cicero-第8章
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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 undertaken
his defence； Caesar said to his friends； 〃Why might we not as well
once more hear a speech from Cicero？ Ligarius； there is no question；
is a wicked man and an enemy。〃 But when Cicero began to speak； he
wonderfully moved him； and proceeded in his speech with such varied
pathos； and such a charm of language； that the colour of Caesar's
countenance often changed； and it was evident that all the passions of
his soul were in commotion。 At length； the orator touching upon the
Pharsalian battle； he was so affected that his body trembled； and some
of the papers he held dropped out of his hands。 And thus he was
overpowered； and acquitted Ligarius。
Henceforth； the commonwealth being changed into a monarchy； Cicero
withdrew himself from public affairs； and employed his leisure in
instructing those young men that would； in philosophy； and by the near
intercourse he thus had with some of the noblest and highest in
rank； he again began to possess great influence in the city。 The
work and object to which he set himself was to compose and translate
philosophical dialogues and to render logical and physical terms
into the Roman idiom。 For he it was； as it is said； who first or
principally gave Latin names to phantasia； syncatathesis； epokhe；
catalepsis； atamon； ameres； kenon； and other such technical terms；
which； either by metaphors or other means of accommodation； he
succeeded in making intelligible and expressible to the Romans。 For
his recreation； he exercised his dexterity in poetry； and when he
was set to it would make five hundred verses in a night。 He spent
the greatest part of his time at his country…house near Tusculum。 He
wrote to his friends that he led the life of Laertes either jestingly；
as his custom was； or rather from a feeling of ambition for public
employment； which made him impatient under the present state of
affairs。 He rarely went to the city； unless to pay his court to
Caesar。 He was commonly the first amongst those who voted him honours；
and sought out new terms of praise for himself and for his actions。
As； for example； what he said of the statues of Pompey； which had been
thrown down； and were afterwards by Caesar's orders set up again； that
Caesar； by this act of humanity； had indeed set up Pompey's statues；
but he had fixed and established his own。
He had a design； it is said； of writing the history of his
country； combining with it much of that of Greece； and incorporating
in it all the stories and legends of the past that he had collected。
But his purposes were interfered with by various public and various
private unhappy occurrences and misfortunes； for most of which he
was himself in fault。 For first of all； be put away his wife Terentia；
by whom he had been neglected in the time of the war； and sent away
destitute of necessaries for his journey； neither did he find her kind
when he returned into Italy； for she did not join him at Brundusium；
where he stayed a long time； nor would allow her young daughter； who
undertook so long a journey； decent attendance； or the requisite
expenses； besides； she left him a naked and empty house； and yet had
involved him in many and great debts。 These were alleged as the
fairest reasons for the divorce。 But Terentia； who denied them all；
had the most unmistakable defence furnished her by her husband
himself； who not long after married a young maiden for the love of her
beauty； as Terentia upbraided him； or as Tiro； his emancipated
slave； has written； for her riches； to discharge his debts。 For the
young woman was very rich； and Cicero had the custody of her estate；
being left guardian in trust； and being indebted many myriads of
money； he was persuaded by friends and relations to marry her；
notwithstanding his disparity of age； and to use her money to
satisfy his creditors。 Antony； who mentions this marriage in his
answer to the Philippics； reproaches him for putting away a wife
with whom he had lived to old age； adding some happy strokes of
sarcasm on Cicero's domestic； inactive； unsoldier…like habits。 Not
long after this marriage； his daughter died in childbed at
Lentulus's house； to whom she had been married after the death of
Piso； her former husband。 The philosophers from all parts came to
comfort Cicero； for his grief was so excessive； that he put away his
new…married wife； because she seemed to be pleased at the death of
Tullia。 And thus stood Cicero's domestic affairs at this time。
He had no concern in the design that was now forming against Caesar。
although； in general； he was Brutus's most principal confidant； and
one who was as aggrieved at the present； and as desirous of the former
state of public affairs； as any other whatsoever。 But they feared
his temper； as wanting courage； and his old age； in which the most
daring dispositions are apt to be timorous。
As soon； therefore； as the act was committed by Brutus and
Cassius； and the friends of Caesar were got together； so that there
was fear the city would again be involved in a civil war； Antony；
being consul； convened the senate； and made a short address
recommending concord。 And Cicero following with various remarks such
as the occasion called for； persuaded the senate to imitate the
Athenians； and decree an amnesty for what had been done in Caesar's
case； and to bestow provinces on Brutus and Cassius。 But neither of
these things took effect。 For as soon as the common people； of
themselves inclined to pity； saw the dead body of Caesar borne through
the market…place； and Antony showing his clothes filled with blood；
and pierced through in every part with swords； enraged to a degree
of frenzy； they made a search for the murderers； and with firebrands
in their hands ran to their houses to burn them。 They； however；
being forewarned； avoided this danger； and expecting many more and
greater to come； they left the city。
Antony on this was at once in exultation； and every one was in alarm
with the prospect that he would make himself sole ruler； and Cicero in
more alarm than any one。 For Antony； seeing his influence reviving
in the commonwealth and knowing how closely he was connected with
Brutus； was ill…pleased to have him in the city。 Besides； there had
been some former jealousy between them； occasioned by the difference
of their manners。 Cicero； fearing the event； was inclined to go as
lieutenant with Dolabella into Syria。 But Hirtius and Pansa； consuls
elect as successors of Antony； good men and lovers of Cicero；
entreated him not to leave them； undertaking to put down Antony if
he would stay in Rome。 And he； neither distrusting wholly； nor
trusting them； let Dolabella go without him； promising Hirtius that he
would go and
