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This webpage reproduces a work of
C. Suetonius Tranquillus
published in the Loeb Classical Library,
1914

The text is in the public domain.

This page has been carefully proofread
and I believe it to be free of errors.
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 p507  Suetonius
The Life of Passienus Crispus

[Legamen ad paginam Latinam] Passienus Crispus, a native of Visellium, began his first speech in the senate with these words: "Conscript fathers and you, Caesar," and was in consequence highly commended by Tiberius, though not sincerely. He voluntarily pleaded a number of cases in the court of the Hundred,​1 and therefore his statue was set up in the Basilica Julia.​2 He was twice consul. He married twice: first Domitia and then Agrippina, respectively the aunt and the mother of the emperor Nero. He possessed an estate of two hundred million sesterces. He tried to gain favour with all the emperors, but especially with Gaius Caesar, whom he attended on foot when the emperor made a journey. When he was asked by Nero​3 in a private conversation whether he had commerce with his own sister, as the emperor had with his, he replied "Not yet"; a very fitting and cautious answer, neither accusing the emperor by denying the allegation, nor dishonouring himself with a lie by admitting it. He was slain by the treachery of Agrippina, whom he had made his heir, and was honoured with a public funeral.

The Loeb Editor's Notes:

1 See note on Aug. xxxvi.

❦

2 In the Roman Forum.

❦

3 Gaius is obviously intended, instead of Nero.

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Page updated: 16 Jul 08

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