The line “What is Past is Prologue” comes from William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest (Act 2, Scene 1). Today, people use the phrase to mean that history and previous experiences create the context for what happens next.
The quote is carved into the stone of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., to show that our past records and history lay the foundation for our current society.
Publius Cornelius Tacitus (AD 56 – AD 120): As Josephus is to Jerusalem, Tacitus is to Rome. Ironic that one of Rome’s greatest orators and historians was named “Tacitus” which means “Silent.” – wikipedia
The preserved portions of Tacitus’ works, Annals & Histories, begin with Roman emperor Tiberius . This is providential being there are so many parallels between Tiberius’ reign, credited with beginning the Decline of Rome (see Gibbon), and Trump who may be credited with the accelerated Decline of America – perhaps even the dissolution of what’s left of world order.
Time will tell.
The one exception being Joe Biden and Tiberius felt the same upon taking office: “Tiberius became princeps at the age of 55 and seems to have taken on the responsibilities of Head of State with great reluctance and perhaps a genuine sense of inadequacy” – a trait Trump shares (in SO many ways) but is totally ignorant of.
“From the outset, Tiberius had a difficult, resentful relationship with the Senate and suspected many plots against him.” – wikipedia
That’s the definition of both Trump administrations.
“The Roman Senate paid Tiberius groveling homage with sycophantic flatteries and adulations.” – wikipedia
Ditto Trump’s GOP congress.
“Tiberius allowed the worship of his divine Genius in only one temple.” – wikipedia
Trump, on the other hand, is desperately trying to stamp his divinity on every building, document, and currency of the government and many geographical features on the world map. His frantic attempts to obtain immortality only reveal his lack of masculinity and character.
Pliny the Elder called Tiberius, reclusive and aloot, “the gloomiest of men.” – wikipedia
One can only surmise Trump’s late night texts reflect the same gloom as he sits up alone venting on social media – a man who allegedly has everything and better things to do at night married to a beautiful (but disgusted) woman. Pondering on his legacy “Everything Trump touches turns to shit!” must be depressing despite his ad nauseum and totally false public superlatives describing his total failures. Even the adulation of sycophants can’t occupy that space and time in his head.
“Cassius Dio and Tacitus record that by the time he became Emperor, Tiberius had gone bald.” – wikipedia
Trump’s heroic (but futile) efforts to mask his baldness border on the ridiculous – a Coliseum-quality comedy.
“Tiberius contracted a disfiguring facial ailment which may have been a severe case of herpes which affected him throughout his reign. Tiberius banned kissing at public functions in an effort to curtail its spread.” – wikipedia
Thanks to the miracle of modern plastic surgery, it’s not possible to discern if Trump’s life-long proud philandering has resulted in the same malady. It’s also not easy to tell if Trump has difficulty keeping his eyes open due to old age, repetitive face lifts – or both.
It’s also difficult to determine if Melania doesn’t kiss Trump in public for the same reason Tiberius banned it – or her Julia-esque disgust for her husband.
But enough Oprah opining.
According to Tacitus:
“Augustus (Tiberius’ father) won over the soldiers with gifts, the population with [artificially] cheap corn [gas] and all men with the “sweets of repose”[Welfare], and so grew greater by degrees, while he concentrated in himself the functions of the Senate, the magistrates [judges], and the laws. He was wholly unopposed, for the boldest spirits had fallen in battle, or in the proscription [elimination of political enemies], while the remaining nobles [political elite] were the readier to be slaves, were raised the higher by wealth and promotion (Cabinet positions]. … The provinces [states] distrusted the government of the Senate and the [politicians] because of the rivalries between the leading men and the [economic] rapacity of the officials, while the protection of the laws was unavailable as they were continually deranged by violence, intrigue, and finally by corruption.” – Tacitus, The Annals; p. 1
“The Senate stooped to the most abject supplication asking Tiberius [Trump] “What part of the State do you wish to have entrusted to you?” – Ibid, p. 5
“At this the emperor’s wrath blazed forth, and, …exclaimed he would himself give his vote most openly that the rest might be under the same obligation.”
