Caligula (Suetonius)

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	Caligula Author: Suetonius	Translator: Alexander Thomson
1	Germanicus , C . Caesaris pater , Drusi et minoris Antoniae filius , a Tiberio patruo adoptatus , quaesturam quinquennio ante quam per leges liceret et post eam consulatum statim gessit , missusque ad exercitum in Germaniam , excessu Augusti nuntiato , legiones uniuersas imperatorem Tiberium pertinacissime recusantis et sibi summam rei p . deferentis incertum pietate an constantia maiore compescuit atque hoste mox deuicto triumphauit . consul deinde iterum creatus ac prius quam honorem iniret ad componendum Orientis statum expulsus , cum Armeniae regem deuicisset , Cappadociam in prouinciae formam redegisset , annum agens aetatis quartum et tricensimum diuturno morbo Antiochiae obiit , non sine ueneni suspicione . nam praeter liuores , qui toto corpore erant , et spumas , quae per os fluebant , cremati quoque cor inter ossa incorruptum repertum est , cuius ea natura existimatur , ut tinctum ueneno igne confici nequeat .	GERMANICUS, the father of Caius Caesar, and son of Drusus and the younger Antonia, was, after his adoption by Tiberius, his uncle, preferred to the quaestorship five years before he had attained the legal age, and immediately upon the expiration of that office, to the consulship. Having been sent to the army in Germany, he restored order among the legions, who, upon the news of Augustus's death, obstinately refused to acknowledge Tiberius as emperor, and offered to place him at the head of the state. In which affair it is difficult to say, whether his regard to filial duty, or the firmness of his resolution, was most conspicuous. Soon afterwards he defeated the enemy, and obtained the honours of a triumph. Being then made consul for the second time, before he could enter upon his office he was obliged to set out suddenly for the east, where, after he had conquered the king of Armenia, and reduced Cappadocia into the form of a province, he died at Antioch, of a lingering distemper, in the thirty-fourth year of his age, not without the suspicion of being poisoned. For besides the livid spots which appeared all over his body, and a foaming at the mouth; when his corpse was burnt, the heart was found entire among the bones; its nature being such, as it is supposed, that when tainted by poison, it is indestructible by fire.
2	obiit autem , ut opinio fuit , fraude Tiberi , ministerio et opera Cn . Pisonis , qui sub idem tempus Syriae praepositus , nec dissimulans offendendum sibi aut patrem aut filium , quasi plane ita necesse esset , etiam aegrum Germanicum grauissimis uerborum ac rerum acerbitatibus nullo adhibito modo adfecit ; propter quae , ut Romam rediit , paene discerptus a populo , a senatu capitis damnatus est .	It was a prevailing opinion that he was taken off by the contrivance of Tiberius and through the means of Cneius Piso. This person, who was about the same time prefect of Syria, and made no secret of his position being such, that he must either offend the fathe ror the son, loaded Germanicus, even during his sickness, with the most unbounded and scurrilous abuse, both by word and deed; for which, upon his return to Rome, he narrowly escaped being torn to pieces by the people, and was condemned to death by the senate.
