ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 27 I Furthermore, he cast his coate armor (which was wonderfull rich and sumptuous) upon Brutus bodie, and gave commaundement to one of his slaves infranchised, to defray the charge of his buriaIl.l But afterwards, Antonius hearing that his infranchised bondman had not burnt his coate armor with his bodie, bicause it was verie riche, and worth a great summe of money, and that he had also kept backe much of the ready money appointed for his funerall and tombe: he also put him to death. After that Cresar was conveied to Rome, and it was thought he would not live long, nor scape the sickenes he had. Antonius on thother side went towardes the East provinces and regions, to leavie money: and first of all he went into Grrece, and caried an infinite number of souldiers with him. Now, bicause everie souldier was promised five thowsande silver Drachmas, he was driven of necessitie to impose extreame tallages and taxacions. At his first comming into Grrece, he was not hard nor bitter unto the Grrecians,2 but gave him selfe onely to heare wise men dispute, to see playes, and also to note the ceremonies and sacrifices of Grrece, ministring justice to everie man, and it pleased him marvelously to heare them call him Philellen, (as much to say, a lover of the Grrecians) and specially the Athenians, to whom he did many great pleasures .... But when he was once come into Asia, having left Lucius Censorinus Governor in Grrece, and that he had felt the riches and pleasures of the East partes, and that Princes, great Lordes and Kinges, came to waite at his gate for his comming out, and that Queenes and Princesses to excell one an other, gave him verie riche presentes, and came to see him, curiously setting forth them selves, and using all art that might be to shewe their beawtie, to win his favor the more: (Cresar in the meane space tunnoyling his wits and bollie in civill wanes at home, Antonius living merily and quietly abroad) he easely fell againe to his old licentious life. For straight one Anaxenor a player of the citherne, Xoutus a player of the flutes, Metrodorus a tombler, and such a rabble of minstrells and fit ministers for the pleasures of Asia, (who in finenes and flattery passed all the other plagues he brought with him out of Italie)3 all these flocked in his court, and bare the whole sway: and after that, all went awry. For everyone gave them selves to riot and excesse, when they saw he delighted in it: and all Asia was like to the citie Sophocles speaketh of in one of his tragedies:
Was full of sweete perfumes, and pleasant songs, With woeful! weping mingled thereamongs.
