A Frank Exchange ofViews

In order to discuss a number of issues that have accumulated during a certain triumvir’s dallying in the east, Antony and Octavius are to meet at a country retreat once owned by Lepidus. Conveniently located in a place the exact geocoordinates of which are not available for reasons of imperial security, the primary mansion and the buildings adjacent to it form a structure typical of a luxe Roman-style settlement of the time. The stark interiors are in contrast to the lush gardens outside; the only artworks in evidence are some Greek vases and terracotta objects — few in number, but so expensive as to be close to invaluable.

“Hey Octavius, how’s it going?” — Antony, of course.

“Antony. We have much todiscuss.”

“Well, let’s get to itthen.”

Antony and Octavius sit down at the conference table — tumblers, jugs of water, tablets and styluses, and little bowls of nuts are the predictable materials — and Agrippa and his counterpart Enobarbus followsuit.

Antony has decided not to complain about the unsatisfactory feast and instead concentrates on the business at hand. “So, what’sup?”

“I have not a fewgrievances.”

“Well, that’s too bad. But understandable. I don’t know what is worse, the dumb pigheaded farmers who don’t want to support our troops here or those Parthians skulking about in theeast.”

“Youare.”

“Me?!”

Octavius would not be Octavius if he didn’t know to delegate the bulk of his argument to his subordinate. “Agrippa?”

“While Octavius certainly appreciates Antony’s now meeting him in such free and friendly conference, Antony’s past misdeeds need to be addressed. Acting on behalf of Antony and in gross violation of previous accords, his late wife Fulvia, along with his brother Lucius, not only stirred up Roman citizens against the rightful rule of Octavius as triumvir, but also led armed units against him in the name of their kinsman. Moreover, Antony himself has repeatedly failed to honor the terms of the second triumvirate and Octavius as his comrade: no public stance in support of Octavius and against the insurgents was taken, emissaries sent to the court of Alexandria were ignored or rebuffed in the curtest manner thinkable, and the provision of reserve troops and military materials as well as the shipment of grain and other foodstuff as laid out and agreed upon in Articles 14