hatred for Tiberius, Augustus at last yielded, seeking to placate
Tiberius with other compensations. But Tiberius was too proud and
violent an aristocrat to accept compensations and indignantly demanded
permission to retire to Rhodes, abandoning all the public offices which
he exercised. He certainly hoped to make his loss felt, for indeed
Rome needed him. But he was mistaken. This act of Tiberius was
severely judged by public opinion as a reprisal upon the public for a
private offense. Augustus became angry with him and in his absence all
his enemies took courage and hurled themselves against him. The honors
to Caius Caesar were approved amid general enthusiasm and the Julian
party triumphed all along the line; it reached the height of power and
popularity, while Tiberius was constrained to content himself with the
idle life of a private person at Rhodes.

[Illustration: A reception at Livia's villa. The scene evidently is at
Livia's country palace at Prima Porta. Agrippa is seen descending the
steps to be received by Augustus and Livia (who are not shown in the
picture). The original of the status of Augustus, here shown, was
found in the ruins of Livia's villa close to the flight of marble steps
and its base. The remains of the steps and the base of the statue are
standing to-day at Prima Porta.]

But at Rome Livia still remained. From that moment began the mortal
duel between Livia and Julia.




III