按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the consuls opposing it； and Clodius with armed men besetting the
senate…house； many of the senators ran out； crying out and tearing
their clothes。 But this sight moved neither shame nor pity； Cicero
must either fly or determine it by the sword with Clodius。 He
entreated Pompey to aid him； who was on purpose gone out of the way；
and was staying at his country…house in the Alban hills； and first
he sent his son…in…law Piso to intercede with him； and afterwards
set out to go himself。 Of which Pompey being informed； would not
stay to see him； being ashamed at the remembrance of the many
conflicts in the commonwealth which Cicero had undergone in his
behalf； and how much of his policy he had directed for his
advantage。 But being now Caesar's son…in…law； at his instance he had
set aside all former kindness； and； slipping out at another door；
avoided the interview。 Thus being forsaken by Pompey； and left alone
to himself； he fled to the consuls。 Gabinius was rough with him； as
usual； but Piso spoke more courteously； desiring him to yield and give
place for a while to the fury of Clodius； and to await a change of
times； and to be now； as before； his country's saviour from the
peril of these troubles and commotions which Clodius was exciting。
Cicero； receiving this answer； consulted with his friends。
Lucullus advised him to stay； as being sure to prevail at last； others
to fly； because the people would soon desire him again； when they
should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius。 This last
Cicero approved。 But first he took a statue of Minerva； which had been
long set up and greatly honoured in his house； and carrying it to
the capitol； there dedicated it； with the inscription； 〃To Minerva；
Patroness of Rome。〃 And receiving an escort from his friends； about
the middle of the night he left the city and went by land through
Lucania； intending to reach Sicily。
But as soon as it was publicly known that he was fled； Clodius
proposed to the people a decree of exile； and by his own order
interdicted him fire and water； prohibiting any within five hundred
miles in Italy to receive him into their houses。 Most people； out of
respect for Cicero； paid no regard to this edict； offering him every
attention； and escorting him on his way。 But at Hipponium； a city of
Lucania now called Vibo； one Vibius； a Sicilian by birth； who； amongst
many other instances of Cicero's friendship； had been made head of the
state engineers when he was consul； would not receive him into his
house； sending him word he would appoint a place in the country for
his reception。 Caius Vergilius； the praetor of Sicily； who had been on
the most intimate terms with him； wrote to him to forbear coming
into Sicily。 At these things Cicero； being disheartened； went to
Brundusium； whence putting forth with a prosperous wind； a contrary
gale blowing from the sea carried him back to Italy the next day。 He
put again to sea； and having reached Dyrrachium； on his coming to
shore there； it is reported that an earthquake and a convulsion in the
sea happened at the same time； signs which the diviners said intimated
that his exile would not be long； for these were prognostics of
change。 Although many visited him with respect； and the cities of
Greece contended which should honour him most； he yet continued
disheartened and disconsolate； like an unfortunate lover； often
casting his looks back upon Italy； and； indeed； he was become so
poor…spirited； so humiliated and dejected by his misfortunes； as
none could have expected in a man who had devoted so much of his
life to study and learning。 And yet he often desired his friends not
to call him orator； but philosopher； because he had made philosophy
his business； and had only used rhetoric as an instrument for
attaining his objects in public life。 But the desire of glory has
great power in washing the tinctures of philosophy out of the souls of
men； and in imprinting the passions of the common people； by custom
and conversation； in the minds of those that take a part in
governing them； unless the politician be very careful so to engage
in public affairs as to interest himself only in the affairs
themselves； but not participate in the passions that are consequent to
them。
Clodius； having thus driven away Cicero； fell to burning his farms
and villas； and afterwards his city house； and built on the site of it
a temple to Liberty。 The rest of his property he exposed to sale by
daily proclamation； but nobody came to buy。 By these courses he became
formidable to the noble citizens； and being followed by the
commonalty； whom he had filled with insolence and licentiousness； he
began at last to try his strength against Pompey； some of whose
arrangements in the countries he conquered； he attacked。 The
disgrace of this made Pompey begin to reproach himself for his
cowardice in deserting Cicero； and changing his mind； he now wholly
set himself with his friends to contrive his return。 And when
Clodius opposed it； the senate made a vote that no public measure
should be ratified or passed by them till Cicero was recalled。 But
when Lentulus was consul； the commotions grew so high upon this
matter； that the tribunes were wounded in the Forum； and Quintus；
Cicero's brother； was left as dead； lying unobserved amongst the
slain。 The people began to change in their feelings； and Annius
Milo； one of their tribunes； was the first who took confidence to
summon Clodius to trial for acts of violence。 Many of the common
people out of the neighbouring cities formed a party with Pompey；
and he went with them； and drove Clodius out of the Forum； and
summoned the people to pass their vote。 And； it is said； the people
never passed any suffrage more unanimously than this。 The senate；
also； striving to outdo the people； sent letters of thanks to those
cities which had received Cicero with respect in his exile； and
decreed that his house and his country…places； which Clodius had
destroyed； should be rebuilt at the public charge。
Thus Cicero returned sixteen months after his exile； and the
cities were so glad； and people so zealous to meet him； that what he
boasted of afterwards； that Italy had brought him on her shoulders
home to Rome； was rather less than the truth。 And Crassus himself； who
had been his enemy before his exile； went then voluntarily to meet
him； and was reconciled； to please his son Publius； as he said； who
was Cicero's affectionate admirer。
Cicero had not been long at Rome when； taking the opportunity of
Clodius's absence； he went with a great company to the capitol； and
there tore and defaced the tribunician tables； in which were
recorded the acts done in the time of Clodius。 And on Clodius
calling him in question for this； he answered that he； being of the
patrician order； had obtained the office of tribune against law； and
therefore nothing done by him was valid。 Cato was displeased at
this； and opposed Cicero； not that he commended Clodius； but rather
disapproved of his whole administration； yet； he contended； it was
an irregular and violent course for the senate to vote the
illegality of so many decrees and acts； including those of Cato's
own government in Cyprus and at Byzantium。 This occasioned a breach
between Cato and Cicero； which； though it came not to open enmity； yet
made a more reserved friendship between them。
After this； Milo killed Clodius； and； being arraigned for the
murder； he procured Cicero as his advocate。 The senate； fearing lest
the questioning of so eminent and high…spirited a citizen as Milo
might disturb the peace of the city； committed the superintendence
of this and of the other trials to Pompey； who should undertake to
maintain the security alike of the city and of the courts of
justice。 Pompey； therefore； went in the night； and occupying the
high grounds about it； surrounded the Forum with soldiers。 Milo；
fearing lest Cicero； being disturbed by such an unusual sight；
should conduct his cause the less successfully； persuaded him to
come in a litter into the Forum； and there repose himself till the
judges were set and the court filled。 For Cicero； it seems； not only
wanted courage in arms； but； in his speaking also； began with
timidity； and in many cases scarcely left off trembling and shaking
when he had got thoroughly into the current and the substance of his
speech。 Being to defend Licinius Murena against the prosecution of
Cato； and being eager to outdo Hortensius； who had made his plea
with great applause； he took so little rest that night； and was so
disordered with thought and overwatching； that he spoke much worse
than usual。 And so now； on quitting his litter to comme