--whom every
single instinct in his nature abhorred! Incompatible:--that is
the very least and mildest thing you can say about it;--but he
must say nothing, for he is speaking to her father. He resists a
long time, in deep anguish; but there is one word that for
Tiberius was ever a clarion call to his soul.

What, cries he, is this terrible thing you demand of me?--and his
Teacher answers: _Duty._ Duty to Rome, that the Julian and
Claudian factions may be united; duty to the empire, that my
successors, Caius and Lucius, may have, after I am gone, a strong
man for their guardian.--You will note that, if you please.
Augustus had just adopted these two sons of Julias; they were,
ostensibly, to be his successors; there was no bait for ambition
in this sacrifice Tiberius was called on to make; he would not
succeed to the Principate; the marriage would not help him;
there was to be nothing in it for him but pure pain. In the name
of duty he was called on to make a holocaust of himself.

He did it; and the feet of his soul were indeed washed in the
blood of his heart. He said no word; he divorced Vipsania and
explained nothing. But for months afterwards, if he should
chance to meet her, or see her in the street far off, he could
not hide the fact that his eyes filled with tears.--Then Rome in
its own kindly way took upon itself the duty or pleasure of
helping him out a little: gossip got to work to soothe the ache
of his wound. "Vipasania," said gossip;--"you are well rid of
her; she was far from being all that you thought her." Probably
he believed nothing of it; but the bitterness lay in its being
said. A shy man is never popular. His shyness passes for pride,
and people hate him for it. Tiberius was very shy. So society
was always anxious to take down his pride a little. The truth
was, he was humble to the verge of self-distrust.

He did his best for Julia: lived under the same roof with her
for a few agonized months, and discovered what everyone knew or
suspected about her. The cup of his grief was now quite full;
and indeed, worse things a man could hardly suffer. Austere,
reserved, and self-controlled as he was, at sight of Vipsania he
could not hide his tears. But it is written:

_"Before the eyes can see, they must become incapable of
tears."_

--He was the butt of Roman gossip: in all rancorous mouths
because of the loved Vipsania; in all tattling mouths because of
the loathed Julia;