¹³ This cannot pass without comment. What glory is there in warding off unwarlike or ‘craven’ enemies? The Indians were not involved in any fighting at this time, and remained utterly remote from the Capitol. Irony is out of the question in this context, but the line may allude to diplomatic approaches from India (cf. Augustus’ own record, Res Gestae 31), seen as a reflection of their fear of Octavian. We know of appeals from later Indian rulers in 25 and 20 BCE.