Caligula | Page 4

own sufferings, he seemed utterly insensible
of them, and behaved with such obsequiousness to his grandfather [391]
and all about him, that it was justly said of him, "There never was a
better servant, nor a worse master."
XI. But he could not even then conceal his natural disposition to cruelty
and lewdness. He delighted in witnessing the infliction of punishments,
and frequented taverns and 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 [392] for the people of Rome,
and a Phaeton for all the world." [393]
XII. 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 (258) of Macro, 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 Macro's favour,
some are of opinion that he attempted to poison Tiberius, and ordered
his ring to be taken from him, before the breath was out of his body;
and that, because he seemed to hold it fast, he caused a pillow to be
thrown upon him [394], 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."
XIII. 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 had 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."
XIV. Immediately on 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 (259) other grandson [395], then a
minor, coheir 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 [396], 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