attempted to hide, and of which she appeared extremely reluctant to tell him the cause. 9.  These artifices, together with the ceaseless flattery and importunity of her creatures, prevailed so much on Antony’s weakness, that he commanded Octa’via to return home without seeing her; and still more to exasperate the people of Rome, he resolved to repudiate her, and take Cleopa’tra as his wife. 10.  He accordingly assembled the people of Alexandria in the public theatre, where was raised an alcove of silver, under which were placed two thrones of gold, one for himself, and the other for Cleopa’tra.  There he seated himself, dressed as Bacchus, while Cleopatra sat beside him, clothed in the ornaments and attributes of I’sis, the principal deity of the Egyptians. 11.  On that occasion he declared her queen of all the countries which he had already bestowed upon her, while he associated Caesa’rio, her son by Caesar, as her partner in the government.  To the two children of himself by her, he gave the title of King of Kings, with very extensive dominions; and, to crown his absurdities, he next sent a minute account of his proceedings to the two consuls at Rome.

12.  In the mean time, Augustus had a sufficient pretext for declaring war, and informed the senate of his intentions.  However, he deferred the execution of his design for a while, being then employed in quelling an insurrection of the Illy’rians. 13.  The following year was chiefly taken up in preparations against Antony, who, perceiving his intentions, remonstrated to the senate, that he had many causes of complaint against his colleague, who had seized upon Sicily without affording him a share; alleging that he had also dispossessed Lep’idus, and kept to himself the province he had commanded; and that he had divided all Italy among his own soldiers, leaving nothing to recompense those in Asia. 14.  To this complaint Augustus was content to make a sarcastic answer, implying that it was absurd to complain of his distribution of a few trifling districts in Italy, when Antony, having conquered Par’thia might now reward his soldiers with cities and provinces.[14] 15.  This sarcasm provoked him to send his army without delay into Europe, to meet Augustus, while he and Cleopa’tra followed to Sa’mos,[15] in order to prepare for carrying on the war with vigour. 16.  When arrived there, it was ridiculous enough to behold the odd mixture of preparations for pleasure and for war.  On one side, all the kings and princes from Egypt to the Euxine Sea had orders to send him supplies of men, provisions, and arms; on the other, comedians, dancers, buffoons, and musicians, were ordered to attend him.