cicero-第5章
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A bright light shone through the streets from the lamps and torches
set up at the doors； and the women showed lights from the tops of
the houses； to honour Cicero； and to behold him returning home with
a splendid train of the most principal citizens； amongst whom were
many who had conducted great wars； celebrated triumphs； and added to
the possessions of the Roman empire； both by sea and land。 These； as
they passed along with him； acknowledged to one another； that though
the Roman people were indebted to several officers and commanders of
that age for riches； spoils； and power； yet to Cicero alone they
owed the safety and security of all these； for delivering them from so
great and imminent a danger。 For though it might seem no wonderful
thing to present the design； and punish the conspirators； yet to
defeat the greatest of all conspiracies with so little disturbance；
trouble； and commotion； was very extraordinary。 For the greater part
of those who had flocked in to Catiline； as soon as they heard the
fate of Lentulus and Cethegus； left and forsook him； and he himself；
with his remaining forces； joining battle with Antonius； was destroyed
with his army。
And yet there were some who were very ready both to speak ill of
Cicero； and to do him hurt for these actions； and they had for their
leaders some of the magistrates of the ensuing year； as Caesar； who
was one of the praetors； and Metellus and Bestia； the tribunes。 These；
entering upon their office some few days before Cicero's consulate
expired； would not permit him to make any address to the people； but
throwing the benches before the rostra； hindered his speaking； telling
him he might； if he pleased； make the oath of withdrawal from
office； and then come down again。 Cicero； accordingly； accepting the
conditions； came forward to make his withdrawal； and silence being
made； he recited his oath； not in the usual； but in a new and peculiar
form； namely； that he had saved his country and preserved the
empire； the truth of which oath all the people confirmed with
theirs。 Caesar and the tribunes； all the more exasperated by this；
endeavoured to create him further trouble； and for this purpose
proposed a law for calling Pompey home with his army； to put an end to
Cicero's usurpation。 But it was a very great advantage for Cicero
and the whole commonwealth that Cato was at that time one of the
tribunes。 For he； being of （equal power with the rest and of greater
reputation； could oppose their designs。 He easily defeated their other
projects； and in an oration to the people so highly extolled
Cicero's consulate； that the greatest honours were decreed him； and he
was publicly declared the Father of his Country； which title he
seems to have obtained； the first man who did so； when Cato gave it to
him in this address to the people。
At this time； therefore； his authority was very great in the city；
but he treated himself much envy； and offended very many； not by any
evil action； but because he was always lauding and magnifying himself。
For neither senate； nor assembly of the people； nor court of
judicature could meet； in which he was not heard to talk of Catiline
and Lentulus。 Indeed； he also filled his books and writings with his
own praises； to such an excess as to render a style； in itself most
pleasant and delightful； nauseous and irksome to his hearers； this
ungrateful humour like a disease； always cleaving to him。
Nevertheless； though he was intemperately fond of his own glory； he
was very free from envying others； and was； on the contrary； most
liberally profuse in commending both the ancients and his
contemporaries； as any one may see in his writings。 And many such
sayings of his are also remembered； as that he called Aristotle a
river of flowing gold； and said of Plato's Dialogues； that if
Jupiter were to speak； it would be in language like theirs。 He used to
call Theophrastus his special luxury。 And being asked which of
Demosthenes's orations he liked best； he answered； the longest。 And
yet some affected imitators of Demosthenes have complained of some
words that occur in one of his letters； to the effect that Demosthenes
sometimes falls asleep in his speeches； forgetting the many high
encomiums he continually passes upon him； and the compliment he paid
him when he named the most elaborate of all his orations； those he
wrote against Antony； Philippics。 And as for the eminent men of his
own time； either in eloquence or philosophy； there was not one of them
whom he did not； by writing or speaking favourably of him； render more
illustrious。 He obtained of Caesar； when in power； the Roman
citizenship for Cratippus； the Peripatetic； and got the court of
Areopagus； by public decree； to request his stay at Athens； for the
instruction of their youth and the honour of their city。 There are
letters extant from Cicero to Herodes； and others to his son； in which
he recommends the study of philosophy under Cratippus。 There is one in
which he blames Gorgias； the rhetorician； for enticing his son into
luxury and drinking； and； therefore； forbids him his company。 And
this； and one other to Pelops； the Byzantine； are the only two of
his Greek epistles which seem to be written in anger。 In the first； he
