Then, thinking that he had a suitable opportunity for what he had in mind, he spread a report that he was being plotted against, and seizing some soldiers, he threw them into chains, on the pretext that they had been sent for this very purpose of killing him. He hinted at Octavian but did not definitely name him. The report quickly ran through the city that the consul had been plotted against, but had seized the men who had come to attack him. Then his friends gathered at his house, and soldiers under arms were summoned. In the late afternoon the report reached Octavian also that Antonius had been in danger of being assassinated, and that he was sending for troops to guard him that night.
そして、心に抱いていたことを実行する最高のチャンスと考え、彼は自分に対して策略が仕掛けられているという報告を広め、彼を殺す目的で送り込まれたという口実で戦士を何人か捕まえて投獄した。彼はOctavianの名をほのめかしたが、はっきりとその名を口にはしなかった。領事に策略が仕掛けられているという報告はすぐに町に広まったが、彼を攻撃しようと来た男たちが捕まえられた。そして友人が彼の家に集められ、軍の戦士たちが召喚された。午後遅くになり、その報告はOctavianの元へ届き、Antoniusも暗殺の危機にさらされているためその夜は彼を護衛するための小隊を送り込むということも伝えられた。
Immediately Octavian sent word to him that he was ready to stand beside his bed with his own retinue to keep him safe, for he thought that the plot had been laid by some of the party of Brutus and Cassius. He was thus in readiness to do an act of kindness entirely unsuspicious of the rumor Antonius had started or of the plot. Antonius, however, did not even permit the messenger to be received indoors, but dismissed him discourteously. The messenger returned after hearing fuller reports and announced to Octavian that his name was being mentioned among the men about Antonius' door as being himself the man who had despatched the assassins against Antonius, who were now in prison.
すぐにOctavianは、彼を守るために自分の侍者と共に彼のベッドの脇に立つ用意はで来ていると伝言した。策略はBrutusとCassiusの仲間の誰かが仕掛けたものだと考えたからだ。そして彼は、Antoniusが策略に着手したという噂を全く疑うことなく、親切心からその行為を行う心構えをしていた。しかしAntoniusは伝言者を受け入れず門前払いし、無碍に追い払ってしまった。伝言者はより詳しい報告を聞いて戻り、何人かの男たちがOctavianの名を口にしているのがAntoniusの部屋から聞こえ、彼自身がAntoniusに対して送られた暗殺者であると話していたとOctavianに伝えた。しかし実際にその時Antoniusは投獄されていた。
Octavian at first did not believe it because of its improbable sound,but soon he perceived that the whole plan had been directed against himself, so he considered with his friends as to what he should do. His mother came also, at a loss over the strange turn of affairs, and desiring to know what the report meant and what were Antonius' intentions.They advised Octavian to withdraw from the city at once for a few days until the matter could be investigated and cleared up.He, unconscious of any guilt, thought that it would be a serious matter for him to conceal himself and in a way incriminate himself,for he would gain nothing toward his safety by withdrawing, while he might the more easily be destroyed in secret.
そんなことはありそうにもないためOctavianは最初その話を信じなかったが、全ての計画は彼に向けられているとすぐに悟り、どうしたらよいかを友人と共に考えた。彼の母も、事態の奇妙な展開に困惑しながらも、あの報告にはどういう意味があったのか、そしてAntoniusの意図は何なのかを知りたいと思い、やって来た。彼らはOctavianに、状況を調査して明らかになるまで数日の間町から去ることを提案した。彼にはやましいところは全くなかったし、罪を認めたかのように隠れることは深刻な事態につながると考えた。それで自分の安全が保証されることもないし、一方では、秘密裡に暗殺される危険も高まるからだ。
