cicero-第6章
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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。
Lucius Cotta； an intemperate lover of wine； was censor when Cicero
stood for the consulship。 Cicero； being thirsty at the election； his
friends stood round about him while he was drinking。 〃You have
reason to be afraid；〃 he said； 〃lest the censor should be angry with
me for drinking water。〃 Meeting one day Voconius with his three very
ugly daughters； he quoted the verse…
〃He reared a race without Apollo's leave。〃
When Marcus Gellius； who was reputed the son of a slave； had read
several letters in the senate with a very shrill and loud voice；
〃Wonder not；〃 said Cicero； 〃he comes of the criers。〃 When Faustus
Sylla； the son of Sylla the dictator； who had； during his
dictatorship； by public bills proscribed and condemned so many
citizens； had so far wasted his estate； and got into debt； that he was
forced to publish his bills of sale； Cicero told him that he liked
these bills much better than those of his father。 By this habit he
made himself odious with many people。
But Clodius's faction conspired against him upon the following
occasion。 Clodius was a member of a noble family； in the flower of his
youth； and of a bold and resolute temper。 He； being in love with
Pompeia； Caesar's wife； got privately into his house in the dress
and attire of a music…girl； the women being at that time offering
there the sacrifice which must not be seen by men； and there was no
man present。 Clodius； being a youth and beardless； hoped to get to
Pompeia among the women without being taken notice of。 But coming into
a great house by night； he missed his way in the passages； and a
servant belonging to Aurelia； Caesar's mother； spying him wandering up
and down； inquired his name。 Thus being necessitated to speak； he told
her he was seeking for one of Pompeia's maids； Abra by name； and
she； perceiving it not to be a woman's voice； shrieked out； and called
in the women； who shutting the gates； and searching every place； at
length found Clodius hidden in the chamber of the maid with whom he
had come in。 This matter being much talked about； Caesar put away
his wife； Pompeia； and Clodius was prosecuted for profaning the holy
rites。
Cicero was at this time his friend； for he had been useful to him in
the conspiracy of Catiline； as one of his forwardest assistants and
protectors。 But when Clodius rested his defence upon this point；
that he was not then at Rome； but at a distance in the country； Cicero
testified that he had come to his house that day； and conversed with
him on several matters； which thing was indeed true； although Cicero
was thought to testify it not so much for the truth's sake as to
preserve his quiet with Terentia his wife。 For she bore a grudge
against Clodius on account of his sister Clodia's wishing； as it was
alleged； to marry Cicero； and having employed for this purpose the
intervention of Tullus； a very intimate friend of Cicero's； and his
frequent visits to Clodia； who lived in their neighbourhood； and the
attentions he paid to her had excited Terentia's suspicions； and；
being a woman of a violent temper and having the ascendant over
Cicero； she urged him on to taking a part against Clodius； and
delivering his testimony。 Many other good and honest citizens also
gave evidence against him； for perjuries； disorders； bribing the
people； and debauching women。 Lucullus proved； by his
women…servants； that he had debauched his youngest sister when she was
Lucullus's wife； and there was a general belief that he had done the
same with his two other sisters； Tertia； whom Marcius Rex； and Clodia；
whom Metellus Celer had married； the latter of whom was called
Quadrantia； because one of her lovers had deceived her with a purse of
small copper money instead of silver； the smallest copper coin being
called a quadrant。 Upon this sister's account； in particular；
Clodius's character was attacked。 Notwithstanding all this； when the
common people united against the accusers and witnesses and the
whole party； the judges were affrighted； and a guard was placed
about them for their defence； and most of them wrote their sentences
on the tablets in such a way that they could not well be read。 It
was decided； however； that there was a majority for his acquittal； and
bribery was reported to have been employed； in reference to which
Catulus remarked； when he next met the judges； 〃You were very right to
ask for a guard； to prevent your money being taken from you。〃 And when
Clodius upbraided Cicero that the judges had not believed his
testimony； 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃five…and…twenty of them trusted me and
condemned you； and the other thirty did not trust you； for they did
not acquit you till they had got your money。〃
Caesar； though cited； did not give his testimony against Clodius；
and declared himself not convinced of his wife's adultery； but that he
had put her away because it was fit that Caesar's house should not
be only free of the evil fact； but of the fame too。
Clodius； having escaped this danger； and having got himself chosen
one of the tribunes； immediately attacked Cicero； heaping up all
matters and inciting all persons against him。 The common people he
gained over with popular laws； to each of the consuls he decreed large
provinces； to Piso； Macedonia； and to Gabinius； Syria； he made a
strong party among the indigent citizens； to support him in his
proceedings； and had always a body of armed slaves about him。 Of the
three men then in greatest power； Crassus was Cicero's open enemy；
Pompey indifferently made advances to both； and Caesar was going
with an army into Gaul。 To him； though not his friend （what had
occurred in the time of the conspiracy having created suspicions
between them）； Cicero applied； requesting an appointment as one of his
lieutenants in the province。 Caesar accepted him； and Clodius；
perceiving that Cicero would thus escape his tribunician authority；
professed to be inclinable to a reconciliation； laid the greatest
fault upon Terentia； made always a favourable mention of him； and
addressed him with kind expressions； as one who felt no hatred or
ill…will； but who merely wished to urge his complaints in a moderate
and friendly way。 By these artifices； he so freed Cicero of all his
fears； that he resigned his appointment to Caesar； and betook
himself again to political affairs。 At which Caesar； being
exasperated； joined the party of Clodius against him； and wholly
alienated Pompey from him； he also himself declared in a public
assembly of the people； that he did not think Lentulus and Cethegus；
with their accomplices； were fairly and legally put to death without
being brought to trial。 And this； indeed； was the crime charged upon
Cicero； and this impeachment he was summoned to answer。 And so； as
an accused man； and in danger for the result； he changed his dress；
and went round with his hair untrimmed； in the attire of a
suppliant； to beg the people's grace。 But Clodius met him in every
corner； having a band of abusive and daring fellows about him； who
derided Cicero for his change of dress and his humiliation； and often；
by throwing dirt and stones at him； interrupted his supplication to
the people。
However； first of all； almost the whole equestrian order changed
their dress with him； and no less than twenty thousand young gentlemen
followed him with their hair untrimmed； and supplicating with him to
the people。 And then the senate met； to pass a decree that the
people should change their dress as in time of public sorrow。 But
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 ha