“Tiberius [Trump] quietly allowed the accused to be acquitted of the charges of treason.” – p. 22 (see: Trump’s list of Pardons, wikipedia)
“Many decisions were given in his presence in opposition to improper influence and the solicitations of great men. This, though it [appeared to] promote Justice, ruined Freedom.” – p. 22
“Some think that though he had an acute intellect, his judgment was irresolute, for he did not seek out eminent merit. From the best men he apprehended danger to himself. So conflicting are the accounts we find not only in historians but in Tiberius’ [Trump’s] own speeches. Sometimes he kept back the names of the candidates , describing their origin, Occasionally even these hints were withheld, and, after urging them not to disturb the elections by canvassing, he would promise his own help towards the result.
Generally he declared that only those had offered themselves to him as candidates, whose names he had given to the consuls [Party leaders], and that others might offer themselves if they had confidence in his influence.
A plausible profession in words, but really unmeaning and delusive, and the greater the disguise of freedom which marked it, the more cruel the enslavement into which it was soon to plunge us.” – p. 23
“Tiberius [Trump] effectually [often] interchanges his outward signs of resentment with compassion.” – p. 50 [at the Dover transfer of remains while planning to remove their names from the list of KIAs]
“You must not check vices abroad [patronizing Putin] without remembering the scandals of the capital [Epstein files].” – p. 53
“Even war is a good exchange for a miserable peace [economy]. Tiberius [Trump] studiously assumed an air of unconcern [“small potatoes“]. He convinced himself that the events [Iran war] was unimportant and much more insignificant than the rumors [media] represented.” – p. 55
“Tiberius [Trump] wore an angry frown or a treacherous smile. Whether he spoke or held his tongue, silence and speech were alike criminal.” – p. 79
“Tiberius [Trump] kept our losses a secret, not wishing to entrust any one with the war. Nor did the Senate care whether dishonor fell on the empire. Fear [of Trump] had filled their hearts, and for this they sought relief in sycophancy.
Tiberius’ [Trump’s] arrogance was increased by gazing upon this foul and openly displayed servility.” – p. 83
“The emperor’s speech taken as proof of patriotism but was, in fact, of pride [and greed].” -p. 89
“Neither time, entreaties nor sated gratification, all which have a soothing effect on others, softened Tiberius [Trump], or kept him from punishing doubtful or forgotten offenses as most flagrant and recent crimes.” – p. 96
“Anticipating the plots of enemies and the fickleness of friends… . Wishing to attract popular sympathy, he stooped to wiles and to entreaties [texts], to anything indeed by which he might allure the wavering and confirm the willing.” – p. 97
“It was stringent despotism; there was a general arrogance in public, no sort of immodesty at home, unless it conduced to power. A boundless greed of wealth was veiled under the pretext that riches were being accumulated as a prop to the throne.” – p 111
Melania: “This Poppaea had everything but a right mind. She professed Virtue, while she practiced laxity [posing as a model to immigrate to the U.S. and marry a rich American]. Her character she never spared, while she was never a slave to her own passion wherever there was a prospect of advantage, there she transferred her favor.” – p. 137
“He invited all the people of Rome [America 250], who extolled him in their praises, like a mob which craves for amusements and rejoices when the emperor draws them the same way. The public exposure of his shame acted on him as an incentive instead of sickening him. Imagining he mitigated the scandal[s] by disgracing many others, he brought on stage noble families who sold themselves because they were paupers in character.
The infamy is his who gave them wealth to reward their degradation rather than to deter them from degrading themselves.
Every incentive to excess was offered for sale. Money was distributed which the respectable [taxpayers] had to spend under sheer compulsion and which the profligate [Congress] gloried in squandering. Hence a rank growth of abominations and of all infamy.
Never did a more filthy rabble add a worse licentiousness to our long corrupted morals.” – p. 145
Truly this is a “Time that tries Men’s Souls.” – Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Leaving us with the question: “To Vote or Not to Vote?” – Shakespeare, Hamlet
That IS the question of our time!
One can only hold one’s breath and pinch one’s nose for so long.
