35. But Cicero might have been more useful to his country if he had remained neutral, and used his influence to moderate the result,
36. Instead of coming hither to make himself, without reason or necessity, an enemy to Caesar, and a partner in such great dangers.
37. By this language, partly, Cicero’s feelings were altered, and partly, also, because Pompey made no great use of him.
38. Although, indeed, he was himself the cause of this, by his not denying that he was sorry he had come,
39. By his depreciating Pompey’s resources, finding fault underhand with his counsels,
40. And continually indulging in jests and sarcastic remarks on his fellow-soldiers.
Chapter 82
1. After Pompey’s defeat at the battle of Pharsalia, at which he was not present for health reasons,
2. Cicero was asked by Cato, who had considerable forces and a great fleet at Dyrrachium,
3. To be commander-in-chief, according to law and the precedence of his consular dignity.
4. Cicero declined, and wished no further part in plans for continuing the war.
5. He was consequently in great danger of being killed, for young Pompey and his friends called him traitor, and drew their swords upon him;
6. But Cato interposed, and rescued him from the camp.
7. Afterwards Cicero waited at Brundusium for Caesar, who was delayed by his affairs in Asia and Egypt.
8. When it was reported that Caesar had arrived at Tarentum, and was marching by land to Brundusium,
9. He set off to meet him, in some trepidation about what reception to expect.
10. But there was no necessity for him either to speak or do anything unworthy of himself;
11. For Caesar, as soon as he saw him coming a good way before the rest of the company,
12. Came down to meet him, saluted him, and, leading the way, conversed with him alone for some furlongs.
13. And from that time forward Caesar continued to treat him with honour and respect, so that, when Cicero wrote an oration in praise of Cato,
14. Caesar, in writing an answer to it, took occasion to commend Cicero’s own life and eloquence,
15. Comparing him to Pericles and Theramenes. Cicero’s oration was called Cato; Caesar’s, anti-Cato.
16. And it is also related that when Quintus Ligarius was prosecuted for having been in arms against Caesar,
17. And Cicero had undertaken his defence, Caesar said to his friends,
18. ‘Ligarius, there is no question, is a wicked man and an enemy; but why might we not have once more the pleasure of a speech from Cicero?’
19. But when Cicero began to speak, he wonderfully moved Caesar,
20. And proceeded in his speech with such varied pathos, and such a charm of language, that the colour of Caesar’s countenance often changed,
21. And it was evident that all the passions of his heart were in commotion.
22. At length, Cicero touching upon the Pharsalian battle, Caesar was so affected that his body trembled,
23. And some of the papers he held dropped from his hands. And thus he was overpowered, and acquitted Ligarius.
Chapter 83
1. Henceforth, the commonwealth being changed into a monarchy, Cicero withdrew himself from public affairs,
2. And employed his leisure in instructing young men in philosophy;
3. 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.
4. The work he set himself was to compose and translate philosophical dialogues,
5. And to render Greek philosophical terms into Latin, rendering them intelligible and expressible to the Romans.
6. He spent the greatest part of his time at his country house near Tusculum, rarely going to the city, unless to visit Caesar.
7. He was commonly the first amongst those who voted Caesar honours, and sought out new terms of praise for his actions.
8. As, for example, when he said of the statues of Pompey, which had been thrown down and were afterwards set up again by Caesar’s orders,
9. That Caesar, by this act of humanity, had not only set up Pompey’s statues, but he had fixed and established his own.
10. He wished to write a history of his country, combining with it that of Greece,
11. And incorporating in it all the accounts of the past that he had collected.
12. But his purposes were interfered with by various public and various private misfortunes; for most of which he was himself at fault.
13. For first of all, he 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;
14. Neither did he find her kind when he returned to Italy, for she did not join him at Brundusium, where he stayed a long time,
15. Nor would allow her young daughter proper servants or the requisite expenses when she undertook a long journey to join him.
16. Also she left him a naked and empty house, and yet had involved him in many large debts.
17. These were alleged as the fairest reasons for the divorce.
18. But Terentia, who denied them all, had the most unmistakable defence furnished her by her husband himself,
19. Who not long after married a young maiden for her beauty and for her riches, to discharge his debts.
20. For the young woman was very rich, and Cicero had the custody of her estate, being left guardian in trust;
21. And being much in debt, was persuaded by friends to marry her, notwithstanding the disparity of age.
22. Mark Antony, who mentions this marriage in his answer to Cicero’s Philippics, which are his speeches against Antony,
23. Reproaches him for putting away a wife with whom he had lived many years, adding strokes of sarcasm at Cicero’s scholarly habits.
24. Not long after his marriage, Cicero’s daughter Tullia died in childbed at Lentulus’ house,
25. To whom she had been married after the death of Piso, her former husband.
26. The philosophers from all parts came to comfort Cicero,
27. 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.
