WIVES OF THE C.ESARS. 595 



whole of his disasters, he was signally discomfited by sea in sight of 

 the Sicilian shore,* when half his fleet was sunk or otherwise dis- 

 abled. When Livia witnessed such a series of reverses, she began 

 to think that fortune had forsaken Caesar for the cause of Pompey ; a 

 cause remembered still in Rome with reverence and zeal. Mark An- 

 tony was but a distant and uncertain aid;f the sensual triumvir had 

 totally resigned the cares of government, and lay entranced in the 

 enjoyments of a senseless passion. Rome was troubled with appalling 

 prodigies and monstrous signs, which were interpreted according to 

 the fears, the folly, or the wishes of a mixed community. In the 

 midst of Livia's apprehensions, she was solaced by a singular adven- 

 ture, which furnished ample subject for the flattering artifice of divi- 

 nation. As she was going to her country house near Rome, an eagle 

 which had seized a pullet with a branch of laurel in its bill, de- 

 scended with its prey and dropped it gently into Livia's hands. The 

 augurs who interrupted the omen, declared that Livia would partake 

 of sovereign power ; and the laurel-branch, upon the same infallible 

 authority, implied the happiness and fame of her posterity. But 

 little time elapsed before she seemed approaching the fulfilment of 

 the augury ; for Pompey was defeated in a naval fight, which utterly 

 destroyed his party and his hopes for ever.J The hostile fleets, con- 

 sisting each of near 400 sail, engaged between the points of Naulo- 

 chus and Myle to the westward of Pelorum. Ingenuity and valour 

 were conspicuous on either side. Agrippa led the fleet of Caesar ; 

 that of Pompey was commanded by Demochares, who acted with 

 consummate skill. The hostile chiefs, with their respective armies, 

 were spectators from the shore of the important conflict, which as- 

 signed the empire of the western world. The fight was bloody, 

 valiant, and protracted. The beholding armies were in breathless 

 doubt and agitation ; when Agrippa having sunk some vessels of his 

 adversary, the soldiers of Octavius rent the air with acclamations and 

 struck the troops of Pompey with dismay. His fleet was beaten and 

 dispersed ; Demochares despatched himself, and Pompey fled towards 

 Asia, to perish by the stroke of an assassin. 



Octavius marked his triumph by excesses of the meanest and most 



* Eutrop. Brev. 1. 7- Appian. 1. 5. 



t Florus impeaches Antony's oblivion of his country, of the Roman name 

 and toga, and the badge of consular authority, that, in very mind and dress, he 

 might assume the monstrous likeness of a king. In his hand he swayed the regal 

 sceptre ; by his side he wore the Median cimitar ; his purple garment was fas- 

 tened with enormous gems, and on his brow he wore the diadem of .(Egypt, that 

 he might possess, in all the pomp of royalty, the person of the queen. FLOR. 

 Epitom. 1. 4. c. 11. 



$ " Pompeium inter Mylas Naulochum superavit ; subhoram pugnae, tarn 

 " arcto repente somno devinctus, ut ad dandurn signum ab amicis excitaretur," 

 Sueton. Aug. 16. He adds, the jest or the reproach of Antony, who discovered 

 in the sudden sleep of Caesar, the symptoms of united fear and superstition. The 

 fit forsook him when Agrippa had achieved the victory. 



Dion Cassius relates that Antony had written letters directing Pompey's 

 death ; that subsequently, he repented these instructions, arid despatched an or- 

 der for his preservation. By accident the latter letter was the first delivered 

 to the hands of Titius, who on receiving afterwards the order first addressed 

 to him, fulfilled the fatal mandate of the triumvir. 



