Famine fell upon Rome, since the merchants of the Orient could not put to sea for fear of Pompeius, who controlled Sicily, and those of the west were deterred by Sardinia and Corsica, which the lieutenants of Pompeius held, while those of Africa opposite were prevented by the same hostile fleets, which infested both shores. Thus there was a great rise in the cost of provisions, and the people considered the cause of it to be the strife between the chiefs, and cried out against them and urged them to make peace with Pompeius. As Octavian would by no means yield, Antony advised him to hasten the war on account of the scarcity.As there was no money for this purpose, an edict was published that the owners of slaves
should pay a tax for each one, equal to one-half of the twenty-five drachmas that had been ordained for the war against Brutus and Cassius, and that those who acquired property by legacies should contribute a share thereof.The people tore down the edict with fury.They were exasperated that,after exhausting the public treasury,stripping the provinces,burdening Italy itself with contributions, taxes,and confiscations,not for foreign war,not for extending the empire,but for private enmities and to add to their own power (for which reason the proscriptions and murders and this terrible famine had come about), the triumvirs should deprive them of the remainder of their property.They banded together, with loud cries,
and stoned those who did not join them, and threatened to plunder and burn their houses, until the whole populace was aroused, and Octavian came into the forum intending to intercede with the people and to show the unreasonableness of their complaints. As soon as he made his appearance they stoned him unmercifully, and they were not ashamed when they saw him enduring this treatment patiently, and offering himself to it, and even bleeding from wounds. When Antony learned what was going on he came with haste to his assistance. When the people saw him coming they did not throw stones at him, since he was in favor of a treaty with Pompeius, but they told him to go away.When he refused to do so they stoned him also.
※フォルム...古代ローマの広場・集会所。
商品、承認、いずれも商人のタイプミスでした。