ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 303 still wished for him, and ever hoped that he would come by some meanes or other unto them. Furthermore, they shewed them selves so valliant and faithfull unto him, that after they certainly knewe he was fled, they kept them selves whole together seven daies. In the ende Canidius, Antonius Lieuetenant, flying by night, and forsaking his campe: when they saw them selves thus destitute of their heads and leaders, they yelded themselves unto the stronger.l This done, Cresar sailed towards Athens, and there made peace with the Grrecians, and devided the rest of the corne that was taken up for Antonius army, unto the townes and cities of Grrece, the which had bene brought to extreme misery and poverty, deane without money, slaves, horse, and other beastes of cariage. So that my grandfather Nicarchus to Ide, that all the Citizens of our citie of Chreronea, (not one excepted) were driven them selves to cary a certaine measure of corne on their shoulders to the sea side, that lieth directly over against the lIe of Anticyra, and yet were they driven thether with whippes. They caried it thus but once: for, the second tyme that they were charged againe to make the like cariage, all the corne being ready to be caried, newes came that Antonius had lost the battel, and so scaped our poore city. For Antonius souldiers and deputies fled immediatly, and the citizens devided the corne amongst them. Antonius being arrived in Libya, he sent Cleopatra before into .,Egypt from the citie of Parretonium: and he him selfe remained very solitary, having onely two of his friends with him, with whom he wandred up and down, both of them orators, the one Aristocrates a Grrecian, and the other Lucilius a Romane. Of whom we have written in an other place,2 that at the battell where Brutus was overthrowen, by the citie of Philippes, he came and willingly put him self into the hands of those that followed Brutus, saying that it was he: bicause Brutus in the meane time might have liberty to save him selfe. And afterwards bicause Antonius saved his life, he still remained with him: and was very faithfull and frendly unto him till his death.3 But when Antonius heard, that he whom he had trusted with the government of Libya, and unto whom he had geven the charge of his armie there, had yelded unto Cresar: he was so madde withall, that he would have slaine him selfe for anger, had not his frendes about him withstoode him, and kept him from it. So he went unto Alexandria, and there found Cleopatra about a wonderfull enterprise, and of great
attempt.l Betwixt the redde sea, and the sea betwene the landes that poynt upon the coast of A!.gypt, there is a litle peece of land that devideth both the seas, and separateth Africke from Asia: the which straight is so narrow at the end where the two seas are narrowest, that it is not above three hundred furlonges over. Cleopatra went about to lift her shippes out of the one sea, and to hale them over the straight into the other sea: that when her shippes were come into this goulfe of Arabia, she might then carie all her gold and silver away, and so with a great companie of men goe and dwell in some place about the Ocean sea farre from the sea Mediterranium, to scape the daunger and bondage of this warre. But now, bicause the Arabians dwelling about the citie of Petra, did burne the first shippes that were brought alande, and that Antonius thought that his armie by lande, which he left at Actium was yet whole: she left of her enterprise, and determined to keepe all the portes and passages of her realme. Antonius, he forsooke the citie and companie of his frendes,2 and built him a house in the sea, by the Ile of Pharos, upon certaine forced mountes which he caused to be cast into the sea, and dwelt there, as a man that banished him selfe from all mens companie: saying that he would lead Timons life, bicause he had the like wrong offered him, that was affore offered unto Timon: and that for the unthankefulnes of those he had done good unto, and whom he tooke to be his frendes, he was angry with all men, and would trust no man. [For Plutarch's account of Timon see the next volume.] But now to returne to Antonius againe. Canidius him selfe came to bring him newes, that he had lost all his armie by land at Actium. On thother side he was advertised also, that Herodes king of Jurie, who had also certeine legions and bandes with him, was revolted unto Ccesar, and all the other kings in like maner3: so that, saving those that were about him, he had none left him. All this notwithstanding did nothing trouble him, and it seemed that he was contented to forgoe all his hope, and so to be ridde of all his care and troubles. Thereupon he left his solitarie house he had built in the sea which he called Timoneon, and Cleopatra received him into her royall paJlace. He was no sooner comen thither, but he straight set all the city of rioting and banketing againe, and him selfe, to liberalitie and giftes.4 He caused the sonne of] ulius Ccesar and Cleopatra, to be enrolled (according to the maner of the Romanes) amongest the
