Note 160 — TRANSLATION

Appian 3, 39, and Plutarch, Ant., 16, both seem to discredit the report that Octavian made an attempt against Antony’s life, though they do not endeavor to deny it so vigorously as does Nicolaus. Suetonius, Aug. 10; Velleius 2, 60, and Seneca, de Clem., 1, 9, 1, all indicate that the attempt was really made. Cicero, Fam., 12, 23, 2, both believes and approves of it, though it is possible that he was carried away by his own desire rather than that he weighed conclusive contemporaneous evidence. He remarks, however, that the populace did not believe it, and that Antony never gave a report on the prisoners he was supposed to have seized. In Phil. 3, 19, he goes so far as to take upon himself the credit for having urged Octavian to the deed. The circumstantial refutation of Nicolaus comes doubtless from Augustus’ memoirs.