Year of

712.

that were in Syria; and joined his army with that of Brutus, in oppofition to the eftablishment of the Rome Triumvirate. In this doubtful fituation of affairs, Virgil feems to have acted with great caution: for though the Daphnis cannot well be imagined to have been written in honour of any other perfon, than that of the great Caefar (2); yet he prudently fuppreffes his name; and defcribes him under the character of a Herdman.

Brutus and Caffius, having joined their armies, marched into Macedonia, and encamped at Philippi; where they waited for Caefar and Anthony, who came against them with joint forces; Lepidus ftaying at Rome, to keep all quiet there. The adverse armies did not long continue in fight of each other, before they came to an engagement. The battle was fought with great fury, and various fortune: but at last the victory fell to the Triumvirs. Brutus and Caffius, feeing all loft, flew themselves: Porcia, the daughter of Cato, and wife of Brutus, killed herself by fwallowing a burning coal: moft of the principal perfons, who had either borne offices, or been concerned in the murder of Caefar, fell upon their own fwords: but the foldiers, upon promise of indemnity, came over to the Triumvirs.

This decifive battle was fought at the latter end of the year of Rome 712: and as Lepidus had no hand in it, the whole glory of it redounded to Caefar and Anthony. These two therefore began immediately to take upon them the difpofition of pub

Rome

712.

Year of lick affairs and to avoid all altercation, they drew up a writing between them, in which it was agreed, that Caefar fhould have Spain and Numidia, and Anthony Gaul and Africa; but on condition, that if Lepidus was discontented he should have Africa (a). They forbare to divide the other provinces; because Sextus, the fon of Pompey, was in poffeffion of Sardinia and Sicily; and the rest were not yet quieted. It was agreed alfo, that Anthony should quafh all rebellions, and provide the money, that was promised to the foldiers: and that Caefar fhould take care of Lepidus, if he fhould offer to ftir; and that he should alfo manage the war against Sextus Pompey; and laftly, that he should take care to divide the lands, which had been promised to the veteran foldiers. Caefar alfo was to deliver two of his legions to Anthony; and inftead of them, to receive two of Anthony's, which were in Italy. Thefe articles being figned and fealed, Anthony marched into Afia, and Caefar returned to Italy. Caefar made what hafte he could, and came the nearest way to Italy, going on board at Dyrrachium, and landing at Brundufium (b). But he was taken fo ill, during his voyage, that it was currently reported at Rome, that he was dead. This rumour occafioned great difturbances, which however were foon appeafed by his fafe return.

Publius Servilius, and Lucius Anthony had the name of Confuls for the following year but in reality the whole government was adminiftred by the latter; and by him chiefly under the direction of Fulvia. This Fulvia was the wife of Mark Anthony; and the mother of Caefar's wife: she was

(a) Dio, lib. 48. eighth Eclogue.

(b) See the note on ver. 6. of the

a wo

7.13.

woman of a most turbulent fpirit; and flighting Year of Lepidus, on account of his indolence, took the Rome reins into her own hands, and would not fuffer either Senate or People to make any decree without her permiffion. At this time Caefar returned victorious from Philippi; and having performed thofe duties, which ancient cuftom required from fuccefs-' ful warriors, he began to enter upon publick bufinefs, a confiderable part of which was the divifion of the promised lands amongst the veterans. Lucius Anthony and Fulvia, being allied to him, be haved peaceably at firft: but that lady's fiery temper foon brake out, and kindled the flame of a new civil war. Fulvia and her brother complained, that Caefar did not permit them to divide the lands, which belonged to Mark Anthony; and Caefar, that the legions, were not delivered to him, according to the agreement made at Philippi. Their quarrel grew to fuch a heighth, that Caefar, being no longer able to bear the infolence of Fulvia, divorced her daughter; taking an oath, that the ftill remained a virgin. There was now no longer any fhadow of agreement between them: Lucius, being wholly guided by Fulvia, pretended to do every thing for the fake of his brother; having affumed, on that account, the furname of Pius. But Caefar laid the whole blame on Fulvia and Lucius, not accufing Mark Anthony in the leaft degree: charging them with acting contrary to his inclination, and attempting to affume a particular power of governing to themfelves. Each party looked upon the divifion of the lands, as a great ftep to power; and therefore this was the principal fubject of their contention. Caefar was defirous, according to the agreement made after the battle of Philippi, to di

713.

Year of vide the lands amongst the foldiers of Anthony, as Rome well as his own: that he might have it in his power, to lay an obligation upon them all. Fulvia and Lucius were no lefs follicitous to have the fettling of those of Anthony, that they might avail themfelves of their firength: and both of them were of opinion, that the readieft way was to divide the goods of the unarmed proprietors among the foldiers. But when they found, that great tumults were raised by this divifion of the lands, and that Caefar began to incur the hatred of the people; they changed their plan; and endeavoured to gain all the injured to their party. At this time Rome was filled with the complaints of great multitudes of people, who being difpoffeffed of their eftates, flocked thither, in hopes either of reftitution, or of being able to give fome more favourable turn to their affairs by raifing tumults. It is the general opinion, that Virgil went to Rome amongst the rest of his countrymen, and that being introduced to Caefar, he obtained an order to have his lands reftored. It has been already obferved, that Virgil was probably known to Pollio, a year before this distress happened: we may therefore venture to fuppofe, that the Poet was recommended by him to fome of the favourites (c) of Caefar, as a perfon of extraordinary genius for poetry. This divifion of the lands, and the melancholy condition of those,

(c) The perfon, to whom Virgil was recommended by Pollio, feems to have been Varus: for, in the ninth Eclogue, we find our Poet addreffing himself to Varus, and intreating him to interpofe in the preTervation of Mantua;

Vare tuum nomen, fuperat

modo Mantua nobis, Mantua vae miferae nimium vicina Cremonae ; Cantantes fublime ferent ad sidera cycni.

who

Rome!

713.3

who were forced to give up their eftates to the fol- Year of diers, is the fubject of the Tityrus. This Eclogue, which is ufually placed first, though plainly not the firft in order of time, contains a dialogue between' Tityrus and Meliboeus, two fhepherds; the latter of whom reprefents, in a very pathetical manner, the miseries of thofe, who were obliged to quit their country, and make room for the intruding foldiers. The former expreffes the great happiness he enjoyed in being restored to his eftate, by the favour of a young man (d), whom he declares, that he will always efteem as a deity (e). This young man can be no other, than Caefar, who at that time took upon him the diftribution of the lands. His adopted father was already received into the number of the Gods, whence young Caefar affumed the title of Divi Julii filius. Tityrus therefore flatters his great benefactor, as if he was already a deity. This extraordinary favour, above the reft of his neighbours, was without doubt owing to his skill in Poetry: for we are told exprefly, in the Moeris, that he was faid to have preferved his lands by his verses (f). It feems most probable, that it was the Daphnis, which he had written the year before, on the deification of Julius Caefar, that res commended him to the favour of his adopted fon. But we are told, that our Poet's joy was but fhort: for when he returned to take poffeffion of his farm, he was violently affaulted by the intruder, and would

(d) Hic illum vidi juvenem, Meliboee, quotannis Bis fenos cui noftra dies altaria fumant.

Hic mihi refponfum primus dedit ille petenti, Pafcite ut ante boves, pueri, fubmittite tauros. (e) Namque erit ille mihi femper Deus illius aram) Saepe tener noftris ab ovilibus imbuet aghus. (f) Omnia carminibus veftrum fervafle Menalcan.

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