Caligula (Suetonius)

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	Caligula Author: Suetonius	Translator: Alexander Thomson
25	Matrimonia contraxerit turpius an dimiserit an tenuerit , non est facile discernere . Liuiam Orestillam C . Pisoni nubentem , cum ad officium et ipse uenisset , ad se deduci imperauit intraque paucos dies repudiatam biennio post relegauit , quod repetisse usum prioris mariti tempore medio uidebatur . alii tradunt adhibitum cenae nuptiali mandasse ad Pisonem contra accumbentem : ' noli uxorem meam premere ,' statimque e conuiuio abduxisse secum ac proximo die edixisse : matrimonium sibi repertum exemplo Romuli et Augusti . Lolliam Paulinam , C . Memmio consulari exercitus regenti nuptam , facta mentione auiae eius ut quondam pulcherrimae , subito ex prouincia euocauit ac perductam a marito coniunxit sibi breuique missam fecit interdicto cuiusquam in perpetuum coitu . Caesoniam neque facie insigni neque aetate integra matremque iam ex alio uiro trium filiarum , sed luxuriae ac lasciuiae perditae , et ardentius et constantius amauit , ut saepe chlamyde peltaque et galea ornatam ac iuxta adequitantem militibus ostenderit , amicis uero etiam nudam . uxorio nomine dignatus est † quam enixam , uno atque eodem die professus et maritum se eius et patrem infantis ex ea natae . infantem autem , Iuliam Drusillam appellatam , per omnium dearum templa circumferens Mineruae gremio imposuit alendamque et instituendam commendauit . nec ullo firmiore indicio sui seminis esse credebat quam feritatis , quae illi quoque tanta iam tunc erat , ut infestis digitis ora et oculos simul ludentium infantium incesseret .	Whether in the marriage of his wives, in repudiating them, or retaining them, he acted with greater infamy, it is difficult to say. Being at the wedding of Caius with Livia Orestilla, he ordered the bride to be carried to his own house, but within a few days divorced her, and two years after banished her; because it was thought, that upon her divorce she returned to the embraces of her former husband. Some say, that being invited to the wedding-supper, he sent a message to Piso, who sat opposite to him, in these words: "Do not be too fond with my wife," and that he immediately carried her off. Next day he published a proclamation, importing, "That he had got a wife as Romulus and Augustus had done." Lollia Paulina, who was married to a man of consular rank in command of an army, he suddenly called from the province where she was with her husband, upon mention being made that her grandmother was formerly very beautiful, and married her; but he soon afterwards parted with her, interdicting her from having ever afterwards any commerce with man. He loved with a most passionate and constant affection Caesonia, who was neither handsome nor young, and was besides the mother of three daughters by another man; but a wanton of unbounded lasciviousness. Her he would frequently exhibit to the soldiers, dressed in a military cloak, with shield and helmet, and riding by his side. To his friends he even showed her naked. After she had a child, he honoured her with the title of wife; in one and the same day, declaring himself her husband, and father of the child of which she was delivered. He named it Julia Drusilla, and carrying it round the temples of all the goddesses, laid it on the lap of Minerva; to whom he recommended the care of bringing up and instructing her. He considered her as his own child for no better reason than her savage temper, which was such even in infancy, that she would attack with her nails the face and eyes of the children at play with her.
