s introspexit, libero, ut quondam, quid firmaret
mutaretve.'

See also the speech of C. Cassius in _Ann._ xiv. 43. As an aristocrat
Tacitus is sometimes unjust to men of low birth, as in _Ann._ iv. 3,
where he sneers at Seianus as 'municipali adultero,' and attaches
great value to high birth (cf. vi. 27). He is prejudiced against
slaves and barbarians.

Tacitus theoretically prefers a republic (cf. _Ann._ vi. 42, 'Populi
imperium iuxta libertatem, paucorum dominatio regiae libidini propior
est'), but admits the impossibility of a restitution of the free state
(_H._ ii. 37-8) and the necessity of empire. _H._ i. 1 (of Augustus),
'omnem potentiam ad unum conferri pacis interfuit.'

Cf. also Galba's speech in _H._ i. 16. The problem is to reconcile the
empire with freedom (see _Agr._ 3 quoted p. 341). One's duty is to
steer one's course _inter abruptam contumaciam et deforme obsequium_
(_Ann._ iv. 20). Tacitus gives only modified approval to patriots like
Paetus Thrasea (_Ann._ xiv. 12; 49) and Helvidius Priscus (_H._ iv.
6), and on the other hand gives praise for moderation to men like
Agricola (_Agr._ 42), M. Lepidus (_Ann._ iv. 20), L. Piso (_Ann._ vi.
10).

_Ann._ xiv. 12, 'Thrasea Paetus ... sibi causam periculi fecit,
ceteris libertatis initium non praebuit.'

_Agr._ 42, 'Non contumacia neque inani iactatione libertatis famam
fatumque provocabat.'

Tacitus blames those who despair of their own times. _Ann._ ii. 88,
'dum vetera extollimus recentium incuriosi.' He thinks that the
emperors, from their irresponsible position, were often gradually led
into wickedness, their downward career being helped by flatterers and
satellites, and draws a moral lesson from the servile Senate and the
_delatores_, who, like the emperors themselves, received punishment
for their conduct (_Ann._ i. 74; iii. 65 _sqq._).

_Ann._ vi. 48, 'Cum Tiberius post tantam rerum experientiam vi
dominationis convulsus et mutatus sit.'

_Ann._ iv. 33, 'Pauci prudentia honesta ab deterioribus utilia ab
noxiis discernunt, plures aliorum eventis docentur.'

_Ann._ vi. 6, 'Adeo facinora atque flagitia sua ipsi quoque in
supplicium verterant ... Quippe Tiberium non fortuna, non solitudines
protegebant, quin tormenta pectoris suasque ipse poenas fateretur.'

(2) Tacitus attaches himself to no particular school of philosophy,
and deprecates too close an attention to the subject.

_Agr._ 4, 'Memoria teneo solitum ipsum [Agricolam] narrare se prim