The multitude cried out "Well said";whereupon Octavian descended from the platform in anger.The soldiers gathered round the tribune,praising him and railing at those who did not join with them,and the tribune said that he alone would suffice to defend so just a cause.After saying this he disappeared the following day, and it was never known what became of him.The soldiers no longer dared to give utterance to their complaints singly,but joined together in groups and called for their discharge in common.Octavian conciliated their leaders in various ways.He released those who had served at Philippi and Mutina, and who wished to be discharged, as their time had expired. These, to the number of 20,000,he dismissed
and sent out of the island at once, lest they should seduce the others. To those only who had served at Mutina he added, that, although they were discharged in this way, he would fulfil the promises made to them at that time. He came before the rest of the army and called upon them to bear witness to the perjury of the revolters, who had been dismissed not by the wish of their military commander. He praised those who remained with him, and encouraged them to expect a speedy release, saying that nobody would regret it, that they would be discharged rich.Having thus spoken, he exacted tribute from Sicily to the amount of 1600 talents, appointed propraetors for Africa and Sicily,and assigned a division of the army
to each of these provinces.He sent back Antony's ships to Tarentum. A part of the army he sent in advance of himself to Italy in ships, and took the remainder with him when he departed from the island.When he arrived at Rome the Senate voted him unbounded honors, giving him the privilege of accepting all, or such as he chose. They and the people went out a long distance to meet him, wearing garlands on their heads, and escorted him, when he arrived, first to the temples, and then from the temples to his house. The next day he made speeches to the Senate and to the people, recounting his exploits and his policy from the beginning to the present time. These speeches he wrote down and published in pamphlet form.