Res Gestae

Yet in the midst of these anxieties, as if it were prescribed by some ancient custom, in place of civil wars the trumpets sounded for alleged cases of high treason; and to investigate and punish these there was sent that notorious state-secretary Paulus, often called Tartareus.[*](The Diabolical, from Tartarus. He is called Catena in xiv. 5, 8 and xv. 3, 4.) He was skilled in the. work of bloodshed, and just as a trainer of gladiators seeks profit and emolument from the traffic in funerals[*](Gladiatorial shows were given at the funerals of distinguished Romans, as well as at festivals.) and festivals, so did he from the rack or the executioner.

Therefore, as his determination to do harm was fixed and obstinate, he did not refrain from secret fraud, devising fatal charges against innocent persons, provided only he might continue his pernicious traffic.

Moreover, a slight and trivial occasion gave opportunity to extend his inquisitions indefinitely. There is a town called Abydum, situated in the remotest part of the Thebais[*](A nome, or province, of Egypt.) ; here the oracle of a god called in that place Besa in days of old revealed the future and was wont to be honoured in

And since some in person, a part through others, by sending a written list of their desires,[*](So also at the temple of Jupiter at Baalbek.) inquired the will of the deities after definitely stating their requests, the papers or parchments containing their petitions sometimes remained in the shrine even after the replies had been given.

Some of these were with malicious intent sent to the emperor who (being narrow-minded), although deaf to other very serious matters, on this point was softer than an earlobe,[*](Cf. Cic., Q.F. ii. 154, me . . . fore auricula infima scito molliorem; Catull. 25, 2 (mollior) imula auricilla. ) as the proverb has it; and being suspicious and petty, he grew furiously angry. At once be admonished Paulus to proceed quickly to the Orient, conferring on him, as a leader renowned for his experience, the power of conducting trials according to his good pleasure.