On the last day of his life he asked every now and then whether there was any disturbance without on his account; then calling for a mirror, he had his hair combed and his falling154 jaws set straight.155 After that, calling in his friends and asking whether it seemed to them that he had played the comedy of life fitly, he added the tag:
“Since well I’ve played my part, all clap your hands
And from the stage dismiss me with applause.”
Then he sent them all off, and while he was asking some newcomers from the city about the daughter of Drusus, who was ill, he suddenly passed away as he was kissing Livia, uttering these last words: “Live mindful of our wedlock, Livia, and farewell,” thus blessed with an easy death and such a one as he had always longed for.
On the last day of his life he asked every now and then whether there was any disturbance without on his account; then calling for a mirror, he had his hair combed and his falling154 jaws set straight.155 After that, calling in his friends and asking whether it seemed to them that he had played the comedy of life fitly, he added the tag:
“Since well I’ve played my part, all clap your hands
And from the stage dismiss me with applause.”
Then he sent them all off, and while he was asking some newcomers from the city about the daughter of Drusus, who was ill, he suddenly passed away as he was kissing Livia, uttering these last words: “Live mindful of our wedlock, Livia, and farewell,” thus blessed with an easy death and such a one as he had always longed for.
Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars