Antony

Accordingly, on one occasion, as a physician was making too bold and giving much annoyance to them as they supped, Philotas stopped his mouth with some such sophism as this: To the patient who is somewhat feverish cold water must be given; but everyone who has a fever is somewhat feverish; therefore to everyone who has a fever cold water should be given. The fellow was confounded and put to silence, whereat Antony’s son was delighted and said with a laugh: All this I bestow upon thee, Philotas, pointing to a table covered with a great many large beakers.

Philotas acknowledged his good intentions, but was far from supposing that a boy so young had the power to give away so much. After a little while, however, one of the slaves brought the beakers to him in a sack, and bade him put his seal upon it. And when Philotas protested and was afraid to take them, You miserable man, said the fellow, why hesitate? Don’t you know that the giver is the son of Antony, and that he has the right to bestow so many golden vessels?

However, take my advice and exchange them all with us for money; since perchance the boy’s father might miss some of the vessels, which are of ancient workmanship and highly valued for their art. Such details, then, my grandfather used to tell me, Philotas would recount at every opportunity.

But Cleopatra, distributing her flattery, not into the four forms of which Plato speaks,[*](Gorgias, p. 464.) but into many, and ever contributing some fresh delight and charm to Antony’s hours of seriousness or mirth, kept him in constant tutelage, and released him neither night nor day. She played at dice with him, drank with him, hunted with him, and watched him as he exercised himself in arms; and when by night he would station himself at the doors or windows of the common folk and scoff at those within, she would go with him on his round of mad follies, wearing the garb of a serving maiden. For Antony also would try to array himself like a servant.