Divus Augustus
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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His malady proceeded from diarrhoea; notwithstanding which, he went round the coast of
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Campania
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, and the adjacent islands, and spent four days in that of
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Capri
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; where he gave himself up entirely to repose and relaxation. Happening to sail by the bay of
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Puteoli
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, the passengers and mariners aboard a ship of
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Alexandria
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,
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1
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just then arrived, clad all in white, with chaplets upon their heads, and offering incense, loaded him with praises and joyful acclamations, crying out, " By you we live, by you we sail securely, by you enjoy our liberty and our fortunes." At which being greatly pleased, he distributed to each of those who attended him, forty gold pieces, requiring from them an assurance on oath, not to employ the sum given them in any other way, than the purchase of Alexandrian merchandize. And during several days afterwards, he distributed Togae
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2
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and Pallia, among other gifts, on condition that the Romans should use the Greek, and the Greeks the Roman dress and language. He likewise constantly attended to see the boys perform their exercises, according to an ancient custom still continued at
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Capri
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. He gave them likewise an entertainment in his presence, and not only permitted, but required from them the utmost freedom in jesting, and scrambling for fruit, victuals, and other things which he threw amongst them. In a word, he indulged himself in all the ways of amusement he could contrive. He called an island near
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Capri
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,
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Ἀπραγόπολισ
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, "The City of the Do-littles," from the indolent life which several of his party led there. A favourite of his, one Masgabas,
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3
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he used to call
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κτιστήσ
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, as if he had been the planter of the island. And observing from his room a great company of people with torches, assembled at the tomb of this Masgabas, who died the year before, he uttered very distinctly this verse, which he made extempore:
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κτιστοῦ δὲ τύμβον
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Blazing with lights I see the founder's tomb.
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Then turning to Thrasyllus, a companion of Tiberius, who reclined on the other side of the table, he asked him, who knew nothing about the matter, what poet he thought was the author of that verse; and on his hesitating to reply, he added another:
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ὁρᾷς
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Honor'd with torches, Masgabas you see;
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and put the same question to him concerning that likewise. The latter replying, that, whoever might be the author, they were excellent verses,
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4
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he set up a great laugh, and fell into an extraordinary vein of jesting upon it. Soon afterwards, passing over to
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Naples
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, although at that time greatly disordered in his bowels by the frequent returns of his disease, he sat out the exhibition of the gymnastic games which were performed in his honour every five years, and proceeded with Tiberius to the place intended. But on his return, his disorder increasing, he stopped at
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Nola
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, sent for Tiberius back again, and had a long discourse with him in private; after which, he gave no further attention to business of any importance.