26	leue ac frigidum sit his addere , quo propinquos amicosque pacto tractauerit , Ptolemaeum regis Iubae filium , consobrinum suum — erat enim et is M . Antoni ex Selene filia nepos — et in primis ipsum Macronem , ipsam Enniam . adiutores imperii : quibus omnibus pro necessitudinis iure proque meritorum gratia cruenta mors persoluta est . Nihilo reuerentior leniorue erga senatum , quosdam summis honoribus functos ad essedum sibi currere togatos per aliquot passuum milia et cenanti modo ad pluteum modo ad pedes stare succinctos linteo passus est ; alios cum clam interemisset , citare nihilo minus ut uiuos perseuerauit , paucos post dies uoluntaria morte perisse mentitus . consulibus oblitis de natali suo edicere abrogauit magistratum fuitque per triduum sine summa potestate res p . quaestorem suum in coniuratione nominatum flagellauit ueste detracta subiectaque militum pedibus , quo firme uerberaturi insisterent . Simili superbia uiolentiaque ceteros tractauit ordines . inquietatus fremitu gratuita in circo loca de media nocte occupantium , omnis fustibus abegit ; elisi per eum tumultum uiginti amplius equites R ., totidem matronae , super innumeram turbam ceteram . scaenicis ludis , inter plebem et equitem causam discordiarum ferens , decimas maturius dabat , ut equestria ab infimo quoque occuparentur . gladiatorio munere reductis interdum flagrantissimo sole uelis emitti quemquam uetabat , remotoque ordinario apparatu tabidas feras , uilissimos senioque confectos gladiatores , † quoque paegniaris patres familiarum notos in bonam partem sed insignis debilitate aliqua corporis subiciebat . ac nonnumquam horreis praeclusis populo famem indixit .	It would be of little importance, as well as disgusting, to add to all this an account of the manner in which he treated his relations and friends; as Ptolemy, king Juba's son, his cousin (for he was the grandson of Mark Antony by his daughter Selene), and especially Macro himself, and Ennia likewise, by whose assistance he had obtained the empire; all of whom, for their alliance and eminent services, he rewarded with violent deaths. Nor was he more mild or respectful in his behaviour towards the senate. Some who had borne the highest offices in the government, he suffered to run by his litter in their togas for several miles together, and to attend him at supper, sometimes at the head of his couch, sometimes at his feet, with napkins. Others of them, after he had privately put them to death, he nevertheless continued to send for, as if they were still alive, and after a few days pretended that they had laid violent hands upon themselves. The consuls having forgotten to give public notice of his birth-day, he displaced them; and the republic was three days without any one in that high office. A quaestor who was said to be concerned in a conspiracy against him, he scourged severely, having first stripped off his clothes, and spread them under the feet of the soldiers employed in the work, that they might stand the more firm. The other orders likewise he treated with the same insolence and violence. Being disturbed by the noise of people taking their places at midnight in the circus, as they were to have free admission, he drove them all away with cubs. In this tumult, above twenty Roman knights were squeezed to death, with as many matrons, with a great crowd besides. - When stage-plays were acted, to occasion disputes between the people and the knights, he distributed the money-tickets sooner than usual, that the seats assigned to the knights might be all occupied by the mob. In the spectacles of gladiators, sometimes, when the sun was violently hot, he would order the curtains, which covered the amphitheatre, to be drawn aside, and forbad any person to be let out; withdrawing at the same time the usual apparatus for the entertainment, and presenting wild beasts almost pined to death, the most sorry gladiators, decrepit with age, and fit only to work the machinery, and decent house-keepers, who were remarkable for some bodily infirmity. Sometimes shutting up the public granaries, he would oblige thepeople to starve for a while.
27	Saeuitiam ingenii per haec maxime ostendit . cum ad saginam ferarum muneri praeparatarum carius pecudes compararentur , ex noxiis laniandos adnotauit , et custodiarum seriem recognoscens , nullius inspecto elogio , stans tantum modo intra porticum mediam , ' a caluo ad caluum ' duci imperauit . uotum exegit ab eo , qui pro salute sua gladiatoriam operam promiserat , spectauitque ferro dimicantem nec dimisit nisi uictorem et post multas preces . alterum , qui se periturum ea de causa uouerat , cunctantem pueris tradidit , uerbenatum infulatumque uotum reposcentes per uicos agerent , quoad praecipitaretur ex aggere . multos honesti ordinis deformatos prius stigmatum notis ad metalla et munitiones uiarum aut ad bestias condemnauit aut bestiarum more quadripedes cauea coercuit aut medios serra dissecuit , nec omnes grauibus ex causis , uerum male de munere suo opinatos , uel quod numquam per genium suum deierassent . parentes supplicio filiorum interesse cogebat ; quorum uni ualitudinem excusanti lecticam misit , alium a spectaculo poenae epulis statim adhibuit atque omni comitate ad hilaritatem et iocos prouocauit . curatorem munerum ac uenationum per continuos dies in conspectu suo catenis uerberatum non prius occidit quam offensus putrefacti cerebri odore . Atellanae poetam ob ambigui ioci uersiculum media amphitheatri harena igni cremauit . equitem R . obiectum feris , cum se innocentem proclamasset , reduxit abscisaque lingua rursus induxit .	