Produced by Tapio Riikonen and David Widger
By
C. Suetonius Tranquillus;
To which are added,
The Translation of
Alexander Thomson, M.D.
revised and corrected by
T.Forester, Esq., A.M.
(71)
I. That the family of the Octavii was of the first distinction inVelitrae [106], is rendered evident by many circumstances. For in themost frequented part of the town, there was, not long since, a streetnamed the Octavian; and an altar was to be seen, consecrated to oneOctavius, who being chosen general in a war with some neighbouringpeople, the enemy making a sudden attack, while he was sacrificing toMars, he immediately snatched the entrails of the victim from off thefire, and offered them half raw upon the altar; after which, marching outto battle, he returned victorious. This incident gave rise to a law, bywhich it was enacted, that in all future times the entrails should beoffered to Mars in the same manner; and the rest of the victim be carriedto the Octavii.
II. This family, as well as several in Rome, was admitted into thesenate by Tarquinius Priscus, and soon afterwards placed by ServiusTullius among the patricians; but in process of time it transferreditself to the plebeian order, and, after the lapse of a long interval,was restored by Julius Caesar to the rank of patricians. The firstperson of the family raised by the suffrages of the people to themagistracy, was Caius Rufus. He obtained the quaestorship, and had twosons, Cneius and Caius; from whom are descended the two branches of theOctavian family, which have had very different fortunes. For Cneius, andhis descendants in uninterrupted succession, held all the highest officesof the state; whilst Caius and his posterity, whether from theircircumstances or their choice, remained in the equestrian order until thefather of Augustus. The great-grandfather of Augustus served as amilitary tribune in the second Punic war in Sicily, under the command ofAemilius Pappus. His grandfather contented himself with bearing thepublic offices of his own municipality, and grew old in the tranquilenjoyment of an ample patrimony. Such is the account given (72) bydifferent authors. Augustus himself, however, tells us nothing more thanthat he was descended of an equestrian family, both ancient and rich, ofwhich his father was the first who obtained the rank of senator. MarkAntony upbraidingly tells him that his great-grandfather was a freedmanof the territory of Thurium [107], and a rope-maker, and his grandfathera usurer. This is all the information I have any where met with,respecting the ancestors of Augustus by the father's side.
III. His father Caius Octavius was, from his earliest years, a personboth of opulence and distinction: for which reason I am surprised atthose who say that he was a money-dealer [108], and was employed inscattering bribes, and canvassing for the candidates at elections, in theCampus Martius. For being bred up in all the affluence of a greatestate, he attained with ease to honourable posts, and discharged theduties of them with much distinction. After his praetorship, he obtainedby lot the province of M