was being done, such as matters in Italy, of which he was not in the least ignorant; but in each instance he failed to make a timely defence, for owing to passion and drunkenness he devoted no thought either to his allies or to his enemies.  While he had been classed as a subordinate and was pursuing high prizes, he gave strict attention to his task:  when, however, he attained power, he no longer gave painstaking care to any single matter but joined in the wanton life of Cleopatra and the rest of the Egyptians until he was entirely undone.

[B.C. 40 (a. u. 714)]

Rather late he was at last forced to bestir himself and sailed to Tyre with the announcement that he was going to aid it, but on seeing that the remainder of the country had been occupied before his coming, he deserted the inhabitants on the pretext that he had to wage war against Sextus.  On the other hand he excused his dilatoriness with regard to the latter by bringing forward the activity of the Parthians.  So on account of Sextus he gave no assistance to his allies and on account of his allies no assistance to Italy, but coasted along the mainland as far as Asia and crossed into Greece.  There, after meeting his mother and wife, he made Caesar his enemy and cemented a friendship with Sextus.  After this he went over to Italy and got possession of Sipontum but besieged Brundusium, which refused to come to terms with him.

[-28-] While he was thus engaged, Caesar, who had already arrived from Gaul, had collected his forces and had sent Publius Servilius Rullus to Brundusium, and Agrippa against Sipontum.  The latter took the city by storm, but Servilius was suddenly attacked by Antony who destroyed many and won over many others.  The two leaders had thus broken out into open war and proceeded to send about to the cities and to the veterans, or to any place whence they thought they could get any aid.  All Italy was again thrown into turmoil and Rome especially; some were already choosing one side or the other, and others were hesitating.  While the chief figures themselves and those who were to follow their fortunes were in a quiver of excitement, Fulvia died in Sicyon,—­the city where she was staying.  Antony was really responsible for her death through his passion for Cleopatra and the latter’s lewdness.  But at any rate, when this news was announced, both sides laid down their arms and effected a reconciliation, either because Fulvia had actually been the original cause of their variance or because they chose to make her death an excuse in view of the fear with which each inspired the other and the equality of their forces and hopes.  The arrangement made allotted to Caesar Sardinia, Dalmatia, Spain and Gaul, and to Antony all the districts that belonged to the Romans across the Ionian Sea, both in Europe and in Asia.  The provinces in Libya were held by Lepidus, and Sicily by Sextus.