He evinced the savage barbarity of his temper chiefly by the following indications. When flesh was only to be had at a high price for feeding his wild beasts reserved for the spectacles, he ordered that criminals should be given them to be devoured; and upon inspecting them in a row, while he stood in the middle of the portico, without troubling himself to examine their cases he ordered them to be dragged away, from "bald-pate to bald-pate." Of one person who had made a vow for his recovery to combat with a gladiator, he exacted its performance; nor would he allow him to desist until he came off conqueror, and after many entreaties. Another, who had vowed to give his life for the same cause, having shrunk from the sacrifice, he delivered, adorned as a victim, with garlands and fillets, to boys, who were to drive him through the streets, calling on him to fulfil his vow, until he was thrown headlong from the ramparts. After disfiguring many persons of honorable rank, by branding them in the face with hot irons, he condemned them to .the mines, to work in repairing the highways, or to fight with wild beasts; or tying them by the neck and heels, in the manner of beasts carried to slaughter, would shut them up in cages or saw them asunder. Nor were these severities merely inflicted for crimes of great enormity, but for making remarks on his public games, or for not having sworn by the Genius of the emperor. He compelled parents to be present at the execution of their sons; and to one who excused himself on account of indisposition he sent his own litter. Another he invited to his table immediately after he had witnessed the spectacle, and coolly challenged him to jest and be merry. He ordered the overseer of the spectacles and wild beasts to be scourged in fetters, during several days successively, in his own presence and did not put him to death until he was disgusted with the stench of his putrefied brain. He burned alive, in the centre of the arena of the amphitheatre, the writer of a farce, for some witty verse, which had a double meaning. A Roman knight, who had been exposed to the wild beasts, crying out that he was innocent, he called him back, and having had his tongue cut out, remanded him to the arena.
28	reuocatum quendam a uetere exilio sciscitatus , quidnam ibi facere consuesset , respondente eo per adulationem : ' deos semper oraui ut , quod euenit , periret Tiberius et tu imperares ,' opinans sibi quoque exules suos mortem imprecari , misit circum insulas , qui uniuersos contrucidarent . cum discerpi senatorem concupisset , subornauit qui ingredientem curiam repente hostem publicum appellantes inuaderent , graphisque confossum lacerandum ceteris traderent ; nec ante satiatus est quam membra et artus et uiscera hominis tracta per uicos atque ante se congesta uidisset .	Asking a certain person, whom he recalled after a long exile, how he used to spend his time, he replied, with flattery, "I was always praying the gods for what has happened, that Tiberius might die and you be emperor." Concluding, therefore, that those he had himself banished also prayed for his death, he sent orders round the islands to have them put to death. Being very desirous to have a senator torn to pieces, he employed some persons to call him a public enemy, fall upon him as he entered the senate-house, stab him with their styles, and deliver him to the rest to tear asunder. Nor was he satisfied until he saw the limbs and bowels of the man, after they had been dragged through the streets, piled up in a heap before him.
29	immanissima facta augebat atrocitate uerborum . nihil magis in natura sua laudare se ac probare dicebat quam , ut ipsius uerbo utar , ἀδιατρεψίαν , hoc est inuerecundiam . monenti Antoniae auiae tamquam parum esset non oboedire : ' memento ,' ait , ' omnia mihi et in omnis licere .' trucidaturus fratrem , quem metu uenenorum praemuniri medicamentis suspicabatur : ' antidotum ,' inquit , ' aduersus Caesarem ?' relegatis sororibus non solum insulas habere se , sed etiam gladios minabatur . praetorium uirum ex secessu Anticyrae , quam ualitudinis causa petierat , propagari sibi commeatum saepius desiderantem cum mandasset interimi , adiecit necessariam esse sanguinis missionem , cui tam diu non prodesset elleborum . decimo quoque die numerum puniendorum ex custodia subscribens rationem se purgare dicebat . Gallis Graecisque aliquot uno tempore condemnatis gloriabatur Gallograeciam se subegisse .	He aggravated his barbarous actions by language equally outrageous. "There is nothing in my nature," said he,' that I commend or approve so much as my ἀδιατρεψία (inflexible rigour)." Upon his grandmother Antonia's giving him some advice, as if it was a small matter to pay no regard to it, he said to her, "Remember that all things are lawful for me." When about to murder his brother, whom he suspected of taking antidotes against poison, he said, "See then an andidote against Caesar!" And when he banished his sisters, he told them in a menacing tone, that he had not only islands at command, but also swords. One of pretorian rank having sent several times from Anticyra, whither he had gone for his health, to have his leave of absence prolonged, he ordered him to be put to death; adding these words: "Bleeding is necessary for one that has taken hellebore so long and found no benefit." It was his custom every tenth day to sign the lists of prisoners appointed for execution; and this he called "clearing his accounts." And having condemned several Gauls and Greeks at one time, he exclaimed in triumph, "I have conquered Gallograecia."
