The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [314]
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