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advocates of the bar。 At first； it is said； he； as well as
Demosthenes； was defective in his delivery； and on that account paid
much attention to the instructions sometimes of Roscius the
comedian； and sometimes of Aesop the tragedian。 They tell of this
Aesop； that whilst he was representing on the theatre Atreus
deliberating the revenge of Thyestes； he was so transported beyond
himself in the beat of action； that he struck with his sceptre one
of the servants； who was running across the stage； so violently that
he laid him dead upon the place。 And such afterwards was Cicero's
delivery that it did not a little contribute to render his eloquence
persuasive。 He used to ridicule loud speakers； saying that they
shouted because they could not speak； like lame men who get on
horseback because they cannot walk。 And his readiness and address in
sarcasm； and generally in witty sayings； was thought to suit a pleader
very well； and to be highly attractive； but his using it to excess
offended many； and gave him the repute of ill…nature。
He was appointed quaestor in a great scarcity of corn and had Sicily
for his province； where though at first he displeased many； by
compelling them to send in their provisions to Rome； yet after they
had had experience of his care； justice； and clemency； they honoured
him more than ever they did any of their governors before。 It
happened； also； that some young Romans of good and noble families；
charged with neglect of discipline and misconduct in military service；
were brought before the praetor in Sicily。 Cicero undertook their
defence； which he conducted admirably； and got them acquitted。 So
returning to Rome with a great opinion of himself for these things；
a ludicrous incident befell him； as he tells us himself。 Meeting an
eminent citizen in Campania； whom he accounted his friend； he asked
him what the Romans said and thought of his actions； as if the whole
city had been filled with the glory of what he had done。 His friend
asked him in reply； 〃Where is it you have been； Cicero？〃 This for
the time utterly mortified and cast him down to perceive that the
report of his actions had sunk into the city of Rome as into an
immense ocean； without any visible effect or result in reputation。 And
afterwards considering with himself that the glory he contended for
was an infinite thing； and that there was no fixed end nor measure
in its pursuit； he abated much of his ambitious thoughts。
Nevertheless； he was always excessively pleased with his own praise；
and continued to the very last to be passionately fond of glory； which
often interfered with the prosecution of his wisest resolutions。
On beginning to apply himself more resolutely to public business； he
remarked it as an and absurd thing that artificers； using vessels
and instruments inanimate； should know the name； place； and use of
every one of them； and yet the statesman； whose instruments for
carrying out public measures are men； should be negligent and careless
in the knowledge of persons。 And so be not only acquainted himself
with the names； but also knew the particular place where every one
of the more eminent citizens dwelt； what lands he possessed； the
friends he made use of； and those that were of his neighbourhood；
and when he travelled on any road in Italy； he could readily name
and show the estates and seats of his friends and acquaintance。 Having
so small an estate； though a sufficient competency for his own
expenses； it was much wondered at that he took neither fees nor
gifts from his clients； and more especially that he did not do so when
he undertook the prosecution of Verres。 This Verres； who had been
praetor of Sicily； and stood charged by the Sicilians of many evil
practices during his government there； Cicero succeeded in getting
condemned； not by speaking； but in a manner by holding his tongue。 For
the praetors； favouring Verres； had deferred the trial by several
adjournments to the last day； in which it was evident there could
not be sufficient time for the advocates to be heard； and the cause
brought to an issue。 Cicero； therefore； came forward； and said there
was no need of speeches； and after producing and examining
witnesses； he required the judges to proceed to sentence。 However；
many witty sayings are on record； as having been used by Cicero on the
occasion。 When a man named Caecilius； one of the freed slaves； who was
said to be given to Jewish practices； would have put by the Sicilians；
and undertaken the prosecution of Verres himself； Cicero asked；
〃What has a Jew to do with swine？〃 verres being the Roman word for a
boar。 And when Verres began to reproach Cicero with effeminate living；
〃You ought；〃 replied he； 〃to use this language at home； to your sons；〃
Verres having a son who had fallen into disgraceful courses。
Hortensius the orator； not daring directly to undertake the defence of
Verres； was yet persuaded to appear for him at the laying on of the
fine； and received an ivory sphinx for his reward； and when Cicero
in some passage of the speech； obliquely reflected on him； and
Hortensius told him he was not skilful in solving riddles； 〃No；〃
said Cicero； 〃and yet you have the sphinx in your house！〃
Verres was thus convicted； though Cicero； who set the fine at
seventy…five myriads； lay under the suspicion of being corrupted by
bribery to lessen the sum。 But the Sicilians； in testimony of their
gratitude； came and brought him all sorts of presents from the island；
when he was aedile； of which he made no private profit himself； but
used their generosity only to reduce the public price of provisions。
He had a very pleasant seat at Arpi； he had also a farm near Naples；
and another about Pompeii； but neither of any great value。 The portion
of his wife； Terentia； amounted to ten myriads； and he had a bequest
valued at nine myriads of denarii； upon these he lived in a liberal
but temperate style with the learned Greeks and Romans that were his
familiars。 He rarely； if at any time； sat down to meat till sunset；
and that not so much on account of business； as for his health and the
weakness of his stomach。 He was otherwise in the care of his body nice
and delicate； appointing himself； for example； a set number of walks
and rubbings。 And after this manner managing the habit of his body； he
brought it in time to be healthful； and capable of supporting many
great fatigues and trials。 His father's house he made over to his
brother； living himself near the Palatine hill； that he might not give
the trouble of long journeys to those that made suit to him。 And；
indeed； there were not fewer daily appearing at his door； to do
their court to him； than there were that came to Crassus for his
riches； or to Pompey for his power amongst the soldiers； these being
at that time the two men of the greatest repute and influence in Rome。
Nay； even Pompey himself used to pay court to Cicero； and Cicero's
public actions did much to establish Pompey's authority and reputation
in the state。
Numerous distinguished competitors stood with him for the
praetor's office； but he was chosen before them all； and managed the
decision of causes with justice and integrity。 It is related that
Licinius Macer； a man himself of great power in the city； and
supported also by the assistance of Crassus； was accused before him of
extortion； and that； in confidence on his own interest and the
diligence of his friends； whilst the judges were debating about the
sentence； he went to his house； where hastily trimming his hair and
putting on a clean gown as already acquitted； he was setting off again
to go to the Forum； but at his hall door meeting Crassus； who told him
that he was condemned by all the votes； he went in again； threw
himself upon his bed； and died immediately。 This verdict was
considered very creditable to Cicero； as showing his careful
management of the courts of justice。 On another occasion； Vatinius；
a man of rude manners and often insolent in court to the
magistrates； who had large swellings on his neck； came before his
tribunal and made some request； and on Cicero's desiring further
time to consider it； told him that he himself would have made no
question about it had he been praetor。 Cicero； turning quickly upon
him； answered； 〃But I； you see； have not the neck that you have。〃
When there were but two or three days remaining in his office；
Manilius was brought before him； and charged with peculation。 Manilius
had the good opinion and favour of the common people； and was
thought to be prosecuted only for Pompey's sake； whose particular
friend he was。 And therefore； when he asked a space of time before his
trial； and Cicero allowed