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Caligula (Suetonius)
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Caligula

Author: Suetonius
Translator: Alexander Thomson
13
Sic
imperium
adeptus
,
populum
Romanum
,
uel
dicam
hominum
genus
,
uoti
compotem
fecit
,
exoptatissimus
princeps
maximae
parti
prouincialium
ac
militum
,
quod
infantem
plerique
cognouerant
,
sed
et
uniuersae
plebi
urbanae
ob
memoriam
Germanici
patris
miserationemque
prope
afflictae
domus
.
itaque
ut
a
Miseno
mouit
quamuis
lugentis
habitu
et
funus
Tiberi
prosequens
,
tamen
inter
altaria
et
uictimas
ardentisque
taedas
densissimo
et
laetissimo
obuiorum
agmine
incessit
,
super
fausta
nomina
'
sidus
'
et
'
pullum
'
et
'
pupum
'
et
'
alumnum
'
appellantium
;
Having thus secured the imperial power, he fulfilled by his elevation the wish of the Roman people, I may venture to say, of all mankind; for he long been the object of expectation and desire to the greater part of the provincials and soldiers who had known him when a child; and to the whole people of Rome, from their affection for the memory of Germanicus, his father, and compassion for the family almost entirely destroyed. Upon his moving from Misenum, therefore, although he was in mourning, and following the corpse of Tiberius, he had to walk amidst altars, victims, and lighted torches, with prodigious crowds of people everywhere attending him, in transports of joy, and calling him, besides other auspicious names, by those of "their star," " their chick," "their pretty puppet," and "bantling."
14
ingressoque
urbem
,
statim
consensu
senatus
et
irrumpentis
in
curiam
turbae
,
inrita
Tiberi
uoluntate
,
qui
testamento
alterum
nepotem
suum
praetextatum
adhuc
coheredem
ei
dederat
,
ius
arbitriumque
omnium
rerum
illi
permissum
est
tanta
publica
laetitia
,
ut
tribus
proximis
mensibus
ac
ne
totis
quidem
supra
centum
sexaginta
milia
uictimarum
caesa
tradantur
.
Cum
deinde
paucos
post
dies
in
proximas
Campaniae
insulas
traiecisset
,
uota
pro
reditu
suscepta
sunt
,
ne
minimam
quidem
occasionem
quoquam
omittente
in
testificanda
sollicitudine
et
cura
de
incolumitate
eius
.
ut
uero
in
aduersam
ualitudinem
incidit
,
pernoctantibus
cunctis
circa
Palatium
,
non
defuerunt
qui
depugnaturos
se
armis
pro
salute
aegri
quique
capita
sua
titulo
proposito
uouerent
.
accessit
ad
immensum
ciuium
amorem
notabilis
etiam
externorum
fauor
.
namque
Artabanus
Parthorum
rex
,
odium
semper
contemptumque
Tiberi
prae
se
ferens
,
amicitiam
huius
ultro
petiit
uenitque
ad
colloquium
legati
consularis
et
transgressus
Euphraten
aquilas
et
signa
Romana
Caesarumque
imagines
adorauit
.
Immediately pn his entering the city, by the joint acclamations of the senate, and people, who broke into the senate-house, Tiberius's will was set aside, it having left his other grandson, then a minor, co-heir with him, the whole government and administration of affairs was placed in his hands; so much to the joy and satisfaction of the public, that, in less than three months after, above a hundred and sixty thousand victims are said to have been offered in sacrifice. Upon his going, a few days afterwards, to the nearest islands on the coast of Campania, vows were made for his safe return; every person emulously testifying their care and concern for his safety. And when he fell ill, the people hung about the Palatium all night long; some vowed, in public handbills, to risk their lives in the combats of the amphitheatre, and others to lay them down, for his recovery. To this extraordinary love entertained for him by his countrymen, was added an uncommon regard by foreign nations. Even Artabanus, king of the Parthians, who had always manifested hatred and contempt for Tiberius, solicited his friendship; came to hold a conference with his consular lieutenant, and passing the Euphrates, paid the highest honours to the eagles, the Roman standards, and the images of the Caesars.
15
Incendebat
et
ipse
studia
hominum
omni
genere
popularitatis
.