30	non temere in quemquam nisi crebris et minutis ictibus animaduerti passus est , perpetuo notoque iam praecepto : ' ita feri ut se mori sentiat .' punito per errorem nominis alio quam quem destinauerat , ipsum quoque paria meruisse dixit . tragicum illud subinde iactabat : oderint , dum metuant . saepe in cunctos pariter senatores ut Seiani clientis , ut matris ac fratrum suorum delatores , inuectus est prolatis libellis , quos crematos simulauerat , defensaque Tiberi saeuitia quasi necessaria , cum tot criminantibus credendum esset . equestrem ordinem ut scaenae harenaeque deuotum assidue proscidit . infensus turbae fauenti aduersus studium suum exclamauit : ' utinam p . R . unam ceruicem haberet !' cumque Tetrinius latro postularetur , et qui postularent , Tetrinios esse ait . retiari tunicati quinque numero gregatim dimicantes sine certamine ullo totidem secutoribus succubuerant ; cum occidi iuberentur , unus resumpta fuscina omnes uictores interemit : hanc ut crudelissimam caedem et defleuit edicto et eos , qui spectare sustinuissent , execratus est .	He generally prolonged the sufferings of his victims by causing them to be inflicted by slight and frequently repeated strokes; this being his well-known and constant order: "Strike so that he may feel himself die." Having punished one person for another, by mistaking his name, he said "he deserved it quite as much." He had frequently in his mouth these words of the tragedian: Oderint dum metuant. I scorn their hatred, if they do but fear me. He would often inveigh against all the senators writhout exception, as clients of Sejanus, and informers against his mother and brothers, producing the memorials which he had pretended to burn, and excusing the cruelty of Tiberius as necessary, since it was impossible to question the veracity of such a number of accusers. He continually reproached the whole equestrian order, as devoting themselves to nothing but acting on the stage, and fighting as gladiators. Being incensed at the people's applauding a party at the Circensian games in opposition to him, he exclaimed, "I wish the Roman people had but one neck." When Tetrinius, the highwayman, was denounced, he said his persecutors too were all Tetrinius's. Five Retiarii, in tunics, fighting in a company, yielded without a struggle to the same number of opponents; and being ordered to be slain, one of them taking up his lance again, killed all the conquerors. This he lamented in a proclamation as a most cruel butchery, and cursed all those who had borne the sight of it.
31	queri etiam palam de condicione temporum suorum solebat , quod nullis calamitatibus publicis insignirentur ; Augusti principatum clade Variana , Tiberi ruina spectaculorum apud Fidenas memorabilem factum , suo obliuionem imminere prosperitate rerum ; atque identidem exercituum caedes , famem , pestilentiam , incendia , hiatum aliquem terrae optabat .	He used to complain aloud of the state of the times, because it was not rendered remarkable by any public calamities; for, while the reign of Augustus had been made memorable to posterity by the disaster of Varus, and that of Tiberius by the fall of the theatre at Fidenae, his was likely to pass into oblivion, from an uninterrupted series of prosperity. And, at times, he wished for some terrible slaughter of his troops, a famine, a pestilence, conflagrations, or an earthquake.
