e been unable to escape from the influence of the historians Sallust, Pollio and Tacitus, all of them Republican in sentiment.

ason may be discovered in the character and opinions of the historian Pollio —a Republican, but a partisan of Caesar and of Ant

nity goes much deeper than words. Nor would it be rash to assert that Pollio was closely akin both to Sallustius and to Tacitu

ord with Sulla’s death and the rise to power of Pompeius the Great. Pollio , however, chose the consulate of Metellus and Afr

erius down to Nero the merciless extinction of the old aristocracy. Pollio was a contemporary, in fact no small part of the

he struggle between Caesar and Pompeius had neutrality been possible. Pollio had powerful enemies on either side. Compelled fo

d Antonius for five years. Loyal to Caesar, and proud of his loyalty, Pollio at the same time professed his attachment to No

the same time professed his attachment to NotesPage=>005 1 As Pollio has perished, Tacitus and Sallust can be drawn up

rbial independence of speech and habit renders entirely credible. 1 Pollio , the partisan of Caesar and of Antonius, was a pe

dous. The lava was still molten underneath. 2 An enemy of Octavianus, Pollio had withdrawn from political life soon after 40 B

f Livy. 3 His master had less exacting standards. The great work of Pollio has perished, save for inconsiderable fragments o

borrowings in subsequent historians. 4 None the less, the example of Pollio and the abundance of historical material (contemp

óρƞτoς ἀρχ ς ĸαὶ πϵριµανὴς πιθυµία τo πρ τoν ϵ ναι ĸαὶ µ γιστoν (from Pollio ?). 2 For the order of events in December 50 and

irst NotesPage=>050 1 Suetonius, Divus Iulius 30, 4 (reporting Pollio ): ‘hoc voluerunt; tantis rebus gestis Gaius Caesa

allus first enters authentic history as a friend of Caesar’s partisan Pollio . 2 Southern Gaul forgot the ancestral tie with th

ar, Velleius 2, 51, 3. Balbus was quaestor in Hispania Ulterior under Pollio , who reports, among other enormities, that he had

in the courts of Rome, making enemies and friends in high places. 1 Pollio was with Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon. He

4, 7), not, however an important person. The powerful enemies to whom Pollio makes reference in his letter cannot be identifie

er, and that was for treachery. 2 NotesPage=>121 1 For example Pollio , Ad fam. 10, 31, 2f., quoted above, p. 6. C. Mati

ally, from the even less dependable Plancus and from the pessimistic Pollio . When Brutus entered his province in April he fou

>147 1 ‘Maiore enim simultates adpetebat animo quam gerebat’, as Pollio wrote (Seneca, Suasoriae 6, 24). 2 Phil. 3, 19:

nd loyalty, even to the extremity of civil war. Among Caesar’s allies Pollio was not the only one who followed the friend but

xample of the patriotic Lepidus, in word no doubt as well as in deed; Pollio likewise, though not an adept at smooth language.

eian cause. In the provinces of the West stood Plancus, Lepidus and Pollio , Caesarian partisans all three, but diverse in ch

ignominy, Plancus a servant of the new order, honoured and despised, Pollio in austere independence. L. Munatius Plancus he

d an honest man, a friend of Caesar and of Antonius but a Republican, Pollio found his loyalties at variance or out of date: i

he pomp and insincerity of whose oratory he found so distasteful. But Pollio was to play his part for peace, if not for the Re

war, the Marrucini (or perhaps rather a faction among them hostile to Pollio ) stimulated recruiting under pain of the loss of

er of the desolation of Italy and all the fine soldiers slain’, wrote Pollio from Spain. 3 Cicero had boasted in the Senate th

his troops had been solicited by envoys of Antonius and Lepidus. 2 Pollio was bound by his personal friendship to Antonius;

d balanced estimate of the situation. But more than this can be said. Pollio , the would-be neutral, the cautious and diplomati

were designated P. Servilius Isauricus and L. Antonius; for 40 B.C., Pollio and Cn. Domitius Calvinus. The Caesarians Servili

hical position and armed strength: he seems to have left his partisan Pollio as proconsul of the Cisalpina, perhaps to hold it

rbonensis and Hispania Citerior, augmented with Hispania Ulterior for Pollio gave up that province. To Octavianus fell a modes

ivus Aug. 62, 1. 4 Unless L. Antonius governed the Cisalpina in 42, Pollio not till 41. On January1st, 41 B.C. L. Antonius i

certainly married the Marrucine Clusinius (Quintilian 7, 2, 26), and Pollio subsequently defended her heirs in a famous lawsu

nus, seems to have commanded two legions established in Italy,3 while Pollio held the Cisalpina with a strong army. 4 At fir

parated by distance and divided in counsel. In Gallia Cisalpina stood Pollio with an army of seven legions. The decision to ab