Tiberio
cum
plurimis
lacrimis
pro
contione
laudato
funeratoque
amplissime
,
confestim
Pandateriam
et
Pontias
ad
transferendos
matris
fratrisque
cineres
festinauit
,
tempestate
turbida
,
quo
magis
pietas
emineret
,
adiitque
uenerabundus
ac
per
semet
in
urnas
condidit
;
nec
minore
scaena
Ostiam
praefixo
in
biremis
puppe
uexillo
et
inde
Romam
Tiberi
subuectos
per
splendidissimum
quemque
equestris
ordinis
medio
ac
frequenti
die
duobus
ferculis
Mausoleo
intulit
,
inferiasque
is
annua
religione
publice
instituit
,
et
eo
amplius
matri
circenses
carpentumque
quo
in
pompa
traduceretur
.
at
in
memoriam
patris
Septembrem
mensem
Germanicum
appellauit
.
post
haec
Antoniae
auiae
,
quidquid
umquam
Liuia
Augusta
honorum
cepisset
,
uno
senatus
consulto
congessit
;
patruum
Claudium
,
equitem
R
.
ad
id
tempus
,
collegam
sibi
in
consulatu
assumpsit
;
fratrem
Tiberium
die
uirilis
togae
adoptauit
appellauitque
principem
iuuentutis
.
de
sororibus
auctor
fuit
,
ut
omnibus
sacramentis
adicerentur
: '
neque
me
liberosque
meos
cariores
habebo
quam
Gaium
habeo
et
sorores
eius
' ;
item
relationibus
consulum
: '
quod
bonum
felixque
sit
C
.
Caesari
sororibusque
eius
. '
Pari
popularitate
damnatos
relegatosque
restituit
;
criminum
,
si
quae
residua
ex
priore
tempore
manebant
,
omnium
gratiam
fecit
;
commentarios
ad
matris
fratrumque
suorum
causas
pertinentis
,
ne
cui
postmodum
delatori
aut
testi
maneret
ullus
metus
,
conuectos
in
forum
,
et
ante
clare
obtestatus
deos
neque
legisse
neque
attigisse
quicquam
,
concremauit
;
libellum
de
salute
sua
oblatum
non
recepit
,
contendens
nihil
sibi
admissum
cur
cuiquam
inuisus
esset
,
negauitque
se
delatoribus
aures
habere
.
Caligula himself inflamed this devotion, by practising all the arts of popularity. After he had delivered, with floods of tears, a speech in praise of Tiberius, and buried him with the utmost pomp, he immediately hastened over to Pandataria and the Pontian islands, to bring thence the ashes of his mother and brother; and, to testify the great regard he had for their memory, he performed the voyage in a very tempestuous season. He approached their remains with profound veneration, and deposited them in the urns with his own hands. Having brought them in grand solemnity to Ostia, with an ensign flying in the stern of the galley, and thence up the Tiber to Rome, they were borne by persons of the first distinction in the equestrian order, on two biers, into the mausoleum, at noon-day. He appointed yearly offerings to be solemnly and publicly celebrated to their memory, besides Circensian games to that of his mother, and a chariot with her image to be included in the procession. The month of September he called Germanicus, in honour of his father. By a single decree of the senate,-he heaped upon his grandmother, Antonia, all the honours which had been ever conferred on the empress.- Livia. His uncle, Claudius, who till then continued in the equestrian order, he took for his colleague in the consulship. He adopted his brother, Tiberius, on the day he took upon him the manly habit, and conferred upon him the title of "Prince of the Youths." As for his sisters, he ordered these words to be added to the oaths of allegiance to himself: "Nor will I hold myself or my own children more dear than I do Caius and his sisters:" and commanded.all resolutions proposed by the consuls in the senate to be prefaced thus: " May what we are going to do, prove fortunate and happy to Caius Caesar and his sisters." With the like popularity he restored all those who had been condemned and banished and granted an act of indemnity against all impeachments and past offenses. To relieve the informers and witnesses against his mother and brothers from all apprehension, he brought the records of their trials into the forum, and there burnt them, calling loudly on the gods to witness that he had not read or handled them. A memorial which was offered him relative to his own security, he would not receive, declaring, "that he had done nothing to make any one his enemy:" and said, at the same time, "he had no ears for informers."
16
spintrias
monstrosarum
libidinum
aegre
ne
profundo
mergeret
exoratus
,
urbe
submouit
.