3	omnes Germanico corporis animique uirtutes , et quantas nemini cuiquam , contigisse satis constat : formam et fortitudinem egregiam , ingenium in utroque eloquentiae doctrinaeque genere praecellens , beniuolentiam singularem conciliandaeque hominum gratiae ac promerendi amoris mirum et efficax studium . formae minus congruebat gracilitas crurum , sed ea quoque paulatim repleta assidua equi uectatione post cibum . hostem comminus saepe percussit . orauit causas etiam triumphalis ; atque inter cetera studiorum monimenta reliquit et comoedias Graecas . domi forisque ciuilis , libera ac foederata oppida sine lictoribus adibat . sicubi clarorum uirorum sepulcra cognosceret , inferias Manibus dabat . caesorum clade Variana ueteres ac dispersas reliquias uno tumulo humaturus , colligere sua manu et comportare primus adgressus est . obtrectatoribus etiam , qualescumque et quantacumque de causa nanctus esset , lenis adeo et innoxius , ut Pisoni decreta sua rescindenti , clientelas diuexanti non prius suscensere in animum induxerit , quam ueneficiis quoque et deuotionibus impugnari se comperisset ; ac ne tunc quidem ultra progressus , quam ut amicitiam ei more maiorum renuntiaret mandaretque domesticis ultionem , si quid sibi accideret .	It is generally agreed, that Germanicus possessed all the noblest endowments of body and mind in a higher degree than had ever before fallen to the lot of any man; a handsome person, extraordinary courage, great proficiency in eloquence and other branches of learning, both Greek and Roman; besides a singular humanity, and a behaviour so engaging, as to captivate the affections of all about him. The slenderness of his legs did not correspond with the symmetry and beauty of his person in other respects; but this defect was at length corrected by his habit of riding after meals. In battle, he often engaged and slew an enemy in single combat. He pleaded causes, even after he had the honour of a triumph. Among other fruits of his studies, he left behind him some Greek comedies. Both at home and abroad he always conducted himself in a manner the most unassuming. On entering any free and confederate town, he never would be attended by any of his lictors. Whenever he heard, in his travels, of the tombs of illustrious men, he made offerings over them to the infernal deities. He gave a common grave, under a mound of earth, to the scattered relics of the legionaries slain under Varus, and was the first to put his hand to the work of collecting and bringing them to the place of burial. He was so extremely mild and gentle to his enemies, whoever they were, or on what account soever they bore him enmity, that, although Piso rescinded his decrees, and for a long time severely harassed his dependents, he never showed the smallest resentment, until he found himself attacked by magical charms and imprecations; and even then the only steps he took was to renounce all friendship with him, according to ancient custom, and to exhort his servants to avenge his death, if any thing untoward should befal him.
4	quarum uirtutum fructum uberrimum tulit , sic probatus et dilectus a suis , ut Augustus — omitto enim necessitudines reliquas — diu cunctatus an sibi successorem destinaret , adoptandum Tiberio dederit ; sic uulgo fauorabilis , ut plurimi tradant , quotiens aliquo adueniret uel sicunde discederet , prae turba occurrentium prosequentiumue nonnumquam eum discrimen uitae adisse , e Germania uero post compressam seditionem reuertenti praetorianas cohortes uniuersas prodisse obuiam , quamuis pronuntiatum esset , ut duae tantum modo exirent , populi autem Romani sexum , aetatem , ordinem omnem usque ad uicesimum lapidem effudisse se .	He reaped the fruit of his noble qualities in abundance, being so much esteemed and beloved by his friends, that Augustus (to say nothing of his other relations) being a long time in doubt, whether he should not appoint him his successor, at last ordered Tiberius to adopt him. He was so extremely popular, that many authors tell us, the crowds of those who went to meet him upon his coming to any place, or to attend him at his departure, were so prodigious, that he was sometimes in danger of his life; and that upon his return from Germany, after he had quelled the mutiny in the army there, all the cohorts of the pretorian guards marched out to meet him, notwithstanding the order that only two should go; and that all the people of Rome, both men and women, of every age, sex, and rank, flocked as far as the twentieth mile-stone to attend his entrance.
5	tamen longe maiora et firmiora de eo iudicia in morte ac post mortem extiterunt . quo defunctus est die , lapidata sunt templa , subuersae deum arae , Lares a quibusdam familiares in publicum abiecti , partus coniugum expositi . quin et barbaros ferunt , quibus intestinum quibusque aduersus nos bellum esset , uelut in domestico communique maerore consensisse ad indutias ; regulos quosdam barbam posuisse et uxorum capita rasisse ad indicium maximi luctus ; regum etiam regem et exercitatione uenandi et conuictu megistanum abstinuisse , quod apud Parthos iustiti instar est .	At the time of his death, however, and afterwards, they displayed still greater and stronger proofs of their extraordinary attachment to him. The day on which he died, stones were thrown at the temples, the altars of the gods demolished, the household gods, in some cases, thrown into the streets, and new-born infants exposed. It is even said that barbarous nations, both those engaged in intestine wars, and those in hostilities against us, all agreed to a cessation of arms, as if they had been mourning for some very near and common friend; that some petty kings shaved their beards and their wives heads, in token of their extreme sorrow; and that the king of kings forbore his exercise of hunting and feasting with; his nobles, which, amongst the Parthians, is equivaleii to a cessation of all business in a time of public mourning with us.
