 To confound the order of the season and climate , to sport with the passions and prejudices of his subjects , and to subvert every law of nature and decency , were in the number of his most delicious amusements . A long train of concubines , and a rapid succession of wives , among whom was a vestal virgin , ravished by force from her sacred asylum , were insufficient to satisfy the impotence of his passions . The master of the Roman world affected to copy the manners and dress of the female sex , preferring the distaff to the sceptre , and dishonored the principal dignities of the empire by distributing them among his numerous lovers ; one of whom was publicly invested with the title and authority of the emperor 's , or , as he more properly styled himself , the empress 's husband . It may seem probable , the vices and follies of Elagabalus have been adorned by fancy , and blackened by prejudice . Yet , confining ourselves to the public scenes displayed before the Roman people , and attested by grave and contemporary historians , their inexpressible infamy surpasses that of any other age or country . 
