iberty. But liberty had
already fled, and a degenerate age could only be ruled by a despot. It
might have been better for Rome had his life been prolonged when all
constitutional freedom had become impossible. But he took the sword, and
Nemesis demanded that he should perish by it, as a warning to all future
usurpers who would accomplish even good ends by infamous means. Vulgar
pity compassionates the sad fate of the great Julius; but we can not
forget that it was he who gave the last blow to the constitution and
liberties of his country. The greatness of his gifts and services pale
before the gigantic crime of which he stands accused at the bar of all the
ages, and the understanding of the world is mocked when his usurpation is
justified.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE CIVIL WARS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF CAESAR.--ANTONIUS.--AUGUSTUS.

The assassination of Caesar was not immediately followed with the
convulsions which we should naturally expect. The people were weary of
war, and sighed for repose, and, moreover, were comparatively indifferent
on whom the government fell, since their liberties were hopelessly
prostrated. Only one thing was certain, that power would be usurped by
some one, and most probably by the great chieftains who represented
Caesar's interests.

(M1025) The most powerful men in Rome at this time, were Marcus Antonius,
the most able of Caesar's lieutenants, the most constant of his friends,
and the nearest of his relatives, although a man utterly unprincipled;
Octavius, grandson of Julius, whom Caesar adopted as his heir, a young man
of nineteen; Lepidus, colleague consul with Caesar, the head of the ancient
family of the Lepidi, thirteen of whom had been honored with curule
magistracies; Sextus Pompeius, son of Pompey; Brutus and Cassius, chief
conspirators; Dolabella, a man of consular rank, and one of the profligate
nobles of his time; Hirtia and Pansa, consuls; Piso, father-in-law of
Caesar, of a powerful family, which boasted of several consuls; and
Cicero--still influential from his great weight of character. All these men
were great nobles, and had filled the highest offices.

(M1026) The man who, to all appearance, had the fairest chance for supreme
command in those troubled times, was Antony, whose mother was Julia,
Caesar's sister. He was grandson to the great orator M. Antonius, who
flourished during the civil wars between Marius and Sulla, and was
distinguis