justly reflects on Gorgias； if he were what he was thought to be； a
dissolute and profligate character； but in the other； he rather meanly
expostulates and complains with Pelops for neglecting to procure him a
decree of certain honours from the Byzantines。
Another illustration of his love of praise is the way in which
sometimes； to make his orations more striking； he neglected decorum
and dignity。 When Munatius； who had escaped conviction by his
advocacy； immediately prosecuted his friend Sabinus； he said in the
warmth of his resentment； 〃Do you suppose you were acquitted for
your own merits； Munatius； and was it not that I so darkened the case；
that the court could not see your guilt？〃 When from the rostra he
had made a eulogy on Marcus Crassus； with much applause； and within
a few days after again as publicly reproached him； Crassus called to
him； and said； 〃Did not you yourself two days ago； in this same place；
commend me？〃 〃Yes；〃 said Cicero； 〃I exercised my eloquence in
declaiming upon a bad subject。〃 At another time； Crassus had said that
no one of his family had ever lived beyond sixty years of age； and
afterwards denied it； and asked； 〃What should put it into my head to
say so？〃 〃It was to gain the people's favour；〃 answered Cicero； 〃you
knew how glad they would be to hear it。〃 When Crassus expressed
admiration of the Stoic doctrine； that the good man is always rich；
〃Do you not mean；〃 said Cicero； 〃their doctrine that all things belong
to the wise？〃 Crassus being generally accused of covetousness。 One
of Crassus's sons； who was thought so exceedingly like a man of the
name of Axius as to throw some suspicion on his mother's honour；
made a successful speech in the senate。 Cicero； on being asked how
he liked it； replied with the Greek words Axios Crassou。
When Crassus was about to go into Syria； he desired to leave
Cicero rather his friend than his enemy； and； therefore； one day
saluting him； told him he would come and sup with him； which the other
as courteously received。 Within a few days after； on some of
Cicero's acquaintances interceding for Vatinius； as desirous of
reconciliation and friendship； for he was then his enemy； 〃What；〃 he
replied； 〃does Vatinius also wish to come and sup with me？〃 Such was
his way with Crassus。 When Vatinius； who had swellings in his neck；
was pleading a cause he called him the tumid orator； and having been
told by some one that Vatinius was dead； on hearing； presently
after； that he was alive； 〃May the rascal perish；〃 said he。 〃for his
news not being true。〃
Upon Caesar's bringing forward a law for the division of the lands
in Campania amongst the soldiers； many in the senate opposed it；
amongst the rest； Lucius Gellius； one of the oldest men in the
house； said it should never pass whilst he lived。 〃Let us postpone
it；〃 said Cicero； 〃Gellius does not ask us to wait long。〃 There was
a man of the name of Octavius； suspected to be of African descent。
He once said； when Cicero was pleading； that he could not hear him；
〃Yet there are holes〃 said Cicero； 〃in your ears。〃 When Metellus Nepos
told him that he had ruined more as a witness than he had saved as
an advocate； 〃I admit；〃 said Cicero； 〃that I have more truth than
eloquence。〃 To a young man who was suspected of having given a
poisoned cake to his father； and who talked largely of the
invectives he meant to deliver against Cicero； 〃Better these〃
replied he； 〃than your cakes。〃 Publius Sextius； having amongst
others retained Cicero as his advocate in a certain cause； was yet
desirous to say all for himself； and would not allow anybody to
speak for him； when he was about to receive his acquittal from the
judges； and the ballots were passing； Cicero called to him； 〃Make
haste； Sextius； and use your time； to…morrow you will be nobody。〃 He
cited Publius Cotta to bear testimony in a certain cause； one who
affected to be thought a lawyer； though ignorant and unlearned； to
whom； when he had said； 〃I know nothing of the matter；〃 he answered
〃You think； perhaps； we ask you about a point of law。〃 To Metellus
Nepos； who； in a dispute between them； repeated several times； 〃Who
was your father； Cicero？〃 he replied； 〃Your mother has made the answer
to such a question in your case more difficult；〃 Nepos's mother having
been of ill…repute。 The son； also； was of a giddy； uncertain temper。
At one time he suddenly threw up his office of tribune； and sailed off
into Syria to Pompey； and immediately after； with as little reason；
came back again。 He gave his tutor Philagrus； a funeral with more than
necessary attention； and then set up the stone figure of a crow over
his tomb。 〃This；〃 said Cicero； 〃is really appropriate； as he did not
teach you to speak； but to fly about。〃 When Marcus Appius； in the
opening of some speech in a court of justice said that his friend
had desired him to employ industry； eloquence； and fidelity in that
cause； Cicero answered； 〃And how have you had the heart not to
accede to any one of his requests？〃
To use this sharp raillery against opponents and antagonists in
judicial pleading seems allowable rhetoric。 But he excited much
ill…feeling by his readiness to attack any one for the sake of a jest。
A few anecdotes of this kind may be added。 Marcus Aquinius； who had
two sons…in…law in exile； received from him the name of King Adrastus。
