also granted the privilege of demanding the consulship, though absent, and of discharging that office by a friend. It was stipulated to leave the sea open, and to pay the people what corn was due out of Sicily. Thus a general peace was concluded, to the great satisfaction of the people, who now expected an end to all their calamities 1. Questions for Examination. 1. What ensued on the death of Brutus ? 2. Were the triumviri possessed of equal power? 3. What were their first measures? 4. By what were the people most affected? 5. What observation has been made on these events? 6. What was the consequence of the establishment of their power? 7. Whither did Antony betake himself for that purpose? 8. How was he employed? 9. By what means did Cleopatra incur his displeasure? 10. What personal advantages did she possess? 11. Did she appear before Antony as a humble suppliant? 12. What was the result of the interview? 13. How was Augustus employed in the mean time? 14. What recompense had he promised these troops? 15. What was the consequence of this tyranny? 16. What remarkable person was among the sufferers? 17. Was his request granted? 18. What was the state of Italy at this time? 19. What occasioned it? 20. What did she consider as the most probable means of reclaiming him? 21. Were terms of accommodation offered and accepted? 22. What was the event of the war? 23. What was Antony's conduct on the occasion? 24. Did he approve of his wife's proceedings? 25. Were the two armies of nearly equal strength? 26. What was the consequence? 27. What further measures were adopted? 1 This treaty was made on board Pompey's ship, whither Antony and Augustus had repaired. While they were engaged in conference, Me'nas one of Pompey's commanders, proposed to cut the cable privately, and put to sea, by which he would have his rivals completely in his power; but Pompey nobly rejected the perfidious counsel; preferring honour to the most splendid advantages. He hinted, however, that he would not have been displeased if Me'nas had perpetrated the crime on his own responsibility, without giving him any previous information on the subject. SECTION VII. Oct. OCTAVIA AND CLEOPATRA. -You have been his ruin. Who made him cheap at Rome, but Cleopatra? Cleo. Yet she, who loves him best, is Cleopatra. To gild your cause, and draw the pitying world DRYDEN. 1 Contempt'ible, a. despicable, de- 2. Prodi'gious, a. amazingly large. Exa'ggerate, v. to enlarge, heap up, 9. Importu'nity, s. urgent solicitation. Repu'diate, v. to divorce, to put away. 11. Absurd'ities, s. follies, extrava. gances. 14. Sarcas'tic, a. severe, keen. 21. Precip'itately, ad. hastily, rashly. 25. Amass'ed, v. heaped together, collected. Confisca'tions, s. forfeits, fines. 1. THE only obstacle to the ambition of Augustus was Antony, whom he resolved to remove; and for that purpose rendered his character at Rome as contemptible as he possibly could. In fact, Antony's conduct did not a little contribute to promote the endeavours of his ambitious partner. 2. He had marched against the Parthians with a prodigious army, but was forced to return with the loss of the fourth part of his forces, and all his baggage. 3. However, Antony seemed quite regardless of contempt alive only to pleasure, and totally disregarding the business of the state, he spent his whole time in the com pany of Cleopa'tra, who studied every art to increase his passion, and vary his entertainments. 4. Few women have been so much celebrated for the art of giving novelty to pleasure, and making trifles important. Still ingenious in filling up the languid pauses of sensual delight with some new strokes of refinement, she was at one time a queen, then a Bac'chanal, and sometimes a huntress. 5. Not contented with sharing with her all the delights which Egypt could afford, Antony was resolved to enlarge his sphere of luxury, by granting her some of those kingdoms which belonged to the Roman empire. He gave her all Pheni'cia', Colo-Sy'ria', and Cy'prus, with a great part of Cili'cia, Ara'bia, and Jude'a; gifts which he had no right to bestow, but which he pretended to grant in imitation of Hercules. 6. This complication of vice and folly at last totally exasperated the Romans, and Augus'tus, willing to take the advantage of their resentment, took care to exaggerate all his defects. 7. At length, when he found the people sufficiently irritated against him, he resolved to send Octa'via, who was then at Rome, to Antony, as if with a view of reclaiming her husband; but, in fact, to furnish a sufficient pretext for declaring war against him, as he knew she would be dismissed with contempt. 