Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/178

 170 ANTONY. Cicero was at this time the man of greatest influence in Rome. He made use of all his art to exasperate people against Antony, and at length persuaded the senate to de- clare him a public enemy, to send Caesar the rods and axes and other marks of honor usually given to prcetors, and to issue orders to Hirtius and Pansa, who were the con- suls, to drive Antony out of Italy. The armies engaged near Modena, and Caesar himself was present and took part in the battle. Antony was defeated, but both the consuls were slain. Antony, in his flight, was overtaken by distresses of every kind, and the worst of all of them was famine. But it was his character in calamities to be better than at any other time. Antony, in misfortune, was most nearly a virtuous man. It is common enough for people, when they fall into great disasters, to discern what is right, and what they ovight to do ; but thei'e are but few who in such extremities have the strength to obey their judgment, either in doing what it approves or avoiding what it condemns ; and a good many are so weak as to give way to their habits all the more, and are incapable of using their minds. Antony, on this occa- sion, was a most wonderful example to his soldiers. He, who had just quitted so much luxury and sumptuous living, made no difiiculty now of drinking foul water and feeding on wild fruits and roots. Nay, it is related they ate the very bark of trees, and, in passing over the Alps, lived upon creatures that no one before had ever been willing to touch. The design was to join the army on the other side the Alps, commanded by Lepidus, who he imagined would stand his friend, he having done him many good offices with Caesar. On coming up and encamping near at hand, finding he had no sort of encouragement ofiered him, he resolved to push his fortune and venture all. His hair was long and disordered, nor had he shaved his beard