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Year of have been killed by him; if he had not made his escape, by fwimming over the Menzo. The Poet, upon this disappointment, returned to Rome, where he feems to have compofed his Moeris, wherein he artfully introduces feveral copies of verfes, as fragments of his poems. In thefe fragments, he fhews himself capable of excelling the fineft compofitions of Theocritus: a method very likely to obtain the favour of Caefar, who had a good taste for poetry himself; and was furrounded by perfons as eminent for their learning as their valour. One of the fragments, in this Eclogue, is a direct addrefs to Varus, wherein he promises to exalt his name to the skies, if he will but preferve Mantua, which fuffered by it's neighbourhood to unhappy Cremona (g). Another fragment is in honour of the star, which appeared after the death of Julius Caefar, and was looked upon as a fign, that his foul was received into heaven. Here he plainly names him, which he was afraid to do before the decifive battle at Philippi: and he could not eafily have written any thing, that was more likely to please young Caefar.

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(g) This part of Virgil's hi-
ftory receives a confiderable
light from a paffage in the fifth
Book of Appian de Bell. Civi-
libus. The Hiftorian inforins

us, that the foldiers frequently
tranfgreffed the bounds affigned
them, and invaded the neigh-
bouring lands, and that it was
not in the power of Caefar to
refrain them: Ὁ δὲ Καῖσαρ
ταῖς πόλεσιν ἐξελογεῖτο τὴν ἀ
νάγκην, καὶ ἐδόκουν οὐδ' ώς αρ-
κέσειν, οὐδ ̓ ἤρκουν, αλλ' ὁ στρα-
τὸς καὶ τοῖς γείτοσιν ἐπέβαινε

σὺν ὕβρει, πλέονά τε τῶν δεδο μένων σφίσι περισπώμενοι, καὶ τὸ ἄμεινον ἐκλεγόμενοι, οὐδὲ ἐπι πλήσσονος αὐτοῖς καὶ δωρουμέν

то

νου πολλά ἄλλα τοῦ Καίσαρος, navoro. It therefore feems probable, by what Virgil has faid himself, in his Moeris, Mantua vae miferae, &c. that the lands about Cremona were

given to the foldiers, who tranfgrefled their bounds, and feized

upon thofe about Mantua, which had not been given them.

But

713.

But whether Virgil did immediately obtain a quiet Year of poffeffion of his eftate or not, may be queftioned; Rome becaufe Fulvia and Lucius began about this time to grow ftrong in that part of the country. Perhaps he ftaid at Rome, till things were better fettled; and from this time was under the protection of Caefar and his friends. He would hardly care to run the hazard of his life again: for we find, that at this time there were fkirmishes between the fol diers, and the people, every where (b).

3

By the management of Fulvia and Lucius Anthony, Caefar incurred the hatred both of foldiers and people the foldiers were diffatisfied with the portion that was given them; and the people were enraged at their lands being taken from them. To add to thefe misfortunes of Caefar, his legions, which were in Spain, were hindered from paffing the Alps, by Calenus and Ventidius, who governed the Tranfalpine Gaul, as Anthony's lieutenants. Caefar therefore propofed terms of accommodation: but his offers were rejected with contempt by Fulvia, who girded on a fword, and prepared for war. Caefar then procured fome of the veteran foldiers to interpofe; who, according to his expectation, being refufed by Fulvia and Lucius, were highly offended. He then fent fome fenators to them, who argued upon the agreement, made between Caefar and Anthony; but with no better fuccefs. He applied to the veterans again, who flocked to Rome in great numbers, and going into the Capitol, refolved to take the cognizance of the affair into their own hands. They ordered the agreement to be read before them; and then appointed a day for all

(b) Ἐν πάσαις γὰρ δὴ ταῖς πόλεσιν ὁμοίως, ὅπη ποτέ συν

d

τύχοιεν αλλήλοις ἐμάχοντο.
Dio, lib. 48.

3

the

Year of the parties to meet at Gabii; that they might deRome termine the difpute, Caefar came at the time ap713. pointed but Fulvia, and Lucius neglected to ap

714.

pear; wherefore the veterans decided in favour of Caefar, and refolved to affift him.

