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Caesar give Cicero the defence of his riches and arms。 For the young
man had already a great party of the soldiers of Caesar about him。 And
Cicero's readiness to join him was founded； it is said； on some yet
stronger motives； for it seems； while Pompey and Caesar were yet
alive； Cicero； in his sleep； had fancied himself engaged in calling
some of the sons of the senators into the capitol； Jupiter being
about； according to the dream； to declare one of them the chief
ruler of Rome。 The citizens； running up with curiosity； stood about
the temple； and the youths； sitting in their purple…bordered robes；
kept silence。 On a sudden the doors opened； and the youths； arising
one by one in order； passed round the god； who reviewed them all； and；
to their sorrow； dismissed them； but when this one was passing by； the
god stretched forth his right hand and said； 〃O ye Romans； this
young man； when he shall be lord of Rome； shall put an end to all your
civil wars。〃 It is said that Cicero formed from his dream a distinct
image of the youth； and retained it afterwards perfectly； but did
not know who it was。 The next day； going down into the Campus Martius；
he met the boys returning from their gymnastic exercises； and the
first was he； just as he had appeared to him in his dream。 Being
astonished at it； he asked him who were his parents。 And it proved
to be this young Caesar； whose father was a man of no great
eminence； Octavius； and his mother； Attia； Caesar's sister's daughter；
for which reason； Caesar； who had no children； made him by will the
heir of his house and property。 From that time； it is said that Cicero
studiously noticed the youth whenever he met him； and he as kindly
received the civility； and by fortune he happened to be born when
Cicero was consul。
These were the reasons spoken of but it was principally Cicero's
hatred of Antony； and a temper unable to resist honour； which fastened
him to Caesar； with the purpose of getting the support of Caesar's
power for his own public designs。 For the young man went so far in his
court to him； that he called him Father； at which Brutus was so highly
displeased； that； in his epistles to Atticus； he reflected on Cicero
saying； it was manifest； by his courting Caesar for fear of Antony； he
did not intend liberty to his country； but an indulgent master to
himself。 Notwithstanding； Brutus took Cicero's son； then studying
philosophy at Athens； gave him a command； and employed him in
various ways； with a good result。 Cicero's own power at this time
was at the greatest height in the city； and he did whatsoever he
pleased； he completely overpowered and drove out Antony； and sent
the two consuls； Hirtius and Pansa； with an army； to reduce him；
and； on the other hand； persuaded the senate to allow Caesar the
lictors and ensigns of a praetor； as though he were his country's
defender。 But after Antony was defeated in battle； and the consuls
slain； the armies united； and ranged themselves with Caesar。 And the
senate； fearing the young man； and his extraordinary fortune；
endeavoured； by honours and gifts； to call off the soldiers from
him； and to lessen his power； professing there was no further need
of arms now Antony was put to flight。
This giving Caesar an affright； he privately sends some friends to
entreat and persuade Cicero to procure the consular dignity for them
both together； saying he should manage the affairs as he pleased；
should have the supreme power； and govern the young man who was only
desirous of name and glory。 And Caesar himself confessed that； in fear
of ruin； and in danger of being deserted； he had seasonably made use
of Cicero's ambition； persuading him to stand with him； and to
accept the offer of him aid and interest for the consulship。
And now； more than at any other time； Cicero let himself be
carried away and deceived； though an old man； by the persuasion of a
boy。 He joined him in soliciting votes； and procured the good…will
of the senate； not without blame at the time on the part of his
friends； and he； too； soon enough after； saw that he had ruined
himself； and betrayed the liberty of his country。 For the young man；
once established； and possessed of the office of consul； bade Cicero
farewell； and； reconciling himself to Antony and Lepidus； joined his
power with theirs； and divided the government； like a piece of
property； with them。 Thus united； they made a schedule of above two
hundred persons who were to be put to death。 But the greatest
contention in all their debates was on the question of Cicero's
case。 Antony would come to no conditions； unless he should be the
first man to be killed。 Lepidus held with Antony； and Caesar opposed
them both。 They met secretly and by themselves； for three days
together； near the town of Bononia。 The spot was not far from the
camp； with a river surrounding it。 Caesar； it is said； contended
earnestly for Cicero the first two days； but on the third day he
yielded； and gave him up。 The terms of their mutual concessions were
these： that Caesar should desert Cicero； Lepidus his brother Paulus；
and Antony； Lucius Caesar； his uncle by his mother's side。 Thus they
let their anger and fury take from them the sense of humanity； and
demonstrated that no beast is more savage than man when possessed with
power answerable to his rage。
Whilst these things were contriving； Cicero was with his brother
at his country…house near Tusculum； whence； hearing of the
proscriptions； they determined to pass to Astura； a villa of
Cicero's near the sea； and to take shipping from thence for
Macedonia to Brutus； of whose strength in that province news had
already been heard。 They travelled together in their separate litters；
overwhelmed with sorrow； and often stopping on the way till their
litters came together； condoled with one another。 But Quintus was
the more disheartened when he reflected on his want of means for his
journey； for； as he said； he had brought nothing with him from home。
And even Cicero himself had but a slender provision。 It was judged；
therefore； most expedient that Cicero should make what haste he
could to fly； and Quintus return home to provide necessaries； and thus
resolved； they mutually embraced； and parted with many tears。
Quintus； within a few days after； betrayed by his servants to
those who came to search for him； was slain； together with his young
son。 But Cicero was carried to Astura； where finding a vessel； he
immediately went on board her； and sailed as far as Circaeum with a
prosperous gale； but when the pilots resolved immediately to set
sail from thence； whether fearing the sea； or not wholly distrusting
the faith of Caesar； he went on shore； and passed by land a hundred
furlongs； as if he was going for Rome。 But losing resolution and
changing his mind； he again returned to the sea； and there spent the
night in fearful and perplexed thoughts。 Sometimes he resolved to go
into Caesar's house privately； and there kill himself upon the altar
of his household gods； to bring divine vengeance upon him； but the
fear of torture put him off this course。 And after passing through a
variety of confused and uncertain counsels； at last he let his
servants carry him by sea to Capitie； where he had a house； an
agreeable place to retire to in the heat of summer； when the Etesian
winds are so pleasant。
There was at that place a chapel of Apollo； not far from the
seaside； from which a flight of crows rose with a great noise； and
made towards Cicero's vessel； as it rowed to land； and lighting on
both sides of the yard； some croaked； others pecked the ends of the
ropes。 This was looked upon by all as an ill…omen； and； therefore；
Cicero went again ashore； and entering his house； lay down upon his
bed to compose himself to rest。 Many of the crows settled about the
window； making a dismal cawing； but one of them alighted upon the
bed where Cicero lay covered up； and with its bill by little and
little pecked off the clothes from his face。 His servants； seeing
this； blamed themselves that they should stay to be spectators of
their master's murder； and do nothing in his defence； whilst the brute
creatures came to assist and take care of him in his undeserved
affliction； and therefore； partly by entreaty； partly by force； they
took him up； and carried him in his litter towards the seaside。
But in the meantime the assassins were come with a band of soldiers；
Herennius； a centurion； and Popillius； a tribune； whom Cicero had
formerly defended when prosecuted for the murder of his father。
Finding the doors shut； they broke them open； and Cicero not
appearing； and those within saying they knew not where he was； it is