The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [317]
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