Titi
Labieni
,
Cordi
Cremuti
,
Cassi
Seueri
scripta
senatus
consultis
abolita
requiri
et
esse
in
manibus
lectitarique
permisit
,
quando
maxime
sua
interesset
ut
facta
quaeque
posteris
tradantur
.
rationes
imperii
ab
Augusto
proponi
solitas
sed
a
Tiberio
intermissas
publicauit
magistratibus
liberam
iuris
dictionem
et
sine
sui
appellatione
concessit
.
equites
R
.
seuere
curioseque
nec
sine
moderatione
recognouit
,
palam
adempto
equo
quibus
aut
probri
aliquid
aut
ignominiae
inesset
,
eorum
qui
minore
culpa
tenerentur
nominibus
modo
in
recitatione
praeteritis
ut
leuior
labor
iudicantibus
foret
,
ad
quattuor
prioris
quintam
decuriam
addidit
.
temptauit
et
comitiorum
more
reuocato
suffragia
populo
reddere
.
legata
ex
testamento
Tiberi
quamquam
abolito
,
sed
et
Iuliae
Augustae
,
quod
Tiberius
suppresserat
,
cum
fide
ac
sine
calumnia
repraesentata
persoluit
.
ducentesimam
auctionum
Italiae
remisit
;
multis
incendiorum
damna
suppleuit
;
ac
si
quibus
regna
restituit
,
adiecit
et
fructum
omnem
uectigaliorum
et
reditum
medii
temporis
,
ut
Antiocho
Commageno
sestertium
milies
confiscatum
.
quoque
magis
nullius
non
boni
exempli
fautor
uideretur
,
mulieri
libertinae
octingenta
donauit
,
quod
excruciata
grauissimis
tormentis
de
scelere
patroni
reticuisset
.
quas
ob
res
inter
reliquos
honores
decretus
est
ei
clipeus
aureus
,
quem
quotannis
certo
die
collegia
sacerdotum
in
Capitolium
ferrent
,
senatu
prosequente
nobilibusque
pueris
ac
puellis
carmine
modulato
laudes
uirtutum
eius
canentibus
.
decretum
autem
ut
dies
,
quo
cepisset
imperium
,
Parilia
uocaretur
,
uelut
argumentum
rursus
conditae
urbis
.
The Spintriae he banished from the city, being prevailed upon not to throw them into the sea, as he had intended. The writings of Titus Lubienus, Cordus Cremutius, and Cassius Severus, which had been suppressed by an act of the senate, he permitted to be drawn from obscurity, and universally read; observing, "that it would be for his own advantage to have the transactions of former times delivered to posterity." He published accounts of the proceedings of the government-a practice which had been introduced by Augustus, but discontinued by Tiberius. He granted the magistrates a full and free jurisdiction, without any appeal to himself. He made a very strict and exact review of the Roman knights, but conducted it with moderation; publicly depriving of his horse every knight who lay under the stigma of any thing base and dishonourable; but passing over the names of those knights who were only guilty of venial faults, in calling over the list of the order. To lighten the labours of the judges, he added a fifth class to the former four. He attempted likewise to restore to the people their ancient right of voting in the choice of magistrates. He paid very honourably, and without any dispute, the legacies left by Tiberius in his will, though it had been set aside; as likewise those left by the will of Livia Augusta, which Tiberius had annulled. He remitted the hundredth penny, due to the government in all auctions throughout Italy. He made up to many their losses sustained by fire; and. when he restored their kingdoms. to any princes, he likewise allowed them all the arrears of the taxes.-and revenues which had accrued in the interval; as in the case of Antiochus of Comagene, where the confiscation would have amounted to a hundred millions of sesterces. T6, prove to the world that he was ready to encourage good examples of every kind, he gave to a freed-woman eighty thousand sesterces, for not discovering a crime committed by her patron, though she had been put to exquisite torture for that purpose. For all these acts of beneficence, amongst other honours, a golden shield was decreed to him, which the colleges of priests were to carry annually, upon a fixed day, into the Capitol, with the senate attending, and the youth of the nobility, of both sexes, celebrating the praise of his virtues in songs. It was likewise ordained, that the day on which he succeeded to the empire should be called Palilia, in token of the city's being at that time, as it were, new founded.
17
Consulatus
quattuor
gessit
,
primum
ex
Kal
.
Iul
.
per
duos
menses
,
secundum
ex
Kal
.