, it appears, been carried out, perhaps owing to the recalcitrance of Pollio , who had adopted an ambiguous and threatening att

fe. Salvidienus made his way back from Spain through the Cisalpina; Pollio and Ventidius followed, slow but menacing, in his

sia and prepared to stand a brief siege, expecting prompt relief from Pollio and Ventidius. He was quickly undeceived. Octavia

fications. Then, marching north-eastwards with Agrippa, he confronted Pollio and Ventidius, who, undecided and at variance, re

e Fulvia. 3 Further, he composed poems of traditional obscenity about Pollio , who evaded the challenge with a pointed sneer at

siege continued and hunger pressed upon the defenders, Ventidius and Pollio resolved to attempt a junction with Plancus and r

rusia their fire-signals could be seen by the besieged. Ventidius and Pollio were ready to fight. The caution of Plancus was t

tidius knew that Plancus had called him a muleteer and a brigand; and Pollio hated Plancus. But there was a more potent factor

folly to fight for L. Antonius and the propertied classes of Italy. Pollio , Plancus and Ventidius separated and retired, lea

ith Fulvia, Plancus fled to Greece, deserting his army. Ventidius and Pollio turned back and made for the coast of the Adriati

he coast of the Adriatic. Ventidius’ march and movements are obscure. Pollio retired north- eastwards and held Venetia for a t

nd the diplomatic Plancus, and one consul for the illustrious year of Pollio had begun. Yet Octavianus was in no way at the

struck his flag and joined Antonius. 1 He had already been secured by Pollio . 2 Brundisium, the gate of Italy, refused to ad

leets. Serious conferences began. They were conducted for Antonius by Pollio , the most honest of men, for Octavianus by the di

med in September of the year which bore as its title the consulate of Pollio and Calvinus. 4 It might not have happened: the a

ch of a new era, not merely to begin with the consulate of his patron Pollio but very precisely to be inaugurated by Pollio, ‘

onsulate of his patron Pollio but very precisely to be inaugurated by Pollio , ‘te duce’. The Golden Age is to be fulfilled, or

ommentators in late antiquity with confidence instal a younger son of Pollio , Saloninus, who duly smiled at birth and convenie

y be called into doubt; 5 further, there is no reason to imagine that Pollio expected a son of his to rule the world, no indic

al and desired consequences of the wedding of Antonius and Octavia. 7 Pollio the consul was Antonius’ man, and Pollio had had

g of Antonius and Octavia. 7 Pollio the consul was Antonius’ man, and Pollio had had a large share in negotiating the treaty h

Antonius sent his best general Ventidius to disperse the Parthians. 4 Pollio may have departed to Macedonia about the same tim

the most prominent and most able members of that party, the consulars Pollio , Plancus and Ventidius. Not to mention Ahenobarbu

onius 24. 4 CIL 12, p. 50. PageBook=>223 the next proconsul, Pollio , celebrated the suppression of the Parthini, a na

also the Antonian C. Fonteius Capito and a troupe of rising poets. 1 Pollio was not present. If invited, he refused, from dis

onsulars were rare enough on either side. The most prominent of them, Pollio , Ventidius and Plancus, were with Antonius. Octav

as outshone. Antonius’ men celebrated triumphs in Rome Censorinus and Pollio from the province of Macedonia (39), Ventidius ov

-booty for the benefit of the populace and the adornment of the city. Pollio repaired the Atrium Libertatis and equipped it wi

nt from a military despotism. Among the earliest consuls, Plancus and Pollio made their way as commanders of armies and as dip

ste, by a reversion to Asianism, or by the rise of a new romanticism. Pollio , after his triumph abandoning public life, return

so archaic that one would have fancied him born a century earlier. 4 Pollio and Messalla were reckoned the greatest orators o

us of Tacitus (25, 3, cf. 17, 1), Calvus, Caelius, Brutus, Caesar and Pollio are accorded the rank of ‘classical’ orators next

try lost favour rapidly. Young Propertius came too late. The consular Pollio , however, who had ties with the new poets, surviv

inventor of Roman elegy. He first emerges into authentic history when Pollio in a letter to Cicero mentions ‘my friend, Cornel

. 3 The poet may have served as an equestrian officer on the staff of Pollio when he governed the Cisalpina for Antonius (41-4

fell the duty of confiscating lands in the north after Philippi; and Pollio is the earliest patron of Virgil, who was the son

