Amidst the very troublous Commotions which ensuedupon the Death os Cæsar , did C. O&avius enter upon theStage. Scarcely eighteen Years of Age, and just comefrom the Schools of Apollonia , he dar’d to project a De-sign for utterly extirpating the Republick, and possessinghimself of absolute Sovereignty; and which is yet moresurprising, without being sure os gaining over to himany of the Parties which were formed after the Dictatorwas kill’d.

In vain 'did his Relatives and Friends *, the Partisans,or even the Enemies of Liberty oppose themselves to sobold and risquous a Project: Nothing could move him ;he without any other Support f but the bare Name ofCæsar , withstood them all. But tho’ he had not suffi-cient Force to resist all thoso different Factions at once,he had Art enough by entering into successive Allianceswith one of them after another, to take Advantage oftheir mutual Jealousies and Animosities by Turns, tomake them destroy one the other by their own Arms ;and thus to lay the Foundation of his own Power andGrandeur on their Ruins.

This was the six'd Scheme which he early form’d, andfrom which he never fwerv’d. But this grand Designlay hid in profound Secrecy, and nothing appeared butZeal and Resolution to avenge his Father’s Fate +. NowM. Anthony under the fame Ipecious Cover for his am-bitious Views had recall'd the Legions he commanded.

So

* See-Velleius Vaterculm, 1 . 2. c. 59. Non placebat Attiæ matri Philippo-que vitrico adiri nomen invidiofæ fortunæ Cæfaris.

•f Sprevit itaque cœlestis animus humana consilia ; & cum periculo po-

tius fumma, quam tuto humilia proposuit sequi; --- dictitans, nefas esse,

quo nomine Caefari dignus esset visus, sibimetipsum videri indignum. Fell.ibidem.

1 Omnium bellorum initium & caussam bine sumfit", nih.il convenientiusducens quam necem avunculi vindicare tuerique acta. Suet.