The Good Book (108 page)

 

Chapter 77

  1. The beginning of Cicero's downfall was owed to one Clodius, who during the Catiline conspiracy had been one of Cicero's staunchest allies.

  2. Clodius was a bold youth of noble family, who fell in love with Pompeia, Caesar's wife.

  3. He was still beardless, and therefore thought he could get privately into her house dressed as a music-girl.

  4. But coming into the large house by night, he lost his way in the passages,

  5. And a servant belonging to Caesar's mother, seeing him wandering about, enquired his name.

  6. Being obliged to speak, he told her he was looking for one of Pompeia's maids;

  7. And she, perceiving that he was not a woman, shrieked out,

  8. And called the other servants, who shut the gates, and searched everywhere until they found Clodius hidden in a chamber.

  9. As a result Caesar divorced Pompeia, and Clodius was prosecuted.

10. Though Cicero and Clodius had been allied, in the trial Cicero refused to tell untruths about Clodius' whereabouts on the night of the trespass, as Clodius wished of him.

11. Many other citizens also gave evidence against him, for perjuries, disorders, bribing the people and debauching women.

12. Notwithstanding all the evidence against Clodius' character, the judges were frightened by the outcry among the common people,

13. Who united against the accusers and witnesses in the case, so that a guard had to be placed about the judges for their defence;

14. And most of them wrote their sentences on the tablets in such a way that they could not well be read.

15. It was decided, however, that there was a majority for his acquittal, and it was reported that bribery had been involved;

16. In reference to which Catulus remarked, when he next met the judges,

17. ‘You were very right to ask for a guard, to prevent your money being taken from you.'

18. And when Clodius upbraided Cicero that the judges had not believed his testimony,

19. ‘Yes,' said he, ‘twenty-five of them trusted me and condemned you,

20. ‘And the other thirty did not trust you, for they did not acquit you till they got your money.'

21. Caesar, though cited, did not give his testimony against Clodius, and declared himself not convinced of his wife's adultery,

22. But said he had put her away because it was fit that Caesar's house should be free not only of the evil fact, but even of the mere rumour of it.

 

Chapter 78

  1. Clodius, having escaped this danger, and been chosen one of the tribunes, immediately attacked Cicero, inciting people against him.

  2. The common people he gained over with popular laws;

  3. To each of the consuls he decreed large provinces: to Piso, Macedonia, and to Gabinius, Syria;

  4. He made a strong party among the poor citizens to support him in his proceedings, and had always a body of armed slaves about him.

  5. 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.

  6. To Caesar, though not his friend because what had occurred in the time of the conspiracy had created suspicions between them,

  7. Cicero applied, requesting an appointment as one of his lieutenants in the province.

  8. Caesar accepted him, and Clodius, perceiving that Cicero would thus escape his tribunician authority, professed to be inclined to a reconciliation.

  9. By this artifice he so freed Cicero of his fears that the latter resigned his appointment to Caesar, and resumed involvement in politics.

10. At which Caesar, being exasperated, joined the party of Clodius against Cicero,

11. And wholly alienated Pompey from him; he also declared, in a public assembly of the people,

12. That he did not think Lentulus and Cethegus were fairly put to death without being brought to trial.

13. And this, indeed, was the crime charged upon Cicero, and this impeachment he was summoned to answer.

14. And so, as an accused man, and in danger for the result, he changed his dress,

15. And went round with his hair untrimmed, in the attire of a suppliant, to seek the people's support.

16. But Clodius met him at every corner, having a band of abusive and daring fellows about him,

17. Who derided Cicero for his change of dress and his humiliation,

18. And often, by throwing dirt and stones at him, interrupted his addresses to the people.

19. But almost the whole equestrian order changed their dress with him,

20. And no less than twenty thousand young gentlemen followed him with their hair untrimmed, supplicating with him to the people.

21. And then the senate met, to pass a decree that all the people should change their dress as in time of public sorrow.

22. But the consuls opposing it, and Clodius with armed men besetting the senate house,

23. Many of the senators ran out, crying out and tearing their clothes.

24. But this sight moved neither shame nor pity; Cicero must either fly or determine matters by the sword with Clodius.

25. He entreated Pompey to aid him, who had on purpose left the city, and was staying at his country house in the Alban Hills;

26. And first Cicero sent his son-in-law Piso to intercede with him, and afterwards set out himself.

27. But when Pompey was informed that Cicero was coming, he would not stay to see him,

28. Being ashamed at the remembrance of the many times Cicero had acted on his behalf,

29. And how much of his policy Cicero had directed for his advantage.

30. Now Pompey set aside all former kindness, and, slipping out at another door, avoided the interview.

31. Thus being forsaken by Pompey, and left alone to himself, Cicero turned to the consuls.

32. 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,

33. And to await a change of times, and eventually to be, as once before, his country's saviour from the perils that Clodius was causing.

 

Chapter 79

  1. Cicero, receiving this answer, consulted with his friends. Lucullus advised him to stay in Rome, as being sure to prevail at last;

  2. Others advised him to fly, because the people would soon desire him again, when they should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius.

