9

99.

Notwithstanding, Dolabella, being at that time tribune, and a young man desirous of change and innovation, he preferred a law which the Romans call Novas Tabulas (as much to say, as a cutting off and cancelling of all obligations and specialities; and were called New Tables, because they were driven then to make books of daily receipt and expense), and persuaded Antonius his friend (who also gaped for a good occasion to please and gratify the common people) to aid him to pass this law. But Trebellius and Asinius dissuaded from it all they could possible. So by good hap it chanced that Antonius mistrusted Dolabella for keeping of his wife, and took such a conceit of it, that he thrust his wife out of his house, being his cousin-german, and the daughter of C. Antonius, who was Consul with Cicero; and joining with Asinius, he resisted Dolabella, and fought with him. Dolabella had gotten the market-place, where the people do assemble in council, and had filled it full of armed men, intending to have this law of the New Tables to pass by force. Antonius, by commandment of the senate, who had given him authority to levy men and to use force against Dolabella, went against him, and fought so valiantly, that men were slain on both sides.

But by this means he got the ill will of the common people; and on the other side, the noblemen (as Cicero saith) did not only mislike him, but also hate him for his naughty life: for they did abhor his banquets and drunken feasts he made at unseasonable times, and his extreme wasteful expenses upon vain light huswives; and then in the day-time he would sleep or walk out his drunkenness, thinking to wear away the fume of the abundance of wine which he had taken over night. In his house they did nothing but feast, dance, and mask: and himself passed away the time in hearing of foolish plays, and in marrying these players, tumblers, jesters, and such sort of people.

As for proof hereof it is reported, that at Hippias' marriage, one of his jesters, he drank wine so lustily all night, that the next morning, when he came to plead before the people assembled in council, who had sent for him, he being queasy-stomached with his surfeit he had taken, was compelled to lay up all before them, and one of his friends held him his gown instead of a basin.

He had another pleasant player called Sergius, that was one of the chiefest men about him, and a woman also called Cytheride, of the same profession, whom he loved dearly: he carried her up and down in a litter unto all the towns he went, and had as many men waiting upon her litter (she being but a player) as were attending upon his own mother. It grieved honest men also very much to see that, when he went into the country, he carried with him a great number of cupboards full of silver and gold plate openly in the face of the world, as it had been the pomp or show of some triumph: and that eftsoons in the middest of his journey he would set up his hales and tents hard by some green grove or pleasant river, and there his cooks should prepare him a sumptuous dinner. And furthermore, lions were harnessed in traces to draw his carts: and besides also, in honest men's houses, in the cities where he came, he would have common harlots, courtesans, and these tumbling gillots lodged. Now it grieved men much to see that Caesar should be out of Italy following of his enemies, to end this great war with such greet peril and danger, and that others in the mean time, abusing his name and authority, should commit such insolent and outrageous parts upon their citizens.