ly received at Brundusium by the veteran troops, and especially by
Cicero, who saw in him a rival to Antony. Octavius flattered the old
orator, and ingratiated himself in the favor of everybody by his
unassuming manners, and his specious language. He entered Rome under
favorable omens, paid his court to the senators, and promised to fulfill
his uncle's requests. He was received by Antony in the gardens of
Pompeius, and claimed at once his inheritance. Antony replied that it was
not private property but the public treasure, and was, moreover, spent.
Octavius was not to be put off, and boldly declared that he would and
could pay the legacies, and contrived to borrow the money. Such an act
secured unrivaled popularity. He gave magnificent shows, and then claimed
that the jeweled crown of Caesar should be exhibited on the festival which
he instituted to Venus, and to whose honor Caesar had vowed to build a
temple, on the morning of his victory at Pharsalia. The tribunes,
instigated by Antonius, refused to sanction this mark of honor, but
fortune favored Octavius, and, in the enthusiasm of the festival, which
lasted eleven days, the month Quintilius was changed to Julius--the first
demigod whom the Senate had translated to Olympus.

(M1028) Meanwhile Brutus and Cassius retired from public affairs,
lingering in the neighborhood of Rome, and the provinces promised to them
were lost. At Antium they had an interview with Cicero, who advised them
to keep quiet, and not venture to the capital, where the people were
inflamed against them. Their only encouragement was the successes of
Sextus Pompeius in Spain, who had six legions at his command. Cicero
foresaw that another civil war was at hand, and had the gloomiest
forebodings, for one or the other of the two great chieftains of the
partisans of Caesar was sure of ultimately obtaining the supreme power. The
humiliating conviction that the murder of Caesar was a mistake, was now
deeply impressed upon his mind, since it would necessarily inaugurate
another bloody war. Self banished from Rome, this great and true patriot
wandered from place to place to divert his mind. But neither the
fascinations of literature, nor the attractions of Tusculum, Puteoli,
Pompeii, and Neapolis, where he had luxurious villas, could soothe his
anxious and troubled soul. Religious, old, and experienced, he could only
ponder on the coming and final prostration of that cause of constitutional
liberty to whic