Carnetacus, a barbarian chieftain who was captured and brought to Rome and received his pardon at the hands of Claudius, then, after his liberation, wandered about the city; and on beholding its brilliance and its size he exclaimed:  “Can you, who own these things and things like them, still yearn for our miserable tents?”

Claudius conceived a wish to have a naval battle in a certain lake[13]; so, after building a wooden wall around it and setting up benches, he gathered an enormous multitude.  Claudius and Nero were arrayed in military costume.  Agrippina wore a beautiful chlamys woven with gold, and the rest of the people whatever pleased their fancy.  Those who were to take part in this sea-fight were condemned criminals, and each side had fifty ships, one party being called Rhodians and the other Sicilians.  First they drew close together and after uniting at one spot they addressed Claudius in this fashion:  “Salve, imperator, morituri salutamus."[14] Since this afforded them no salvation and they were still ordered to fight, they used simple smashing tactics and took very good care not to harm each other.  This went on until they were cut down by outside force. [Somewhat later the Fucinian Lake caved in and Narcissus was severely criticised for it.  He presided over the undertaking, and it was thought that after spending a great deal less than he had received[15] he had then purposely contrived the collapse, in order that his villainy might go undetected.]

[A.D. 52-53]

About Narcissus there is a story of how openly, he used to make sport of Claudius.  One day when the latter was holding court the Bithynians raised a great outcry against Junius Cilo, their governor, because, as they asserted, he had taken very considerable bribes.  Claudius not understanding on account of their noise asked the bystanders what they were saying.  Thereupon, instead of telling him the truth, Narcissus said:  “They are expressing their gratitude to Junius.”  Claudius, believing him, rejoined:  “Why, he shall have charge of them two years more!”

Agrippina often attended her husband in public, when he was transacting ordinary business, or when he was hearing ambassadors; she sat upon a separate platform.  This was surely one of the most remarkable sights of the time.

On one occasion when a certain orator, Julius Gallicus, was pleading a case, Claudius grew vexed and ordered that he be cast into the Tiber, near the banks of which he chanced to be holding court.  Domitius Afer, who as an advocate had the greatest ability of his contemporaries, made a very neat joke on this.  A man whom Gallicus had disappointed came to Domitius for assistance, whereupon the latter said to him:  “And who told you I could swim better than he can?”