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cicero-第8部分

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



calling him in question for this; he answered that he; being of the



patrician order; had obtained the office of tribune against law; and



therefore nothing done by him was valid。 Cato was displeased at



this; and opposed Cicero; not that he commended Clodius; but rather



disapproved of his whole administration; yet; he contended; it was



an irregular and violent course for the senate to vote the



illegality of so many decrees and acts; including those of Cato's



own government in Cyprus and at Byzantium。 This occasioned a breach



between Cato and Cicero; which; though it came not to open enmity; yet



made a more reserved friendship between them。



  After this; Milo killed Clodius; and; being arraigned for the



murder; he procured Cicero as his advocate。 The senate; fearing lest



the questioning of so eminent and high…spirited a citizen as Milo



might disturb the peace of the city; committed the superintendence



of this and of the other trials to Pompey; who should undertake to



maintain the security alike of the city and of the courts of



justice。 Pompey; therefore; went in the night; and occupying the



high grounds about it; surrounded the Forum with soldiers。 Milo;



fearing lest Cicero; being disturbed by such an unusual sight;



should conduct his cause the less successfully; persuaded him to



come in a litter into the Forum; and there repose himself till the



judges were set and the court filled。 For Cicero; it seems; not only



wanted courage in arms; but; in his speaking also; began with



timidity; and in many cases scarcely left off trembling and shaking



when he had got thoroughly into the current and the substance of his



speech。 Being to defend Licinius Murena against the prosecution of



Cato; and being eager to outdo Hortensius; who had made his plea



with great applause; he took so little rest that night; and was so



disordered with thought and overwatching; that he spoke much worse



than usual。 And so now; on quitting his litter to commence the cause



of Milo; at the sight of Pompey; posted as it were; and encamped



with his troops above; and seeing arms shining round about the



Forum; he was so confounded that he could hardly begin his speech



for the trembling of his body and hesitance of his tongue; whereas



Milo; meantime; was bold and intrepid in his demeanour; disdaining



either to let his hair grow or to put on the mourning habit。 And this;



indeed; seems to have been one principal cause of his condemnation。



Cicero; however; was thought not so much to have shown timidity for



himself; as anxiety about his friend。



  He was made one of the priests; whom the Romans call Augurs; in



the room of Crassus the younger; dead in Parthia。 Then he was



appointed by lot to the province of Cilicia; and set sail thither with



twelve thousand foot and two thousand six hundred horse。 He had orders



to bring back Cappadocia to its allegiance to Ariobarzanes; its



king; which settlement he effected very completely without recourse to



arms。 And perceiving the Cilicians; by the great loss the Romans had



suffered in Parthia; and the commotions in Syria; to have become



disposed to attempt a revolt; by a gentle course of government he



soothed them back into fidelity。 He would accept none of the



presents that were offered him by the kings; he remitted the charge of



public entertainments; but daily at his own house received the



ingenious and accomplished persons of the province; not sumptuously;



but liberally。 His house had no porter; nor was he ever found in bed



by any man; but early in the morning; standing or walking before his



door; he received those who came to offer their salutations。 He is



said never once to have ordered any of those under his command to be



beaten with rods; or to have their garments rent。 He never gave



contumelious language in his anger; nor inflicted punishment with



reproach。 He detected an embezzlement; to a large amount; in the



public money; and thus relieved the cities from their burdens; at



the same time that he allowed those who made restitution to retain



without further punishment their rights as citizens。 He engaged too;



