ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives oj Noble Grecians and Romanes '2 '/9 pirats, Menas, and Menecrates, who so scoored all the sea thereabouts, that none durst peepe out with a sayle.l Furthermore, Sextus Pompeius had delt verie frendly with Antonius, for he had curteously received his mother, when she fled out of Italie with Fulvia: and therefore they thought good to make peace with him. 2 So they met all three together by the mount of Misena, upon a hill that runneth farre into the sea: Pompey having his shippes ryding hard by at ancker, and Antonius and Cresar their armies upon the shoare side, directly over against him. Now, after they had agreed that Sextus Pompeius should have Sicile and Sardinia, with this condicion, that he should ridde the sea of all theeves and pirats, and make it safe for passengers, and with all that he should send a certaine [quantity] of wheate to Rome3 : one of them did feast an other, and drew cuts who should beginne.4 It was Pompeius chaunce to invite them first. Whereupon Antonius asked him: And where shall we suppe? There, said Pompey, and shewed him his admiral! galley which had six bankes of owers: That (sayd he) is my fathers house they have left me. He spake it to taunt Antonius, bicause he had his fathers house, that was Pompey the great. Ii So he cast ankers enowe into the sea, to make his galley fast, and then built a bridge of woode to convey them to his galley, from the heade of mount Misena: and there he welcomed them, and made them great cheere. Now in the middest of the feast, when they fell to be merie with Antonius love unto Cleopatra6 : Menas the pirate came to Pompey, and whispering in his eare, said unto him: Shall I cut the gables of the ankers, and make thee Lord not only of Sicile and Sardinia, but of the whole Empire of Rome besides? Pompey having pawsed a while upon it, at length aunswered him: Thou shouldest have done it, and never have told it me, but now we must content us with that we have. As for my selfe, I was never taught to breake my faith, nor to be counted a traitor.7 The other two also did likewise feast him in their campe, and then he returned into Sicile. Antonius after this agreement made, sent Ventidius before into Asia to stay the Parthians, and to keepe them they should come no furthers: and he him selfe in the meane time, to gratefie Cresar, was contented to be
Antony and CleojJatra chosen Julius Cresars priest and sacrificer, and so they joyntly together dispatched all great matters, concerning the state of the Empire. But in all other maner of sportes and exercises, wherein they passed the time away the one with the other: Antonius was ever inferior unto Cresar, and alway lost, which grieved him much. With Antonius there was a soothsayer or astronomer of }Egypt, that coulde cast a figure, and judge of mens nativities, to tell them what should happen to them. He, either to please Cleopatra, or else for that he founde it so by his art, told Antonius plainly, that his fortune (which of it selfe was excellent good, and very great) was altogether bleamished, and obscured by Cresars fortune: and therefore he counselled him utterly to leave his company, and to get him as farre from him as he could.! For thy Demon said he, (that is to say, the good angell and spirit that kepeth thee) is affraied of his: and being coragious and high when he is alone, becometh fearefull and timerous when he commeth neere unto the other. Howsoever it was, the events ensuing proved the }Egyptians words true. For, it is said, that as often as they two drew cuts for pastime, who should have any thing, or whether they plaied at dice, Antonius alway lost. Oftentimes when they were disposed to see cockefight, or quailes that were taught to fight one with an other: Cresars cockes or quailes did ever overcome,2 The which spighted Antonius in his mind, although he made no outward shew of it: and therefore he beleved the }Egyptian the better. In fine, he recommended the affaires of his house unto Cresar, and went out of Italie with Octavia his wife, whom he caried into Grrece, after he had had a daughter by her. So Antonius lying all the winter at Athens, newes came unto him of the victories of Ventidius, who had overcome the Parthians in battel, in the which also were slaine, Labienus, and Pharnabates, the chiefest Captaine king Orodes had.3 For these good newes he feasted all Athens, and kept open house for all the Grrecians, and many games of price were plaied at Athens, of the which he him selfe would be judge. Wherfore leaving his gard, his axes, and tokens of his Empire at his house, he came into the show place (or listes) where these games were played, in a long gowne and slippers after the Grrecian facion, and they caried tippestaves before him, as marshalls men do cary before the Judges to make place: and he him selfe in person was a stickler to part the young men, when they had fought enough. After that, preparing to go to the warres, he made him a garland of the holy Olive, and caried a vessell with him
