ABSTRACT
288 AntolV' and Cleopatra give unto the souldiers.l But some saye notwithstanding, that she brought apparell, but no money, and that she tooke of Antonius money, and caused it to be given amonge the souldiers in her owne name, as if she had given it them. In the meane time it chaunced, that the king of the Medes, and Phraortes king of the Parthians, fell at great warres together,2 the which began (as it is reported) for the spoyles of the Romanes: and grew to be so hot betwene them, that the king of Medes was no lesse affrayd, then also in daunger to lose his whole Realme. Thereuppon he sent unto Antonius to pray him to come and make wane with the Parthians, promising him that he would ayde him to his uttermost power. This put Antonius againe in good comfort, considering that unlooked for, the onely thing he lacked, (which made him he could not overcome the Parthians, meaning that he had not brought horsemen, and men with darts anel slings enough) was off red him in that sort: that he did him more pleasure to accept it, then it was pleasure to the other to offer it. Hereuppon, after he had spoken with the king of Medes at the river of Araxes, he prepared him selfe once more to goe through Armenia, and to make more cruell warre with the Parthians, then he had done before. Now whilest Antonius was busie in this preparation, Octavia his wife, whome he had left at Rome, would needes take sea to come unto him. Her brother Octavius Cresar was willing unto it, not for his respect at all (as most authors doe report) as for that he might have an honest culler to make wane with Antonius if he did misuse her, and not esteeme of her as she ought to be. But when she was come to Athens, she received letters from Antonius, willing her to stay there untill his comming, and did advertise her of his jorney and determination.3 The which though it grieved her much, and that she knewe it was but an excuse: yet by her letters to him of aunswer, she asked him whether he would have those thinges sent unto him which she had brought him, being great store of apparell for souldiers, a great number of horse, summe of money, and gifts, to bestow on his friendes and Captaines he had about him: and besides all those, she had two thowsand souldiers chosen men, all well armed, like unto the Prretors bands. When Niger, one of Antonius friends whome he had sent unto Athens, had brought these newes from his wife Octavia, and with all did greatly prayse her, as she was worthy, and well deserved: Cleopatra knowing that Octavia would have Antonius from her, and fearing also that if with her vertue and honest behavior, (besides the great power of her