32	Animum quoque remittenti ludoque et epulis dedito eadem factorum dictorumque saeuitia aderat . saepe in conspectu prandentis uel comisantis seriae quaestiones per tormenta habebantur , miles decollandi artifex quibuscumque e custodia capita amputabat . Puteolis dedicatione pontis , quem excogitatum ab eo significauimus , cum multos e litore inuitasset ad se , repente omnis praecipitauit , quosdam gubernacula apprehendentes contis remisque detrusit in mare . Romae publico epulo seruum ob detractam lectis argenteam laminam carnifici confestim tradidit , ut manibus abscisis atque ante pectus e collo pendentibus , praecedente titulo qui causam poenae indicaret , per coetus epulantium circumduceretur . murmillonem e ludo rudibus secum battuentem et sponte prostratum confodit ferrea sica ac more uictorum cum palma discucurrit . admota altaribus uictima succinctus poparum habitu elato alte malleo cultrarium mactauit . lautiore conuiuio effusus subito in cachinnos consulibus , qui iuxta cubabant , quidnam rideret blande quaerentibus : ' quid ,' inquit , ' nisi uno meo nutu iugulari utrumque uestrum statim posse ?'	Even in the midst of his diversions, while gaming or feasting, this savage ferocity, both in his language and actions, never forsook him. Persons were often put to the torture in his presence, whilst he was dining or carousing. A soldier, who was an adept in the art of beheading, used at such times to take off the heads of prisoners, who were brought in for that purpose. At Puteoli, at the dedication of the bridge which he planned, as already mentioned, he invited a number of people to come to him from the shore, and then suddenly threw them headlong into the sea; thrusting down with poles and oars those who, to save themselves, had got hold of the rudders of the ships. At Rome, in a public feast, a slave having stolen some thin plates of silver with which the couches were inlaid, he delivered him immediately to an executioner, with orders to cut off his hands, and lead him round the guests, with them hanging from his neck before his breast, and a label, signifying the cause of his punishment. A gladiator, who was practising with him, and voluntarily threw himself at his feet, he stabbed with a poniard, and then ran about with a palm branch in his hand, after the manner of those who are victorious in the games. When a victim was to be offered upon an altar, he, clad in the habit of the Popae. and holding the axe aloft for a while, at last, instead of the animal, slaughtered an officer who attended to cut up the sacrifice. And at a sumptuous entertainment, he fell suddenly into a violent fit of laughter, and upon the consuls, who reclined next to him, respectfully asking him the occasion, "Nothing," replied he, "but that, upon a single nod of mine, you might both have your throats cut."
33	inter uarios iocos , cum assistens simulacro Iouis Apellen tragoedum consuluisset uter illi maior uideretur , cunctantem flagellis discidit conlaudans subinde uocem deprecantis quasi etiam in gemitu praedulcem . quotiens uxoris uel amiculae collum exoscularetur , addebat : ' tam bona ceruix simul ac iussero demetur .' quin et subinde iactabat exquisiturum se uel fidiculis de Caesonia sua , cur eam tanto opere diligeret .	Among many other jests, this was one: As he stood by the statue of Jupiter, he asked Apelles, the tragedian, which of them he thought was biggest? Upon his demurring about it, he lashed him most severely, now and then commending his voice whilst he entreated for mercy, as being well modulated even when he was venting his grief. As often as he kissed the neck of his wife or mistress, hewould say, "So beautiful a throat must be cut whenever Tplease;" and now and then he would threaten to put his dear Caesonia to the torture, that he pnight discover why he loved her so passionately.
34	Nec minore liuore ac malignitate quam superbia saeuitiaque paene aduersus omnis aeui hominum genus grassatus est . statuas uirorum inlustrium ab Augusto ex Capitolina area propter angustias in campum Martium conlatas ita subuertit atque disiecit ut restitui saluis titulis non potuerint , uetuitque posthac uiuentium cuiquam usquam statuam aut imaginem nisi consulto et auctore se poni . cogitauit etiam de Homeri carminibus abolendis , cur enim sibi non licere dicens , quod Platoni licuisset , qui eum e ciuitate quam constituebat eiecerit ? sed et Vergili ac Titi Liui scripta et imagines paulum afuit quin ex omnibus bibliothecis amoueret , quorum alterum ut nullius ingenii minimaeque doctrinae , alterum ut uerbosum in historia neglegentemque carpebat . de iuris quoque consultis , quasi scientiae eorum omnem usum aboliturus , saepe iactauit se mehercule effecturum ne quid respondere possint praeter eum .	In his behaviour towards men of almost all ages, he discovered a degree of jealousy and malignity equal to that of his cruelty and pride. He so demolished and dispersed the statues of several illustrious persons, which had been removed by Augustus, for want of room, from the court of the Capitol into the Campus Martius, that it was impossible to set them up again with their inscriptions entire. And for the future, he forbad any statue whatever to be erected without his knowledge and leave. He had thoughts, too, of suppressing Homer's poems: "For why," said he, "may not I do what Plato has done before me, who excluded him from his commonvealth?" He was likewise very near banishing the writings and the busts of Virgil and Livy from all libraries: censuring one of them as a man of no genius and very little learning and the other as " a verbose and careless historian. He often talked of the lawyers as if he intended to abolish their profession. "By Hercules!" he would say, "I shall put it out of their power to answer any questions in law, otherwise than by referring to me!"
