[69] Augustus, Antony, and Lepidus formed a triumvirate and made a proscription of all their enemies. More than two thousand knights and three hundred senators were thus put to death and their property confiscated.
[70] Marcus Antonius, the triumvir, received Asia as his share and there met Cleopatra. He followed her to Egypt, a victim of her charms. At the battle of Actium, her flight and Antony’s subsequent pursuit changed the destiny of the Roman empire.
[71] Pompeius had fallen victim to the charms of the beautiful Egyptian.
[72] Agrippina embraced the cause of the wretched Octavia and declared herself to be the protectress of her injured innocence.
[73] Poppaea Sabina, a very beautiful but licentious woman. She was the daughter of T. Ollius but assumed the name of her maternal grandfather, Poppaeus Sabinus. She was first married to Rufrius Crispinus and afterward to Otho from whom she was divorced in order to marry Nero. She persuaded Nero to murder his mother who was opposed to the marriage. She was killed by a kick from Nero.
[74] Similar to Catullus and Vergil.
[75] The Romans were very indignant at this marriage.
[76] Noblesse oblige.
[77] Tantalus was admitted to the feasts of the gods, but having disclosed their secrets he was sent for punishment to the lower world where he stood up to his chin in water under an overhanging fruit tree, both of which retreated whenever he attempted to satisfy the hunger and thirst which tormented him.
[78] Sisyphus’ task in the lower world was to roll up hill a huge stone which constantly rolled back again.