The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [306]
30. He complied willingly, thinking that his faults would thus be better corrected.
31. After he finished, all his other hearers were astonished, and contended who should praise him most, but Apollonius sat musing in silence for a long time.
32. And when Cicero was discomposed at this, Apollonius said,
33. ‘You have my praise and admiration, Cicero, and Greece has my pity and commiseration,
34. ‘Because those arts and that eloquence which are the only glories that remain to her, will now be transferred by you to Rome.’
Chapter 68
1. Cicero was cautious when he first returned to Rome, with the result that for a while he was held in little esteem, and was called by the derogatory names of ‘Greek’ and ‘Scholar’.
2. But once he began in earnest in the law courts he far surpassed all other advocates of the bar.
3. He was eloquent, persuasive and witty, and prone to sarcasm, which offended some,
4. So that among his enemies he gained a reputation for ill-nature.
5. He was appointed quaestor during a corn shortage and had Sicily for his province,
6. Where at first he displeased many of the residents by compelling them to send their provisions to Rome.
7. But when they perceived his care, justice and clemency, they honoured him more than any of their previous governors.
8. Some young Romans of noble family, charged with misconduct in military service, were brought before the praetor in Sicily.
9. Cicero undertook their defence, which he conducted admirably, and achieved their acquittal.
10. He returned to Rome with a great opinion of himself for these things.
11. Meeting a friend, he asked what the Romans thought of him, as if the whole city had been filled with admiration for his quaestorship in Sicily.
12. His friend responded, ‘Where is it you have been, Cicero?’
13. He was utterly mortified to think that reports of his work had sunk into the city of Rome as into the ocean, without any visible result in reputation.
14. He became less ambitious as a result, though to the last he was passionately fond of praise and esteem, which often interfered with the prosecution of his wisest resolutions.
15. When he began to apply himself with vigour to public business he resolved to do as workmen did, who know the name and use of all their tools;
16. For the politician, men are the tools; and so he set himself to study those he had to deal with:
17. Their names, estates, friends and character. Travelling anywhere in Italy, he could discourse of all the estates he passed, and their owners.
18. Having only a small estate himself, though it was sufficient for his expenses, it was wondered at that he took neither fees nor gifts from his clients,
19. And more especially that he did not do so when he undertook the prosecution of one Verres,
20. Who stood charged by the Sicilians of many evil practices during his praetorship there.
21. Cicero succeeded in getting Verres condemned, not by speaking, but as it were by holding his tongue.
22. For when the trial came on, the Roman praetors, favouring Verres, deferred proceedings by several adjournments to the last day,
23. When there was insufficient time for the advocates to be heard and the cause decided.
24. Cicero, therefore, came forward, and said there was no need of speeches;
25. And after producing and examining witnesses, he required the judges to proceed to sentence. Verres was thus convicted.
26. The Sicilians, in testimony of their gratitude, brought him presents, when he was aedile;
27. Of which he made no private profit himself, but used their generosity to reduce the public price of provisions.
28. Cicero had a pleasant house at Arpi, and farms near Naples and Pompeii, neither of any great value.
29. He lived in a liberal but temperate style with the learned Greeks and Romans that were his familiar friends.
30. He was careful of his health, having a dietary regime, and daily walks and rubbings.
31. By this means he eventually brought himself to better health, capable of supporting many great fatigues and trials.
32. He gave his father’s