6	Romae quidem , cum ad primam famam ualitudinis attonita et maesta ciuitas sequentis nuntios opperiretur , et repente iam uesperi incertis auctoribus conualuisse tandem percrebruisset , passim cum luminibus et uictimis in Capitolium concursum est ac paene reuolsae templi fores , ne quid gestientis uota reddere moraretur , expergefactus e somno Tiberius gratulantium uocibus atque undique concinentium : salua Roma , salua patria , saluus est Germanicus . et ut demum fato functum palam factum est , non solaciis ullis , non edictis inhiberi luctus publicus potuit durauitque etiam per festos Decembris mensis dies . auxit gloriam desideriumque defuncti et atrocitas insequentium temporum , cunctis nec temere opinantibus reuerentia eius ac metu repressam Tiberi saeuitiam , quae mox eruperit .	At Rome, upon the first news of his sickness, the city was thrown into great consternation and grief, waiting impatiently for farther intelligence; when suddenly, in the evening, a report, without any certain author, was spread, that he was recovered; upon which the people flocked with torches and victims to the Capitol, and were in such haste to pay the vows they had made for his recovery, that they almost broke open the doors. Tiberius was roused from out of his sleep with the noise of the people congratulating one another, and singing about the streets, Salva Roma, salva patria, salvus est Germanicus, Rome is safe, our country safe, for our Germanicus is safe. But when certain intelligence of his death arrived, the mourning of the people could neither be assuaged by consolation, nor restrained by edicts, and it continued during the holidays in the month of December. The atrocities of the subsequent times contributed much to the glory of Germanicus, and the endearment of his memory; all people supposing, and with reason, that the fear and awe of him had laid a restraint upon the cruelty of Tiberius, which broke out soon afterwards.
7	habuit in matrimonio Agrippinam , M . Agrippae et Iuliae filiam , et ex ea nouem liberos tulit : quorum duo infantes adhuc rapti , unus iam puerascens insigni festiuitate , cuius effigiem habitu Cupidinis in aede Capitolinae Veneris Liuia dedicauit , Augustus in cubiculo suo positam , quotiensque introiret , exosculabatur ; ceteri superstites patri fuerunt , tres sexus feminini , Agrippina Drusilla Liuilla , continuo triennio natae ; totidem mares , Nero et Drusus et C . Caesar . Neronem et Drusum senatus Tiberio criminante hostes iudicauit .	Germanicus married Agrippina, the daughter of Marcus Agrippa and Julia, by whom he had nine children, two of whom died in their infancy, and another a few years after; a sprightly boy, whose effigy, in the character of a Cupid, Livia set up in the temple of Venus in the Capitol. Augustus also placed 'another statue of him in his bed-chamber, and used to kiss it as often as he entered the apartment. The rest survived their father; three daughters, Agrippina, Drusilla, and -Livilla, who were born in three successive years; and as many sons, Nero, Drusus, and Caius Caesar. Nero and Drusus, at the accusation of Tiberius, were declared public.enemies.