  3. This last Cicero approved. Receiving an escort from his friends, in the middle of the night he left the city and went by land through Lucania, intending to reach Sicily.

  4. But as soon as it was publicly known that he had left Rome, Clodius proposed to the people a decree of exile,

  5. And by his own order interdicted him fire and water, prohibiting any within five hundred miles in Italy from receiving him into their houses.

  6. Most people, out of respect for Cicero, paid no regard to this edict, offering him every attention, and escorting him on his way.

  7. But at Hipponium, a city of Lucania, a Sicilian whom Cicero, when consul, had appointed head of the state engineers, and shown many other instances of friendship,

  8. Would not receive him into his house, sending him word that he would appoint a place in the country for his reception.

  9. Caius Vergilius, the praetor of Sicily, who had been on the most intimate terms with Cicero, wrote to him to forbear coming into Sicily.

10. At these things Cicero, being disheartened, went to Brundusium,

11. And sailed to Dyrrachium, reaching it just as an earthquake and a convulsion in the sea happened at the same time.

12. Although many visited him there with respect, and the cities of Greece contended which should honour him most,

13. He yet continued disheartened and disconsolate, like an unfortunate lover, often casting his looks back upon Italy;

14. And, indeed, he became so dejected by his misfortunes, as none could have expected in a man who had devoted so much of his life to study and learning;

15. And yet he often desired his friends not to call him orator, but philosopher,

16. Because he had made philosophy his business, and had only used rhetoric as an instrument in public life.

17. But the desire of glory has great power in washing the tinctures of philosophy out of the minds of men,

18. And in imprinting instead the passions of the common people, by custom and conversation, in the minds of those that take a part in governing them;

19. Unless the politician be very careful to interest himself only in public affairs themselves, and not in the passions that surround them.

 

Chapter 80

  1. Clodius, having thus driven Cicero away, burned his farms and villas, and afterwards his city house, and built on its site a monument to Liberty.

  2. The rest of his property he offered for sale, but nobody came to buy.

  3. By these courses he became formidable to the noble citizens, and being followed by the commonalty,

  4. Whom he had filled with insolence and licentiousness, he began at last to try his strength against Pompey,

  5. Criticising him for the dispositions he left in the countries he had conquered.

  6. The disgrace of this made Pompey reproach himself for his cowardice in deserting Cicero.

  7. Now changing his mind, he set himself with his friends to contrive Cicero's return.

  8. And when Clodius opposed this, the senate made a vote that no public measure should be ratified or passed by them till Cicero was recalled.

  9. But when Lentulus was consul, the commotions grew so great because of this,

10. That the tribunes were injured in riots in the forum, and Quintus, Cicero's brother, was left for dead among the slain.

11. The people began to change in their feelings, and Annius Milo, one of their tribunes, was the first who dared summon Clodius to trial for acts of violence.

12. Many of the commoners of the neighbouring cities formed a party with Pompey,

13. Who with their help drove Clodius out of the forum, and summoned the people to vote for Cicero's return.

14. And, it is said, the people never passed any suffrage more unanimously than this.

15. The senate, striving to outdo the people, sent letters of thanks to those cities which had received Cicero in his exile,

16. And decreed that his house and estates, which Clodius had destroyed, should be rebuilt at the public charge.

17. Thus Cicero returned sixteen months after his exile,

18. And the cities were so glad, and people so zealous to meet him,

19. That what he boasted of afterwards, that Italy had brought him on her shoulders home to Rome, was no exaggeration.

20. And Crassus himself, who had been his enemy before his exile, went out voluntarily to meet him,

21. And was reconciled, to please his son Publius, as he said, who was Cicero's affectionate admirer.

22. Cicero had not been long at Rome when, taking the opportunity of Clodius' absence, he went with a great company to the capitol,

23. And there tore down the tribunician tables, which recorded the acts passed in the time of Clodius.

24. And when Clodius called him in question for this, he answered that he, being of the patrician order,

25. Had obtained the office of tribune against law, and therefore nothing done by him was valid.

26. Cato was displeased at this, and opposed Cicero, not that he commended Clodius,

27. Yet he argued that it was irregular for the senate to vote the illegality of so many decrees,

28. Including those of Cato's own government in Cyprus and Byzantium.

29. This occasioned a breach between Cato and Cicero, which, though it did not come to open enmity, yet made a more reserved friendship between them.

30. After this, Milo killed Clodius, and, being arraigned for the murder, he asked Cicero to be his advocate.

31. The senate, fearing lest the questioning of so eminent a citizen as Milo might disturb the peace of the city, committed the superintendence of the trial to Pompey,

32. For him to maintain the security alike of the city and of the courts of justice.

33. Pompey, therefore, went in the night, and occupying the high grounds about it, surrounded the forum with soldiers.

34. Milo, fearing lest Cicero, being disturbed by such an unusual sight, should conduct his cause the less successfully,

35. Persuaded him to come to the forum in a litter, and there wait till the judges were set and the court filled.