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44.

But besides all this he had a noble presence, and showed a countenance of one of a noble house: he had a goodly thick beard, a broad forehead, crooked nosed, and there appeared such a manly look in his countenance, as is commonly seen in Hercules, pictures, stamped or graven in metal.

Now it had been a speech of old time, that the family of the Antonii were descended from one Anton the son of Hercules, whereof the family took name. This opinion did Antonius seek to confirm in all his doings: not only resembling him in the likeness of his body, as we have said before, but also in the wearing of his garments. For when he would openly shew him self abroad before many people, he would always wear his cassock girt down low upon his hips, with a great sword hanging by his side, and upon that, some ill-favored cloak. Furthermore, things that seem intolerable in other men, as to boast commonly, to jest with one or other, to drink like a good fellow with everybody, to sit with the soldiers when they dine, and to eat and drink with them soldier-like, it is incredible what wonderful love it won him amongst them. And furthermore, being given to love, that made him the more desired, and by that means he brought many to love him. For he would further everyman's love, and also would not be angry that men should merrily tell him of those he loved.

But besides all this, that which most procured his rising and advancement, was his liberality, who gave all to the soldiers, and kept nothing for himself: and when he was grown to great credit, then was his authority and power also very great, the which notwithstanding himself did overthrow by a thousand other faults he had. In this place I will show you one example only of his wonderful liberality. He commanded one day his cofferer that kept his money, to give a friend of his five and twenty myriads, which the Romans call in their tongue decies. His cofferer marveling at it, and being angry withal in his mind, brought him all this money in a heap together, to show him what a marvelous mass of money it was. Antonius seeing it as he went by, asked what it was: the cofferer answered him, "It was the money he willed him to give unto his friend." Then Antonius, perceiving the spite of his man, "I thought," said he, "that decies had been a greater sum of money than it is, for this is but a trifle," and therefore he gave his friend as much more another time, but that was afterwards.