus himself." Augustus appeared somewhat embarrassed but admitted that Maecenas's suggestion was a sound one. It was an established custom among Orientals, and one which might well be turned to Roman profit, to pay divine honours to their rulers; but since it was clearly impracticable for Eastern cities to worship the whole Senate in a body, putting up six hundred statues in each of their shrines148, one way out of the difficulty, certainly, was for them to worship the Senate's chief executive officer, who happened to be himself. So the Senate, feeling complimented that each member had in him at least one sixhundredth part of divinity, gladly voted Mascenas's motion, and shrines to Augustus were immediately erected149 in Asia Minor. The cult17 spread, but at first only in the frontier provinces, which were under the direct control of Augustus, not in the home provinces, which were nominally under the control of the Senate, not in the City itself.
Augustus approved of Livia's educative methods with Julia and of her domestic arrangements and economies. He had simple tastes himself. His palate was so insensitive that he did not notice the difference between virgin14 olive oil and the last rank squeezings when the olive-paste has gone a third time through the press. He wore homespun clothes. It was justly said that. Fury though Livia was, but for her unwearying activity Augustus would never have been able to undertake the immense task he set himself of restoring Rome to peace and security after the long disasters of the Civil Wars-in which he himself had, of course, played so destructive a part. Augustus's work Elled fourteen hours a day, but Livia's, it was said, filled twentyfour. Not only did she manage her huge household in the efficient way I have described, but she bore an equal share with him in public business. A full account of all the legal, social, administrative150, religious and military reforms which they carried out between them, to say nothing of the public works which they undertook, the temples which they re-edified, the colonies they planted, would fill many volumes. Yet there were many leading Romans of the elder generation who could not forget that this seemingly admirable reconstitution of the State had only been made possible by the military defeat, secret murder or public execution of almost every person who had defied the power of this energetic pair. Had their sole and arbitrary power not been disguised under the forms of ancient liberty they would never have held it long. Even as it was, there were no less than four conspiracies151 against Augustus's life by would-be Brutuses.
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gathering
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detailed
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loathes
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whatsoever
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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genealogies
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| n.系谱，家系，宗谱( genealogy的名词复数 ) | |
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7
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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8
supplanting
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| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的现在分词 ) | |
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9
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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10
crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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crabs
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| n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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13
seduce
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| vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱 | |
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14
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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15
dissuaded
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| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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17
cult
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| n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜 | |
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18
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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19
assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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20
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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21
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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22
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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23
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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24
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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25
arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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26
impiety
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| n.不敬；不孝 | |
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27
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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28
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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29
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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30
faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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31
factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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32
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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33
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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34
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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35
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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36
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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37
honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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38
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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39
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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40
dishonour
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|
| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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41
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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42
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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43
pander
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| v.迎合；n.拉皮条者，勾引者；帮人做坏事的人 | |
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44
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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45
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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46
gestation
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| n.怀孕；酝酿 | |
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47
entrusting
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的现在分词 ) | |
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48
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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49
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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50
grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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51
guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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52
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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53
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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54
jealousies
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| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
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55
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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56
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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58
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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59
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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60
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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61
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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62
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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63
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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64
pious
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|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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65
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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66
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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67
seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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68
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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69
fumble
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| vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索 | |
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70
miscarriage
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| n.失败，未达到预期的结果；流产 | |
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71
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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72
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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73
lustful
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| a.贪婪的；渴望的 | |
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74
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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75
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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76
supplanted
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| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
consolidated
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| a.联合的 | |
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78
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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79
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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80
contrived
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|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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81
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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82
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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83
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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84
curds
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| n.凝乳( curd的名词复数 ) | |
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85
Flared
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|
| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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86
plentiful
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|
| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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87
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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88
odyssey
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| n.长途冒险旅行；一连串的冒险 | |
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89
irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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90
consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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91
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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92
besmirch
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| v.污，糟蹋 | |
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93
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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94
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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95
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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96
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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97
ointment
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| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
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98
censor
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| n./vt.审查，审查员；删改 | |
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99
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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100
admonish
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| v.训戒；警告；劝告 | |
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101
paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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102
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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103
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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104
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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105
opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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106
parody
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| n.打油诗文，诙谐的改编诗文，拙劣的模仿；v.拙劣模仿，作模仿诗文 | |
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107
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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108
diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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109
execrated
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| v.憎恶( execrate的过去式和过去分词 )；厌恶；诅咒；咒骂 | |
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110
consuls
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| 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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111
waived
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| v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
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112
nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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113
consulship
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| 领事的职位或任期 | |
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114
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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115
levying
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| 征（兵）( levy的现在分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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116
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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117
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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118
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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119
audit
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| v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听 | |
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120
juggling
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| n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词 | |
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121
privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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122
inviolacy
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| n.未亵渎，无污点，未受侵犯 | |
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123
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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124
tutelary
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| adj.保护的；守护的 | |
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125
deities
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| n.神，女神( deity的名词复数 )；神祗；神灵；神明 | |
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126
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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127
propitiatory
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| adj.劝解的；抚慰的；谋求好感的；哄人息怒的 | |
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128
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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129
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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130
portents
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| n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物 | |
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131
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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132
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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133
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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134
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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135
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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136
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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137
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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138
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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139
apotheosis
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| n.神圣之理想；美化；颂扬 | |
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140
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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141
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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142
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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143
provincials
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| n.首都以外的人，地区居民( provincial的名词复数 ) | |
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144
delegations
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| n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派 | |
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145
citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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146
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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147
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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148
shrines
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| 圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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149
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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150
administrative
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| adj.行政的，管理的 | |
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151
conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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