Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/218

 210 ' ANTONY. be politic to disoblige the Egyptians, who were so con- siderable a part of his naval forces ; nor did he see how she was inferior in prudence to any one of the knigs that were serving with him ; she had long governed a great kingdom by herself alone, and long lived with him, and gained experience in public affairs. These arguments (so the fate that destined all to Caasar would have it), prevailed ; and when all their forces had met, they sailed together to Samos, and held high festivities. For, as it was ordered that all kings, princes, and governors, all nations and cities within the limits of Syria, the Ma^otid Lake, Armenia, and Illyria, should bring or cause to be brought all munitions necessary for war, so was it also proclaimed that all stage-playei-s should make their ap- pearance at Samos ; so that, while pretty nearly the whole world was filled with groans and lamentations, this one island for some days resounded with piping and harp- ing, theatres filling, and choruses playing. Every city sent an ox as its contribution to the sacrifice, and the kings that accompanied Antony competed who should make the most magnificent feasts and the greatest pres- ents ; and men began to ask themselves, what would be done to celebrate the victory, when they went to such an expense of festivity at the opening of the war. This over, he gave Priene to his players for a habita- tion,* and set sail for Athens, where fresh sports and play- acting employed him. Cleopatra, jealous of the honors Octavia had received at Athens (for Octavia was much for the guild or coinjiany of per- to Ephesus ; king Attalus gave formers in this part of Asia (" Ionia, them Myonnesus ; and afterwards as far as the Hellespont "), to hfive Lebedus, in Roman times, a halt a city of their own, a sort of head- abandoned town, " Gabiis desertior quarters, whence they went out, atque Fidenis vicus " was only too and where once a year they held a glad to receive them. See Strabo, festival of their own. Formerly, XIV., 29. says Strabo, it had been Teos ; in-
 * It seems to have been usual testine troubles drove tbeni thence