Octavius lived soberly and in moderation; his friends know of something else about him that was remarkable. For an entire year at the very age at which youths, particularly those with wealth, are most wanton, he abstained from sexual gratification out of regard for both his voice and his strength.Octavius spent three months in Rome and then came and sojourned here [Apollonia]. He was admired by his friends and companions, revered by everyone in the city, and praised by his instructors. In the fourth month of his stay, a freedman came from home, in excitement and dismay, sent by his mother and carrying a letter which said that Caesar had been killed in the Senate by Cassius and Brutus and their accomplices.
Octaviusは酒はたしなむ程度にして真面目に暮らした。Octaviusの友人は彼の他の優れた面も知っている。若い頃は、特に富に恵まれているとたいてい奔放にふけるものだが、Octaviusは自分の声と体力に配慮して性欲と満たすことを慎んだ。Octaviusはローマで3か月過ごした後、ここ（Apollonia）に来て逗留した。彼は友人や同僚に称賛され、街のあらゆる人から崇拝され、師からも褒め称えられた。滞在して4か月経った頃、実家から母が遣った自由民が興奮し動揺した様子で1通の手紙を携えてやってきた。手紙には元老院でCaesarがCassiusとBrutus、その共犯者に殺されたことが記されていた。
She asked her son to return to her as she did not know what the outcome of affairs would be. She said he must show himself a man now and consider what he ought to do and put his plans in action, according to fortune and opportunity. His mother's letter made all this clear, and the man who brought it gave a similar report. He said he had been sent immediately after Caesar's murder, and he had wasted no time on the way, so that hearing the news as quickly as possible, Octavius would be able to make his plans accordingly. He added that the relatives of the murdered man were in great danger, and it was necessary to consider first of all how this was to be avoided.
母親はこの事件がそのような結末になるのかわからないのですぐに戻ってきてほしい、と息子に頼んでいた。母親は今こそ自分の男らしさを示す時だ、運とチャンスに従って自分が何をすべきかをよく考えて計画を実行に移すように、と書いていた。母親の手紙は事件をすべてを明らかにしており、手紙を持ってきた男も同様の報告をした。男は出来るだけ早く知らせを伝え、それに基づいてOctaviusが計画を練ることができるようCaesarの暗殺後直ちに派遣されたと述べた。男は暗殺されたCaesarの身内が大変な危険にさらされており、何よりもまずそのような状況を避けることを考える必要があると付け加えた。