War supervened, and whatever the truth of the matter, a greater than Pollio earned or usurped the ultimate and enduring credi

irgil, however, persevered with poetry, completing his Eclogues while Pollio governed Macedonia for Antonius. It was about thi

ned Macedonia for Antonius. It was about this time, in the absence of Pollio , that he was ensnared by more powerful and perhap

show that Gallus was in Greece. 2 In Ecl. 8, 6-13 Virgil addresses Pollio , anticipating his return and triumph, in a tone a

Caesarian associates, the marshals Ventidius and Decidius were dead. Pollio had abandoned public life, perhaps Censorinus had

39–37) and Furnius (36–35); Macedonia, L. Marcius Censorinus (40) and Pollio (39); Bithynia, Ahenobarbus (the only known gover

minated the Adriatic, striking coins with family portraits thereon. 1 Pollio won him for Antonius, and he served Antonius well

e national struggle. One man, however, stood firm, the uncompromising Pollio . He had been a loyal friend of old to Antonius, o

friend of old to Antonius, of which fact Antonius now reminded him. Pollio in reply claimed that in mutual services Antonius

science was clear. 1 But he refused to support the national movement. Pollio cared for Rome, for the Italy of his fathers and

ippa. It is to be regretted that no history preserves the opinions of Pollio concerning these transactions and it can be well

da victoris. ’ Charisius (GL 1, 80) refers to a speech or pamphlet of Pollio contra maledicta Antonii. PageBook=>292 se

Titius. Ahenobarbus the Republican leader was dead; but Messalla and Pollio carried some authority. If the young despot were

e smooth Plancus no doubt acquiesced, adding his voice to the chorus. Pollio , the other ex-Antonian and former public enemy, s

sed his resentment against Cicero’s character and Cicero’s style; and Pollio detested Plancus. That much more than the memor

ot have found a secure haven. The uncontrolled libertas or ferocia of Pollio came as a verbal reminder of that tradition. Poll

tas or ferocia of Pollio came as a verbal reminder of that tradition. Pollio , it is true, was preserved as a kind of privilege

long ago from public notice. Nor was it likely that the ex-Antonians Pollio , Censorinus, C. Sosius and M. Licinius Crassus wo

a now entered the Senate and commanded the armies of the Roman People Pollio , whose grandfather led the Marrucini against Rome

d Salvidienus Rufus. Rome came to witness younger and younger consuls Pollio at thirty-six, Agrippa at twenty-six. The constit

, old or recent, displayed some show of talent in oratory or letters. Pollio and Messalla still dominated the field: Gallus an

y seventeen consulars alive, mostly of no consequence. By the year of Pollio , at the time of the Pact of Brundisium, their tot

es of the plebeian aristocracy; the senatorial historians Sallustius, Pollio and Tacitus, whose writings breathe the authentic

Princeps succeeded: other patrons of literature were left far behind. Pollio lost his Virgil. Messalla had to be content wit

family by supporting a Greek versifier, Antipater of Thessalonica. 5 Pollio , it is true, was honoured by Horace in a conspicu

ent city of Patavium certainly had to endure severe requisitions when Pollio governed the Cisalpina: the wealthy went into hid

language, that Augustus should be hailed as pater patriae (2 B.C.) Pollio , however, did not suffer himself thus to be captu

o be muzzled without scandal, too recalcitrant to be won by flattery, Pollio had acquired for himself a privileged position. I

ed on a charge of poisoning, attacked by Cassius Severus, defended by Pollio and rescued through the personal intervention of

r office, it was virtually excluded. Already in the Triumviral period Pollio was quick to draw the moral of the times, intelli

, a scourge in the social life of the aristocracy. Messalla vied with Pollio as a patron of letters. When a mediocre poet from

ero, deflendus Cicero est Latiaeque silentia linguae, the resentful Pollio rose and walked out. 6 Pollio professed to find

aeque silentia linguae, the resentful Pollio rose and walked out. 6 Pollio professed to find little to his taste in the New

t. 6 Pollio professed to find little to his taste in the New State. Pollio was himself both a historian and an orator; and i

eniat verbis, nisi rem sequuntur. ’ PageBook=>485 Augustus and Pollio were crisp, hard, unsentimental men. Augustus mig

the character, policy and style of Cicero was not so far from that of Pollio . Pollio’s native distrust of fine words was inten

aled the naked realities of politics. It is in no way surprising that Pollio , like Stendhal, became the fanatical exponent of

tent and laudable feature of Roman historiography. Like Sallustius, Pollio imitated the gravity and concentration of Thucydi

practical experience of affairs; and it will be a fair inference that Pollio , the eminent consular, like the senator Tacitus m

history from the study of rhetoric. That was not the only defect that Pollio could discover in Livy. Pollio, so it is record

c. That was not the only defect that Pollio could discover in Livy. Pollio , so it is recorded by Quintilian, criticized Livy

vy’s writings alone, without reference to the character of his critic Pollio and of Pollio’s theories about the style, substan

style, substance and treatment appropriate to the writing of history. Pollio , who came from a poor and infertile region of Ita

ove, p. 464. PageBook=>486 A critic armed with the acerbity of Pollio must have delivered a more crushing verdict upon

trivial comment that his speech showed traces of his native dialect. Pollio himself may have had a local accent. Nor was the

allible arbiter of urban purity, mocked and showed up the provincial. Pollio , an Italian from the land of the Marrucini, was p

legantly and finally, the whole moral and romantic view of history. 1 Pollio knew what history was. It was not like Livy. Au

er of whom possessed the social and material advantages that rendered Pollio secure from reprisals as well as formidable in at

an easy target. The more eminent were not immune. He even criticized Pollio . 3 Labienus also wrote history. When reciting his

Ib. 10, praef. 8. 5 Dio 56, 27, 1. 6 Seneca, De ira 3, 23, 4 ff. Pollio harboured him when he was expelled from Augustus’

f poetry. Nor could the new oratory outshine the fame of Messalla and Pollio ; and its ablest exponents were bitter enemies of

banus Flaccus founded noble families; 1 and the diplomats Plancus and Pollio , tenacious of life themselves, each produced one

s, Sentius Saturninus and Vinicius belong to the reign of Claudius. Pollio was survived by only one son, Gallus, who came to

dians has already been set, the action has begun. Like Sallustius and Pollio , the senator Tacitus, who admired Republican virt

ore independent characters than Dellius and Plancus were Messalla and Pollio , the consular patrons of Augustan literature, the

h Agrippa, Messalla occupied the house of Antonius on the Palatine. 2 Pollio had been more intractable during the Civil Wars,

he campaign of Actium; he retained his ‘ferocia’ under the New State. Pollio hated Plancus and composed a memoir to be publish

s the phrase ‘desultor bellorum civilium’. 4 Yet, on a cool estimate, Pollio as well as Messalla will be reckoned among the pr

ned among the profiteers of the Revolution. 5 Enriched by both sides, Pollio augmented the dignity as well as the fortunes of

He should have had nothing to complain of under the new dispensation. Pollio himself lived on to a decade before the death of

rninus (the grandson was an orator, mentioned along with Messalla and Pollio by Tacitus, Ann. 11, 6 f.). 7 Pollio, ‘nervosae

tioned along with Messalla and Pollio by Tacitus, Ann. 11, 6 f.). 7 Pollio , ‘nervosae vivacitatis haud parvum exemplum’ (Val

cf. PIR1, V 90. PageBook=>513 In his life and in his writings Pollio professed an unswerving devotion to Libertas. But

rty, it could be maintained, was doomed if not dead long before that. Pollio knew the bitter truth about the last generation o

blinded by literary and sentimental conventions. Like Sallustius and Pollio , he had no illusions about the Republic. The root

potentiae cupido cum imperii magnitudine adolevit erupitque,’ &c. Pollio no doubt had similar observations to proffer. 2

s and the Origin of Moesia’, JRS XXIV (1934), 113 ff ——— ‘ Pollio , Saloninus and Salonae’, CQ XXXI (1937), 39 ff

206 f., 209, 314; governors, 35, 36, 62, 64, 110, 209; activities of Pollio there, 207, 252, 404; poets from Cisalpina, 74, 2

etation of his moral and patriotic poetry, 451 f., 461 f.; his Ode to Pollio , 6, 8; Agrippa, 344; Lollius, 392; Fabius Maximus

59 B.C.), 24; marries M. Brutus, 58, 116. Porcius Cato, C., enemy of Pollio , 92. Porcius Cato, L. (cos. 89 B.C.), 26. Por

s Varus, Sex. (q. 49 B.C.), 199, 206. Quinctius, L., father-in-law of Pollio , 193. Quinctius Crispinus Sulpicianus, T. (cos.

A.D. 44), 384; marries two princesses, 501. Saloninus, dubious son of Pollio , 219. Salvia Titisenia, alleged mistress of Oct

tatius the Samnite, senator at Rome, 88, 195. Stendhal, compared with Pollio , 485. Stertinius Xenophon, C., Greek in equestr

on civil war, 154; imitated by Cassius Dio, 154; by Sallust, 248; by Pollio , 485. Tiberius, stepson of Augustus and Emperor

87; men from Umbria, 90, 360 f., 466. Urbinia, her heirs defended by Pollio , 193. Urbinius Panapio, perhaps a Marrucine, 19

nus victrix, 67. Venusia, 254. Vergilius Maro, P., relations with Pollio , 218 f., 252 f.; with Maecenas, 253, 460; at Tare