as they did the horse-race connected with the Parilia;[6] and to win the favor of the populace he provided for it at his private expense on the ground that it concerned him because of his family.  At this time out of fear of Antony he brought into the theatre neither Caesar’s gilded chair nor his crown set with precious stones, though it was permitted by decree. [-7-] When, however, a certain star through all those days appeared in the north toward evening, some called it a comet, and said that it indicated the usual occurrences; but the majority, instead of believing this, ascribed it to Caesar, interpreting it to mean that he had become a god and had been included in the number of the stars.  Then Octavius took courage and set up in the temple of Venus a bronze statue of him with a star above his head.  Through fear of the populace no one prevented this, and then, at last, some of the earlier decrees in regard to honors to Caesar were put into effect.  They called one of the months July after him and in the course of certain triumphal religious festivals they sacrificed during one special day in memory of his name.  For these reasons the soldiers also, and particularly since some of them received largesses of money, readily took the side of Caesar.

Rumors accordingly went abroad, and it seemed likely that something unusual would take place.  This idea gained most headway for the reason that when Octavius was somewhat anxious to show himself in court in an elevated and conspicuous place, as he had been wont to do in his father’s lifetime, Antony would not allow it, but had his lictors drag him down and drive him out. [-8-] All were exceedingly vexed, and especially because Caesar with a view to casting odium upon his rival and arousing the multitude would no longer even frequent the Forum.  So Antony became terrified, and in conversation with the bystanders one day remarked that he harbored no anger against Caesar, but on the contrary owed him affection, and felt inclined to dispel the entire cloud of suspicion.  The statement was reported to the other, they held a conference, and some thought they had become reconciled.  As a fact they understood each other’s dispositions accurately, and, thinking it inopportune at that time to put them to the test, they came to terms by making a few mutual concessions.  For some days they were quiet; then they began to suspect each other afresh as a result of either some really hostile action or some false report of hostility,—­as regularly happens under such conditions,—­and were again at variance.  When men become reconciled after a great enmity they are suspicious of many acts that contain no malice and of many chance occurrences.  In brief, they regard everything, in the light of their former hostility, as done on purpose and for an evil end.  While they are in this condition those who stand on neutral ground aggravate the trouble, irritating them still more by bearing reports to and fro under the pretence of devotion.  There is a