[-52-] In this way Caesar disappeared from the scene.  Inasmuch as he had been slain in Pompey’s edifice and near his statue which at that time stood there, he seemed in a way to have afforded his rival his revenge; and this idea gained ground from the fact that tremendous thunder and a furious rain occurred.  In the midst of that excitement there also took place the following incident, not unworthy of mention.  One Gaius Casca, a tribune, seeing that Cinna had perished as a result of his name being similar to the praetor’s, and fearing that he too might be killed, because Publius Servilius Casca was one of the tribunes and also one of the assassins, issued a book which showed that they had in common only one and the same name and pointed out their difference of disposition.  Neither of them suffered any harm (for Servilius was strongly guarded) and Gaius won some consideration, so that he is remembered by this act.

[-53-] These were the proceedings, at that time, of the consuls and the rest.  Dolabella was invested with his office by Antony, who feared that he might cause a sedition, although he was at first not disposed to take such action, on the ground that Dolabella had not yet the right to it.  When, however, the excitement subsided, and Antony himself was charged with investigating the acts of Caesar’s administration and carrying out all the latter’s behests, he no longer kept within bounds.  As soon as he had got hold of the dead man’s documents, he made many erasures, and many substitutions,—­inserting laws as well as other matter.  Moreover, he deprived some of money and offices, which in turn he gave to others, pretending that in so doing he was carrying out Caesar’s directions.  Next he made many seizures on the spot, and collected large sums of money from individuals, peoples and kings, selling to some land, to others liberty, to others citizenships, to others exemption from taxes.  This was done in spite of the fact that the senate at first had voted that no tablet should be set up on account of any contract that Caesar had made (all such transactions were inscribed on bronze tablets), and later, when Antony persisted, declaring that many urgent matters had been provided for by his chief, it had ordered that all the foremost citizens should join in passing upon them.  He, however, paid no attention to this, and had an utter contempt for Octavius, who as a stripling and inexperienced in business had declined the inheritance because it was troublesome and hard to manage:  and Antony himself, assuming to be the heir not only of the property but also of the supremacy of Caesar, managed everything.  One of his acts was to restore some exiles.  And since Lepidus had great power and caused him considerable fear, he gave his daughter in marriage to this leader’s son and made arrangements to have the latter appointed high priest, so as to prevent any meddling with enterprises which he had on foot.  In order to carry out this plan with greater ease, he diverted the choice of high priest from the people back to the priests, and in company with the latter he consecrated him, performing few or none of the accustomed rites, though he might have secured the priesthood for himself.