Ian
.
per
XXX
dies
,
tertium
usque
in
Idus
Ian
.,
quartum
usque
septimum
Idus
easdem
.
ex
omnibus
duos
nouissimos
coniunxit
.
tertium
autem
Luguduni
iniit
solus
,
non
ut
quidam
opinantur
superbia
neglegentiaue
,
sed
quod
defunctum
sub
Kalendarum
diem
collegam
rescisse
absens
non
potuerat
.
congiarium
populo
bis
dedit
trecenos
sestertios
,
totiens
abundantissimum
epulum
senatui
equestrique
ordini
,
etiam
coniugibus
ac
liberis
utrorumque
;
posteriore
epulo
forensia
insuper
uiris
,
feminis
ac
pueris
fascias
purpurae
ac
conchylii
distribuit
.
et
ut
laetitiam
publicam
in
perpetuum
quoque
augeret
,
adiecit
diem
Saturnalibus
appellauitque
Iuuenalem
.
He held the consulship four times: the first, from the calends [the first] of July for two months; the second, from the calends of January for thirty days; the third, until the ides [the 13th] of January; and the fourth, until the seventh of the same ides [7th January]. Of these, the two last he held successively. The third he assumed by his sole authority at Lyons; not, as some are of opinion, from arrogance or neglect of rules; but because, at that distance, it was impossible for him to know that his colleague had died a little before the beginning of the new year. He twice distributed to the people a bounty of three hundred sesterces a man, and as often gave a splendid feast to the senate and the equestrian order, with their wives and children. In the latter, he presented to the men forensic garments, and to the women and children purple scarfs. To make a perpetual addition to the public joy for ever, he added to the Saturnalia one day, which he called juvenalis [the juvenile feast].
18
Munera
gladiatoria
partim
in
amphitheatro
Tauri
partim
in
Saeptis
aliquot
edidit
,
quibus
inseruit
cateruas
Afrorum
Campanorumque
pugilum
ex
utraque
regione
electissimorum
.
neque
spectaculis
semper
ipse
praesedit
,
sed
interdum
aut
magistratibus
aut
amicis
praesidendi
munus
iniunxit
.
scaenicos
ludos
et
assidue
et
uarii
generis
ac
multifariam
fecit
,
quondam
et
nocturnos
accensis
tota
urbe
luminibus
.
sparsit
et
missilia
uariarum
rerum
et
panaria
cum
obsonio
uiritim
diuisit
;
qua
epulatione
equiti
R
.
contra
se
hilarius
auidiusque
uescenti
partes
suas
misit
,
sed
et
senatori
ob
eandem
causam
codicillos
,
quibus
praetorem
eum
extra
ordinem
designabat
.
edidit
et
circenses
plurimos
a
mane
ad
uesperam
interiecta
modo
Africanarum
uenatione
modo
Troiae
decursione
,
et
quosdam
praecipuos
,
minio
et
chrysocolla
constrato
circo
nec
ullis
nisi
ex
senatorio
ordine
aurigantibus
.
commisit
et
subitos
,
cum
e
Gelotiana
apparatum
circi
prospicientem
pauci
ex
proximis
Maenianis
postulassent
.
He exhibited some combats of gladiators, either in the amphitheatre of Taurus, or in the Septa, with which he intermingled troops of the best pugilists from Campania and Africa. He did not always preside in person on those occasions, but sometimes gave a commission to magistrates or friends to supply his place. He frequently entertained the people with stage-plays of various kinds, and in several parts of the city, and sometimes by night, when he caused the whole city to be lighted. He likewise gave various things to be scrambled for among the people, and distributed to every man a basket of bread with other victuals. Upon this occasion, he sent his own share to a Roman knight, who was seated opposite to him, and was enjoying himself by eating heartily. To a senator, who was doing the same, he sent an appointment of praetor-extraordinary. He likewise exhibited a great number of Circensian games from morning until night; intermixed with the hunting of wild beasts from Africa, or the Trojan exhibition. Some of these games were celebrated with peculiar circumstances; the Circus being overspread with vermilion and chrysolite; and none drove in the chariot races who were not of the senatorian order. For some of these he suddenly gave the signal, when, upon his viewing from the Gelotiana the preparations in the Circus, he was asked to do so by a few persons in the neighbouring galleries.
