among the populace; and how poorly the lands of Italy, lately divided among the veteran foldiers, would in all probability be cultivated, by thofe who had known nothing but war and defolation for fo many years engaged Virgil in writing for their inftruction. The Poet readily undertook the work'; and being just returned with triumph, from the contention with Theocritus; was ready to engage in a new one with the celebrated Hefiod. The love of conqueft was the darling paffion of the Romans they had long fhewed their fuperiority over other nations in arms and had been for fome time ftruggling for the maftery alfo in the arts of peace. Cicero had raised the Roman Eloquence to a very great heighth; and Virgil was endeavouring to give as great a reputation to their Poetry. He ac knowledges indeed himself, that other nations excelled the Romans in Statuary, Oratory, and Astronomy, and mentions the arts of Government as particularly belonging to them (k): but yet he plainly declares, that he aims at gaining a compleat victory over the Greek Poets (4). He was not dif appointed; for the Georgicks are univerfally allowed to be the finest Poem of their kind. (k) Excudent alii fpirantia mollius aera, Credo equidem: vivos ducent de marmore vultus; Aen. VI. ver. 847, &c. (1) Tentanda via eft, qua me quoque paffim e 2 Georg. III. ver. 7, &c. . Year of Romé 717 Year of Agrippa, being appointed by Caefar, to guard Rome the fea-coafts against the depredations of Sextus 717 Pompey; set about the work with great diligence, immediately after his return from Gaul (m). But as there were no ports, where a number of fhips could ride in fecurity; he began and perfected a noble work, which gave fafety to his country, and did honour to himself. Near Cumae, a city of Campania, between Mifenum and Puteoli, was a place formed like a half moon; for it was almoft furrounded by small, bare mountains. Within this compafs were three bays; of which the outer one was near the cities, and was called the Tyrrhene bay, as it belonged to the Tyrrhene fea. At a fmall distance within this was the Lucrine bay; and ftill farther within land was a third, which had the appearance of a lake, and was called Avernus. Agrippa made a communication of these three waters, repairing the banks, where they had formerly been broken down, ftrengthening them with moles, and leaving only a narrow paffage juft big enough for fhips to enter. This port being thus made convenient and fecure, had the name of the Julian port bestowed on it, in honour of Julius Caefar. This great work is mentioned by our Poet, in the third Georgick; An memorem portus, Lucrinoque addita claustra, By these means Agrippa was able to provide a 718. fleet fufficient to keep the fea; and the next year (m) Dio Caff. lib. 48. engaging Rome 718. engaging with Sextus Pompey, gained a compleat Year of victory over him, and deftroyed almost all his fhips for which he obtained the honour of a naval crown. Pompey threw himself into the arms of Anthony, and was by his command put to death by Titius, in the year 719, when Cornificius, and another Sextus 719. Pompey were Confuls. The following year is diftinguished by the death of the Poetafter Bavius (2), whofe memory Virgil has preferved by beftowing one fingle line upon him (0). We know no more of him, than that he was a bad Poet; and that he joined with others of the fame clafs, in fcribbling against his betters. 4. 720. The world was now divided between Caefar and 721. Anthony without a rival: for the fon of the Great Pompey had been put to death by the latter; and the former had depofed Lepidus, and deprived him of all power and dignity. But the world was not fufficient for thefe two ambitious perfons; and when no one was left to contend with them, they could not be eafy till they had found a pretence to turn their arms against each other (p). This was not very difficult for them to do. Anthony accused Caefar of having thruft Lepidus out of his poft, and affuming to himself the provinces and armies both of Lepidus and Sextus, which ought to have been divided equally between them: he therefore infifted upon an equal partition of the fpoil. Caefar had crimes enough to object to Anthony. He had put Sextus Pompey to death; and had taken pof (n) Ol. CLXXXIX. 3. M. | Bucolicis notat, in Cappadocią Bavius Poeta, quem Virgilius moritur. Eufeb. Chron. (0) Qui Bavium non odit, amet tua carmina Maeví. Ecl. III. ver. 90. See the Note on that paffage. (p) Dio, lib. 50. e 3 feffion Year of feffion of Egypt, which did not fall to him by lot. Rome His infamous commerce with Cleopatra, Queen of 721. Egypt, was notorious: he had given the name of ་། 722. Caefario to one of her children, and pretending that he was begotten by Julius Caefar, had foifted him into the family of Caefar, to his great offence and injury and had beftowed kingdoms and provinces on the Queen, and her fpurious iffue, by his own authority, without the confent of the Senate and People of Rome. 4 This contention was at firft managed by letters and meffengers: but no fooner were Cneius Domitius, and Caius Soffius, friends of Anthony, chofen Confuls, than the approach of a new Civil War became evident. On the very first day of the year, Soffius made a fpeech, wherein he greatly praited Anthony, and as much inveighed against Caefaris nay he would have made an edit against him directly; if Nonius Balbus, Tribune of the people had not interpofed. Caefar expected this would happen; and therefore, that he might not feem to begin the contention, feigned fome excufe to withdraw from Rome before that day. When he returned, he affembled the Senate, and being furrounded by a guard of his friends and foldiers, took his place between the two Confuls; and justified himself, and accufed Soffius and Anthony. When none dared to answer him, he appointed a day, on which he declared he would make a proof of the injuries of Anthony in writing. The Confuls, not daring to reply, and being unable to hold their peace, withdrew before the day, and went to Anthony, being followed by feveral other Senators. Caefar, being defirous to feem not to have driven them away by violence, gave leave to as many more to to follow them as pleafed This lofs was made up to Year of Caefar, by the defection of many from Anthony. Rome Among thefe were Titius and Plancus, who had 722. been greatly honoured by him, and made partakers of his fecret counfels. These were greatly incenfed I against Anthony, for having begun the war, di= vorced the virtuous Octavia, whom all reverenced, and given himself up to the impure embraces of Cleopatra. These were received by Caefar with great joy, informed him of all Anthony's defigns, and where he had depofited his will, to which they themselves had been witneffes. Caefar, having gotten poffeffion of the will, caufed it to be openly read before both Senate and people. This action, though not according to the ftrict rules of juftice, was of fignal fervice to Caefar, as it tended to convince all men of the ill conduct of Anthony, and to remove the blame from Caefar. In this will, Anthony bare teftimony to Caefario, that he was the fon of Julius Caefar to his own children by Cleopatra, he bequeathed immenfe legacies; and ordered his own body to be buried at Alexandria, in the fame fepulchre with that of Cleopatra. This incenfed the people moft highly, and gave them cause to believe all the other reports concerning Anthony's misbehaviour. They concluded, that Anthony, if he once obtained the fole dominion, would make a prefent of Rome to Cleopatra, and transfer the imperial feat to Egypt. All concurred in cenfuring him; not only his enemies, and those who stood neuter; but even his friends themselves condemned him. They decreed unanimously, that the Confulfhip, which had been affigned him, fhould be taken from him; and that all his power should be abrogated. They were not willing to declare e 4 |
