The Life of Marcus Antonius
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I. Parentage of ANTONIUS.
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2. His early acts.
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3. He sides with JULIUS CAESAR.
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4. His valorous deeds, and good service at the battle of PHARSALIA.
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5. His dissolute manner of life.
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6. How he was the unwitting cause of the conspiracy against CAESAR.
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7. Murder of CAESAR.
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8. Arrival of OCTAVIUS at Rome.
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9. Patient bearing of ANTONIUS under adversity.
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10. The first triumvirate.
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11. Death of BRUTUS and CASSIUS.
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12. Evil Influence of Grecian manners.
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13. ANTONIUS falls in love with CLEOPATRA; description of her magnificence.
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14. Extravagance of ANTONIUS.
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15. Sportiveness of CLEOPATRA.
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16. Death of FULVIA, and marriage of ANTONIUS with OCTAVIA.
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17. Some account of SEXTUS POMPEIUS.
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18. Inferiority of ANTONIUS to OCTAVIUS CAESAR.
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19. War against the PARTHIANS and triumph of VENTIDIUS.
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20. Quarrel between ANTONIUS and OCTAVIUS.
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21. ANTONIUS indulges his love for CLEOPATRA, to his own great loss.
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22. He besieges PHRAATA, and encounters the PARTHIANS.
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23. The PARTHIANS harass his retreat.
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24. Great sufferings of the ROMANS during their retreat.
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25. Advice of MITHRIDATES the PARTHIAN.
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26. The ROMANS still retreat, and cross the ARAXES.
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27. ANTONIUS returns to CLEOPATRA.
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28. Wars between the PARTHIANS and MEDES.
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29. OCTAVIA comes to ATHENS. Wily conduct of CLEOPATRA.
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30. ANTONIUS bestows kingdoms on his sons.
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31. OCTAVIUS excites the Romans against him.
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32. ANTONIUS and CLEOPATRA arrive et SAMOS. He divorces his wife OCTAVIA.
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33. The preparations of OCTAVIUS for War.
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34. Signs and omens.
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35. The battle of ACTIUM.
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36. Flight of CLEOPATRA.
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37. Events after the battle.
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38. ANTONIUS follows the example of TIMON OF ATHENS.
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39. CLEOPATRA makes experiments with poisons.
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40. Negociations with OCTAVIUS.
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41. Death of ANTONIUS.
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42. OCTAVIUS captures CLEOPATRA, and takes ALEXANDRIA.
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43. ANTONIUS is buried by CLEOPATRA.
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44. Interview between, CLEOPATRA and OCTAVIUS.
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45. Death of CLEOPATRA.
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46. The children of ANTONIUS.
1.
Antonius, grandfather was that famous orator whom
Marius slew because he took Sylla's part. His father was
another Antonius
surnamed Cretan
1, who was not so famous,
nor bare any great sway in the commonwealth: howbeit other
wise he was an honest man, and of a very good nature, and
specially very liberal in giving, as appeareth by an act he did.
He was not very wealthy, and therefore his wife would not let
The liberality of Antonius' father. |
him use his liberality and frank nature. One day a friend of his
coming to him to pray him to help him to some money, having
great need, Antonius by chance had no money to give him, but
he commanded one of his men to bring him some water in a
silver basin, and after he had brought it him, he washed his
beard as though he meant to have shaven it, and then found an
arrand
2 for his man to send him out, and gave his friend the
silver basin, and bade him get him money with that. Shortly
after' there was a great stir in the house among the servants,
seeking out of this silver basin. Insomuch as Antonius, seeing
his
wife marvellously offended for it, and that she would examine all
her servants one affair another about it, to know what was be
come of it, at length he confessed he had given it away, and
prayed her to be contented.
Julia the mother of M. Antonius. |
His wife was Julia, of the noble
house and family of Julius Caesar: who, for her virtue and chastity,
was to be compared with the noblest lady of her time.
Marcus Antonius was brought up under her, being married
after her first husband's death unto Cornelius Lentulus, whom
Cicero put to death with Cethegus and others, for that he
was of Catiline's conspiracy against the Commonwealth. And
this seemeth to be the original cause and beginning of the cruel
and mortal hate Antonius bare unto Cicero. For Antonius self
saith, that
he
3 would never give him the body of his father-in-law
to bury him, before his mother went first to entreat Cicero's
wife the which undoubtedly was a flat lie. For Cicero denied
burial to none of them whom he executed by law. Now Antonius
being a fair young man, and in the prime of his youth,
Antonius corrupted by Curio. |
he fell
acquainted with Curio, whose friendship and acquaintance (as it
is reported) was a plague unto him. For he was a dissolute
man, given over to all lust and insolency, who, to have Antonius
the better at his commandment,
trained
4 him on into great follies
and vain expenses upon women, in rioting and banqueting: so
that in short time he brought Antonius into a marvellous great
debt, and too great for one of his years,
to wit
5, of two hundred and fifty talents, for all which sum Curio was surety. His father hearing of it, did put his son from him, and forbad him
his house. Then he fell in with Clodius, one of the desperatest
and most wicked tribunes at that time in Rome. Him he
followed for a time in his desperate attempts, who bred great
stir and mischief in Rome: but at length he forsook him, being
weary of his rashness and folly, or else for that he was afraid of
them that were bent against Clodius.
