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This was the end of Caius, after he had reigned four years, within
four months. He was, even before he came to be emperor, ill-natured, and
one that had arrived at the utmost pitch of wickedness; a slave to his
pleasures, and a lover of calumny; greatly affected by every terrible accident,
and on that account of a very murderous disposition where he durst show
it. He enjoyed his exorbitant power to this only purpose, to injure those
who least deserved it, with unreasonable insolene and got his wealth by
murder and injustice. He labored to appear above regarding either what
was divine or agreeable to the laws, but was a slave to the commendations
of the populace; and whatsoever the laws determined to be shameful, and
punished, that he esteemed more honorable than what was virtuous. He was
unmindful of his friends, how intimate soever, and though they were persons
of the highest character; and if he was once angry at any of them, he would
inflict punishment upon them on the smallest occasions, and esteemed every
man that endeavored to lead a virtuous life his enemy. And whatsoever he
commanded, he would not admit of any contradiction to his inclinations;
whence it was that he had criminal conversation with his own sister;
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from which occasion chiefly it was also that a bitter hatred first sprang
up against him among the citizens, that sort of incest not having been
known of a long time; and so this provoked men to distrust him, and to
hate him that was guilty of it. And for any great or royal work that he
ever did, which might be for the present and for future ages, nobody can
name any such, but only the haven that he made about Rhegium and Sicily,
for the reception of the ships that brought corn from Egypt; which was
indeed a work without dispute very great in itself, and of very great advantage
to the navigation. Yet was not this work brought to perfection by him,
but was the one half of it left imperfect, by reason of his want of application
to it; the cause of which was this, that he employed his studies about
useless matters, and that by spending his money upon such pleasures as
concerned no one's benefit but his own, he could not exert his liberality
in things that were undeniably of great consequence. Otherwise he was an
excellent orator, and thoroughly acquainted with the Greek tongue, as well
as with his own country or Roman language. He was also able, off-hand and
readily, to give answers to compositions made by others, of considerable
length and accuracy. He was also more skillful in persuading others to
very great things than any one else, and this from a natural affability
of temper, which had been improved by much exercise and pains-taking; for
as he was the grandson
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of the brother of Tiberius, whose successor he was, this was a strong inducement
to his acquiring of learning, because Tiberius aspired after the highest
pitch of that sort of reputation; and Caius aspired after the like glory
for eloquence, being induced thereto by the letters of his kinsman and
his emperor. He was also among the first rank of his own citizens. But
the advantages he received from his learning did not countervail the mischief
he brought upon himself in the exercise of his authority; so difficult
it is for those to obtain the virtue that is necessary for a wise man,
who have the absolute power to do what they please without control. At
the first he got himself such friends as were in all respects the most
worthy, and was greatly beloved by them, while he imitated their zealous
application to the learning and to the glorious actions of the best men;
but when he became insolent towards them, they laid aside the kindness
they had for him, and began to hate him; from which hatred came that plot
which they raised against him, and wherein he perished.
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