ANTONIUS (Marcus) the triumvir, grandson to the former, was very handsome in his youth; for which reason he was greatly beloved by Curio a senator, who, by carrying him about in all his debaucheries, made him contract such heavy debts, that his own father forbade him his house. Curio, however, was so generous as to bail him for 250 talents. When the civil war broke out, Curio took Cæsar's party, and prevailed with Antonius to do the same; for which he was made a tribune of the people, and in that office did Cæsar great service. Cæsar, having made himself master of Rome, gave Antonius the government of Italy: at the battle of Pharsalia, Cæsar confided so much in him, that he gave him the command of the left wing of his army, whilst he himself led the right. After Cæsar was made dictator, he made Antonius general of the horse, though he had never been prætor; in which command he exerted his power with the utmost violence. He was made consul, when Cæsar enjoyed that honour for the fifth time, the last year of that usurper's life. On Cæsar's death he harangued the populace with great art, and raised their fury against his murderers; flattering himself that he should easily get into the place which Cæsar had filled: but his haughty behaviour made him lose all the advantages his affected concern for Cæsar had gained him. His ill treatment of Octavius, and quarrel with him, produced another civil war; which ended in an accommodation between him, Octavius, and Lepidus, fatal to the peace of Rome. They agreed to share the supreme power among them; and many of the most illustrious Romans were sacrificed by proscription to cement this bloody league, which is known by the name of the Second Triumvirate. But the triumvirs were too ambitious, and hated one another too much, to be long united. Antonius went into Asia to raise money for his soldiers; during his absence, Fulvia his wife quarreled with Octavius. When Antonius was in Asia, indulging himself in all manner of luxury, the fa-
mous Cleopatra inspired him with the most violent passion. Hearing of the quarrel between Fulvia and Octavius, and finding Octavius was become publicly his enemy, Antonius entered into a confederacy with Sextus Pompeius, who was still master of Sicily. He then went into Italy in order to fight Octavius; but Fulvia, who had been the author and promoter of this war, dying, Octavius and Antonius came to an agreement. One of the conditions of this new peace was, that they should together attack Pompey, though the former had lately made an alliance with him. Antonius then married Octavia, sister to Octavius, as a pledge of their renewed friendship; but returned soon after to his beloved Cleopatra, and again lived with her in Alexandria. Octavius took hold of this pretence to inveigh against him, and begin the war again. At last they engaged in a sea-fight at Actium, in which Octavius gained a complete victory; which was followed by the deaths both of Antonius and Cleopatra. The infatuated Antonius fell upon his own sword; and Cleopatra flung herself to death with an asp, as was supposed, to avoid gracing the victor's triumph at Rome.