8	C . Caesar natus est pridie Kal . Sept . patre suo et C . Fonteio Capitone coss . ubi natus sit , incertum diuersitas tradentium facit . Cn . Lentulus Gaetulicus Tiburi genitum scribit , Plinius Secundus in Treueris uico Ambitaruio supra Confluentes ; addit etiam pro argumento aras ibi ostendi inscriptas ob agrippinae pverperivm . uersiculi imperante mox eo diuulgati apud hibernas legiones procreatum indicant : in castris natus , patriis nutritus in armis , iam designati principis omen erat . ego in actis Anti editum inuenio . Gaetulicum refellit Plinius quasi mentitum per adulationem , ut ad laudes iuuenis gloriosique principis aliquid etiam ex urbe Herculi sacra sumeret , abusumque audentius mendacio , quod ante annum fere natus Germanico filius Tiburi fuerat , appellatus et ipse C . Caesar , de cuius amabili pueritia immaturoque obitu supra diximus . Plinium arguit ratio temporum . nam qui res Augusti memoriae mandarunt , Germanicum exacto consulatu in Galliam missum consentiunt iam nato Gaio . nec Plini opinionem inscriptio arae quicquam adiuuerit , cum Agrippina bis in ea regione filias enixa sit , et qualiscumque partus sine ullo sexus discrimine puerperium uocetur , quod antiqui etiam puellas pueras , sicut et pueros puellos dictitarent . extat et Augusti epistula , ante paucos quam obiret menses ad Agrippinam neptem ita scripta de Gaio hoc — neque enim quisquam iam alius infans nomine pari tunc supererat —: ' puerum Gaium XV . Kal . Iun . si dii uolent , ut ducerent Talarius et Asillius , heri cum iis constitui . mitto praeterea cum eo ex seruis meis medicum , quem scripsi Germanico si uellet ut retineret . ualebis , mea Agrippina , et dabis operam ut ualens peruenias ad Germanicum tuum .' abunde parere arbitror non potuisse ibi nasci Gaium , quo prope bimulus demum perductus ab urbe sit . uersiculorum quoque fidem eadem haec eleuant et eo facilius , quod ii sine auctore sunt . sequenda est igitur , quae sola restat et publici instrumenti auctoritas , praesertim cum Gaius Antium omnibus semper locis atque secessibus praelatum non aliter quam natale solum dilexerit tradaturque etiam sedem ac domicilium imperii taedio urbis transferre eo destinasse .	Caius Caesar was born on the day before the calends [31st August] of September, at the time his father and Caius Fonteius Capito were consuls. But where he was born is rendered uncertain from the number of places which are said to have given him birth. Cneius Lentulus Gaetulicus says that he was born at Tibur; Pliny the younger, in the country of the Treviri, at a village called Ambiatinus, above Confluentes; and he alleges, as a proof of it, that altars are there shown with this inscription: "For Agrippina's child-birth." Some verses which were published in his reign, intimate that he was born in the winter quarters of the legions, In castris natus, patriis nutritius in armis, Jam designati principis omen erat. Born in the camp, and trained in every toil Which taught his sire the haughtiest foes to foil; Destin'd he seem'd by fate to raise his name, And rule the empire with Augustan fame. I find in the public registers that he was born at Antium. Pliny charges Gaetulicus as guilty of an arrant forgery, merely to soothe the vanity of a conceited young prince, by giving him the lustre of being born in a city sacred to Hercules; and says that he advanced this false assertion with the more assurance, because, the year before the birth of Caius, Germanicus had a son of the same name born at Tibur; concerning whose amiable childhood and premature death I have already spoken. Dates clearly prove that Pliny is mistaken; for the writers of Augustus's history all agree, that Germanicus, at the expiration of his consulship, was sent into Gaul, after the birth of Caius. Nor will the inscription upon the altar serve to establish Pliny's opinion; because Agrippina was delivered of two daughters in that country, and any child-birth, without regard to sex, is called puerperium, as the ancients used to call girs puerat, and boys puelli. There is also extant a letter written by Augustus, a few months before his death, to his granddaughter Agrippina, about the same Caius (for there was then no other child of hers living under that name). He writes as follows: "I gave orders yesterday for Talarius and Asellius to set out on their journey towards you, if the gods permit, with your child Caius, upon the fifteenth of the calends of June [I8th May]. I also send with him a physician of mine, and I wrote to Germanicus that he may retain him if he pleases. Farewell, my dear Agrippina, and take what care you can to come safe and well to your Germanicus." I imagine it is sufficiently evident that Caius could not be born at a place to which he was carried from The City when almost two years 'old. The same considerations must likewise invalidate the evidence of the verses, and the rather, because the author is unknown. The only authority, therefore, upon which we can depend in this matter, is that of the acts, and the public register; especially as he always preferred Antium to every other place of retirement, and entertained for it all that fondness which is commonly attached to one's native soil. It is said, too, that, upon his growing weary of the city, he designed to have transferred thither the seat of empire.
