Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

EXILE IN CORSICA 33the consulship. To this honour he was at lastpromoted by Caligula on his accession ; butthe mortifications he was compelled to endureat his nephew's Court exceeded all that he hadpreviously experienced. He became the buttof the courtiers, and the victim of a thousandpractical jokes played upon him to amuse theemperor. When he arrived late for dinner hewas made to take the lowest place at the table ;when he slept, as he usually did after satisfyinghis gluttonous appetite, they pelted him witholive stones or drew slippers over his hands,so that he might rub his eyes with them onwaking. In Campania, however, where he hadlived in retirement for many years on his exclusionfrom public business, in the intervals of thetime given to the pleasures of the table and tothe gaming which he loved, he had cultivatedhis understanding, and studied to some effect.He was an excellent Greek scholar, could makea good set speech when given time for preparation,and was the author of numerous works onhistorical and grammatical subjects.Claudius began his reignwell. He recalledthe citizens unjustly exiled by his predecessor,and restored to them their goods ; he repealedthe oppressive new taxes ;he administeredjustice personally with great assiduity, assistedby the consuls and praetors as assessors ;heburnt aU incriminating letters left by Caligulaafter having shown them to the persons concerned;he forbade the practice of makingbequests to] the emperor to which rich men