The Triumphal Return

Translation

However, he delayed in the towns of Campania, anxious about how he should enter Rome, or whether he would find the Senate obsequious and the people affectionate. On the other hand, all the vilest (of his court), of whom there has not existed any other more fertile palace, argued that Agrippina's name was hated, and the support of the people had been fired by her death: he should go fearlessly and experience (the people's) reverence for him face to face; at the same time, they demand to go in advance. And they found circumstances more favourable than they had promised, tribes coming to meet them, the Senate in festal attire, bands of wives and children arranged by sex and age, steps of grandstands set up (on the road) by which he was to proceed, the way triumphs are watched. Hence, he approached the Capitol, proud and conqueror of the public slavery, paid his thanks, and poured himself into all the lusts which, barely contained, respect for his mother, such as it was, had delayed.