that valedictory injunction he expressed inadvertently the true value of
his own long life, which, in strict candor, may be pronounced one
continued series of histrionic efforts, and of excellent acting, adapted
to selfish ends.




CHAPTER III.


The three next emperors, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, were the last
princes who had any connection by blood [Footnote: And this was entirely
by the female side. The family descent of the first six Caesars is so
intricate, that it is rarely understood accurately; so that it may be well
to state it briefly. Augustus was grand nephew to Julius Caesar, being the
son of his sister's daughter. He was also, by adoption, the _son_ of
Julius. He himself had one child only, viz. the infamous Julia, who was
brought him by his second wife Scribonia; and through this Julia it was
that the three princes, who succeeded to Tiberius, claimed relationship to
Augustus. On that emperor's last marriage with Livia, he adopted the two
sons whom she had borne to her divorced husband. These two noblemen, who
stood in no degree of consanguinity whatever to Augustus, were Tiberius
and Drusus. Tiberius left no children; but Drusus, the younger of the two
brothers, by his marriage with the younger Antonia, (daughter of Mark
Anthony,) had the celebrated Germanicus, and Claudius, (afterwards
emperor.) Germanicus, though adopted by his uncle Tiberius, and destined
to the empire, died prematurely. But, like Banquo, though he wore no
crown, he left descendants who did. For, by his marriage with Agrippina, a
daughter of Julia's by Agrippa, (and therefore grand-daughter of