not know who the youth was, but meeting him the next day on the Capitol itself he recognized him, and told the vision to the bystanders.  Catulus, who had likewise never seen Octavius, beheld in a vision all the noble children on the Capitol at the termination of a solemn procession to Jupiter, and in the course of the ceremony the god cast what looked like an image of Rome into that child’s lap.  Startled at this he went up into the Capitol to offer prayers to the god, and finding there Octavius, who had ascended the hill for some other reason, he compared his appearance with the dream and was satisfied of the truth of the vision.  When later he had become a young man and was about to reach maturity, he was putting on the dress of an adult when his tunic was rent on both sides from his shoulders and fell to his feet.  This event of itself not only had no significance as forecasting any good fortune, but displeased the spectators considerably because it had happened in his first putting on the garb of a man:  it occurred to Octavius to say:  “I shall put the whole senatorial dignity beneath my feet”; and the outcome proved in accordance with his words.  Caesar founded great hopes upon him as a result of this, introduced him into the class of patricians and trained him for rulership.  In everything that is proper to come to the notice of one destined to control so great a power well and worthily he educated him with care.  The youth was trained in oratorical speeches, not only in the Latin but in this language [Greek], labored persistently in military campaigns, and received minute instruction in politics and the science of government.

[-3-] Now this Octavius chanced at the time that Caesar was murdered to be in Apollonia near the Ionic Gulf, pursuing his education.  He had been sent thither in advance to look after his patron’s intended campaign against the Parthians.  When he learned of the event he was naturally grieved, but did not dare at once to take any radical measures.  He had not yet heard that he had been made Caesar’s son or heir, and moreover the first news he received was to the effect that the people were of one mind in the affair.  When, however, he had crossed to Brundusium and had been informed about the will and the people’s second thought, he made no delay, particularly because he had considerable money and numerous soldiers who had been sent on under his charge, but he immediately assumed the name of Caesar, succeeded to his estate, and began to busy himself with the situation. [-4-] At the time he seemed to some to have acted recklessly and daringly in this, but later as a result of his good fortune and the successes he achieved he acquired a reputation for bravery.  In many instances in history men who were wrong in undertaking some project have been famed for wisdom because they proved fortunate in it:  others who used the best possible judgment have had to stand a charge of folly because they did not attain their