[64] Cornelius Sulla who had been banished to Massilia in 58 was put to death on the grounds that his residence in Gaul was likely to arouse disaffection in that province, and a similar charge proved fatal to Rubellius Plautus who had for two years been living in retirement in Asia. [65] Formal title of the emperor. [66] Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor, originally Gaius Octavius. After his adoption by his great uncle, C. Julius Caesar, he was called Augustus by the senate. He defeated Brutus and Cassius, his adopted father’s murderers, at Philippi B.C. 42. [67] In Nero’s first speech, he placed the authority of the senate on the same footing with the consent of the soldiers. [68] Brutus murdered Caesar, his patron. [69] Augustus, Antony, and Lepidus formed a triumvirate and made a proscription of all their enemies. More than two thousand knights and three hundred senators were thus put to death and their property confiscated. [70] Marcus Antonius, the triumvir, received Asia as his share and there met Cleopatra. He followed her to Egypt, a victim of her charms. At the battle of Actium, her flight and Antony’s subsequent pursuit changed the destiny of the Roman empire. [71] Pompeius had fallen victim to the charms of the beautiful Egyptian. [72] Agrippina embraced the cause of the wretched Octavia and declared herself to be the protectress of her injured innocence. [73] Poppaea Sabina, a very beautiful but licentious woman. She was the daughter of T. Ollius but assumed the name of her maternal grandfather, Poppaeus Sabinus. She was first married to Rufrius Crispinus and afterward to Otho from whom she was divorced in order to marry Nero. She persuaded Nero to murder his mother who was opposed to the marriage. She was killed by a kick from Nero. [74] Similar to Catullus and Vergil. [75] The Romans were very indignant at this marriage. [76] Noblesse oblige. [77] Tantalus was admitted to the feasts of the gods, but having disclosed their secrets he was sent for punishment to the lower world where he stood up to his chin in water under an overhanging fruit tree, both of which retreated whenever he attempted to satisfy the hunger and thirst which tormented him. [78] Sisyphus’ task in the lower world was to roll up hill a huge stone which constantly rolled back again. [79] A vulture was constantly feeding upon Tityos’ liver which as constantly grew again. [80] Ixion was bound to an ever-revolving wheel. [81] Life of Nero by Suetonius. [82] In 66 occurred the visit of the Parthian prince, Tiridates to Italy to receive his crown from the hands of the Roman emperor. [83] Compare with curse of Dido in Vergil when Aeneas went below. [84] Wedding day of Poppaea and Nero. [85] Poppaea’s head appeared on the coins side by side with Nero, and her statues were erected in the public places of Rome. [86] Sejanus. Juvenal’s Satires. [87] Seneca and Burrhus were both opposed to the marriage. [88] Similar to Catullus.