antony-第7章
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nt。 〃What ails the man？〃 said he that brought it； 〃do you know that he who gives you this is Antony's son； who is free to give it； if it were all gold？ but if you will be advised by me； I would counsel you to accept of the value in money from us； for there may be amongst the rest some antique or famous piece of workmanship； which Antony would be sorry to part with。〃 These anecdotes； my grandfather told us； Philotas used frequently to relate。 To return to Cleopatra； Plato admits four sorts of flattery； but she had a thousand。 Were Antony serious or disposed to mirth； she had at any moment some new delight or charm to meet his wishes； at every turn she was upon him； and let him escape her neither by day nor by night。 She played at dice with him； drank with him； hunted with him； and when he exercised in arms； she was there to see。 At night she would go rambling with him to disturb and torment people at their doors and windows； dressed like a servant…woman； for Antony also went in servant's disguise； and from these expeditions he often came home very scurvily answered； and sometimes even beaten severely； though most people guessed who it was。 However； the Alexandrians in general liked it all well enough； and joined good…humouredly and kindly in his frolic and play； saying they were much obliged to Antony for acting his tragic parts at Rome； and keeping comedy for them。 It would be trifling without end to be particular in his follies； but his fishing must not be forgotten。 He went out one day to angle with Cleopatra； and； being so unfortunate as to catch nothing in the presence of his mistress； he gave secret orders to the fishermen to dive under water； and put fishes that had been already taken upon his hooks； and these he drew so fast that the Egyptian perceived it。 But； feigning great admiration； she told everybody how dexterous Antony was； and invited them next day to come and see him again。 So； when a number of them had come on board the fishing…boats； as soon as he had let down his hook； one of her servants was beforehand with his divers and fixed upon his hook a salted fish from Pontus。 Antony； feeling his line give； drew up the prey； and when； as may be imagined； great laughter ensued； 〃Leave；〃 said Cleopatra； 〃the fishing…rod； general； to us poor sovereigns of Pharos and Canopus； your game is cities； provinces； and kingdoms。〃 Whilst he was thus diverting himself and engaged in this boy's play； two despatches arrived； one from Rome； that his brother Lucius and his wife Fulvia； after many quarrels among themselves； had joined in war against Caesar； and having lost all； had fled out of Italy； the other bringing little better news； that Labienus； at the head of the Parthians； was overrunning Asia； from Euphrates and Syria as far as Lydia and Ionia。 So； scarcely at last rousing himself from sleep； and shaking off the fumes of wine； he set out to attack the Parthians； and went as far as Phoenicia； but； upon the receipt of lamentable letters from Fulvia； turned his course with two hundred ships to Italy。 And； in his way； receiving such of his friends as fled from Italy； he was given to understand that Fulvia was the sole cause of the war； a woman of a restless spirit and very bold； and withal her hopes were that commotions in Italy would force Antony from Cleopatra。 But it happened that Fulvia as she was coming to meet her husband； fell sick by the way； and died at Sicyon； so that an accommodation was the more easily made。 For when he reached Italy； and Caesar showed no intention of laying anything to his charge； and he on his part shifted the blame of everything on Fulvia； those that were friends to them would not suffer that the time should be spent in looking narrowly into the plea； but made a reconciliation first； and then a partition of the empire between them； taking as their boundary the Ionian Sea； the eastern provinces falling to Antony； to Caesar the western； and Africa being left to Lepidus。 And an agreement was made that everyone in their turn； as they thought fit； should make their friends consuls； when they did not choose to take the offices themselves。 These terms were well approved of； but yet it was thought some closer tie would be desirable； and for this； fortune offered occasion。 Caesar had an elder sister； not of the whole blood； for Attia was his mother's name； hers Ancharia。 This sister； Octavia； he was extremely attached to； as indeed she was； it is said； quite a wonder of a woman。 Her husband； Caius Marcellus； had died not long before； and Antony was now a widower by the death of Fulvia； for； though he did not disavow the passion he had for Cleopatra； yet he disowned anything of marriage； reason as yet； upon this point； still maintaining the debate against the charms of the Egyptian。 Everybody concurred in promoting this new alliance； fully expecting that with the beauty； honour； and prudence of Octavia； when her company should； as it was certain it would； have engaged his affections； all would be kept in the safe and happy course of friendship。 So； both parties being agreed； they went to Rome to celebrate the nuptials； the senate dispensing with the law by which a widow was not permitted to marry till ten months after the death of her husband。 Sextus Pompeius was in possession of Sicily； and with his ships； under the command of Menas； the pirate； and Menecrates； so infested the Italian coast that no vessels durst venture into those seas。 Sextus had behaved with much humanity towards Antony； having received his mother when she fled with Fulvia； and it was therefore judged fit that he also should be received into the peace。 They met near the promontory of Misenum； by the mole of the port； Pompey having his fleet at anchor close by； and Antony and Caesar their troops drawn up all along the shore。 There it was concluded that Sextus should quietly enjoy the government of Sicily and Sardinia； he conditioning to scour the seas of all pirates； and to send so much corn every year to Rome。 This agreed on； they invited one another to supper； and by lot it fell to Pompey's turn to give the first entertainment； and Antony； asking where it was to be； 〃There；〃 said he； pointing to the admiral…galley； a ship of six banks of oars。 〃that is the only house that Pompey is heir to of his father's。〃 And this he said； reflecting upon Antony； who was then in possession of his father's house。 Having fixed the ship on her anchors； and formed a bridgeway from the promontory to conduct on board of her； he gave them a cordial welcome。 And when they began to grow warm； and jests were passing freely on Antony and Cleopatra's loves； Menas； the pirate； whispered Pompey； in the ear； 〃Shall I；〃 said he； 〃cut the cables and make you master not of Sicily only and Sardinia； but of the whole Roman empire？〃 Pompey； having considered a little while； returned him answer； 〃Menas； this might have been done without acquainting me； now we must rest content； I do not break my word。〃 And so； having been entertained by the other two in their turns； he set sail for Sicily。 After the treaty was completed； Antony despatched Ventidius into Asia； to check the advance of the Parthians； while he； as a compliment to Caesar； accepted the office of priest to the deceased Caesar。 And in any state affair and matter of consequence； they both behaved themselves with much consideration and friendliness for each other。 But it annoyed Antony that in all their amusements； on any trial of skill or fortune； Caesar should be constantly victorious。 He had with him an Egyptian diviner； one of those who calculate nativities； who； either to make his court to Cleopatra； or that by the rules of his art he found it to be so； openly declared to him that though the fortune that attended him was bright and glorious； yet it was overshadowed by Caesar's； and advised him to keep himself as far distant as he could from that young man； 〃for your Genius；〃 said he； 〃dreads his； when absent from him yours is proud and brave； but in his presence unmanly and dejected；〃 and incidents that occurred appeared to show that the Egyptian spoke truth。 For whenever they cast lots for any playful purpose； or threw dice； Antony was still the loser； and when they fought game…cocks or quails； Caesar's