35	uetera familiarum insignia nobilissimo cuique ademit , Torquato torquem , Cincinnato crinem , Cn . Pompeio stirpis antiquae Magni cognomen . Ptolemaeum , de quo rettuli , et arcessitum e regno et exceptum honorifice , non alia de causa repente percussit , quam quod edente se munus ingressum spectacula conuertisse hominum oculos fulgore purpureae abollae animaduertit . pulchros et comatos , quotiens sibi occurrerent , occipitio raso deturpabat . erat Aesius Proculus patre primipilari , ob egregiam corporis amplitudinem et speciem Colosseros dictus ; hunc spectaculis detractum repente et in harenam deductum Thraeci et mox hoplomacho comparauit bisque uictorem constringi sine mora iussit et pannis obsitum uicatim circumduci ac mulieribus ostendi , deinde iugulari . nullus denique tam abiectae condicionis tamque extremae sortis fuit , cuius non commodis obtrectaret . Nemorensi regi , quod multos iam annos poteretur sacerdotio , ualidiorem aduersarium subornauit . cum quodam die muneris essedario Porio post prosperam pugnam seruum suum manumittenti studiosius plausum esset , ita proripuit se spectaculis , ut calcata lacinia togae praeceps per gradus iret , indignabundus et clamitans dominum gentium populum ex re leuissima plus honoris gladiatori tribuentem quam consecratis principibus aut praesenti sibi .	He took from the noblest persons in the city the ancient marks of distinction used by their families; as the collar from Torquatus; from Cincinnatus the curl of hair; and from Cneius Pompey the surname of the Great, belonging to that ancient family. Ptolemy, mentioned before, whom he invited from his kingdom, and received with great honours, he suddenly put to death, for no other reason, but because he observed that upon entering the theatre, at a public exhibition, he attracted the eyes of all the spectators by the splendour of his purple robe. As often as he met with handsome men, who had fine heads of hair, he would order the back of their heads to be shaved, to make them appear ridiculous. There was one Esius Proculus, the son of a centurion of the first rank, who, for his great stature and fine proportions, was called the Colossal. Him he ordered to be dragged from his seat in the arena, and matched with a gladiator in light armour, and afterwards with another completely armed; and upon his worsting them both, commanded him forthwith to be bound, to be led clothed in rags up and down the streets of the city, and, after being exhibited in that plight to the women, to be then butchered. There was no man of so abject or mean condition whose excellency in any kind he did not envy. The Rex Nemorensis having many years enjoyed the honour of the priesthood, he procured a still stronger antagonist to oppose him. One Porius, who fought in a chariot, having been victorious in an exhibition, and in his joy given freedom to a slave, was applauded so vehemently that Caligula rose in such haste from his seat that, treading upon the hem of his toga, he tumbled down the steps, full of indignation, and crying out, "A people who are masters of the world, pay greater respect to a gladiator for a trifle, than to princes admitted amongst the gods, or to my own majesty here present amongst them."
36	Pudicitiae neque suae neque alienae pepercit . M . Lepidum , Mnesterem pantomimum , quosdam obsides dilexisse fertur commercio mutui stupri . Valerius Catullus , consulari familia iuuenis , stupratum a se ac latera sibi contubernio eius defessa etiam uociferatus est . super sororum incesta et notissimum prostitutae Pyrallidis amorem non temere ulla inlustriore femina abstinuit . quas plerumque cum maritis ad cenam uocatas praeterque pedes suos transeuntis diligenter ac lente mercantium more considerabat , etiam faciem manu adleuans , si quae pudore submitterent ; quotiens deinde libuisset egressus triclinio , cum maxime placitam seuocasset , paulo post recentibus adhuc lasciuiae notis reuersus uel laudabat palam uel uituperabat , singula enumerans bona malaue corporis atque concubitus . quibusdam absentium maritorum nomine repudium ipse misit iussitque in acta ita referri .	He never had the least regard either to the chastity of his own person, or that of others Besides his incest with his sisters, and his notorious passion for Pyrallis, the prostitute, there was hardly any lady of distinction with whom he did not make free. He used commonly to invite them with their husbands to supper, and as they passed by the couch on which he reclined at table, examine them very closely, like those who traffic in slaves; and if any one from modesty held down her face, he raised it up with his hand. Afterwards, as often as he was in the humour, he would quit the room, send for her he liked best, and in a short time return with marks of recent disorder about them. He would then commend or disparage her in the presence of the company, recounting the charms or defects of her person and behaviour in private. To some he sent a divorce in the name of their absent husbands, and ordered it to be registered in the public acts.