Claudius laughs, mostly at himself. "And yet I was so addled when I met thee, because I'd heard such wonders about thee. Reputation can matter a touch too much with me," he says, which is a bold admission. Reputation does matter, of course, but Claudius is willing to concede when he's unhelpfully obsessed. Just a touch. "Of course I once thought my reputation would ruin me ... but thou showed'st me it has not. For that, I like thee better than any impressively distant gods who are more reputation than man. What hast thou best liked learning about thy beloved?"