Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/170

 162 ANTONY. thousand foot and eight hundred horse, and so set out to sea. And, being espied by the enemy and pursued, fi-om this danger he was rescued by a strong south wind, which sprang up and raised so high a sea, that the enemy's gal- leys could make little way. But his own ships were driving before it upon a lee shore of cliffs and rocks run- ning sheer to the water, where there was no hope of escape, when all of a sudden the wind turned about to south-west, and blew fi-om land to the main sea, where Antony, now sailing in security, saw the coast all covered with the wreck of the enemy's fleet. For hither the gal- leys in pursuit had been carried by the gale, and not a few of them dashed to pieces. Many men and much property fell into Antony's hands ; he took also the town of Lissus, and, by the seasonable arrival of so large a re- inforcement, gave Caesar great encouragement. There was not one of the many engagements that now took place one after another in which he did not sig- nalize himself; twice he stopped the array in its full flight, led them back to a charge, and gained the victory. So that not without reason his reputation, next to Csesai^'s, was greatest in the army. And what opinion Caesar him- self had of him well apjieared when for the final battle in Pharsalia, which was to determine every thing, he him- self chose to lead the right wing, committing the charge of the left to Antony, as to the best officer of all that served under him. After the battle, Cgesar, being created dictator, went in pursuit of Pompey, and sent Antony to Rome, with the character of Master of the Horse, who is in office and power next to the dictator, when present, and in his absence is the first, and pretty nearly indeed the sole magistrate. For on the appointment of a dictar tor, with the one exception of the tribunes, all other magistrates cease to exercise any authority in Rome. Dolabella, however, who was tribune, being a young