antony-第3章
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most with him； also Cytheris； a woman of the same trade； whom he made much of； and who； when he went his progress； accompanied him in a litter； and had her equipage not in anything inferior to his mother's； while every one； moreover； was scandalized at the sight of the golden cups that he took with him； fitter for the ornaments of a procession than the uses of a journey； at his having pavilions set up； and sumptuous morning repasts laid out by river sides and in groves； at his having chariots drawn by lions； and common women and singing girls quartered upon the houses of serious fathers and mothers of families。 And it seemed very unreasonable that Caesar； out of Italy； should lodge in the open field； and with great fatigue and danger； pursue the remainder of a hazardous war； whilst others； by favour of his authority； should insult the citizens with their impudent luxury。 All this appears to have aggravated party quarrels in Rome； and to have encouraged the soldiers in acts of licence and rapacity。 And； accordingly； when Caesar came home； he acquitted Dolabella； and； being created the third time consul； took not Antony； but Lepidus； for his colleague。 Pompey's house being offered for sale； Antony bought it； and when the price was demanded of him； loudly complained。 This； he tells us himself and because he thought his former services had not been recompensed as they deserved； made him not follow Caesar with the army into Libya。 However； Caesar； by dealing gently with his errors； seems to have succeeded in curing him of a good deal of his folly and extravagance。 He gave up his former courses； and took a wife； Fulvia； the widow of Clodius the demagogue； a woman not born for spinning or housewifery； nor one that could be content with ruling a private husband； but prepared to govern a first magistrate； or give orders to a commander…in…chief。 So that Cleopatra had great obligations to her for having taught Antony to be so good a servant； he coming to her hands tame and broken into entire obedience to the commands of a mistress。 He used to play all sorts of sportive； boyish tricks； to keep Fulvia in good…humour。 As； for example； when Caesar； after his victory in Spain； was on his return； Antony； among the rest； went out to meet him； and； a rumour being spread that Caesar was killed and the enemy marching into Italy； he returned to Rome； and； disguising himself； came to her by night muffled up as a servant that brought letters from Antony。 She； with great impatience； before received the letter； asks if Antony were well； and instead of an answer he gives her the letter； and； as she was opening it； took her about the neck and kissed her。 This little story； of many of the same nature； I give as a specimen。 There was nobody of any rank in Rome that did not go some days' journey to meet Caesar on his return from Spain； but Antony was the best received of any； admitted to ride the whole journey with him in his carriage； while behind came Brutus Albinus and Octavian； his niece's son； who afterwards bore his name and reigned so long over the Romans。 Caesar being created； the fifth time； consul； without delay chose Antony for his colleague； but designing himself to give up his own consulate to Dolabella； he acquainted the senate with his resolution。 But Antony opposed it with all his might； saying much that was bad against Dolabella； and receiving the like language in return； till Caesar could bear with the indecency no longer； and deferred the matter to another time。 Afterwards； when he came before the people to proclaim Dolabella； Antony cried out that the auspices were unfavourable； so that at last Caesar； much to Dolabella's vexation； yielded and gave it up。 And it is credible that Caesar was about as much disgusted with the one as the other。 When some one was accusing them both to him； 〃It is not；〃 said he； 〃these well…fed； long…haired men that I fear； but the pale and the hungry…looking；〃 meaning Brutus and Cassius； by whose conspiracy he afterwards fell。 And the fairest pretext for that conspiracy was furnished； without his meaning it； by Antony himself。 The Romans were celebrating their festival； called the Lupercalia； when Caesar； in his triumphal habit； and seated above the rostra in the market…place； was a spectator of the sports。 The custom is； that many young noblemen and of the magistracy； anointed with oil and having straps of hide in their hands； run about and strike； in sport； at every one they meet。 Antony was running with the rest； but； omitting the old ceremony； twining a garland of bay round a diadem； he ran up to the rostra； and； being lifted up by his companions； would have put it upon the head of Caesar； as if by that ceremony he was declared king。 Caesar seemingly refused； and drew aside to avoid it； and was applauded by the people with great shouts。 Again Antony pressed it； and again he declined its acceptance。 And so the dispute between them went on for some time； Antony's solicitations receiving but little encouragement from the shouts of a few friends； and Caesar's refusal being accompanied with the general applause of the people； a curious thing enough； that they should submit with patience to the fact； and yet at the same time dread the name as the destruction of their liberty。 Caesar； very much discomposed at what had passed got up from his seat； and； laying bare his neck； said he was ready to receive a stroke； if any one of them desired to give it。 The crown was at last put on one of his statues； but was taken down by some of the tribunes； who were followed home by the people with shouts of applause。 Caesar； however； resented it； and deposed them。 These passages gave great encouragement to Brutus and Cassius； who in making choice of trusty friends for such an enterprise； were thinking to engage Antony。 The rest approved； except Trebonius； who told them that Antony and he had lodged and travelled together in the last journey they took to meet Caesar； and that he had let fall several words； in a cautious way； on purpose to sound him； that Antony very well understood him； but did not encourage it； however； he had said nothing of it to Caesar； but had kept the secret faithfully。 The conspirators then proposed that Antony should die with him； which Brutus would not consent to； insisting that an action undertaken in defence of right and the laws must be maintained unsullied； and pure of injustice。 It was settled that Antony； whose bodily strength and high office made him formidable； should； at Caesar's entrance into the senate； when the deed was to be done； be amused outside by some of the party in a conversation about some pretended business。 So when all was proceeded with； according to their plan； and Caesar had fallen in the senate…house； Antony； at the first moment； took a servant's dress； and hid himself。 But； understanding that the conspirators had assembled in the Capitol； and had no further design upon any one； he persuaded them to come down； giving them his son as a hostage。 That night Cassius supped at Antony's house； and Brutus with Lepidus。 Antony then convened the senate； and spoke in favour of an act of oblivion； and the appointment of Brutus and Cassius to provinces。 These measures the senate passed； and resolved that all Caesar's acts should remain in force。 Thus Antony went out of the senate with the highest possible reputation and esteem； for it was apparent that he had prevented a civil war； and had composed； in the wisest and most statesmanlike way； questions of the greatest difficulty and embarrassment。 But these temperate counsels were soon swept away by the tide of popular applause； and the prospect； if Brutus were overthrown； of being without doubt the ruler…in…chief。 As Caesar's body was conveying to the tomb； Antony； according to the custom； was making his funeral oration in the market…place； and perceiving the people to be infinitely affected with what he had said； he began to mingle with his praises language of commiseration； and horror at what had happened； and； as he was ending his speech； he took the under…clothes of the dead； and held them up； showing them stains of blood and the holes of the many stabs； calling those that had done this act villains and bloody murderers。 All which ex
