[42] Seven months had not elapsed between Caesar’s departure from Rome and the battle of Munda (March 17, 45 B.C.).
11.[43] Carteia, on the Bay of Gibraltar. Octavius must have arrived after the battle of Munda had taken place, otherwise Nicolaus certainly would have mentioned his presence at that encounter, Caesar’s last successful one. Caesar wrote to Cicero from Hispalis, his next stopping point (Caes., B. Hisp., 39) on April 30 (Cic., Att., 13, 20, 1). Octavius’ arrival at Carteia was therefore some time in May.
[44] σύνεσιν. There seems to be no valid reason for altering the text, with Müller, to σύντασιν, ‘exertions’.
12.[45] [Lacuna] of 2 pages. The information embodied in chapters 10-12 is unique with Nicolaus and hence does not permit of any basis for comparison with other writers. Suet., Aug., 8 makes the brief statement that Octavian proceeded to Spain to join his great-uncle after recovering from his illness; Vell. 2, 59, 3 briefly notes that Octavius was with Caesar, and Dio 43, 41, in alluding to the prodigy of the sprouting palm, seems to infer that Octavius was present during the entire expedition, including Munda. This portion of Nicolaus’ biography shows every indication of having been compiled with much dependence upon Augustus’ memoirs. It is possible that Nicolaus enlarged upon the importance of Octavius’ actions in these chapters over and above the material which he found in Augustus’ memoirs; however, the tone of the Monumentum Ancyranum shows that false modesty, at least, was not over-evident in the character of the autobiographer in that case, and it is conceivable therefore that Nicolaus has repeated Augustus’ words much as he found them.
13.[46] ἀρ]γυροῦ is Müller’s restoration. The reference, if this restoration is correct, apparently is to a silver table-service. Dindorf attempts no restoration, but prints simply γύρου—‘of a circle’.
[47] C. Claudius Marcellus, consul in 50 B.C., and at that time a vigorous opponent of Julius Caesar (Cic., Brut., 64, 229; Plin., N. H., 2, 147; Suet., Caes., 29; App. 2, 26; Dio 40, 44; Pauly-Wissowa, Claudius, 216). He and the members of his immediate family were warmly congratulated by Cicero at the time of his attainment of the office of consul (Cic., Fam., 15, 7; 15, 8; 15, 9; 15, 10; 15, 11), and Cicero later mentioned him as being in accord, apparently at least, with his own views (Cic., Att., 10, 12, 3).
When the civil war broke out he remained in Italy, coming to terms with Caesar. After Caesar’s death he gave his support to his young brother-in-law Octavian. The family can be traced back 8 generations to M. Claudius Marcellus, consul in 331 B.C.
[48] Drawn, as has been noted (chap. 8, [note] [36]) on September 13, 45 B.C. This passage proves that Nicolaus knew the facts about the will and that the statement in chap. 8 is at least careless.
[49] The statement as to the proportion of Octavius’ inheritance agrees with Suet., Caes., 83, but is at variance with Liv., Epit., 116, where one half of the total is assigned to Octavius. Q. Pedius and L. Pinarius were the other beneficiaries (Suet., Caes., 83, 2; App. 3, 22; 23; 94; Plin., N. H., 35, 21).
14.[50] Pseudo-Marius, otherwise Herophilus or Amatius, was a well-known character (Cic., Att., 12, 49, 1; 14, 6, 1; Phil. 1, 2, 5; App. 3, 2). After Caesar’s death he erected an altar or column on the place where Caesar’s body had been burned and was responsible for much rioting there. Antony finally put him to death, to the relief of Cicero (Cic., Att., 14, 7, 1; 14, 8, 1; App. 3, 3); see also Val. Max. 9, 15, 1; Liv., Epit., 116.