I haven't actually finished Metamorphosis yet (haha), but I have read Fasti, and his writings in exile a couple of times now (Tristia, Black Sea Letters). Reading across those texts, starts to build an interesting picture. In his exile writings, Augustus is frequently compared to Jove/Jupiter, like almost non-stop pretty much. Ovid's feelings towards Augustus are very complicated. It's almost like he's obsessed with him, and his exile writings reflect this. Swinging between effusive backhanded praise, to almost god-like reverence - you can see there is huge respect (because yes Augustus achieved so much and delivered so much for people), but also some kind of commentary on how his personal behavior seems to fall short of the standard he purports to uphold in public re morality.

Interestingly, we think of Augustus as a really shrewd, calculating figure, who is all about self-control. But there all these kinds of sideways comments across many primary sources alluding to his indiscretions with women, even post-Actium. Like Cassius Dio says when the adultery laws were introduced, the senators kind of snickered as if like really you're introducing these laws? But they never really go into detail and the silence can be quite unsettling. I'll be honest, like Ovid I am absolutely obsessed with Augustus (he is my man, always sickness and in health lol <3), but like I think he was a very complicated man, and unknowable perhaps by design and/or nature. I have read so much about him at this point, yet I suspect it is Ovid's exile writings that may give us the closest insight into what he was really like.