AT Brundisium Caesar's heir had again been saved from
ruin by the name, the fortune and the veterans of Caesar,
the diplomacy of his friends and his own cool resolution. Not to
mention chance and the incompetence of his enemies, the acci-
dental death of Fufius Calenus and the fatal error of Salvidienus.
The compact with Antonius gave standing, security and the
possession of the western provinces. He at once dispatched to
Gaul and Spain the ablest among his partisans, the trusty and
plebeian Agrippa, now of praetorian standing, and the aristocrat
Domitius Calvinus, fresh from his second consulate, with long
experience of warfare and little success as a general.

The Pact of Puteoli brought Italy a respite at last from raids and
famine, and to Octavianus an accidental but delayed advantage--
prominent Republicans now returned to Rome, nobles of ancient
family or municipal aristocrats. Here were allies to be courted,
men of some consequence now or later. ¹ There were others: yet
there was no rapid or unanimous adhesion to 'the new master of
Rome. While some reverted again to Pompeius, many took service
under Antonius and remained with him until they recognized,
to their own salvation, the better cause--'meliora et utiliora'. ²

Many senators and knights, being peaceful members of the
propertied classes, wearied by exile and discomfort, left the com-
pany of Pompeius without reluctance; and few Republicans could
preserve, if they had ever acquired, sufficient faith in the principles
of any of the Pompeii, into whose fatal alliance they had been
driven or duped. Ahenobarbus kept away from Sex. Pompeius,
who gave guarantee neither of victory nor even of personal se-
curity--he had recently put to death on the charge of conspiracy a
Republican admiral, Staius Murcus. ³

Defeated at Pharsalus but not destroyed, the family and faction
of the Pompeii had incurred heavy losses through desperate
valour at Thapsus and Munda; and princes or local dynasts in
foreign lands had lapsed by now to the Caesarian party. Sextus'
brother was dead, as were those faithful Picenes, Afranius and

-227-