also (272) prayed for his death, he sent orders round the islands [429]
to have them all put to death. Being very desirous to have a senator
torn to pieces, he employed some persons to call him a public enemy, fall
upon him as he entered the senate-house, stab him with their styles, and
deliver him to the rest to tear asunder. Nor was he satisfied, until he
saw the limbs and bowels of the man, after they had been dragged through
the streets, piled up in a heap before him.

XXIX. He aggravated his barbarous actions by language equally
outrageous. "There is nothing in my nature," said he, "that I commend or
approve so much, as my adiatrepsia (inflexible rigour)." Upon his
grandmother Antonia's giving him some advice, as if it was a small matter
to pay no regard to it, he said to her, "Remember that all things are
lawful for me." When about to murder his brother, whom he suspected of
taking antidotes against poison, he said, "See then an antidote against
Caesar!" And when he banished his sisters, he told them in a menacing
tone, that he had not only islands at command, but likewise swords. One
of pretorian rank having sent several times from Anticyra [430], whither
he had gone for his health, to have his leave of absence prolonged, he
ordered him to be put to death; adding these words "Bleeding is necessary
for one that has taken hellebore so long, and found no benefit." It was
his custom every tenth day to sign the lists of prisoners appointed for
execution; and this he called "clearing his accounts." And having
condemned several Gauls and Greeks at one time, he exclaimed in triumph,
"I have conquered Gallograecia." [431]

XXX. He generally prolonged the sufferings of his victims by causing
them to be inflicted by slight and frequently repeated strokes; this
being his well-known and constant order: (273) "Strike so that he may
feel himself die." Having punished one person for another, by mistaking