2. Thereupon he left Italy, and went into Greece, and there
bestowed
6 the most part of his time, sometime in wars, and
otherwhile in the study of eloquence.
Antonius used in his speaking the Asiatic phrase. |
He used a manner of
phrase in his speech called Asiatic, which carried the best
grace and estimation at that time, and was much like to his
manners and life: for it was full of ostentation, foolish
bravery
7,
and vain ambition.
After he had remained there some time.
Gabinius, proconsul, going into Syria, persuaded him to go with
him; Antonius told him he would not go as a private man:
wherefore
Antonius had charge of horsemen under Gabinius , proconsul, going into Syria. |
Gabinius gave him charge of his horsemen, and so
took him with him. So, first of all he sent him against Aristobulus,
who had made the Jews to rebel, and was the first man
himself that got up to the wall of a castle of his, and
Antonius' acts against Aristobulus. |
so drove
Aristobulus out of all his holds: and with those few men he had
with him, he overcame all the Jews in set battle, which were
many against one, and put all of them almost to the sword ; and
furthermore,
Antonius took Aristobulus prisoner. |
took Aristobulus himself prisoner with his son.
Afterwards Ptolemy, king of Egypt, that had been driven out of
his country, went unto Gabinius to intreat him to go with his
army with him into Egypt, to put him again into his kingdom:
and promised him, if he would go with him, ten thousand talents.
The most part of the captains thought it not best to go thither, and
Gabinius himself
made it dainty to enter
8 into this war, although
the covetousness of
these
10,000 talents stuck sorely with him.
But Antonius, that sought but for opportunity and good occasion
to attempt great enterprises, and that desired also to gratify
Ptolemy's request, he went about to persuade Gabinius to go
this voyage. Now they were more afraid of the way they should
go, to come to the city of Pelusium, than they feared any danger
of the war besides because they were to pass through deep
sands and desert places, where was no fresh water to be had all
the marishes; through, which are called the
marishes
9 Serbonides,
which the Egyptians call the exhalations or fume, by the which
the giant Typhon breathed. But in truth it appeareth to be the
overflowing of the Red Sea, which breaketh out under the ground
in that place where it is divided in the narrowest place from the
sea on this side.
Antonius' acts in Egypt under Gabinius. |
So Antonius was sent before into Egypt with
his horsemen, who did not only win that passage, but also took
the city of Pelusium (which is a great city) with all the soldiers in
it: and thereby he cleared the way, and made it safe for all the
rest of the army, and the hope of the victory also certain for his
captain. Now did the enemies themselves feel the fruits of
Antonius' courtesy, and the desire he had to win honour: for
when Ptolemy (after he had entered into the city of Pelusium),
for the malice he bare unto the city, would have put all the
Egyptians in it to the sword, Antonius withstood him, and by no
means would suffer him to do it. And in all other great battles
and skirmishes which they fought, being many in number, Antonius
did many noble acts of a valiant and wise captain: but
specially in one battle, where he compassed in the enemies
behind, giving them the victory that fought in front, whereby he
afterwards had such honourable reward as his valiantness de
served.
Antonius' courtesy unto Archelaus being dead. |
So was his great courtesy also much commended of all,
the which he shewed unto Archelaus: for having been his very
friend, he made war with him against his will while he lived;
but after his death he fought for his body, and gave it honour
able burial. For these respects he
wan
10 himself great fame of them
of Alexandria, and he was also thought a worthy man of all the
soldiers in the Romans' camp.
But besides all this,
Antonius' shape and presence. |
he had a
noble presence, and shewed a countenance of one of a noble
house: he had a goodly thick beard, a broad forehead, crooked
nosed, and there appeared such a manly look in his countenance,
as is commonly seen in Hercules, pictures, stamped or graven in
metal. Now it had been a speech of old time,
The house of the Antonii descended from Hercules. |
that the family of the
Antonii were descended from one Anton the son of Hercules,
whereof the family took name. This opinion did Antonius seek
to confirm in all his doings: not only resembling him in the
likeness of his body, as we have said before, but also in the
wearing of his garments. For when he would openly shew him
self abroad before many people, he would always wear his
cassock
11: girt down low upon his hips, with a great sword hanging
by his side, and
upon
12 that, some ill-favoured cloak. Further
more, things that seem intolerable in other men, as to boast
commonly, to jest with one or other, to drink like a good fellow
with everybody, to sit with the soldiers when they dine, and to
eat and drink with them soldier-like, it is incredible what
wonderful love it
wan
13 him amongst them. And furthermore, being
given to love, that made him the more desired, and by that
means he brought many to love him. For he would further
everyman's love, and also would not be angry that men should
merrily tell him of those he loved. But besides all this, that which
most procured his rising and advancement, was his liberality,
who gave all to the soldiers, and kept nothing for himself: and
when he was grown to great credit, then was his authority and
power also very great, the which notwithstanding himself did
overthrow by a thousand other faults he had. In this place I
will shew you one example only of his wonderful liberality. He
commanded one day his
cofferer
14 that kept his money, to give a
friend of his five and twenty myriads, which the Romans call in
their tongue decies. His cofferer marvelling at it, and being
angry withal in his mind, brought him all this money in a heap
together, to shew him what a marvellous mass of money it was.