19
Nouum
praeterea
atque
inauditum
genus
spectaculi
excogitauit
.
nam
Baiarum
medium
interuallum
Puteolanas
moles
,
trium
milium
et
sescentorum
fere
passuum
spatium
,
ponte
coniunxit
contractis
undique
onerariis
nauibus
et
ordine
duplici
ad
ancoras
conlocatis
superiectoque
terreno
ac
derecto
in
Appiae
uiae
formam
.
per
hunc
pontem
ultro
citro
commeauit
biduo
continenti
,
primo
die
phalerato
equo
insignisque
quercea
corona
et
caetra
et
gladio
aureaque
chlamyde
,
postridie
quadrigario
habitu
curriculoque
biiugi
famosorum
equorum
,
prae
se
ferens
Dareum
puerum
ex
Parthorum
obsidibus
,
comitante
praetorianorum
agmine
et
in
essedis
cohorte
amicorum
.
scio
plerosque
existimasse
talem
a
Gaio
pontem
excogitatum
aemulatione
Xerxis
,
qui
non
sine
admiratione
aliquanto
angustiorem
Hellespontum
contabulauerit
;
alios
,
ut
Germaniam
et
Britanniam
,
quibus
imminebat
,
alicuius
inmensi
operis
fama
territaret
.
sed
auum
meum
narrantem
puer
audiebam
,
causam
operis
ab
interioribus
aulicis
proditam
,
quod
Thrasyllus
mathematicus
anxio
de
successore
Tiberio
et
in
uerum
nepotem
proniori
affirmasset
non
magis
Gaium
imperaturum
quam
per
Baianum
sinum
equis
discursurum
.
He invented besides a new kind of spectacle, such as had never been heard of before. For he made a bridge, of about three miles and a half in length, from Baiae to the mole of Puteoli, collecting trading vessels from all quarters, mooring them in two rows by their anchors, and spreading earth upon them to form a viaduct, after the fashion of the Appian way. This bridge he crossed and recrossed for two days together; the first day mounted on a horse richly caparisoned, wearing on his head a crown of oak leaves, armed with a battle-axe, a Spanish buckler and a sword, and in a cloak made of cloth of gold; the, day following, in the habit of a charioteer, standing in a chariot, drawn by two high-bred horses, having with him a young boy, Darius by name, one of the Parthian hostages, with a cohort of the pretorian guards attending him, and- a party of his friends in ,cars of Gaulish make. Most people, I know, are of opinion, that this bridge was designed by Caius, in imitation of Xerxes, who, to the astonishment of the world, laid a bridge over the Hellespont, which is somewhat narrower than the distance betwixt Baiae and Puteoli. Others, however, thought that he did it to strike terror in Germany and Britain, which he was upon the point of invading, by the fame of some prodigious work. But for myself, when I was a boy, I heard my grandfather say, that the reason assigned by some courtiers who were in habits of the greatest intimacy with him, was this; when Tiberius was in some anxiety about the nomination of a successor, and rather inclined to pitch upon his grandson, Thrasyllus the astrologer had assured him, "That Caius would no more be emperor, than he would ride on horseback across the gulf of Baiae."
20
Edidit
et
peregre
spectacula
,
in
Sicilia
Syracusis
asticos
ludos
et
in
Gallia
Luguduni
miscellos
;
sed
hic
certamen
quoque
Graecae
Latinaeque
facundiae
,
quo
certamine
ferunt
uictoribus
praemia
uictos
contulisse
,
eorundem
et
laudes
componere
coactos
;
eos
autem
,
qui
maxime
displicuissent
,
scripta
sua
spongia
linguaue
delere
iussos
,
nisi
ferulis
obiurgari
aut
flumine
proximo
mergi
maluissent
.
He likewise exhibited public diversions in Sicily, Grecian games at Syracuse, and Attic plays at Lyons in Gaul: besides a contest for pre-eminence in the Grecian and Roman eloquence; in which we are told that such as were baffled bestowed rewards upon the best performers, and were obliged to compose speeches in their praise: but that those who performed the worst were forced to blot out what they had written with a sponge or their tongue, unless they preferred to be beaten with a rod, or plunged over head and ears into the nearest river.
21
Opera
sub
Tiberio
semiperfecta
,
templum
Augusti
theatrumque
Pompei
,
absoluit
.
incohauit
autem
aquae
ductum
regione
Tiburti
et
amphitheatrum
iuxta
Saepta
,
quorum
operum
a
successore
eius
Claudio
alterum
peractum
,
omissum
alterum
est
.
