Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/173

ANTOA'Y. 165 meet him ; and, a rumor being spread that Csesar was killed and the enemy marching into Italy, he returned to Rome, and, disguising himself, came to her by night muf- fled up as a servant that brought letters from Antony. She, with great impatience, before she 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, admit- ted 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 col- league, but, designing himself to give up his own consu- late to Dolabella, he acquainted the senate with his reso- lution. But Antony opposed it with all his might, say- ing much that was bad against Dolabella, and receiving the like language in return, till Cassar 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 unfavorable, so that at last Caesar, much to Dolabella's vexation, yielded and gave it up. And it is credible that Cossar 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 con- spiracy he afterwards fell. And the fairest pretext for that conspiracy was fur- nished, without his meaning it, by Antony himself The