Chapter 84
1. Cicero had no concern in the design that was now forming against Caesar,
2. Although, in general, he was Brutus’ principal confidant, and one who was as aggrieved at the present, and as desirous for the former state of public affairs, as any other.
3. When Brutus and Cassius assassinated Caesar, and the friends of Caesar had gathered together, there was fear that the city would again descend into civil war.
4. Mark Antony, being consul, convened the senate, and made a short address recommending concord.
5. And Cicero followed him, trying to persuade the senate to imitate the Athenians,
6. And decree an amnesty for what had been done, and to bestow provinces on Brutus and Cassius.
7. But neither of these pleas were effective. For as soon as the common people saw Caesar’s body carried through the marketplace,
8. With Antony displaying Caesar’s bloodied clothes pierced through in every part with daggers, they were enraged to a frenzy,
9. And went in search of the murderers, taking firebrands to burn their houses.
10. The assassins, however, being forewarned, avoided this danger, and left the city.
11. Antony was delighted by this, and everyone was alarmed at the prospect that he would make himself sole ruler, Cicero more than anyone.
12. For Antony, seeing Cicero’s influence reviving in the commonwealth and knowing how closely he was connected with Brutus, was ill-pleased to have him there.
13. Cicero, fearing Antony’s intentions, was inclined to go as lieutenant with Dolabella into Syria.
14. But Hirtius and Pansa, consuls-elect as successors of Antony, good men and lovers of Cicero,
15
. Entreated him not to leave, undertaking to put Antony down if Cicero would stay in Rome.
16. And he, still doubting what to do, let Dolabella go without him,
17. Promising Hirtius that he would spend his summer at Athens, and return when the new consular terms began.
18. So Cicero set out on his journey; but on the way news came from Rome that Antony had made an astonishing change, and was managing public affairs at the will of the senate,
19. And that there was nothing lacking but Cicero’s presence to bring things to a happy settlement.
20. And therefore, chastising himself for his cowardice, Cicero returned to Rome, and at first all seemed promising.
21. For such multitudes flocked out to meet him that the compliments and civilities which were paid him at the gates, and at his entrance into the city, took up almost a whole day.
Chapter 85
1. The next day Antony convened the senate, and summoned Cicero thither.
2. Cicero did not attend, pretending to be ill with his journey;
3. But the true reason was suspicion of some design by Antony against him.
4. Antony was greatly offended, and sent soldiers, commanding them to bring Cicero or burn his house;
5. But because many interceded on Cicero’s behalf, he was content to accept their assurances.
6. Ever after, when the two men met, they passed one another with silence, and continued on their guard,
7. Till Octavius Caesar, afterwards Augustus, coming from Apollonia, entered on the first Caesar’s inheritance as his adopted son,
8. And was engaged in a dispute with Antony about two thousand five hundred myriads of money, which Antony detained from Caesar’s estate.
9. Upon this, Philippus, who had married the mother, and Marcellus, who had married the sister of Octavius Caesar,
10. Came with the young man to Cicero, to ask for the aid of Cicero’s eloquence and political influence with the senate and people; and Cicero agreed.
11. He did so partly from his opposition to Antony, but more because he saw that he could influence public policy through the young Octavius Caesar, who went so far as to call him Father.
12. Though Brutus greatly disliked this courtship of Cicero by Octavian, he gave Cicero’s son, then studying philosophy at Athens, a command in his army, and employed him in various ways, with a good result.
13. Cicero’s own power at this time was at the greatest height in the city, and he did whatever he pleased;
14. He drove out Antony, and sent the two consuls, Hirtius and Pansa, with an army to reduce him;
15. And, on the other hand, he persuaded the senate to give Octavius Caesar the lictors and ensigns of a praetor, as though he were his country’s defender.
16. After Antony was defeated in battle, and the consuls slain, the armies united, and ranged themselves with Octavius Caesar.
17. And the senate, in awe of the young man, tried by honours to reduce the army’s loyalty to him, and to lessen his power;
18. Professing there was no further need of arms now Antony was put to flight.
19. This gave Octavius Caesar such concern that he privately sent friends to persuade Cicero to procure the consular dignity for them both together;
20. Saying Cicero should manage affairs as he pleased with full power, for the young Octavius was only desirous of the name and glory of consul.
21. Moreover Octavius Caesar himself confessed that, fearing ruin and in danger of being deserted, he had made use of Cicero’s ambition.
22. And now, more than at any other time, Cicero let himself be deceived, though an old man, by the persuasion of a boy.
23. He joined Octavius Caesar in soliciting votes, and procured the goodwill of the senate,
24. Not without blame at the time on the part of his friends, who guessed what was coming;
25. And he, too, soon enough, saw that he had ruined himself, and betrayed the liberty of his country.
26. For Octavius Caesar, once established as consul, bade Cicero farewell;
27. And reconciling himself to Antony and Lepidus, joined his power with theirs, and divided the government, like a piece of property, with them.