Syracusis
conlapsa
uetustate
moenia
deorumque
aedes
refectae
.
destinauerat
et
Sami
Polycratis
regiam
restituere
,
Mileti
Didymeum
peragere
,
in
iugo
Alpium
urbem
condere
,
sed
ante
omnia
Isthmum
in
Achaia
perfodere
,
miseratque
iam
ad
dimetiendum
opus
primipilarem
.
He completed the works which were left unfinished by Tiberius, namely, the temple of Augustus, and the theatre of Pompey. He began, likewise, the aqueduct from the neighbourhood of Tibur, and an amphitheatre near the Septa; of which works, one was completed by his successor Claudius, and the other remained as he left it. The walls of Syracuse, which had fallen to decay by length of time, he repaired, as he likewise did the temples of the gods. He formed plans for rebuilding the palace of Polycrates at Samos, finishing the temple of the Didymaean Apollo at Miletus, and building a town on a ridge of the Alps; but, above all, for cutting through the isthmus in Achaia and even sent a centurion of the first rank to measure out the work.
22
Hactenus
quasi
de
principe
,
reliqua
ut
de
monstro
narranda
sunt
.
Compluribus
cognominibus
adsumptis
nam
et
'
pius
'
et
'
castrorum
filius
'
et
'
pater
exercituum
'
et
'
optimus
maximus
Caesar
'
uocabatur
cum
audiret
forte
reges
,
qui
officii
causa
in
urbem
aduenerant
,
concertantis
apud
se
super
cenam
de
nobilitate
generis
,
exclamauit
:
εἷσ
κοίρανοσ
ἔστω
,
εἷσ
βασιλεύς
.
nec
multum
afuit
quin
statim
diadema
sumeret
speciemque
principatus
in
regni
formam
conuerteret
.
uerum
admonitus
et
principum
et
regum
se
excessisse
fastigium
,
diuinam
ex
eo
maiestatem
asserere
sibi
coepit
;
datoque
negotio
,
ut
simulacra
numinum
religione
et
arte
praeclara
,
inter
quae
Olympii
Iouis
,
apportarentur
e
Graecia
,
quibus
capite
dempto
suum
imponeret
,
partem
Palatii
ad
forum
usque
promouit
,
atque
aede
Castoris
et
Pollucis
in
uestibulum
transfigurata
,
consistens
saepe
inter
fratres
deos
,
medium
adorandum
se
adeuntibus
exhibebat
;
et
quidam
eum
Latiarem
Iouem
consalutarunt
.
templum
etiam
numini
suo
proprium
et
sacerdotes
et
excogitatissimas
hostias
instituit
.
in
templo
simulacrum
stabat
aureum
iconicum
amiciebaturque
cotidie
ueste
,
quali
ipse
uteretur
.
magisteria
sacerdotii
ditissimus
quisque
et
ambitione
et
licitatione
maxima
uicibus
comparabant
.
hostiae
erant
phoenicopteri
,
pauones
,
tetraones
,
numidicae
,
meleagrides
,
phasianae
,
quae
generatim
per
singulos
dies
immolarentur
.
et
noctibus
quidem
plenam
fulgentemque
lunam
inuitabat
assidue
in
amplexus
atque
concubitum
,
interdiu
uero
cum
Capitolino
Ioue
secreto
fabulabatur
,
modo
insusurrans
ac
praebens
in
uicem
aurem
,
modo
clarius
nec
sine
iurgiis
.
nam
uox
comminantis
audita
est
:
μ
'
ἀνάειρ
'
ἐγὼ
σέ
,
donec
exoratus
,
ut
referebat
,
et
in
contubernium
ultro
inuitatus
super
templum
Diui
Augusti
ponte
transmisso
Palatium
Capitoliumque
coniunxit
.
mox
,
quo
propior
esset
,
in
area
Capitolina
nouae
domus
fundamenta
iecit
.
