latter are out of town, ought to have administered all business pending.  But at this period, in order not to appear to have acted for the emperor, they performed none of their duties.  The senators in a body ascended the Capitoline, offered their sacrifices, and did obeisance to the chair of Gaius located in the temple.  Furthermore, according to a custom prevailing in the time of Augustus, they deposited money, [14] making a show of giving it to the emperor himself.  Their practice was similar also in the following year.  At the time of the events just narrated they came together in the senate-house after these proceedings, without any person having convened them, but accomplished nothing, wasting the whole day in laudations of Gaius and prayers in his behalf.  Since they had no love for him nor any wish that he should survive, they simulated both these feelings to all the greater extent, as if hoping in this way to disguise their real sentiments.  On the third day devoted to prayers they came together in response to an announcement of a meeting made by all the praetors in a written notice:  still, they transacted no business on this day nor again on the next until on the twelfth day word was brought that Gaius had resigned his office.  Then at last the men who had been elected for subsequent service succeeded to the position and administered the business that fell to them.  It was voted among other measures that the same honors should be given to the birthdays of Tiberius and of Drusilla as to that of Augustus.  The actor folk also celebrated a festival, provided a spectacle, and set up and dedicated images of Gaius and Drusilla.—­This was in accordance with a letter of Gaius.  Whenever he wished any business brought up he communicated in writing a small portion of it to all the senators, but most of it to the consuls, and then sometimes ordered this to be read in the senate.—­So much for the transactions of the senate.

[-25-] Meanwhile Gaius sent for Ptolemaeus, the son of Juba, and on ascertaining that he was wealthy put him to death and a number of others with him.  Also when he reached the ocean and was to all appearances about to conduct a campaign in Britain and had drawn up all the soldiers on the beach, he embarked on the triremes but after putting out a little from the land he sailed back again.  Next he took his seat on a high platform and gave his soldiers the watchword as if for battle, while the trumpeters urged them on.  All of a sudden, however, he ordered them to gather the shells.  Having secured these “spoils” (you see he needed booty for the celebration of his triumph) he became immensely elated, assuming that he had enslaved the ocean itself; and he gave his soldiers many presents.  The shells he took back to Rome for the purpose of exhibiting the spoils to the people there as well.  The senate did not see how it could remain inactive in the face of this procedure, inasmuch as it learned he was in an exalted frame