Antonius seeing it as he went by, asked what it was: the cofferer
answered him, "It was the money he willed him to give unto his
friend." Then Antonius, perceiving the spite of his man, "I
thought," said he, "that decies had been a greater sum of
money
than it is, for this is but a trifle:" and therefore he gave his
friend as much more another time, but that was afterwards.
3. Now the Romans maintaining two factions at Rome at
that time, one against the other, of the which they that took
part with the Senate did join with Pompey, being then in Rome:
and the contrary side, taking part with the people, sent for Caesar
to aid them, who made wars in Gaul: then Curio, Antonius'
friend, that had changed his garments, and at that time took
part with Caesar, whose enemy he had been before, he wan
Antonius; and so handled the matter, partly through the great
credit and sway he bare amongst the people, by reason of his
eloquent tongue, and partly also by his exceeding expense of
money he made which Caesar gave him, that
Antonius tribune of the people and augur. |
Antonius was
chosen tribune, and afterwards made augur. But this was a great
help and furtherance to Caesar's
practices
15. For so soon as
Antonius became tribune, he did oppose himself against those things
which the Consul Marcellus preferred (who ordained that certain
legions which had been already levied and
billed
16, should be given
unto Cneus Pompey, with further commission and authority to
levy others unto them), and set down an order, that the soldiers
which were already levied and assembled should be sent into
Syria, for a new supply unto Marcus Bibulus, who made war
at that time against the Parthians. And further gave a prohibition
that Pompey should levy no more men, and also that
the soldiers should not obey him. Secondly, where Pompey's
friends and followers would not suffer Caesar's letters to be received
and openly read in the senate,
Antonius acts for Caesar. |
Antonius, having power
and warrant by his person, through the holiness of his tribuneship,
did read them openly, and made divers men change their
minds: for it appeared to them that Caesar by his letters
required no unreasonable matters. At length, when they preferred
two matters of consideration unto the Senate, whether they
thought good that Pompey or Caesar should leave their army,
there were few of the senators that thought it meet Pompey
should leave his army, but they
all in manner
17 commanded
Caesar to do it. Then Antonius rising up, asked whether they
thought it good that Pompey and Caesar both should leave their
armies. Thereupon all the senators jointly together gave their
whole consent, and with a great cry commending Antonius, they
prayed him to refer it to the judgment of the senate. But the
Consuls would not allow of that. Therefore Caesar's friends
preferred other reasonable demands and requests again, but
Cato spake against them: and Lentulus, one of the Consuls,
crave Antonius by force out of the Senate, who at his going out
made grievous curses against him.
Antonius flieth from Rome unto Caesar. |
After that, he took a slave's
gown, and speedily fled to Caesar, with Quintus Cassius, in a
hired coach. When they came to Caesar, they cried out with
open mouth, that all went hand over
head
18 at Rome: for the
tribunes of the people might not speak their minds; and were
driven away in great danger of their lives, as many as
stood with
19 law and justice.
Hereupon Caesar went
incontinently
20
into Italy with his army, which made Cicero say in his
Philippides: "That, as Helen was cause of the war of Troy, so was
Antonius the author of the civil wars;"
Cicero reproved for lying. |
which indeed was a
stark
21 lie. For Caesar was not so fickle-headed, nor so easily
carried away with anger, that he would so suddenly have gone
and made war with his country, upon the sight only of
Antonius and Cassius, being fled to him in miserable apparel, and
in a hired coach, had he not long before determined it with
himself. But sith indeed Caesar looked of long time but for
some
colour
22, this came as he wished, and gave him just
occasion of war. But to say truly, nothing else moved him to make
war with all the world as he did, but one
self wooed
23 cause which first
Alexander, Cyrus and Caesar all contended to reign. |
procured Alexander and Cyrus also before him, to wit, an
insatiable desire to reign, with a senseless covetousness to be the best
man in the world; the which he could not come unto, before he
had first put down Pompey and utterly overthrown him. Now
after that
Caesar's ambition the only cause of the civil war. |
Caesar had gotten Rome at his commandment, and
had driven Pompey out of Italy, he purposed first to go into
Spain against the legions Pompey had there, and in the mean
time to make provision for ships and marine preparation, to
follow Pompey. In his absence, he left Lepidus, that was Praetor,
governor of Rome; and Antonius, that was tribune, he gave
him charge of all the soldiers and of Italy.
Caesar gave the charge of Italy unto Antonius. |
Then was Antonius
straight marvellously commended and beloved of the soldiers,
because he commonly exercised himself among them, and would
oftentimes eat and drink with them, and also be liberal unto
them, according to his ability.
But then in contrary manner,
he purchased divers other men's evil wills, because that through
negligence he would not do them justice that were injured, and
dealt very churlishly with them that had any suit unto him: and
besides all this, he had an ill name to
intice