Thus far we have spoken of him as a prince. What remains to be said of him, bespeaks him rather a monster than a man. He assumed a variety of titles, such as "Dutiful," "The Pious," "Child of the Camp, the Father of the Armies," and "The Greatest and Best Caesar." Upon hearing some kings, who came to the city to pay him court, conversing together at supper, about their illustrious descent, he exclaimed, "εἶσ κοίρανοσ ἔτω, εἶς" Let there be but one prince, one king. He was strongly inclined to assume the diadem, and change the form of government, from imperial to regal; but being told that he far exceeded the grandeur of kings and princes, he began to arrogate to himself a divine majesty. He ordered all the images of the gods, which were famous either for their beauty, or the veneration paid them, among which was that of Jupiter Olympius, to be brought from Greece, that he might take the heads off, and put on his own. Having continued part of the Palatium as far as the Forum, and the temple of Castor and Pollux being converted into a kind of vestibule to his house, he often stationed himself between the twin brothers, and so presented himself to be worshipped by all votaries; some of whom saluted him by the name of yupiter Latialis. He also instituted a temple and priests, with choicest victims, in honour of his own divinity. In his temple stood a statue of gold, the exact image of himself, which was daily dressed in garments corresponding with those he wore himself. The most opulent persons in the city offered themselves as candidates for the honour of being his priests, and purchased it successively at an immense price. The victims were flamingos, peacocks, bustards, guinea-fowls, turkey and pheasant hens, each sacrificed on their respective days. On nights when the moon was full, he was in the constant habit of inviting her to his embraces and his bed. In the day-time he talked in private to Jupiter Capitolinus; one while whispering to him, and another turning his ear to him; sometimes he spoke aloud, and in railing language. For he was overheard to threaten the god thus: "ἤ ἐμ' ἀναίερ'," Raise thou me up, or I'll- until being at last prevailed upon by the entreaties of the god, as he said, to take up his abode with him, he built a bridge over the temple of the Deified Augustus, by which he joined the Palatium to the Capitol. Afterwards, that he might be still nearer, he laid the foundations of a new palace in the very court of the Capitol.
23
Agrippae
se
nepotem
neque
credi
neque
dici
ob
ignobilitatem
eius
uolebat
suscensebatque
,
si
qui
uel
oratione
uel
carmine
imaginibus
eum
Caesarum
insererent
.
praedicabat
autem
matrem
suam
ex
incesto
,
quod
Augustus
cum
Iulia
filia
admisisset
,
procreatam
;
ac
non
contentus
hac
Augusti
insectatione
Actiacas
Siculasque
uictorias
,
ut
funestas
p
.
R
.
et
calamitosas
,
uetuit
sollemnibus
feriis
celebrari
.
Liuiam
Augustam
proauiam
'
Vlixem
stolatum
'
identidem
appellans
,
etiam
ignobilitatis
quadam
ad
senatum
epistula
arguere
ausus
est
quasi
materno
auo
decurione
Fundano
ortam
,
cum
publicis
monumentis
certum
sit
,
Aufidium
Lurconem
Romae
honoribus
functum
.
auiae
Antoniae
secretum
petenti
denegauit
,
nisi
ut
interueniret
Macro
praefectus
,
ac
per
istius
modi
indignitates
et
taedia
causa
extitit
mortis
,
dato
tamen
,
ut
quidam
putant
,
et
ueneno
;
nec
defunctae
ullum
honorem
habuit
prospexitque
e
triclinio
ardentem
rogum
.
fratrem
Tiberium
inopinantem
repente
immisso
tribuno
militum
interemit
Silanum
item
socerum
ad
necem
secandasque
nouacula
fauces
compulit
,
causatus
in
utroque
,
quod
hic
ingressum
se
turbatius
mare
non
esset
secutus
ac
spe
occupandi
urbem
,
si
quid
sibi
per
tempestates
accideret
,
remansisset
,
ille
antidotum
oboluisset
,
quasi
ad
praecauenda
uenena
sua
sumptum
,
cum
et
Silanus
inpatientiam
nauseae
uitasset
et
molestiam
nauigandi
,
et
Tiberius
propter
assiduam
et
ingrauescentem
tussim
medicamento
usus
esset
.
nam
Claudium
patruum
non
nisi
in
ludibrium
reseruauit
.
