very large element which is anxious to see all those who have power at variance with one another,—­an element which consequently takes delight in their enmity and joins in plots against them.  And the party which has previously suffered from calumny is very easy to deceive with words adapted to the purpose by a band of friends whose attachment is not under suspicion.  This also accounts for the fact that these men, who did not trust each other previously, became now even more estranged.

[-9-] Antony seeing that Caesar was gaining ground attempted to attract the populace by various baits, to see if he could detach the people from his rival and number them among his own forces.  Hence through Lucius Antonius, his brother, who was tribune, he introduced a measure that considerable land be opened for settlement, among the parcels being the region of the Pontine marshes, which he stated had already been filled and were capable of cultivation.  The three Antonii, who were brothers, all held office at the same time.  Marcus was consul, Lucius tribune, and Gaius praetor.  Therefore they could very easily remove those who were temporarily rulers of their allies and subjects (except the majority of the assassins and some others whom they regarded as loyal) and choose others in place of them:  they could also grant some the right to hold office for an unusually long term, contrary to the laws established by Caesar.  Also Macedonia, which fell to Marcus by lot, was appropriated by his brother Gaius, but Marcus himself with the legions previously despatched into Apollonia laid claim to Gaul on this side of the Alps, to which Decimus Brutus had been assigned; the reason was that it seemed to be very strong in resources of soldiers and money.  After these measures had been passed the immunity granted to Sextus Pompey by Caesar, as to all the rest, was confirmed:  he had already considerable influence.  It was further resolved that whatever moneys of silver or gold the public treasury had taken from his ancestral estate should be restored.  As for the lands belonging to it Antony held the most of them and made no restoration.

[-10-] This was the business in which they were engaged.  But I shall now go on to describe how Sextus had fared.  When he had fled from Corduba, he first came to Lacetania and concealed himself there.  He was pursued, to be sure, but eluded discovery through the fact that the natives were kindly disposed to him out of regard for his father’s memory.  Later, when Caesar had started for Italy and only a small army was left behind in Baetica, he was joined both by the native inhabitants and by those who escaped from the battle, and with them he came again into Baetica, because he thought it more suitable for the carrying on of war.  There he gained possession of soldiers and cities, particularly after Caesar’s death, some voluntarily and some by violence; the commandant in charge of them, Gaius Asinius Pollio, held a force