DLH VI.30

English, pp.

It was in this same year that the Emperor Tiberius died. His death caused great sorrow to the races over which he ruled. He was a man of the utmost goodness, ready in charity, just in his decisions, most cautious in making up his mind, looking down on no man, but including all in his kindly benevolence. He loved all men, and by all men was he loved. When he began to feel ill and realized that he might soon die, he called the Empress to him. 'I feel,' he said, 'that the days of my life have run their full course. With your help I will choose a man to rule the state in my stead. We must find a strong man to inherit all this power from me.' The Empress proposed a certain Maurice. 'He is a strong man,' she said, 'and a wise one, too. He has often fought for the state against its enemies, and he has always won.' Sophia said this because she saw herself marrying Maurice as soon as Tiberius should be dead. Tiberius agreed to the proposal which the Empress had made. Then he ordered his own daughter to be decked with all the rich adornments which become an Imperial princess. He called Maurice to him and said: 'You have been nominated Emperor, with the complete agreement of the Empress Sophia. I give you the hand of my daughter, so that you may sit the safer on your throne.' The princess came in, and her father gave her to Maurice. 'With this young woman,' said Tiberius, 'I give you my imperial power. Enjoy it to the full, but always remember to make equity and justice your first concern.' Maurice accepted the hand of the princess and took her to his home. They were married, and soon afterwards Tiberius died. When the period of public mourning was over, Maurice put on the diadem and the purple and the imperial robes, and walked in procession to the hippodrome. There he was received with acclamation. He distributed the customary gifts among the populace, and he was confirmed in possession of the Empire.

Latin, pp.

30. De obitu Tiberii imperatores.

Hoc anno Tiberius imperator migravit a saeculo, magnum luctum relinquens populis de obito suo. Erat enim summe bonitatis, in aelimosinis prumptus, in iudiciis iustus, in iudicando cautissimus; nullum dispiciens, sed omnes in bona voluntate conplectens. Omnes diligens, ipse quoque diligebatur ab omnibus. Hic cum egrotare coepisset et se iam vivere disperaret, vocavit Sophiam agustam, dicens: 'Ecce! iam impleto sentio tempus vitae meae; nunc consilio tuo elegam, qui rei publicae praeesse debeat. Oportit enim strinuum elegi, quae praesit huic potestati'. At illa Mauricium quendam elegit, dicens: 'Valde strinuus et sacax vir isti. Nam et sepius contra inimicos rei publicae demicans, victurias obtenuit'. Haec enim dicebat, ut, isto transeunte, huius coniugio necteretur. Sed Tiberius, postquam consensum cognovit agustae de huius electione, iussit exornare filiam suam ornamentis imperialibus, et vocato Mauritio, ait: 'Ecce! cum consensu Sophiae agustae ad imperium elegeris; in quo ut firmior sis, filiam meam tradam tibi'. Et accedentem puella, tradedit eam pater Mauritio, dicens: 'Sit tibi imperium meum cum hac puella concessum. Utire eum felix, memor semper, ut aequitate et iustitiam delecteris' . At ille, acceptam puellam, duxit eam ad domum suam; et transacta solemnitate nuptiarum, Tiberius obiit. Igitur caelebrato iustitio, Mauricius indutus diademate et purpora, ad circum processit, adclamatisque sibi laudibus, largita populo munera, in imperio confirmatur.

Notes:

• Is there anything that is similar to … or Kings or Samuel?