Life of Tiberius
e medio quam longissime amouere: dubium uxorisne taedio, quam neque criminari aut dimittere
auderet neque ultra perferre posset, an ut uitato assiduitatis fastidio auctoritatem absentia
tueretur atque etiam augeret, si quando indiguisset sui res p. Quidam existimant, adultis iam
Augusti liberis, loco et quasi possessione usurpati a se diu secundi gradus sponte cessisse
exemplo M. Agrippae, qui M. Marcello ad munera publica admoto Mytilenas abierit, ne aut
obstare aut obtrectare praesens uideretur. Quam causam et ipse, sed postea, reddidit. Tunc
autem honorum satietatem ac requiem laborum praetendens commeatum petit; neque aut matri
suppliciter precanti aut uitrico deseri se etiam in senatu conquerenti ueniam dedit. Quin et
pertinacius retinentibus, cibo per quadriduum abstinuit. Facta tandem abeundi potestate, relictis
Romae uxore et filio confestim Ostiam descendit, ne uerbo quidem cuiquam prosequentium
reddito paucosque admodum in digressu exosculatus.
formed the resolution of withdrawing to a greater distance from Rome. It is uncertain whether
this was the result of disgust for his wife, whom he neither durst accuse nor divorce, and the
connection with whom became every day more intolerable; or to prevent that indifference towards
him, which his constant residence in the city might produce; or in the hope of supporting and
improving by absence his authority in the state, if the public should have occasion for his
service. Some are of the opinion that as Augustus' sons were now grown up to years of
maturity, he voluntarily relinquished the possession he had long enjoyed of the second place in
the government, as Agrippa had done before him; who; when M. Marcellus was advanced to
public offices, retired to Mitylene, that he might not seem to stand in the way of his promotion,
or in any respect lessen him by his presence. The same reason likewise Tiberius gave afterwards
for his retirement; but his pretext at this time was, that he was satiated with honors, and
desirous of being relieved from the fatigue of business; requesting therefore that he might have
leave to withdraw. And neither the earnest entreaties of his mother, nor the complaint of his
father-in-law made even in the senate, that he was deserted by him, could prevail upon him to
alter his resolution. Upon their persisting in the design of detaining him, he refused to take any
sustenance for four days together. At last, having obtained permission, leaving his wife and son
at Rome, he proceeded to Ostia without exchanging a word with those who attended him, and
having embraced but very few persons at parting.