So greatly did Plautianus have the mastery in every way over the emperor that he [frequently treated] Julia Augusta [in an outrageous way,—­for he detested her cordially,—­and] was always abusing [her violently] to Severus, and conducted investigations against her as well as tortures of noble women.  For this reason she began to study philosophy and passed her days in the company of learned men.—­As for Plautianus, he proved himself the most licentious of men, for he would go to banquets and vomit meantime, inasmuch as the mass of foods and wine that he swallowed made it impossible for him to digest anything.  And whereas he made use of lads and girls in perfectly notorious fashion, he would not permit his own wife to see or be seen by any person whomsoever, not even by Severus or Julia [to say nothing of others].

[Sidenote:—­16—­] At this period there took place also a gymnastic [Footnote:  Reading [Greek:  gymnikon] for [Greek:  gynaikon], which is possibly corrupt.] contest, at which so great a multitude assembled under compulsion that we wondered how the race-course could hold them all.  And in this contest Alamanni [Footnote:  Reading [Greek:  Alamannai] for [Greek:  alomenai], which is undoubtedly corrupt.] women fought most ferociously, with the result that jokes were made about other ladies, who were very distinguished.  Therefore, from this time on every woman, no matter what her origin, was prohibited from fighting in the arena.

On one occasion a good many images of Plautianus were made (what happened is worth relating) and Severus, being displeased at their number, melted down some of them.  As a consequence a rumor penetrated the cities to the effect that the prefect had been overthrown and had perished.  So some of them demolished his images,—­an act for which they were afterward punished.  Among these was the governor of Sardinia, Racius Constans, a very famous man, whom I have mentioned, however, for a particular reason.  The orator who accused Constans had made this statement in addition to others:  “Sooner may the sky collapse than Plautianus suffer any harm at the hands of Severus, and with greater cause might any one believe even that report, were any story of the sort circulated.”  Now, though the orator made this declaration, and though moreover Severus himself volubly affirmed it to us, who were helping him try the case, and stated “it is impossible for Plautianus to come to any harm at my hands,” still, this very Plautianus did not live the year out, but was slain and all his images destroyed.—­Previous to this a vast sea-monster had come ashore in the harbor named for Augustus, and had been captured.  A representation of him, taken into the hunting-theatre, admitted fifty bears in its interior.  Again, for many days a comet star had been seen in Rome and was said to portend nothing favorable.

DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY 77

Festivities on account of Severus’s decennial, the marriage of Antoninus and victories (chapter 1).