Quintus Haterius

Alcibiades was used to everyone seeking him out.

Plutarch, who wrote his life centuries later, tells us that from a very early age, he was surrounded by flatterers, people who laughed at his every quip, egged him on in every whim, and promised him that the moment he went into politics, he would outshine every general and orator in Athens.

And Plutarch tells an anecdote that sums him up completely.

Alcibiades bought an enormous, magnificent dog that cost him a fortune, and the first thing he did was cut off its tail.

He spots Socrates among the guests and instead of speaking about love, decides to speak about him.

And in that speech, Alcibiades admits something that must have cost him dearly to say.

He says he has heard the finest orators in Athens, Pericles included, and that none of them had ever moved him the way that man did.

That when Socrates spoke, his heart leapt in his chest and his eyes filled with tears.

About the two first there is a general agreement, but instead of Arruntius some have mentioned Gnaeus Piso, and all these men, except Lepidus, were soon afterwards destroyed by various charges through the contrivance of Tiberius.

Quintus Haterius, too, and Mamercus Scaurus, ruffled his suspicious temper.

Haterius by having said, How long, Caesar, will you suffer the state to be without a head? Scaurus by the remark that there was a hope that the Senate's prayers would not be fruitless, seeing that he had not used his right as tribune to negative the motion of the consuls.

Tiberius instantly broke out into a invective against Haterius.

One of their number, Lucius Pituanius, was hurled from the rock.

Another, Publius Martius, was executed, according to ancient custom, by the consuls outside the Esquiline gate, after the trumpets had been bidden to sound.

On the next day of the Senate's meeting, much was said against the luxury of the country by Quintus Haterius, an ex-consul, and by Octavius Fronto, an ex-praetor.

It was decided that vessels of solid gold should not be made for the serving of food, and that men should not disgrace themselves with silken clothing from the east.

About the two first there is a general agreement, but instead of Aruntius some have mentioned Gnaeus Piso, and all these men, except Lepidus, were soon afterwards destroyed by various charges through the contrivance of Tiberius.

Quintus Haterius, too, and Mamercus Scaurus ruffled his suspicious temper.

Haterius by having said, How long, Caesar, will you suffer the state to be without a head? Scaurus by the remark that there was a hope that the Senate's prayers would not be fruitless, seeing that he had not used his right as tribune to negative the motion of the consuls.

Tiberius instantly broke out into a invective against Haterius.

Scaurus, with whom he was far more deeply displeased, he passed over in silence.

Wearied at last by the assembly's clamorous importunity and the urgent demands of individual senators, he gave way by degrees, not admitting that he undertook empire, but yet ceasing to refuse it and to be entreated.

It is known that Haterius, after having entered the palace to ask pardon and thrown himself at the knees of Tiberius as he was walking, was almost killed by the soldiers, because Tiberius fell forward, accidentally or from being entangled by the suppliant's hands.

Yet the peril of so great a man did not make him relent.