13.  Still, however, he seemed desirous to avoid his end; and strove, by change of place, to cut off the inquietude of his own reflections.  He left his favourite island, and went upon the continent; and at last, fixed at the promontory of Mise’num.[14] There he fell into faintings, which all believed to be fatal. 14.  Calig’ula supposing him actually dead, caused himself to be acknowledged by the Praetorian soldiers,[15] and went forth from the emperor’s apartment amidst the applauses of the multitude; when, all of a sudden, he was informed that the emperor was likely to recover. 15.  This unexpected account filled the whole court with terror and alarm; every one who had before been earnestly testifying his joy, now reassumed his pretended sorrow, and forsook the new emperor, through a feigned solicitude for the fate of the old. 16, Calig’ula seemed thunderstruck; he preserved a gloomy silence, expecting nothing but death, instead of the empire at which he aspired. 17.  Marco, however, who was hardened in crimes, ordered that the dying emperor should be despatched, by smothering him with pillows; or, as some will have it, by poison.  Thus died Tibe’rius in the seventy-eighth year of his age, after reigning twenty-two years.

[Sidenote:  U.C. 780 A.D. 37.]

18.  It was in the eighteenth year of this emperor’s reign that Christ, (after having spent two years in the public ministry, instructing the multitude in the way of salvation,) was crucified; as if the universal depravity of mankind wanted no less a sacrifice than this to reclaim them.  Pi’late sent to Tibe’rius an account of Christ’s passion, resurrection, and miracles, and the emperor made a report of the whole to the senate, desiring that Christ might be accounted a god by the Romans. 19.  But the senate, displeased that the proposal had not come first from themselves, refused to allow of his apotheosis; alleging an ancient law, which gave them the superintendence in all matters of religion.  They even went so far as to command, by an edict, that all Christians should leave the city; but Tibe’rius, by another edict, threatened death to such as should accuse them; by which means they continued unmolested during the rest of his reign.

20.  The vices of Calig’ula were concealed under the appearance of virtue in the beginning of his reign.  In less than eight months, however, every trace of moderation and clemency vanished; while furious passions, unexampled avarice, and capricious cruelty, reigned uncontrolled; and pride, impiety, lust, and avarice, appeared in all their native deformity.

21.  Calig’ula’s pride first appeared in his assuming to himself the title of ruler; which was usually granted only to kings.  He would also have taken the crown and diadem, had he not been advised, that he was already superior to all the monarchs of the world. 22.  Not long after he assumed divine honours, and gave himself the names of such divinities as he thought most agreeable to his nature.  For