XXII. 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," "The 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,
Eis koiranos eto, eis basileus.
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 Jupiter
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:
Hae em' anaeir', hae ego se;
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.