This contest went on for some time, a few of Antony's friends applauding his efforts to force the diadem upon Caesar, but all the people applauding with loud cries when Caesar refused it. Again Antony tried to put the diadem on Caesar's head, and again Caesar pushed it away. When Caesar with affected modesty declined the diadem, the people were delighted and clapped their hands. Antony was one of these runners, but he gave the ancient usages the go-by, and twining a wreath of laurel round a diadem, he ran with it to the rostra, where he was lifted on high by his fellow runners and put it on the head of Caesar, thus intimating that he ought to be king. Now, the runners to and fro are many noble youths and many of the magistrates, anointed with oil, and with leathern thongs they strike in sport those whom they meet. For at the festival of the Lycaea, which the Romans call Lupercalia, Caesar, arrayed in a triumphal robe and seated in the forum upon the rostra, was viewing the runners to and fro.

And it was Antony who also unwittingly supplied the conspirators with their most specious pretext. For we are told that when a certain man was accusing both of them to him, he said he had no fear of those fat and long-haired fellows, but rather of those pale and thin ones, indicating Brutus and Cassius, by whom he was to be conspired against and slain. And it would seem that Caesar abominated Dolabella also no less than he did Antony. Caesar therefore yielded, and gave up Dolabella, who was much annoyed.

But since Antony vehemently opposed the plan, heaped much abuse upon Dolabella, and received as much in return, for the time being Caesar desisted, being ashamed of their unseemly conduct.Īnd afterwards, when Caesar came before the people to proclaim Dolabella, Antony shouted that the omens were opposed. It was his purpose also to resign his own office and make it over to Dolabella and he proposed this to the senate. Moreover, when Caesar had for the fifth time been appointed consul, he immediately chose Antony as his colleague. For as he journeyed through Italy he had Antony in the same car with himself, but behind him Brutus Albinus, and Octavius, his niece's son, who was afterwards named Caesar and ruled Rome for a very long time.

When Caesar returned from Spain, all the principal men went many days' journey to meet him, but it was Antony who was conspicuously honoured by him. IX, by Plutarch, translated by Bernadotte Perrin, 1920. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.įrom Plutarch’s Lives, Vol. Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value.

Plutarch life of antony