of the senate; and Antony, retiring into Cisalpine Gaul, levied an army of veterans, and came to an engagement with the armies of the republic, in which both the consuls were slain. Antony, defeated in the field, fled to Lepidus in Spain: and Octavius Cæsar, whom the death of the consuls had placed at the head of the army, entered secretly into a correspondence with the enemies of the senate. Their mutual interests led to the formation of a league between Octavius, Lepidus, and Antony, called the second triumvirate (November 27, B. c. 43), and their confederacy was cemented by the blood of the noblest citizens of Rome, shed in a proscription more ruthless and sanguinary than those of Marius and Sylla. The most illustrious of the victims was the celebrated Cicero, whose severe invectives against Antony had procured him the relentless hatred of the triumvir. Octavius is said to have hesitated long before consenting to the sacrifice of the greatest orator that Rome ever produced, and the most patriotic of her recent statesmen; but at length he permitted the fatal consent to be extorted, and Cicero fell a victim to a band of assassins, headed by a tribune whom he had formerly defended and preserved in a capital cause.

The triumvirs having taken vengeance on their enemies in Italy, began to prepare for carrying on war against Brutus

and Cassius. Macedonia became the theatre of the new civil war: the republicans at first seemed destined to conquer; they appeared to possess superior talents and greater forces both by land and sea. But in the double battle at Philippi, fortune rather than talent gave the victory to the triumvirs; and Cassius destroyed himself after the first contest, and Brutus after the second (B. c. 42). Antony made a cruel use of his victory, putting to death his political opponents without mercy. Octavius emulated the crimes of his colleague, and treated the most illustrious of his prisoners with barbarity and abusive language.

After his victory Antony visited Greece, where he was received with the most refined flattery. Thence he passed into Asia, where all the sovereigns of the East came to offer him homage; but he was most gratified by a visit from the celebrated Cleopatra, who rendered the voluptuous triumvir a captive to her charms.

CLEOPATRA.

HOUGH no longer young, Cleopatra was still a very beautiful woman; and all have heard of the bewitching style in which she sailed up the Cydnus, to meet Antony at Tarsus. Her magnificent galley, richly gilt, was furnished with sails of purple silk and oars of silver. On the deck lay the queen, apparelled as Venus, under a splendid canopy, with little boys, dressed as cupids, fanning her. Her maidens, habited as graces and sea nymphs, were the mariners of this light and elegant vessel; and incense was burning on the shores to perfume the air. The music of various instruments breathed melodious sounds; and all around was beauty and fascination. The crowds from the town hastening to behold this fine sight, Antony was left almost alone in the public hall. When he visited Cleopatra, he was quite captivated with her beauty and accomplishments.

Resigning all his plans of war against the Parthians, Antony followed this celebrated beauty into Egypt, and in her company neglected all care of public affairs. Octavius Cæsar, on the other hand, proceeded to Italy, and took the most efficacious means for securing the permanence of his power. Lucius, the brother, and Fulvia, the wife of Antony, excited a new war against Octavius; but they were soon defeated, and the capture of their principal stronghold, Perusia, (B. c. 41,) rendered Cæsar's nephew master of Italy, and almost the recognized heir of his uncle's power.

Antony was still immersed in pleasure at Alexandria, when he received the account of his brother's defeat, and the ruin of his party in Italy; at the same time he heard that Octavius had made himself master of both Gauls, and had got all the legions into his hands that were quartered in those districts. He was roused by these tidings from his lethargy, and immediately proceeded towards Italy; but, blaming Fulvia for all his disasters, he treated her with so much contempt, that she died of a broken heart. This circumstance paved the way to a reconciliation; Antony married Octavia,

the half-sister of his rival, and a new division was made of the Roman empire. Sextus Pompey, who during the troubles had become powerful by sea, was included in the new arrangements, and obtained the possession of the Peloponnesus and several important islands.

The mutual jealousies of the triumvirs rendered peace of short duration. Octavius drove Pompey from Sicily, and compelled him to seek refuge in the East, where he was put to death by one of Antony's lieutenants; and about the same time he deprived Lepidus of all his power, and took possession of his dominions. Antony, while his rival was thus acquiring strength, disgraced himself by an unsuccessful war against the Parthians; after which he returned to Alexandria, and lost all regard to his character or his interest in the company of Cleopatra. Octavia went to the East, hoping to withdraw her husband from the fascinating siren; but the infatuated triumvir refused to see her, and sent her orders to return home. He completed this insult by sending her a bill of divorce, and professing a previous marriage with Cleo

the poet Lucan, Piso, and most of the leading nobles. In the midst of the massacres, Nero appeared on the stage as a candidate for the prize of music, which of course he obtained. About the same time he killed the empress Poppaa, by kicking her while pregnant.

It may appear strange that such repeated atrocities should not have driven the Roman people to revolt; but the lower classes felt nothing of the imperial despotism, and did not sympathize with the calamities of the nobles, because the ancient oppressions of the aristocracy were still remembered. They were, besides, gratified by a monthly distribution of corn, by occasional supplies of wine and meat (conjiari et eviscerationes) and by the magnificent shows of the circus. (munera). In fact, the periods of tyranny, were the golden days of the poor; and Nero was far more popular with the rabble than any statesman or general of the republic had ever been.

Not satisfied with his Italian fame, Nero resolved to display his musical skill at the Olympic games, and for this purpose passed over into Greece. The applauses he received in this tour from the spectators so gratified him, that he declared the Greeks alone perfectly understand music." He transmitted a particular account of his victories to the senate, and ordered thanksgivings and sacrifices to be offered for them in every temple throughout the empire. That no monuments of other victors might remain, he commanded all their statues to be pulled down, dragged through the streets, and either dashed to pieces, or thrown into the common While he was thus engaged, the dreadful rebellion which destroyed the Jewish nation, commenced in Palestine. Cestius Gallus, the governor of Syria, having been defeated in an attempt to besiege Jerusalem, the conduct of the war was entrusted to the celebrated Vespasian. Though Nero had been greatly delighted by the excessive adulations of the Achæans, he did not abstain from plundering their country; and Achaia suffered more from his peaceful visit than from the open war of Mummius or Sylla.