he devoted no thought either to his
allies or to his enemies. While he had been classed as a subordinate and
was pursuing high prizes, he gave strict attention to his task: when,
however, he attained power, he no longer gave painstaking care to any
single matter but joined in the wanton life of Cleopatra and the rest of
the Egyptians until he was entirely undone.

[B.C. 40 (_a. u_. 714)]

Rather late he was at last forced to bestir himself and sailed to Tyre
with the announcement that he was going to aid it, but on seeing that the
remainder of the country had been occupied before his coming, he deserted
the inhabitants on the pretext that he had to wage war against Sextus. On
the other hand he excused his dilatoriness with regard to the latter by
bringing forward the activity of the Parthians. So on account of Sextus
he gave no assistance to his allies and on account of his allies no
assistance to Italy, but coasted along the mainland as far as Asia and
crossed into Greece. There, after meeting his mother and wife, he made
Caesar his enemy and cemented a friendship with Sextus. After this he went
over to Italy and got possession of Sipontum but besieged Brundusium,
which refused to come to terms with him.

[-28-] While he was thus engaged, Caesar, who had already arrived from
Gaul, had collected his forces and had sent Publius Servilius Rullus to
Brundusium, and Agrippa against Sipontum. The latter took the city by
storm, but Servilius was suddenly attacked by Antony who destroyed many
and won over many others. The two leaders had thus broken out into open
war and proceeded to send about to the cities and to the veterans, or to
any place whence they thought they could get any aid. All Italy was again
thrown into turmoil and Rome especially; some were already choosing one
side or the other, and others were hesitating. While the chief figures
themselves and those who were to follow their fortunes were in a quiver
of excitement, Fulvia died in Sicyon,--the city where she was staying.
Antony was really responsible for her death through his passion for
Cleopatra and the latter's lewdness. But at any rate, when this news was
announced, both sides laid down their arms and effected a reconciliation,
either because Fulvia had actually been the original cause of their
variance or because they chose to make her death an excuse in view of the
fear with which each inspired the other and the equality of their forces
and hopes. The