VELLEIUS PATERCULUS, History of Rome
[II.XCIX] Breui interiecto spatio, Ti. Nero duobus consulatibus totidemque triumphis actis, tribuniciae potestatis consortione aequatus Augusto, ciuium post unum, et hoc quia uolebat, eminentissimus, ducum maximus, fama fortunaque celeberrimus et uere alterum rei publicae lumen et caput, mira quadam et incredibili atque inenarrabili pietate, cuius causae mox detectae sunt, cum C. Caesar sumpsisset iam uirilem togam, Lucius item maturus esset uir, is, ne fulgor suus orientium iuuenum obstaret initiis, dissimulata causa consilii sui, commeatum ab socero atque eodem uitrico adquiescendi a continuatione laborum petiit. Quis fuerit eo tempore ciuitatis habitus, qui singulorum animi, quae digredientium a tanto uiro omnium lacrimae, quam paene ei patria manum iniecerit, iusto seruemus operi. Illud etiam in hoc transcursu dicendum est ita septem annos Rhodi moratum ut omnes, qui pro consulibus legatique in transmarinas profecti prouincias, uisendi eius gratia Rhodum deuerterint atque eum conuenientes semper priuato, si illa maiestas priuata umquam fuit, fasces suos summiserint fassique sint otium eius honoratius imperio suo.
[2.99] Soon afterwards Tiberius, who had now held two consulships and celebrated two triumphs who had been made the equal of Augustus by sharing with him the tribunician power; the most eminent of all Roman citizens save one (and that because he wished it so); the greatest of generals, attended alike by fame and fortune; veritably the second luminary and the second head of state--this man, moved by some strangely incredible and inexpressible feeling of affection for Augustus, sought to leave from him who was both father-in-law and stepfather to rest from the unbroken succession of his labors. The real reasons for this were soon made plain. Inasmuch as Gaius Caesar had already assumed the toga of manhood, and Lucius was reaching maturity, he concealed his reason in order that his own glory might not stand in the way of the young men at the beginning of their careers. I must reserve for my regular history a description of the attitude of the state at this juncture, if the feelings of the individual citizens, of the tears of all at taking leave of such a man, and how nearly the state came to laying upon him its staying hand. Even in this brief epitome I ought to say that his stay of seven years in Rhodes was such that all who departed for the provinces across the sea, whether proconsuls or governors appointed by the emperor, went out of their way to see him at Rhodes, and on meeting him they lowered their fasces to him though he was but a private citizen--if such majesty could ever belong to a private citizen--thereby confessing that his retirement was more worthy of honor than their official position.