705.

Year of fonable to think, that he might at that time retire to Rome his farm, in hopes of a quiet and peaceable life, when the flame of the Civil war feemed to drive quite another way; and when his countrymen were fo favoured by Caefar, who had been their governour, as to be made freemen of Rome (1), to which he feems to allude, in his Daphnis (m); unless we will fuppofe the Poet to mean, that he was perfonally known to Caefar, which is not impoffible, confidering he was a native of his favourite province. It may be thought no improbable conjecture, that Caefar might fee fome of his juvenile poems, whilft he ftudied at Cremona, and take notice of him, as a promising genius. Donatus tells us, that he wrote feveral poems, when he was but fifteen years of age: but Ruaeus (2) has proved, by very folid arguments, that none of thofe pieces now extant under his name could be composed by Virgil. Perhaps alfo Caefar might see the Alexis; which feems to have been the moft early of our Poet's compofitions now extant (o): and we may very well fuppofe him capable of writing that Ec709. logue, at the age of about twenty-five, which year of his life he had completed, about half a year fore Caefar was murdered, which was on the fifteenth of March, in the year of Rome 710.

710.

be

The Alexis is indeed a fine compofition, in which the paffion of Love is described, with great warmth and delicacy. It is much to be wifhed, that a perfon of the other fex had been the object of this

paffion. But Theocritus had given the example in his 'Eparrns (p), from which, and the Cyclops of the fame author, Virgil has taken several paffages in this Eclogue.

After the death of Julius Caefar, the Roman affairs were in the greatest confufion imaginable. Many different parties were formed; and his friends were divided into factions, as well as his enemies. Many were for reftoring the Commonwealth, and many for fetting up themfelves, as fole governors, in the place of the deceafed perpetual Dictator. Caius Octavius Caepias, who is better known in hiftory by the name of Auguftus, which he afterwards acquired, was the fon of Caius Octavius, by Attia the daughter of Julius Caefar's fifter (9). This young man being left an orphan by his father, was bred up under his mother, and her brother Lucius Philippus but as he grew up, his great uncle perceiving marks of an extraordinary genius in him, and having no child himself, was pleased to take him as his own, and to defign him for his fucceffor. With this view, he omitted no opportunity of forming this young favourite's mind, and rendering him able to bear the great weight he was intended to fuppoft. Caefar defigned to make an expedition against the Parthians, the most formidable enemy of the Romans, whom they had 'moft fhamefully defeated, and flain Craffus their chief commander. Whilft he was making preparations for this great war, he fent his nephew before to wait for him at Apollonia, where he was purfuing his ftudies, when he heard the furprifing news, that his uncle was murdered in the fenate-house. The young Octa(q) Dio, lib. 45.

(p) See the note on ver. I. of the fecond Eclogue.

Year of

Rome

710.

Year of vius was in great perplexity, being informed that Rome his uncle's murder was approved at Rome, and not

710.

knowing that he had made him his heir. But as foon as he was informed of the contents of his will, and that the people had changed their minds, and were highly enraged against the murderers, he began to entertain hopes: and being well provided both with men and money, that had been fent beforehand by his uncle, he determined to affume the name of Caefar, who had adopted him, and to lay claim to his inheritance. He went immediately to Rome, and entered the city in the habit of a private perfon, with very few attendants: and waiting upon Mark Anthony, the furviving Conful, was received by him in a very cold manner; and when he fpake about his uncle's will, was treated with great contempt. Young Caefar was not discouraged by the ill ufage of the Conful: but made it his bufinefs to ingratiate himself with the people, by performing feveral things in honour of his uncle's, or as he was now called his father's, memory. He now increased every day in the favour of the people; and many of the foldiers began to come over to him. This foftened the mind of Anthony; who began to hearken to him: and at laft a reconciliation was made between them. But new difficulties, and new jealoufies arifing, foon broke afunder this ill cemented friendship. An-thony perceiving Caefar's intereft to increase, used all the arts he was mafter of, to gain over the people to his party. He was very great in power; being Conful himself; and having his brother Lucius Tribune of the people, and another brother, Caius, Praetor. This ftrong faction of the Antonii took upon them to depofe feveral from their govern

ments;

710.

ments; and to fubftitute others in their room: and Year of alfo to poftpone others beyond the time that had Rome been appointed. Accordingly the province of Macedonia, which had been allotted to Marcus Brutus, was given to Caius Anthony; and Mark was pleased to claim the Cifalpine Gaul, in which Mantua was fituated, being the best supplied with men and money; though it had been already affigned to Decimus Brutus. The foldiers, whom Julius Caefar had fent before him to Apollonia, being returned to Italy, Mark Anthony went to them, with hopes of engaging them in his fervice. Young Caefar, at the fame time, fent fome of his friends, with plenty of money, to hire them; whilft he himself went into Campania, where he levied a good body of men, chiefly from Capua, where his father had planted them, having given them that city and territory as a reward for their fervices. He got to Rome again before Anthony; where being much applauded by the people, in whofe defence he faid he had made thefe levies, he proceeded to Tuscany, in order to raise men there. The foldiers, who were returned from Apollonia, received Anthony very favourably, believing him to be the richest: but when they found, that his offers fell fhort of thofe of Caefar, they grew very mutinous. Hereupon Anthony commanded fome of the centurions to be fcourged, in the prefence of himself and his wife; which quieted them for a time: but as they were marching into Gaul, they mutinied again, when they were not far from the city; and most of them went over to Caefar. Two entire legions deferted together; and when the money, that had been promised, was punctually diftributed amongst them; they were foon followed by many others. Anthony

c 3

710.

Year of Anthony returned to Rome, and having fettled his Rome affairs in the beft manner he could, took an oath from the reft of the foldiers, and the fenators, who were with them, and marched into Gaul, to prevent any difturbance there. Caefar marched after him without delay. Decimus Brutus was at that time governour of Gaul; and having been one of Julius Caefar's murderers, was irreconcilable with Anthony, who had vowed the deftruction of them all. But, as young Caefar had never discovered any intention of revenging his father's death, there was a greater probability of being able to form a conjunction with him. Brutus was then at Mutina, now called Modena, and readily affented to Caefar's request, that he would not fuffer Anthony to enter the place. This behaviour of Brutus was approved at Rome; where the Senate ordered thanks to be given to the people of Mutina, and to the foldiers, who had deferted from Anthony. The hatred against Anthony increased every day at Rome; and Cicero, whofe enmity to him was implacable, affifted Caefar, with all his might.

711.

When the Roman affairs were in this perplexed ftate, and the Cifalpine Gaul, the native country of Qur Poet, was becoming the feat of a civil war, it is no wonder, that we do not find any exertion of his poetical genius during this year.

The next began with the creation of two new Confuls, Aulus Hirtius and Caius Panfa. Great debates arofe in the Senate, concerning the prefent pofture of their affairs: but the friends of young Caefar prevailed (r). They decreed, that a ftatue fhould be erected for him; that he fhould have the Quaeftorian rank in the Senate; that he should have (r) Dio, lib. 46.

the