Thus a new civil war brake out in Italy; which was put an end to by the ruin of Fulvia and Lucius, in the next year, when Cneius Domitius and Caius Afinius Pollio, the great patron of Virgil, were created Confuls. The war was carried on after the

following manner :

Caefar left Lepidus, with two legions, to defend Rome; whilft he himfelf marched againft the ene my, who was ftrengthened by great numbers of those who hated the Triumvirate, and by the old poffeffors of the lands, who abhorred the intruding foldiers (1).. Lucius had two legions at Alba, that mutinied against their tribunes, and feemed ready to revolt. Both Caefar and Lucius haftened toward them but Lucius reached them firft; and by many gifts and promifes regained them. Furnius was marching with a good body, to the aid of Lucius; when Caefar fell upon his rear, and obliged him to retreat to Sentia; whither he did not care to follow him that night, for fear of an ambush. But the next morning Caefar befieged him and his army in the town. In the mean time Lucius marched directly to Rome, fending three parties before him, which entered the city with wonderful celerity: and he himself followed, with the main body of his army, his cavalry, and gladiators, and being received by Nonius, who guarded the gate, he added his foldiers to his own forces: whilft Lepidus made his efcape to Caefar. Lucius called an affembly of

() Appian. de Bell, çivil, lib. 5.

the

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Rome

the people; and gave them hopes, that Caefar and Year of Lepidus would foon be punished for the violences 1714.. which they had committed when they were magistrates; and that his brother would gladly lay down his unlawful power, and accept of the legitimate office of Conful, instead of the lawless rule of a tyrant. This difcourfe gave a general fatisfaction; and being faluted Imperator, he marched against Caefar. In the mean time Barbatius, who was Quaeftor to Mark Anthony, being difmiffed by him for fome offence, told the foldiers, that Mark Anthony was angry with thofe, who warred against Caefar, and their common power: fo that many being deceived by him, went over to Caefar. Lucius marched to meet Salvidienus, who was returning with a confiderable force to Caefar: Pollio and Ventidius followed him at the fame time, to interrupti his march. But Agrippa, who was a great friend to Caefar, being afraid that Salvidienus might be furrounded, feized upon Infubres, a country very commodious for Lucius; whereby he accomplished his defign of making him withdraw from Salvidienus, Lucius turned his arms against Agrippa; and was now followed in the rear by Salvidienus: and. being thus difappointed, he endeavoured to join with Pollio and Ventidius. But now both Salvidienus and Agrippa attended upon him in fuch a manner, that he was glad to fecure himself in Perufia, a city well fortified, but not very well furnished with provifions. Here the two Generals befieged him; and foon after Caefar came up; so that the place was blocked up by no less than three armies, which were alfo continually receiving reinforcements; whilft others were fent to hinder Pollio and Ventidius from coming to his relief. Fulvia beftirred d 4 herself

Rome

714

Year of herself violently, and commanded all the Generals, to raife the fiege. She alfo raifed a new army, which the fent to Lucius, under the command of Plancus, who routed one of Caefar's legions by the way. But neither Ventidius nor Pollio were in! much hafte to march; because they were not fure of the real inclination of Mark Anthony: and when Caefar and Agrippa went about to hinder their conjunction: they both retreated; one to Ravenna, and the other to Ariminum. Caefar returned to the fiege, and compleated his works; and kept fo ftrict a guard, that no provifions could by any means be brought into the town. Lucius made feveral vigorous fallies; but without fuccefs, being always beaten back with lofs. At length, being reduced to great extremities by famine, he yielded himself and his army to the mercy of Caefar, who pardoned them, and took the foldiers into his own pay.. He intended to give the plunder of the town to his army; but he was prevented by one Ceftius, who fet his own houfe on fire, and threw himfelf into the flames, which fpread on all fides, and foon re duced that ancient city to afhes; leaving only the temple of Vulcan ftanding. The other Generals, who were friends of Anthony, either retired before Caefar, or came over to him; fo that he became poffeffed of all Gaul,

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This feems to be the time, when Caefar reftored Virgil to his lands: for it does not feem to have been in his power before. We may well believe, that now Virgil took the opportunity of fulfilling the promife, which he had made to Varus, in his Moeris, of exalting his name: to the fkies, if he would preferve Mantua. This he performed, by compofing one of his fineft Eclogues called Silenus:

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