to a sentiment previously mentioned,[25] but accomplished no corresponding results.  This was not because he had formed a compact with Antony and through him with Lepidus,—­little he cared for that fact,—­but because he saw they were powerful and knew their purposes were linked by the bands of kinship, and he could not use force with them; and besides he cherished hopes of bringing about through them the downfall of Cassius and Brutus, who were already very influential, and subsequently of wearing them out one against the other.  Accordingly, even against his will he kept his covenant with them and directed his efforts to effecting a reconciliation for them with the senate and with the people.  He did not himself propose the matter, lest some suspicion of what had really taken place should arise, but he set out as if to make war on them, while Quintus urged, as if it were his own idea, that amnesty and restoration be granted them.  He did not secure this, however, until the senate had communicated it to the supposedly ignorant Caesar and he had unwillingly agreed to it, compelled, as he alleged, by the soldiers.

[-53-] While this was being done Decimus at first set forth in the intention of making war upon the pair, and associated with him Lucius Planeus, since the latter had been appointed in advance as his colleague for the following year.  Learning, however, of his own condemnation and of their reconciliation he wished to lead a campaign against Caesar, but was abandoned by Plancus who favored the cause of Lepidus and Antony.  Then he decided to leave Gaul and hasten into Macedonia on land through Illyricum to Marcus Brutus, and sent ahead some of the soldiers while he was engaged in finishing some business he had in hand.  But they embraced Caesar’s cause, and the rest were pursued by Lepidus and Antony and then were won over through the agency of others.  So, being deserted, he was seized by a personal foe.  When he was about to be executed he complained and lamented so loudly that one Helvius Blasio, who was kindly disposed to him from association on campaigns, in his sight voluntarily slew himself first.

[-54-] So Decimus afterward died also.  Antony and Lepidus left lieutenants in Gaul and themselves proceeded to join Caesar in Italy, taking with them the larger and the better part of their armies.  They did not trust him very far and wished not to owe him any favor, but to seem to have obtained amnesty and restoration on their own merits and by their own strength, and not through him.  They also hoped to become masters of whatever they desired, of Caesar and the rest in the City, by the size of their armies.  With such a feeling they marched through the country, according it friendly treatment.  Still, it was damaged by their numbers and audacity no less than if there had been a war.  They were met near Bononia by Caesar with many soldiers:  he was exceedingly well prepared to defend himself against them, if they should offer any violence.  Yet at this time he