28. Thus united, they made a list of more than two hundred people who were to be put to death.
29. But the greatest contention in their debates was centred upon Cicero.
30. Antony would accept no conditions, unless Cicero was the first to be killed.
31. Lepidus agreed with Antony, and Octavius Caesar opposed them both.
32. They met secretly for three days near the town of Bononia. The place was not far from the army camp, with a river surrounding it.
33. Octavius Caesar, it is said, earnestly defended Cicero for two days; but on the third day gave him up.
34. The terms of their mutual concessions were these: that Caesar should desert Cicero; Lepidus, his brother Paulus; and Antony, Lucius Caesar, his uncle by his mother’s side.
35. Thus they let their anger take away their sense of humanity, and demonstrated that no beast is more savage than man when possessed with power equal to his rage.
36. While these things were happening, Cicero was with his brother at his house near Tusculum.
37. Hearing of the proscriptions, they decided to go to Astura, a villa of Cicero’s near the sea, and to take ship from there to Macedonia, where Brutus had his strength.
38. They travelled together in separate litters, overwhelmed with sorrow;
39. And often stopping on the way till their litters came together, condoled with one another.
40. But Quintus was the more disheartened because he had no money for the journey, having brought nothing with him from home, and Cicero himself had only a slender provision.
41. They therefore decided that Cicero should continue to escape, while Quintus returned home to provide necessaries;
42. So they mutually embraced, and parted with many tears.
43. Quintus, a few days after, was betrayed by his servants, and was slain, together with his young son.
Chapter 86
1. Cicero reached Astura, where he found a vessel and sailed as far as Circaeum with a prosperous wind;
2. But when the pilots resolved to sail on immediately, Cicero went ashore, either fearing the sea, or hoping that Octavius Caesar might still save him;
3. And travelled a hundred furlongs by land, as if going back to Rome.
4. But again changing his mind, he returned to the sea, and there spent the night in fearful and perplexed thoughts.
5. At last he decided to go by sea to Capitie, where he had a house, an agreeable place to retire to in the heat of summer, when the Etesian winds are so pleasant.
6. He again went ashore, and on entering his house, lay down to rest. His servants, anxious for his safety, and guessing that assassins were in search of him,
7. Partly by entreaty and partly by force took him up, and carried him in his litter towards the seaside.
8. But in the meantime, accompanied by a band of soldiers, the assassins were closing in;
9. They were Herennius, a centurion, and Popillius, a tribune, whom Cicero had formerly defended when prosecuted for the murder of his father.
10. Finding the doors shut, they broke them open. Those within said they did not know where Cicero was,
11. But a youth called Philologus, who had been educated by Cicero in the liberal arts and sciences,
12. And who was an emancipated slave of his brother Quintus, betrayed Cicero,
13. Informing the tribune that the litter was on its way to the sea through the close and shady walks.
14. The tribune, taking a few with him, ran out in pursuit. And Cicero, perceiving Herennius approaching, commanded his servants to set down the litter;
15. And stroking his chin, as he used to do, with his left hand, his person covered with dust, his beard and hair untrimmed,
16. And his face worn with his troubles, he looked steadfastly upon his mur
derers.
17. Such was the pity of the sight that the greatest part of those that stood by covered their faces while Herennius slew him.
18. And thus he was murdered, stretching forth his neck out of the litter to receive the blow. He was in his sixty-fourth year.
19. Herennius cut off his head, and, by Mark Antony’s command, cut off his hands also, by which his Philippics were written;
20. For so Cicero styled those orations he wrote against Antony, and so they are called to this day.
21. When Cicero’s head and hands were brought to Rome,
22. Antony was holding an assembly for the choice of public officers;
23. And when he heard it, and saw them, he cried out, ‘Now let there be an end of our proscriptions.’
24. He commanded the head and hands to be fastened up over the rostra, where the orators spoke;
25. A sight which the Roman people shuddered to behold, and they believed they saw there, not the face of Cicero, but the image of Antony’s own mind.
26. A long time afterwards Octavius Caesar, visiting one of his daughter’s sons, found him with a book of Cicero’s in his hand.
27. The boy for fear endeavoured to hide it under his gown; which Octavius Caesar perceiving, he took it from him,
28. And turning over a great part of the book, gave it back, saying, ‘My child, this was a learned man, and a lover of his country.’
29. And immediately after he had vanquished Mark Antony, being then consul, he made Cicero’s son his colleague in the office;
30. And under that consulship the senate took down all the statues of Antony, and abolished all the other honours that had been given him,
31. And decreed that none of that family should thereafter bear the name of Marcus;
32. And thus the final acts of the punishment of Antony were carried out by the family of Cicero.
Epistles
Epistle 1
1. My dear son: you must begin by having a true estimate of our human species,
2. Before you can begin to formulate how you will advance yourself to being one of the better specimens of it.
3. That will be the purpose of these letters to you, as you take your journey among people and places,
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