Agr. 43.1Fīnis vītae eius nōbīs lūctuōsus, amīcīs trīstis, extrāneīs etiam ignōtīsque nōn sine cūrā fuit.The end of his life was a grief to us, a sadness to his friends, and not without concern even to strangers and to those who did not know him. Agr. 43.1Vulgus quoque et hic aliud agēns populus et ventitāvēre ad domum et per fora et circulōs locūtī sunt;The common people too, and this public that busies itself with other things, came often to his house and talked of him in the forums and in their circles; Agr. 43.1nec quisquam audītā morte Agricolae aut laetātus est aut statim oblītus.nor did anyone, on hearing of Agricola's death, either rejoice or forget it at once. Agr. 43.2Augēbat miserātiōnem cōnstāns rūmor venēnō interceptum: nōbīs nihil compertī, adfirmāre ausim.Pity was increased by a persistent rumour that he had been cut off by poison: we found no proof, and I would not dare to affirm it. Agr. 43.2Cēterum per omnem valētūdinem eius crēbrius quam ex mōre prīncipātūs per nūntiōs vīsentis et lībertōrum prīmī et medicōrum intimī vēnēre, sīve cūra illud sīve inquīsītiō erat.But throughout his illness the chief of the freedmen and the most trusted of the physicians came more often than is usual for an emperor who visits by messengers, whether that was concern or spying.
Agr. 43.3Suprēmō quidem diē mōmenta ipsa dēficientis per dispositōs cursōrēs nūntiāta cōnstābat, nūllō crēdente sīc adcelerārī quae trīstis audīret.On the last day, indeed, it was well established that the very moments of his decline were reported by runners posted along the way, though no one believed that news which he would hear with sorrow was being hurried in this way. Agr. 43.3Speciem tamen dolōris animī vultū prae sē tulit, sēcūrus iam odiī et quī facilius dissimulāret gaudium quam metum.Yet he displayed on his face an appearance of heartfelt grief, now secure in his hatred, and a man who could more easily hide joy than fear. Agr. 43.4Satis cōnstābat lēctō testāmentō Agricolae, quō cohērēdem optimae uxōrī et piissimae fīliae Domitiānum scrīpsit, laetātum eum velut honōre iūdiciōque.It was well established that when Agricola's will was read, in which he named Domitian co-heir with his excellent wife and most dutiful daughter, he was delighted as if by an honour and a mark of esteem. Agr. 43.4Tam caeca et corrupta mēns adsiduīs adūlātiōnibus erat, ut nescīret ā bonō patre nōn scrībī hērēdem nisi malum prīncipem.So blind and corrupted was his mind by constant flattery that he did not know that no one but a bad emperor is made heir by a good father.