13.  While he remained thus idle in Egypt, Augustus, who took upon him to lead back the veteran troops, and settle them in Italy, was assiduously employed in providing for their subsistence. 14.  He had promised them lands at home, as a recompense for their past services; but they could not receive their new grants without turning out the former inhabitants. 15.  In consequence of this, multitudes of women, with their children in their arms, whose tender years and innocence excited compassion, daily filled the temples and the streets with their lamentations.  Numbers of husbandmen and shepherds came to deprecate the conqueror’s intention, or to obtain a habitation in some other part of the world. 16.  Among this number was Virgil, the poet, to whom mankind owe more obligations than to a thousand conquerors, who, in an humble manner, begged permission to retain his patrimonial farm. 17.  Virgil obtained his request;[11] but the rest of his countrymen at Mantua,[12] and Cremo’na, were turned out without mercy.

18.  Italy and Rome now felt the most extreme miseries.  The insolent soldiers plundered at will; while Sextus Pompey, being master of the sea, cut off all foreign communication, and prevented the people from receiving their usual supplies of corn.  To these mischiefs were added the commencement of another civil war. 19.  Fulvia, the wife of Antony, whom he had left behind at Rome, felt for some time all the rage of jealousy, and resolved to try every method of bringing back her husband from Cleopa’tra. 20.  She considered a breach with Augustus as the only probable means of rousing him from his lethargy; and, accordingly, with the assistance of Lucius, her brother-in-law, she began to sow the seeds of dissension.  The pretext was, that Antony should have a share in the distribution of lands as well as Augustus. 21.  This produced negotiations between them, and Augustus offered to make the veterans themselves umpires in this dispute.  Lucius refused to acquiesce; and being at the head of more than six legions, mostly composed of such as were dispossessed of their lands, he resolved to compel Augustus to accept of whatever terms he should offer.  Thus a new war was excited between Augustus and Antony; or, at least, the generals of Antony assumed the sanction of his name. 22.  Augustus was victorious; Lucius was hemmed in between two armies, and constrained to retreat to Peru’sia, where he was closely besieged by the opposite party.  He made many desperate sallies, and Fulvia did all in her power to relieve him, but without success, so that, being at last reduced to extremity by famine, he delivered himself up to the mercy of the conqueror.  Augustus received him honourably, and generously pardoned him and all his followers.[13]