9	Caligulae cognomen castrensi ioco traxit , quia manipulario habitu inter milites educabatur . apud quos quantum praeterea per hanc nutrimentorum consuetudinem amore et gratia ualuerit , maxime cognitum est , cum post excessum Augusti tumultuantis et in furorem usque praecipites solus haud dubie ex conspectu suo flexit . non enim prius destiterunt , quam ablegari eum ob seditionis periculum et in proximam ciuitatem demandari animaduertissent ; tunc demum ad paenitentiam uersi reprenso ac retento uehiculo inuidiam quae sibi fieret deprecati sunt .	It was to the jokes of the soldiers in the camp that he owed the name of Caligula, he having been brought up among them in the dress of a common soldier. How much his education amongst them recommended him to their favour and affection, was sufficiently apparent in the mutiny upon the death of Augustus, when the mere sight of him appeased their fury, though it had risen to a great height. For they persisted in it, until they observed that he was sent away to a neighbouring city, to secure him against all danger. Then, at last, they began to relent, and, stopping the chariot in which he was conveyed, earnestly deprecated the odium to which such a proceeding would expose them.
10	comitatus est patrem et Syriaca expeditione . unde reuersus primum in matris , deinde ea relegata in Liuiae Augustae proauiae suae contubernio mansit ; quam defunctam praetextatus etiam tunc pro rostris laudauit . transitque ad Antoniam auiam et undeuicensimo aetatis anno accitus Capreas a Tiberio uno atque eodem die togam sumpsit barbamque posuit , sine ullo honore qualis contigerat tirocinio fratrum eius . hic omnibus insidiis temptatus elicientium cogentiumque se ad querelas nullam umquam occasionem dedit , perinde obliterato suorum casu ac si nihil cuiquam accidisset , quae uero ipse pateretur incredibili dissimulatione transmittens tantique in auum et qui iuxta erant obsequii , ut non immerito sit dictum nec seruum meliorem ullum nec deteriorem dominum fuisse .	He likewise attended his father in his expedition to Syria. After his return, he lived first with his mother, and, when she was banished, with his great-granrmother, Livia Augusta, in praise of whom, after her decease, though then only a boy, he pronounced a funeral oration in the Rostra. He was then transferred to the family of his grandmother Antonia, and afterwards, in the twentieth year of his age, being called by Tiberius to Capri, he in one and the same day assumed the manly habit, and shaved his beard, but without receiving any of the honours which had been paid to his brothers on a similar oeeasien. While he remained in that island, many insidious artifices were practised, to extort from him complaints against Tiberius, but by his circumspection he avoided falling into the snare. He affected to take no more notice of the ill-treatment of his relations, than if nothing had befallen them. With regard to his own sufferings, he seemed utterly insensible of them, and behaved with such obsequiousness to his grandfather and all about him, that it was justly said of him, "There never was a better servant, nor a worse master."
