You are wealthy — but are you wealthier than Pompey? When his old relative and new host Gaius opened Caesar's house to him so he could shut his own door, Pompey lacked even bread and water. He owned so many rivers that started and ended in his territory, yet he had to beg for drops of water. He died of hunger and thirst in his relative's palace, while his heir was arranging a public funeral for someone who couldn't find food. You have held public offices — but were they as important, as unexpected, or as sweeping as those of Sejanus? On the very day the Senate disgraced him, the people tore him apart. The executioner couldn't find a piece of him big enough to drag to the Tiber. This happened to a man on whom gods and humans had showered everything that could be given to a person.
You are wealthy: are you wealthier than Pompeius? Yet when Gaius, his old relative and new host, opened Caesar's house to him in order that he might close his own, he lacked both bread and water: though he owned so many rivers which both rose and discharged themselves within his dominions, yet he had to beg for drops of water: he perished of hunger and thirst in the palace of his relative, while his heir was contracting for a public funeral for one who was in want of food. You have filled public offices: were they either as important, as unlooked for, or as all-embracing as those of Sejanus? Yet on the day on which the Senate disgraced him, the people tore him to pieces: the executioner could find no part left large enough to drag to the Tiber, of one upon whom gods and men had showered all that could be given to man.