Claudius

Subservient, as I have said, to these freedmen and to his wives, he acted not as a ruler but as a servant; according to the personal interest, or even the whim or caprice of each of them, he distributed honors, army commands, immunities, and punishments, and indeed for the most part without his own knowledge and in ignorance. And not to enumerate also minor matters one by one—his recalled favors, revoked judgments, forged or even openly altered warrants of appointments—he put to death Appius Silanus, his fellow father-in-law, and the two Julias, one the daughter of Drusus, the other of Germanicus, on an uncertain charge and without granting any defense; likewise Gnaeus Pompeius, the husband of his elder daughter, and Lucius Silanus, the betrothed of his younger daughter. Of these, Pompeius was stabbed to death in the embrace of a favorite youth, while Silanus was compelled to resign his praetorship four days before the Kalends of January and to die at the beginning of the year, on the very day of the wedding of Claudius and Agrippina. Against thirty-five senators and more than three hundred Roman knights he took action with such facility that, when a centurion reported back concerning the death of a man of consular rank that he had done what was ordered, and Claudius denied that he had ordered anything, he nonetheless approved the deed, since his freedmen asserted that the soldiers had done their duty in rushing forward of their own accord to avenge the emperor. For it would surpass all belief that at the wedding which Messalina celebrated with her adulterous lover Silius, he himself signed the dowry contract, having been induced to do so on the ground that it was simulated on purpose to avert and transfer a danger which was portended by certain omens to be threatening himself.

He did not lack authority and dignity of appearance, whether standing or sitting, and especially when at rest; for he was of tall stature, not thin, and had a handsome appearance and fine gray hair, with a thick neck. However, when he walked, his weak knees failed him, and many things disgraced him whether he was acting in jest or in earnest: an unseemly laugh, an even uglier anger with foaming mouth and running nose, furthermore a stammering tongue and a head that was always tremulous, but especially so in the slightest activity.

Though his health was poor in the past, as emperor he enjoyed good health, except for stomach pain, from which he said he was so afflicted that he even thought of committing suicide.

He gave banquets both large and frequent, and usually in the most open places, so that for the most part six hundred guests would recline together. He also banqueted over the outlet of Lake Fucinus and was almost drowned when the water, released with force, overflowed. To every dinner he admitted also his own children along with noble boys and girls, who, according to the ancient custom, sat and ate at the feet of the couches. To a guest who was suspected of having stolen a golden cup the day before, he served a clay cup when he was invited back for the following day. It is said that he even contemplated an edict by which he would grant permission for passing wind and making noise at table, when he found that someone had run into danger out of restraint due to modesty.

He was extremely greedy for food and wine at any time and in any place; once, while hearing cases in the Forum of Augustus, he was struck by the smell of a luncheon which was being prepared for the Salii in the neighboring temple of Mars, and deserting his tribunal, he went up to the priests and reclined with them. He never left the dining room readily unless he was bloated and soaked, and so that immediately, as he lay on his back and slept with his mouth open, a feather was inserted into his throat to empty his stomach. His sleep was very short; for he was usually awake before midnight, although during the day he would sometimes fall asleep while administering justice and could scarcely be aroused by the advocates who raised their voices on purpose. His passion for women was most profuse, but he had absolutely no interest in males. He played dice most eagerly, even publishing a book on its art, and was accustomed to play even while traveling, with his carriage and board so adapted that the game would not be disrupted.