of Noble and Romanes 255

Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 255 and others, for that he was of Catilines conspiracie against the common wealth. And this seemeth to be the originall cause and beginning of the cruell and mortall hate Antonius bare unto Cicero. For Antonius selfe sayth, that he would never give him the body of his father in law to bury him, before his mother went first to in treat Ciceroes wife: the which undoubtedly was a flat lye. For Cicero denied buriall to none of them, whom he executed by law. Now Antonius being a fayer younge man, and in the pryme of his youth: he fell acquainted with Curio, whose friendship and acquaintance (as it is reported) was a plague unto him.1 For he was a dissolute man, given over to all lust and insolencie, who to have Antonius the better at his commaundement, trayned him on into great follies, and vaine expences upon women, in rioting and banketing. So that in short time, he brought Antonius into a marvelous great det, and too great for one of his yeres, to wete: of two hundred and fifty talents, for all which summe Curio was his suretie. His father hearing of it, did put his sonne from him, and forbad him his house. Then he fell in with Clodius, one of the desperatest and most wicked Tribunes at that time in Rome. Him he followed for a time in his desperate attempts, who bred great sturre and mischiefe in Rome: but at length he forsooke him, being weary of his rashnes and folly, or els for that he was affraid of them that were bent against Clodius. Thereuppon he left Italy, and went into Gr.ece, and there bestowed the most parte of his tyme, sometime in wanes, and otherwhile in the studie of eloquence. He used a manner of phrase in his speeche, called Asiatik, which caried the best grace and estimation at that time, and was much like to his manners and life: for it was full of ostentation, foolishe braverie, and vaine ambition.2 After he had remayned there some tyme, Gabinius Proconsul going into Syria, perswaded him to goe with him. Antonius tolde him he would not goe as a private man: wherefore Gabinius gave him charge of his horsemen, and so tooke him with him.3 So, first of all he sent him against Aristobulus, who had made the Jewes to rebell, and was the first man him selfe that got up to the wall of a castell of his, and so drave Aristobulus out of all his holds4 : and with those few men he had with him, he overcame al the Jewes in set batte!, which were many against one, and put all of them almost to the sword, and

furthermore, tooke Aristobulus him selfe prisoner with his sonne.1 Afterwards Ptolomy king of ..Egypt, that had bene driven out of his contry, went unto Gabinius to intreate him to goe with his armie with him into ..Egypt, to put him againe into his kingdom: and promised him if he would goe with him, tenne thowsand talents. The most part of the Captaines thought it not best to goe thither, and Gabinius him selfe made it daintie to enter into this wane: although the covetousnes of these tenne thowsand talents stucke sorely with him. But Antonius that sought but for oportunitie and good occasion to attempt great enterprises, and that desired also to gratifie Ptolomyes request: he went about to perswade Gabinius to goe this voyage. Now they were more affrayd of the way they should goe, to come to the citie of Pelusium, then they feared any daunger of the wane besides: bicause they were to passe through deepe sandes and desert places, where was no freshe water to be had all the marisses thorough, which are called the marisses Serbonides, which the ..Egyptians call the exhalations or fume, by the which the Gyant Typhon breathed. But in truth it appeareth to be the overflowing of the red sea, which breaketh out under the ground in that place, where it is devided in the narrowest place from the sea on this side. So Antonius was sent before into ..Egypt with his horsemen,2 who did not onely winne that passage, but also tooke the citie of Pelusium, (which is a great citie) with all the souldiers in it: and thereby he cleared the way, and made it safe for all the rest of the armie, and the hope of the victorie also certaine for his Captaine. Nowe did the enemies them selves feele the frutes of Antonius curtesie, and the desire he had to winne honor. For when Ptolomy (after he had entred into the citie of Pelusium) for the malice he bare unto the citie, would have put all the ..Egyptians in it to the sword: Antonius withstoode him, and by no meanes would suffer him to doe it. And in all other great battells and skirmishes which they fought, and were many in number, Antonius did many noble actes of a valliant and wise Captaine: but specially in one battell, where he compassed in the enemies behind, giving them the victorie that fought against them, whereby he afterwards had such honorable reward, as his valliantnes deserved. So was his great curtesie also much commended of all, the which he shewed unto Archelaus.3 For having bene his very friend, he made wane with him against his will while he lived: but after his death he sought for his bodye, and gave it honorable buriall. For these respects he wanne him selfe

great fame of them of Alexandria, and he was also thought a worthy man of all the souldiers in the Romanes campe. But besides all this, he had a noble presence, and shewed a countenaunce of one of a noble house: he had a goodly thicke beard, a broad forehead, crooke nosed, and there appeared such a manly looke in his countenaunce, as is commonly seene in Hercules pictures, stamped or graven in mettelJ.1 Now it had bene a speeche of old time, that the familie of the Antonii were discended from one Anton, the sonne of Hercules, whereof the famiJie tooke name.2 This opinion did Antonius seeke to confirme in all his doings: not onely resembling him in the likenes of his bodye, as we have sayd before, but also in the wearing of his garments. For when he would openly shewe him selfe abroad before many people, he would alwayes weare his casso eke gyrt downe lowe upon his hippes, with a great sword hanging by his side, and upon that, some ill favored cloke. Furthermore, things that seeme intollerable in other men, as to boast commonly, to jeast with one or other, to drinke like a good fellow with every body, to sit with the souldiers when they dine, and to eate and drinke with them souldierlike: it is incredible what wonderfull love it wanne him amongest them. And furthermore, being given to love: that made him the more desired, and by that meanes he brought many to love him. For he would further every mans love, and also would not be angry that men should merily tell him of those he loved. But besides all this, that which most procured his rising and advauncement, was his liberalitie,3 who gave all to the souldiers, and kept nothing for him selfe: and when he was growen to great credit, then was his authoritie and power also very great, the which notwithstanding him selfe did overthrowe by a thowsand other faults he had ....