11	naturam tamen saeuam atque probrosam ne tunc quidem inhibere poterat , quin et animaduersionibus poenisque ad supplicium datorum cupidissime interesset et ganeas atque adulteria capillamento celatus et ueste longa noctibus obiret ac scaenicas saltandi canendique artes studiosissime appeteret , facile id sane Tiberio patiente , si per has mansuefieri posset ferum eius ingenium . quod sagacissimus senex ita prorsus perspexerat , ut aliquotiens praedicaret exitio suo omniumque Gaium uiuere et se natricem p ( opulo ) R ( omano ), Phaethontem orbi terrarum educare .	But he could not even then conceal his natural disposition to cruelty and lewdness. He delighted in witnessing the inflictions of punishments, and frequented tavernsand bawdy-houses in the night-time, disguised in a periwig -and a long coat; and was passionately addicted to the theatrical arts of singing and dancing. All these levities Tiberius readily connived at, in hopes that they might perhaps correct the roughness of his temper, which the sagacious old man so well understood, that he often said, "That Caius was destined to be the ruin of himself and all mankind; and that he was rearing a hydra for the people of Rome, and a Phaeton for all the world.
12	Non ita multo post Iuniam Claudillam M . Silani nobilissimi uiri f ( iliam ) duxit uxorem . deinde augur in locum fratris sui Drusi destinatus , prius quam inauguraretur ad pontificatum traductus est insigni testimonio pietatis atque indolis , cum deserta desolataque reliquis subsidiis aula , Seiano † uete suspecto mox et oppresso , ad spem successionis paulatim admoueretur . quam quo magis confirmaret , amissa Iunia ex partu Enniam Naeuiam , Macronis uxorem , qui tum praetorianis cohortibus praeerat , sollicitauit ad stuprum , pollicitus et matrimonium suum , si potitus imperio fuisset ; deque ea re et iure iurando et chirographo cauit . per hanc insinuatus Macroni ueneno Tiberium adgressus est , ut quidam opinantur , spirantique adhuc detrahi anulum et , quoniam suspicionem retinentis dabat , puluinum iussit inici atque etiam fauces manu sua oppressit , liberto , qui ob atrocitatem facinoris exclamauerat , confestim in crucem acto . nec abhorret a ueritate , cum sint quidam auctores , ipsum postea etsi non de perfecto , at certe de cogitato quondam parricidio professum ; gloriatum enim assidue in commemoranda sua pietate , ad ulciscendam necem matris et fratrum introisse se cum pugione cubiculum Tiberi dormientis et misericordia correptum abiecto ferro recessisse ; nec illum , quanquam sensisset , aut inquirere quicquam aut exequi ausum .	Not long afterwards, he married Junia Claudilla, the daughter of Marcus Silanus, a man of the highest rank. Being then chosen augur in the room of his brother Drusus, before he could be inaugurated he was advanced to the pontificate, with no small commendation of his dutiful behaviour, and great capacity. The situation of the court likewise was at this time favourable to his fortunes, as it was now left destitute of support, Sejanus being suspected, and soon afterwards taken off; and he was by degrees flattered with the hope of succeeding Tiberius in the empire. In order more effectually to secure this object, upon Junia's dying in child-bed, he engaged in a criminal commerce with Ennia Naevia, the wife of Marco, at that time prefect of the pretorian cohorts; promising to marry her if he became emperor, to which he bound himself, not only by an oath, but by a written obligation under his hand. Having by her means insinuated himself into Marco's favour, some are of opinion that he attempted to poison Tiberius, and ordered his ring to be taken from him, before tihe breath was out of his body; and that, because he seemed to hold it fast, he caused a pillow to be thrown upon him, squeezing him by the throat, at the same time, with his own hand. One of his freedmen crying out at this horrid barbarity, he was immediately crucified. These circumstances are far from being improbable, as some authors relate that, afterwards, though he did not acknowledge his having a hand in the death of Tiberius, yet he frankly declared that he had formerly entertained such a design; and as a proof of his affection for his relations, he would frequently boast, "That, to revenge the death of his mother and brothers, he had entered the chamber of Tiberius, when he was asleep, with a poniard, but being seized with a fit of compassion, threw it away, and retired; and that Tiberius, though aware of his intention, durst not make any inquiries, or attempt revenge."