A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Personal Character; Government 465
Cantabria, when he was reduced to such a condition that
he was obliged to undergo a desperate and doubtful method
of cure; for warm applications having no effect, Antonius
Musa directed the use of those which were cold. He was
likewise subject to fits of sickness at stated times every
year; for about his birthday he was commonly a little indisposed.
In the beginning of spring he was attacked by
an inflation of the midriff; and when the wind was
southerly, with a cold in his head. By all these complaints,
his constitution was so shattered that he could
not easily bear either heat or cold.
His fea-
The eyes of Augustus were bright and piercing; and he
was willing to have people think there was divine vigor in
them.
His teeth were thin set, small and scaly, his hair a
little curly, and incHned to a yellow color.
His eyebrows
met ; his ears wxre small and he had an aquiline nose. His
complexion was between brown and fair; his stature was
low, though Julius Marathus, his freedman, says he was
five feet nine inches in height.
Nearly always
ill.
II.
His Government
In my sixth and seventh consulships, when I had put
The repuban
end to the civil wars, after having obtained complete
control of affairs by universal consent, I transferred the D^fds^^^l'.
commonwealth from my own dominion to the authority of
In return for this favor on
the senate and Roman people.
my part, I received by decree of the senate the title Augustus;
the door-posts of my house were publicly decked
with laurels, a civic crown was fixed above my door, and
Qulian sen-
1 ^1 ^ ate-house.)
in the Juhan curia was placed a golden shield, which by its
•
1
1 . . •
mscnptions bore witness that it was given me by the senate
and the Roman people on account of my valor, clemency,
justice, and piety.
After that time I excelled all others in