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cicero-第7部分

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not acquit you till they had got your money。〃



  Caesar; though cited; did not give his testimony against Clodius;



and declared himself not convinced of his wife's adultery; but that he



had put her away because it was fit that Caesar's house should not



be only free of the evil fact; but of the fame too。



  Clodius; having escaped this danger; and having got himself chosen



one of the tribunes; immediately attacked Cicero; heaping up all



matters and inciting all persons against him。 The common people he



gained over with popular laws; to each of the consuls he decreed large



provinces; to Piso; Macedonia; and to Gabinius; Syria; he made a



strong party among the indigent citizens; to support him in his



proceedings; and had always a body of armed slaves about him。 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。 To him; though not his friend (what had



occurred in the time of the conspiracy having created suspicions



between them); Cicero applied; requesting an appointment as one of his



lieutenants in the province。 Caesar accepted him; and Clodius;



perceiving that Cicero would thus escape his tribunician authority;



professed to be inclinable to a reconciliation; laid the greatest



fault upon Terentia; made always a favourable mention of him; and



addressed him with kind expressions; as one who felt no hatred or



ill…will; but who merely wished to urge his complaints in a moderate



and friendly way。 By these artifices; he so freed Cicero of all his



fears; that he resigned his appointment to Caesar; and betook



himself again to political affairs。 At which Caesar; being



exasperated; joined the party of Clodius against him; and wholly



alienated Pompey from him; he also himself declared in a public



assembly of the people; that he did not think Lentulus and Cethegus;



with their accomplices; were fairly and legally put to death without



being brought to trial。 And this; indeed; was the crime charged upon



Cicero; and this impeachment he was summoned to answer。 And so; as



an accused man; and in danger for the result; he changed his dress;



and went round with his hair untrimmed; in the attire of a



suppliant; to beg the people's grace。 But Clodius met him in every



corner; having a band of abusive and daring fellows about him; who



derided Cicero for his change of dress and his humiliation; and often;



by throwing dirt and stones at him; interrupted his supplication to



the people。



  However; first of all; almost the whole equestrian order changed



their dress with him; and no less than twenty thousand young gentlemen



followed him with their hair untrimmed; and supplicating with him to



the people。 And then the senate met; to pass a decree that the



people should change their dress as in time of public sorrow。 But



the consuls opposing it; and Clodius with armed men besetting the



senate…house; many of the senators ran out; crying out and tearing



their clothes。 But this sight moved neither shame nor pity; Cicero



must either fly or determine it by the sword with Clodius。 He



entreated Pompey to aid him; who was on purpose gone out of the way;



and was staying at his country…house in the Alban hills; and first



he sent his son…in…law Piso to intercede with him; and afterwards



set out to go himself。 Of which Pompey being informed; would not



stay to see him; being ashamed at the remembrance of the many



conflicts in the commonwealth which Cicero had undergone in his



behalf; and how much of his policy he had directed for his



advantage。 But being now Caesar's son…in…law; at his instance he had



set aside all former kindness; and; slipping out at another door;



avoided the interview。 Thus being forsaken by Pompey; and left alone



to himself; he fled to the consuls。 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; and to await a change of



times; and to be now; as before; his country's saviour from the



peril of these troubles and commotions which Clodius was exciting。



  Cicero; receiving this answer; consulted with his friends。



Lucullus advised him to stay; as being sure to prevail at last; others



to fly; because the people would soon desire him again; when they



should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius。 This last



Cicero approved。 But first he took a statue of Minerva; which had been



long set up and greatly honoured in his house; and carrying it to



the capitol; there dedicated it; with the inscription; 〃To Minerva;



