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！
disordered with thought and overwatching； that he spoke much worse
than usual。 And so now； on quitting his litter to commence the cause
of Milo； at the sight of Pompey； posted as it were； and encamped
with his troops above； and seeing arms shining round about the
Forum； he was so confounded that he could hardly begin his speech
for the trembling of his body and hesitance of his tongue； whereas
Milo； meantime； was bold and intrepid in his demeanour； disdaining
either to let his hair grow or to put on the mourning habit。 And this；
indeed； seems to have been one principal cause of his condemnation。
Cicero； however； was thought not so much to have shown timidity for
himself； as anxiety about his friend。
He was made one of the priests； whom the Romans call Augurs； in
the room of Crassus the younger； dead in Parthia。 Then he was
appointed by lot to the province of Cilicia； and set sail thither with
twelve thousand foot and two thousand six hundred horse。 He had orders
to bring back Cappadocia to its allegiance to Ariobarzanes； its
king； which settlement he effected very completely without recourse to
arms。 And perceiving the Cilicians； by the great loss the Romans had
suffered in Parthia； and the commotions in Syria； to have become
disposed to attempt a revolt； by a gentle course of government he
soothed them back into fidelity。 He would accept none of the
presents that were offered him by the kings； he remitted the charge of
public entertainments； but daily at his own house received the
ingenious and accomplished persons of the province； not sumptuously；
but liberally。 His house had no porter； nor was he ever found in bed
by any man； but early in the morning； standing or walking before his
door； he received those who came to offer their salutations。 He is
said never once to have ordered any of those under his command to be
beaten with rods； or to have their garments rent。 He never gave
contumelious language in his anger； nor inflicted punishment with
reproach。 He detected an embezzlement； to a large amount； in the
public money； and thus relieved the cities from their burdens； at
the same time that he allowed those who made restitution to retain
without further punishment their rights as citizens。 He engaged too；
in war； so far as to give a defeat to the banditti who infested
Mount Amanus； for which he was saluted by his army Imperator。 To
Caecilius； the orator； who asked him to send him some panthers from
Cilicia； to be exhibited on the theatre at Rome； he wrote； in
commendation of his own actions； that there were no panthers in
Cilicia； for they were all fled to Caria； in anger that in so
general a peace they had become the sole objects of attack。 On leaving
his province； he touched at Rhodes； and tarried for some length of
time at Athens； longing much to renew his old studies。 He visited
the eminent men of learning； and saw his former friends and
companions； and after receiving in Greece the honours that were due to
him； returned to the city； where everything was now just as it were in
a flame； breaking out into a civil war。
When the senate would have decreed him a triumph； he told them he
had rather； so differences were accommodated； follow the triumphal
chariot of Caesar。 In private； he gave advice to both； writing many
letters to Caesar； and personally entreating Pompey； doing his best to
soothe and bring to reason both the one and the other。 But when
matters became incurable； and Caesar was approaching Rome； and
Pompey durst not abide it； but； with many honest citizens； left the
city； Cicero as yet did not join in the flight； and was reputed to
adhere to Caesar。 And it is very evident he was in his thoughts much
divided； and wavered painfully between both； for he writes in his
epistles； 〃To which side should I turn？ Pompey has the fair and
honourable plea for war； and Caesar； on the other hand； has managed
his affairs better； and is more able to secure himself and his
friends。 So that I know whom I should fly； not whom I should fly
to。〃 But when Trebatius； one of Caesar's friends； by letter
signified to him that Caesar thought it was his most desirable
course to join his party； and partake his hopes； but if he
considered himself too old a man for this； then he should retire
into Greece； and stay quietly there； out of the way of either party；
Cicero； wondering that Caesar had not written himself； gave an angry
reply； that he should not do anything unbecoming his past life。 Such
is the account to be collected from his letters。
But as soon as Caesar was marched into Spain； he immediately
sailed away to join Pompey。 And he was welcomed by all but Cato；
who； taking him privately； chid him for coming to Pompey。 As for
himself； he said； it had been indecent to forsake that part in the
commonwealth which he had chosen from the beginning； but Cicero
might have been more useful to his country and friends； if；
remaining neuter； he had attended and used his influence to moderate
the result； instead of coming hither to make himself； without reason
or necessity； an enemy to Caesar； and a partner in such great dangers。
By this language； partly； Cicero's feelings were altered； and
partly； also； because Pompey made no great use of him。 Although；
indeed； he was himself the cause of it； by his not denying that he was
sorry he had come； by his depreciating Pompey's resources； finding
fault underhand with his counsels； and continually indulging in
jests and sarcastic remarks on his fellow…soldiers。 Though he went
about in the camp with a gloomy and melancholy face himself； he was
always trying to raise a laugh in others； whether they wished it or
not。 It may not be amiss to mention a few instances。 To Domitius； on
his preferring to a command one who was no soldier； and saying； in his
defence； that he was a modest and prudent person； he replied； 〃Why did
not you keep him for a tutor for or your children？〃 On hearing
Theophanes； the Lesbian； who was master of the engineers in the
army； praised for the admirable way in which he had consoled the
Rhodians for the loss of their fleet； 〃What a thing it is；〃 he said；
〃to have a Greek in command！〃 When Caesar had been acting
successfully； and in a manner blockading Pompey； Lentulus was saying
it was reported that Caesar's friends were out of heart； 〃Because；〃
said Cicero； 〃they do not wish Caesar well。〃 To one Marcius； who had
just come from Italy； and told them that there was a strong report
at Rome that Pompey was blocked up； he said； 〃And you sailed hither to
see it with your own eyes。〃 To Nonius； encouraging them after a defeat
to be of good hope； because there were seven eagles still left in
Pompey's camp； 〃Good reason for encouragement；〃 said Cicero； 〃if we
were going to fight with jackdaws。〃 Labienus insisted on some
prophecies to the effect that Pompey would gain the victory； 〃Yes；〃
said Cicero； 〃and the first step in the campaign has been losing our
camp。〃
After the battle of Pharsalia was over； at which he was not
present for want of health； and Pompey was fled； Cato； having
considerable forces and a great fleet at Dyrrachium； would have had
Cicero commander…in…chief； according to law and the precedence of
his consular dignity。 And on his refusing the command； and wholly
declining to take part in their plans for continuing the war； he was
in the greatest danger of being killed； young Pompey and his friends
calling him traitor； and drawing their swords upon him； only that Cato
interposed； and hardly rescued and brought him out of the camp。
Afterwards； arriving at Brundusium； he tarried there some time in
expectation of Caesar； who was delayed by his affairs in Asia and
Egypt。 And when it was told him that he was arrived at Tarentum； and
was coming thence by land to Brundusium； he hastened towards him；
not altogether without hope； and yet in some fear of making experiment
of the temper of an enemy and conqueror in the presence of many
witnesses。 But there was no necessity for him either to speak or do
anything unworthy of himself； for Caesar； as soon as he saw him coming
a good way before the rest of the company； came down to meet him；
saluted him； and； leading the way； conversed with him alone for some
furlongs。 And from that time forward he continued to treat him with
honour and respect； so that； when Cicero wrote an oration in praise of
Cato； Caesar in writing an answer to it； took occasion to commend
Cicero's own life and eloquence； comparing him to Pericles and
Theramenes。 Cicero's oration was called Cato； Caesar's； anti…Cato。
So also it is related that when Quintus Ligarius was prosecuted
for having been in arms against Caesar； and Cicero had u