[B.C. 43 (a. u. 711)]

Brutus, taking charge of these, led an expedition against Antonius, who was in Apollonia:  the latter came out to meet him, whereupon Brutus won over his soldiers and confined him within the walls, whither he fled before him.  After this Antonius was by betrayal taken alive, but no harm was done to him. [-22-] Close upon this success the victor acquired all of Macedonia and Epirus, and then despatched a letter to the senate, stating what had been accomplished, and placing himself, the provinces, and the soldiers at its disposal.  The senators, who by chance already felt suspicious of Caesar, praised him strongly and bade him govern all that region.  When, then, he had confirmed his leadership by the decree, he himself felt more encouraged and he found his subjects ready to support him unreservedly.  For a time he communicated with Caesar, when the latter appeared to be hostile to Antony, urging him to resist his enemy and be reconciled with him (Brutus), and he was making preparations to sail to Italy because the senate summoned him.  After Caesar, however, had matters thoroughly in hand in Rome, and proceeded openly to take vengeance on his father’s slayers, Brutus remained where he was, deliberating how he should successfully ward off the other’s attack when it occurred:  and besides managing admirably the other districts as well as Macedonia, he calmed the minds of his legions when they had been thrown into a state of discontent by Antonius. [-23-] For the latter, although his conqueror had not even deprived him of a praetor’s perquisites, did not enjoy keeping quiet in safety and honor, but connived at a revolt among the soldiers of Brutus.  Being discovered at this work before he had done any great harm, he was stripped of his praetor’s insignia, and delivered to be guarded without confinement that he might not cause an uprising.  Yet not even then did he remain quiet, but concocted more schemes of rebellion than ever, so that some of the soldiers came to blows with one another and others started for Apollonia after Antonius himself, in the intention of rescuing him.  This, however, they were unable to do:  Brutus had learned in advance from some intercepted letters what was to be done and by putting him into an enclosed chair got him out of the way on the pretence that he was moving a sick man.  The soldiers, not being able to find the object of their search, in fear of Brutus seized a point of high ground commanding the city.  Brutus induced them to come to an understanding, and by executing a few of the most audacious and dismissing others from his service he set matters in such a light that the men arrested and killed those sent away, on the ground that they were most responsible for the sedition, and asked for the surrender of the quaestor and the lieutenants of Antonius. [-24-] Brutus did not give up any of the latter, but put them aboard boats with the avowed intention of drowning them, and so conveyed