He was unwilling to be thought or called the grandson of Agrippa, because of the obscurity of his birth; and he was offended if any one, either in prose or verse, ranked him amongst the Caesars. He said that his mother was the fruit of an incestuous commerce, maintained by Augustus with his daughter Julia. And not content with this vile reflection upon the memory of Augustus, he forbad his victories at Actium, and on the coast of Sicily, to be celebrated, as usual; affirming that they had been most pernicious and fatal to the Roman people. He called his grandmother Livia Augusta " Ulysses in a woman's dress," and had the indecency to reflect upon her in a letter to the senate, as of mean birth, and descended, by the mother's side, from a grandfather who was only one of the municipal magistrates of Fondi; whereas it is certain, from the public records, that Aufidius Lurco held high offices at Rome. His grandmother Antonia desiring a private conference with him, he refused to grant it, unless Macro, the prefect of the pretorian guards, were present. Indignities of this kind, and ill usage, were the cause of her death; but some think he also gave her poison. - Nor did he pay the smallest respect to hier memory after her death, but witnessed the burning from his private apartment. His brother Tiberius, who had'no expectation of any violence, was suddenly dispatched by a military tribune sent by his order for that purpose. He forced Silanus, his father-in-law, to kill himself, by cutting his throat with a razor. The pretext he alleged for these murders was, that the latter had not followed him upon his putting to sea in stormy weather, but stayed behind with the view of seizing the city, if he should perish. The other, he said, smelt of an antidote, which he had taken to prevent his being poisoned by him; whereas Silanus was only afraid of being seasick, and the disagreeableness of the voyage; and Tibenius had merely taken a medicine for an habitual cough, which was continually growing worse. As for his successor Claudius, he only saved him as a laughing-stock.
24
Cum
omnibus
sororibus
suis
consuetudinem
stupri
fecit
plenoque
conuiuio
singulas
infra
se
uicissim
conlocabat
uxore
supra
cubante
.
ex
iis
Drusillam
uitiasse
uirginem
praetextatus
adhuc
creditur
atque
etiam
in
concubitu
eius
quondam
deprehensus
ab
Antonia
auia
,
apud
quam
simul
educabantur
;
mox
Lucio
Cassio
Longino
consulari
conlocatam
abduxit
et
in
modum
iustae
uxoris
propalam
habuit
;
heredem
quoque
bonorum
atque
imperii
aeger
instituit
.
eadem
defuncta
iustitium
indixit
,
in
quo
risisse
lauisse
cenasse
cum
parentibus
aut
coniuge
liberisue
capital
fuit
.
ac
maeroris
impatiens
,
cum
repente
noctu
profugisset
ab
urbe
transcucurrissetque
Campaniam
,
Syracusas
petit
,
rursusque
inde
propere
rediit
barba
capilloque
promisso
;
nec
umquam
postea
quantiscumque
de
rebus
,
ne
pro
contione
quidem
populi
aut
apud
milites
,
nisi
per
numen
Drusillae
deierauit
.
reliquas
sorores
nec
cupiditate
tanta
nec
dignatione
dilexit
,
ut
quas
saepe
exoletis
suis
prostrauerit
;
quo
facilius
eas
in
causa
Aemili
Lepidi
condemnauit
quasi
adulteras
et
insidiarum
aduersus
se
conscias
ei
nec
solum
chirographa
omnium
requisita
fraude
ac
stupro
diuulgauit
,
sed
et
tres
gladios
in
necem
suam
praeparatos
Marti
Vltori
addito
elogio
consecrauit
.
He lived in the habit of incest with all his sisters; and at table, when much company was present, he placed each of them in turns below him, whilst his wife reclined above him. It is believed, that he deflowered one of them, Drusilla, before he had assumed the robe of manhood; and was even caught in her embraces by his grandmother Antonia, with whom they were educated together. When she was afterwards married to Cassius Longinus, a man of consular rank, he took her from him, and kept her constantly as if she were his lawful wife. In a fit of sickness, he by his will appointed her heiress both of his estate and the empire. After her death, he ordered a public mourning for her; during which it was capital for any person to laugh, use the bath, or sup with his parents, wife, or children. Being inconsolable under his affliction, he went hastily, and in the night-time, from the City; going through Campania to Syracuse, and then suddenly returned without shaving his beard, or trimming his hair. Nor did he ever afterwards, in matters of the greatest importance, not even in the assemblies of the people or before the soldiers, swear any otherwise, than "By the divinity ofDrusilla." The rest of his sisters hedid not treat with so much fondness or regard; but frequently prostituted them to his catamites. He therefore the more readily condemned them in the case of AEmilius Lepidus, as guilty of adultery, and privy to that conspiracy against him. Nor did he only divulge their own handwriting relative to the affair, which he procured by base and lewd means, but likewise consecrated to Mars the Avenger three swords which had been prepared to stab him, with an inscription, setting forth the occasion of their consecration.