Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/177

 AJVTONY. 169 While matters went thus in Rome, the young Caesar, Caisar's niece's son, and by testament left his heir, arrived at Rome from Apollonia, where he was when his uncle was killed. The first thing he did was to visit Antony, as his father's friend. He spoke to him concerning the money that was in his hands, and reminded him of the legacy Ccesar had made of seventy-five drachmas to every Roman citizen. Antony, at first, laughing at such discourse from so young a man, told him he wished he were in his health, and that he wanted good counsel and good friends, to tell him the burden of being executor to Caesar would sit very uneasily upon his young shoulders. This was no answer to him ; and, when he persisted in demanding the property, Antony went on treating him injuriously both in word and deed, opposed him when he stood for the tribune's office, and, when he was taking steps for the dedication of his fiither's golden chair, as had been enacted, he threatened to send him to prison if he did not give over soliciting the people. This made the young Cajsar apply himself to Cicero, and all those that hated Antony; by them he was recommended to the senate, while he himself courted the people, and drew together the soldiers from their settlements, till Antony got alarmed, and gave him a meeting in the Capitol, where, after some words, they came to an accom- modation. That night Antony had a very unlucky dream, fancy- ing that his right hand was thunderstruck. And, some few days after, he was informed that Caesar was plotting to take his life. Csesar explained, but was not believed, so that the breach was now made as wide as ever ; each of them hurried about all through Italy to engage, by great offers, the old soldiers that lay scattered in theii settlements, and to be the first to secure the troops that stiU remained undischarged.