And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears,
And graze in commons.
(J. C. IV. i. 19.)
Octavius certainly carries out Antony’s programme in the result, and it would add to the irony of the situation if he had also done so in the process, and, while exploiting Lepidus’ resources, had incidentally eased himself of a slanderous load. No wonder that Antony is annoyed. But if he frets at his colleague’s undoing, we may be sure that apart from personal chagrin, it is only because Octavius’ influence has been increased and his own share of the spoils withheld. Of personal regret there is nothing in his reported reception of the news. Lepidus the man, Antony dismisses with an angry gesture and exclamation: he
spurns
The rush that lies before him; cries, “Fool, Lepidus!”
(III. v. 17.)
Sextus Pompeius who at one time had a fair chance of entering into a position equal or superior to that of Lepidus, comes higher in the scale than he. He has a certain feeling for righteousness: