Octavian and Antne - A History of the Roman Empire

Three old friends were actively plotting war with antony. The trick was to bate him into making the first move, so octavian would not look like the aggressor. Octavian slated himself to hold the consulship for 33 b c. And from that position, he planned to do everything in his power to turn rome against Antony. Messinas cultivated the leading artists and poets of the day - specifically horace and virgil.