Patroness of Rome。〃 And receiving an escort from his friends; about



the middle of the night he left the city and went by land through



Lucania; intending to reach Sicily。



  But as soon as it was publicly known that he was fled; Clodius



proposed to the people a decree of exile; and by his own order



interdicted him fire and water; prohibiting any within five hundred



miles in Italy to receive him into their houses。 Most people; out of



respect for Cicero; paid no regard to this edict; offering him every



attention; and escorting him on his way。 But at Hipponium; a city of



Lucania now called Vibo; one Vibius; a Sicilian by birth; who; amongst



many other instances of Cicero's friendship; had been made head of the



state engineers when he was consul; would not receive him into his



house; sending him word he would appoint a place in the country for



his reception。 Caius Vergilius; the praetor of Sicily; who had been on



the most intimate terms with him; wrote to him to forbear coming



into Sicily。 At these things Cicero; being disheartened; went to



Brundusium; whence putting forth with a prosperous wind; a contrary



gale blowing from the sea carried him back to Italy the next day。 He



put again to sea; and having reached Dyrrachium; on his coming to



shore there; it is reported that an earthquake and a convulsion in the



sea happened at the same time; signs which the diviners said intimated



that his exile would not be long; for these were prognostics of



change。 Although many visited him with respect; and the cities of



Greece contended which should honour him most; he yet continued



disheartened and disconsolate; like an unfortunate lover; often



casting his looks back upon Italy; and; indeed; he was become so



poor…spirited; so humiliated and dejected by his misfortunes; as



none could have expected in a man who had devoted so much of his



life to study and learning。 And yet he often desired his friends not



to call him orator; but philosopher; because he had made philosophy



his business; and had only used rhetoric as an instrument for



attaining his objects in public life。 But the desire of glory has



great power in washing the tinctures of philosophy out of the souls of



men; and in imprinting the passions of the common people; by custom



and conversation; in the minds of those that take a part in



governing them; unless the politician be very careful so to engage



in public affairs as to interest himself only in the affairs



themselves; but not participate in the passions that are consequent to



them。



  Clodius; having thus driven away Cicero; fell to burning his farms



and villas; and afterwards his city house; and built on the site of it



a temple to Liberty。 The rest of his property he exposed to sale by



daily proclamation; but nobody came to buy。 By these courses he became



formidable to the noble citizens; and being followed by the



commonalty; whom he had filled with insolence and licentiousness; he



began at last to try his strength against Pompey; some of whose



arrangements in the countries he conquered; he attacked。 The



disgrace of this made Pompey begin to reproach himself for his



cowardice in deserting Cicero; and changing his mind; he now wholly



set himself with his friends to contrive his return。 And when



Clodius opposed it; the senate made a vote that no public measure



should be ratified or passed by them till Cicero was recalled。 But



when Lentulus was consul; the commotions grew so high upon this



matter; that the tribunes were wounded in the Forum; and Quintus;



Cicero's brother; was left as dead; lying unobserved amongst the



slain。 The people began to change in their feelings; and Annius



Milo; one of their tribunes; was the first who took confidence to



summon Clodius to trial for acts of violence。 Many of the common



people out of the neighbouring cities formed a party with Pompey;



and he went with them; and drove Clodius out of the Forum; and



summoned the people to pass their vote。 And; it is said; the people



never passed any suffrage more unanimously than this。 The senate;



also; striving to outdo the people; sent letters of thanks to those



cities which had received Cicero with respect in his exile; and



decreed that his house and his country…places; which Clodius had



destroyed; should be rebuilt at the public charge。



  Thus Cicero returned sixteen months after his exile; and the



cities were so glad; and people so zealous to meet him; that what he



boasted of afterwards; that Italy had brought him on her shoulders



home to Rome; was rather less than the truth。 And Crassus himself; who



had been his enemy before his exile; went then voluntarily to meet



him; and was reconciled; to please his son Publius; as he said; who



was Cicero's affectionate admirer。



  Cicero had not been long at Rome when; taking the opportunity of



Clodius's absence; he went with a great company to the capitol; and



there tore and defaced the tribunician tables; in which were



recorded the acts done in the time of Clodius。 And on Clodius



calling him in question for this; he answered that he; bein
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