8. Antony was now in the city of Leucop'olis, revelling with his insidious paramour, when he heard that Octa'via was at Athens, upon her journey to visit him. This was very unwelcome news both to him and Cleopa'tra; the latter, fearing the charms of her rival, endeavoured to con 1 Pheni'cia, a province of Syria, celebrated for the invention of letters, and of navigation. The people of this country are the first upon record who traded with England for tin. It is written in the Greek and Latin authors, Phoe'nice. Varro is the only one among the ancients who writes Phoni'cia. This is so noble a part of Syria, as sometimes to be put in opposition to it, or mentioned distinct from it. (Strabo.) 2 Cœlo-Syria, or the Hollow-Syria, was a province of Syria. (2 Macc. vi. 4.) 3 Leucop'olis, a city of Ca'ria, in Asia Minor. vince Antony of the strength of her passion, by her sighs, her looks, and well-feigned melancholy. He frequently caught her in tears, which she seemingly attempted to hide ; and of which she appeared extremely reluctant to tell him the cause. 9. These artifices, together with the ceaseless flattery and importunity of her creatures, prevailed so much upon Antony's weakness, that he commanded Octa'via to return home, without seeing her; and still more to exasperate the people of Rome, he resolved to repudiate her, and take Cleopatra as his wife. 10. He accordingly assembled the people of Alexandria in the public theatre, where was raised an alcove of silver, under which were placed two thrones of gold, one for himself and the other for Cleopatra. There he seated himself, dressed as Bacchus', while Cleopa'tra sat beside him, clothed in the ornaments and attributes of I'sis', the principal deity of the Egyptians. 11. On that occasion he declared her Queen of all the countries which he had already bestowed upon her, while he associated Cæsario, her son by Cæsar, as her partner in the government. To the two children he himself had by her, he gave the title of King of Kings, with very extensive dominions; and, to crown his absurdities, he next sent a minute account of his proceedings to the two consuls at Rome'. 12. In the mean time, Augustus had a sufficient pretext for declaring war, and informed the senate of his intentions. However, he deferred the execution of his design for a while, being then employed in quelling an insurrection of the Illy'rians. 13. The following year was chiefly taken 1 The god of wine. 2 In Egyptian mythology, supposed to have represented the moon. 3 While Antony was thus revelling in Egypt, Augustus was engaged in a war with Pompey, whom, after many bloody battles, both by sea and land, he completely defeated and put to death. (Appian, p. 747. Strabo, 1. iii. p. 141.) Soon after this, Lep'idus, being forsaken by his troops, was deposed from the Triumvirate, but permitted to enjoy his private estate in peace. up in preparations against Antony, who perceiving his intentions, remonstrated to the senate, that he had many causes of complaint against his colleague, who had seized upon Sicily without affording him a share; alleging that he had also dispossessed Lep'idus, and kept to himself the province he had commanded; and that he had divided all Italy among his own soldiers, leaving nothing to recompense those in Asia. 14. To this complaint Augustus was content to make a sarcastic answer, implying that it was absurd to complain of his distribution of a few trifling districts in Italy, when Antony having conquered Par'thia, might now reward his soldiers with cities and provinces1. 15. This sarcasm provoked him to send his army without delay into Europe, to meet Augustus, while he and Cleopa'tra followed to Sa'mos2, in order to prepare for carrying on the war with vigour. 16. When arrived there, it was ridiculous enough to behold the odd mixture of preparations for pleasure and for war. On one side, all the kings and princes from Egypt to the Euxine Sea had orders to send him supplies of men, provisions, and arms; on the other, comedians, dancers, buffoons, and musicians, were ordered to attend him. 17. His delay at Sa'mos, and afterwards at Athens, where he carried Cleopa'tra to receive new honours, proved extremely favourable to the arms of Augustus, who was at first scarcely in a situation to oppose him, had he gone into Italy; but he soon found time to put himself in a condition for carrying on the war; and shortly after declared it against him in form. At length both sides found themselves in readiness to begin, and their armies were suitable to the greatness of the empire for which they contended. 1 The severity of this sarcasm lay in its being directly contrary to truth, as Antony had been defeated by the Par'thians. 2 Samos, a celebrated island in the Archipelago. It has been rendered famous for the worship and a temple of Juno, with a noted Asylum. Its capital was of the same name, and is memorable for the birth of Pythagoras. |