Dio's Rome, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 327 pages of information about Dio's Rome, Volume 3.

Dio's Rome, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 327 pages of information about Dio's Rome, Volume 3.

[-14-] Decimus Brutus was at this time governor of that province, and Antony set great hopes upon him, because he had been a slayer of Caesar.  But it turned out as follows.  Decimus did not look askance particularly at Caesar, for the latter had uttered no threats against the assassins:  on the other hand, he saw that Antony was no more formidable a foe than his rival, or, indeed, than himself or any of the rest who were in power as a result of natural acquisitiveness; therefore he refused to give ground before him.  Caesar, when he heard this decision, was for some time at a loss what course to adopt.  The young man hated both Decimus and Antony but saw no way in which he could contend against them both at once.  He was by no means yet a match for either one of the two, and he was further afraid that if he risked such a move he should throw them into each other’s arms and face the united opposition of the two.  After stopping to reflect that the struggle with Antony was already begun and was urgent, but that it was not yet a fitting season for taking vengeance for his father, he decided to make a friend of Decimus.  He understood well that he should find no great difficulty in fighting against the latter, if with his aid he could first overcome his adversaries, but that Antony would be a powerful antagonist on any subsequent occasion.  So much did they differ from each other. [-15-] Accordingly he sent a messenger to Decimus, proposing friendship and promising alliance, if he would refuse to receive Antony.  This proposal caused the people in the city likewise to join in expressing their gratitude to Caesar.  Just at this time the year was drawing to a close and no consul was on the ground, Dolabella having been previously sent by Antony to Syria.  Eulogies, however, were delivered in the senate by the members themselves and by the soldiers who had abandoned Antony,—­with the concurrence also of the tribunes.  When they entered upon the new year they decided, in order that they might discuss freely existing conditions, to employ a guard of soldiers at their meetings.  This pleased nearly all who were in Rome at the time,—­for they cordially detested Antony,—­but particularly Cicero.  He, on account of his bitter and long-standing hostility toward the man, paid court to Caesar, and so far as he could, by speech and action, strove to assist him in every way and to injure Antony.  It was for this reason that, when he had left the city to escort his son to Athens for the benefit of his education, he had returned on ascertaining that the two were publicly estranged.

[-16-] Besides these events which took place that year Servilius Isauricus died at a very advanced age.  I have mentioned him both for that fact and to show how the Romans of that period respected men who were prominent through merit and hated those who behaved insolently, even on the very slightest grounds.  This Servilius while walking had once met on the road a man on horseback, who so far from dismounting on his approach spurned him violently aside.  Later he recognized the fellow in a defendant of a case in court, and when he mentioned the affair to the judge, they paid no further attention to the man’s plea, but unanimously condemned him.

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Dio's Rome, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.