unexpected question, and, for a short space, mute; but recovering himself,
answered, that "it ill became his modesty to choose or reject any
particular branch of the administration, when he desired rather to be
excused from the whole." Gallus, who in his face conjectured sullen signs
of displeasure, again accosted him, and said, "by this question I did not
mean that you should do an impracticable thing, and share that power which
cannot be separated; but I meant to reason you into a confession that the
Commonwealth is but one body, and can be governed only by one soul." He
added an encomium upon Augustus, and reminded Tiberius himself of his many
victories, of the many civil employments which he had long and nobly
sustained: nor even thus could he mollify the wrath of Tiberius, who had
long hated him, for that Gallus had married Vipsania, daughter of Marcus
Agrippa, and formerly wife to Tiberius, who thence suspected that by this
match he meant to soar above the rank of a subject, and possessed too the
bold and haughty spirit of Asinius Pollio his father.

Lucius Arruntius incurred his displeasure next, by a speech not much
unlike that of Gallus: it is true, that towards him Tiberius bore no old
rancour; but Arruntius had mighty opulence, prompt parts, noble
accomplishments, with equal popularity, and hence was marked by him with a
fell eye of suspicion. For, as Augustus, shortly before his decease, was
mentioning those among the great men, who were capable of the supreme
power, but would not accept it; or unequal to it, yet wished for it; or
such, as had both ambition and sufficiency; he had said, that "Marcus
Lepidus was qualified, but would reject it; Asinius would be aspiring, but
had inferior talents; and that Lucius Arruntius wanted no sufficiency, and
upon a proper occasion would attempt it." That he spoke thus of Lepidus
and Asinius, is agreed; but, instead of Arruntius, some writers have
transmitted the name of Cneius Piso: and every one of these great men,
except Lepidus, were afterwards cut off, under the imputation of various