in war; so far as to give a defeat to the banditti who infested



Mount Amanus; for which he was saluted by his army Imperator。 To



Caecilius; the orator; who asked him to send him some panthers from



Cilicia; to be exhibited on the theatre at Rome; he wrote; in



commendation of his own actions; that there were no panthers in



Cilicia; for they were all fled to Caria; in anger that in so



general a peace they had become the sole objects of attack。 On leaving



his province; he touched at Rhodes; and tarried for some length of



time at Athens; longing much to renew his old studies。 He visited



the eminent men of learning; and saw his former friends and



companions; and after receiving in Greece the honours that were due to



him; returned to the city; where everything was now just as it were in



a flame; breaking out into a civil war。



  When the senate would have decreed him a triumph; he told them he



had rather; so differences were accommodated; follow the triumphal



chariot of Caesar。 In private; he gave advice to both; writing many



letters to Caesar; and personally entreating Pompey; doing his best to



soothe and bring to reason both the one and the other。 But when



matters became incurable; and Caesar was approaching Rome; and



Pompey durst not abide it; but; with many honest citizens; left the



city; Cicero as yet did not join in the flight; and was reputed to



adhere to Caesar。 And it is very evident he was in his thoughts much



divided; and wavered painfully between both; for he writes in his



epistles; 〃To which side should I turn? Pompey has the fair and



honourable plea for war; and Caesar; on the other hand; has managed



his affairs better; and is more able to secure himself and his



friends。 So that I know whom I should fly; not whom I should fly



to。〃 But when Trebatius; one of Caesar's friends; by letter



signified to him that Caesar thought it was his most desirable



course to join his party; and partake his hopes; but if he



considered himself too old a man for this; then he should retire



into Greece; and stay quietly there; out of the way of either party;



Cicero; wondering that Caesar had not written himself; gave an angry



reply; that he should not do anything unbecoming his past life。 Such



is the account to be collected from his letters。



  But as soon as Caesar was marched into Spain; he immediately



sailed away to join Pompey。 And he was welcomed by all but Cato;



who; taking him privately; chid him for coming to Pompey。 As for



himself; he said; it had been indecent to forsake that part in the



commonwealth which he had chosen from the beginning; but Cicero



might have been more useful to his country and friends; if;



remaining neuter; he had attended and used his influence to moderate



the result; instead of coming hither to make himself; without reason



or necessity; an enemy to Caesar; and a partner in such great dangers。



  By this language; partly; Cicero's feelings were altered; and



partly; also; because Pompey made no great use of him。 Although;



indeed; he was himself the cause of it; by his not denying that he was



sorry he had come; by his depreciating Pompey's resources; finding



fault underhand with his counsels; and continually indulging in



jests and sarcastic remarks on his fellow…soldiers。 Though he went



about in the camp with a gloomy and melancholy face himself; he was



always trying to raise a laugh in others; whether they wished it or



not。 It may not be amiss to mention a few instances。 To Domitius; on



his preferring to a command one who was no soldier; and saying; in his



defence; that he was a modest and prudent person; he replied; 〃Why did



not you keep him for a tutor for or your children?〃 On hearing



Theophanes; the Lesbian; who was master of the engineers in the



army; praised for the admirable way in which he had consoled the



Rhodians for the loss of their fleet; 〃What a thing it is;〃 he said;



〃to have a Greek in command!〃 When Caesar had been acting



successfully; and in a manner blockading Pompey; Lentulus was saying



it was reported that Caesar's friends were out of heart; 〃Because;〃



said Cicero; 〃they do not wish Caesar well。〃 To one Marcius; who had



just come from Italy; and told them that there was a strong report



at Rome that Pompey was blocked up; he said; 〃And you sailed hither to



see it with your own eyes。〃 To Nonius; encouraging them after a defeat



to be of good hope; because there were seven eagles still left in



Pompey's camp; 〃Good reason for encouragement;〃 said Cicero; 〃if we



were going to fight with jackdaws。〃 Labienus insisted on some



prophecies to the effect that Pompey would gain the victory; 〃Yes;〃



said Cicero; 〃and the first step in the campaign has been losing our



camp。〃



  After the battle of Pharsalia was over; at which he was not



present for want of health; and Pompey was fled; Cato; having



considerable forces and a great fleet at Dyrrachium; would have had



Cicero commander…in…chief; according to law and the precedence of



his consular dignity。 And on his refusing the command; and wholly



declining to take part in their plans for continuing the war; he was



in the greatest danger of being killed; young Pompey and his friends



calling him traitor; and drawing their swords upon him; only that Cato



interposed; and hardly rescued and brought him out of the camp。



  Afterwards; arriving at Brundusium; he tarried there some time in



expectation of Caesar; who was delayed by his affairs in Asia and



Egypt。 And when it was told him that he was arrived at T
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