d 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