twelve in number, were found to be double.  He was impatient, to be sure, at the fact that envoys and proposals had been sent also to Antony, instead of unrelenting war being declared against him at once, and most of all because he ascertained that the consuls had forwarded some private despatch to his rival about harmony, that when some letters sent by the latter to certain senators had been captured these officials had handed them to the persons addressed, concealing the transaction from him, and that they were not carrying on the war zealously or promptly, making the winter their excuse.  However, as he had no means of making known these facts,—­for he did not wish to alienate them, and on the other hand he was unable to use any persuasion or force,—­he stayed quiet himself in winter quarters in Forum Cornelium, until he became frightened about Decimus. [-36-] The latter had previously been vigorously fighting Antony off.  On one occasion, suspecting that some men had been sent into the city by him to corrupt the soldiers, he called all those present together and after giving them a few hints proclaimed by herald that all the men under arms should go to one side of a certain place that he pointed out and the private citizens to the other side of it:  in this way he detected and arrested Antony’s followers, who were isolated and did not know which way to turn.  Later he was entirely shut in by a wall; and Caesar, fearing he might be captured by storm or capitulate through lack of provisions, compelled Hirtius to join a relief party.  Vibius was still in Rome raising levies and abolishing the laws of Antony.  Accordingly, they started out and without a blow took possession of Bononia, which had been abandoned by the garrisons, and routed the cavalry who later confronted them:  by reason of the river, however, near Mutina and the guard beside it they found themselves unable to proceed farther.  They wished, notwithstanding, even so to make known their presence to Decimus, that he might not in undue season make terms, and at first they tried sending signals from the tallest trees.  But since he did not understand, they scratched a few words on a thin sheet of lead, and rolling it up like a piece of paper gave it to a diver to carry across under water by night.  Thus Decimus learned at the same time of their presence and their promise of assistance, and sent them a reply in the same fashion, after which they continued uninterruptedly to communicate all their plans to each other.

[-37-] Antony, therefore, seeing that Decimus was not inclined to yield, left him to the charge of his brother Lucius, and himself proceeded against Caesar and Hirtius.  The two armies faced each other for a number of days and a few insignificant cavalry battles occurred, with honors even.  Finally the Celtic cavalry, of whom Caesar had gained possession along with the elephants, withdrew to Antony’s side again.  They had started from the camp with the rest and had gone on ahead as if intending to engage