84 85 like tactics, and for weeks the city was the battle-ground of the two factions. Finally, as the tribes could not meet for the transaction of business, the senate determined to put an end to the struggle by a vote of the centuries (p. 59, §30), and summoned to the city citizens from all parts of Italy. Pompeius visited in person the towns and colonies, and exerted all his influence for Cicero. So, on the 4th of August, the resolution for his recall was finally passed by an assembly that the Campus Martius could scarcely contain and Clodius could not daunt. The news filled the city with indescribable joy. CICERO'S RETURN. - Cicero had not waited in Macedonia for the decree to pass. Having learned from his friends that his recall was merely a question of time, he had returned in November, 58, to Dyrrachium, where he waited and watched the progress of events. He sailed for Brundisium as it chanced on the very day that the people authorized his return, and reached Italy on the 5th of August, after an absence of about sixteen months. At Brundisium his daughter Tullia met him, the 5th of August happened to be her birthday, and here on the 8th he learned finally that his banishment was at an end His return to Rome was a triumphal march. Crowds attended him; deputations from all over Italy met and welcomed him; no sign of joy or mark of honor was omitted on the way, and in the city itself the demonstra tions were on the grandest scale. CICERO'S LETTERS. To this period of his banishment refer the Letters of Cicero that are contained in this book They have been selected largely to show the deep dejection into which he was plunged by his removal from the capital From these and other letters of the same period modern writers have chiefly derived the material for their unspar ingly hostile criticism of his character. While these let ters show little of ideal Roman fortitude, while they abound in expressions of doubt and regret and despair while they reveal his impatience to be recalled and his injustice to Atticus and other friends, it must be remembered, on the other hand, that Cicero's nature was keenly sensitive, and that his pride had been most cruelly wounded. All that he had was taken from him; all the cherished occupations of his life were over; and, so far as he could know at the time, his doubts and fears were justified. The expression of these doubts and fears may be open to criticism as a matter of taste, but the Roman feeling in regard to such matters differed widely from ours. They did not affect a fortitude they did not have; they did not, as we do, try to conceal their feelings. If Vergil makes his great hero Aeneas weep in storm and despair in battle, it is not worth while to make excuses for similar weakness on the part of Cicero. His own justification for his conduct in retiring before 86 his foes without a show of resistance may be read in the two orations that complete this book. Even after his return the city continued to be disturbed by brawls and riots. The armed bands of Clodius on the one hand and of Sestius and Milo on the other struggled for the mastery of the streets while the triumvirate was engaged with the graver affairs of state. During the remainder of the year 57 Cicero was employed in recovering the remnants of his property and getting his affairs in order. The site of his town residence (§ 80) was restored to him, and damages paid for the destruction of his house and villas. In 56 he was busy as an advocate, taking but an insignificant part in affairs of state. The rival factions were employing the courts to annoy each other; suits and counter-suits were brought in rapid succession, and Cicero had ample opportunity to defend his friends and assail his enemies. THE ORATION FOR SESTIUS. On the 11th of February 87 two malicious charges were brought at the instigation of Clodius against Cicero's champion, P. Sestius. He was charged with bribery (de ambitu) by Cn. Nervius and on the same day by one M. Tullius Albiovanus with a b of the peace (de vi), because he had gone about as tr with armed bands disturbing the public tranquillity the former charge nothing further is known. Cice concerned with the latter only, and to this he pays formal attention. His object is rather to give an ou of his client's life and character, and especially of hist nate, in such a way as to bring before the court any cir stance that might favorably influence its decision. In historical survey we have the fullest possible accou the disorders of the time, from the standpoint of the servatives. The trial lasted with interruptions until 14th of March, ending with the acquittal of Sestius. 88 THE DEATH OF CLODIUS. The events of the next years, 55-52, have little to do with the conspiracy Catilina, however important their part in the histor Rome; among them may be mentioned Caesar's conq of Gaul, the defeat and death of Crassus in the east, death of Julia, the daughter of Caesar and wife of Pompe and the consequent estrangement of the two great riv During the absence of Caesar in Gaul and Crassus in east, Pompeius was in Rome, and everything pointed to supremacy. As proconsul of Spain and as commissione the corn supply he was invested with the highest milit authority, and by remaining at Rome he made his in ence promptly felt. An event now occurred that made power still greater. The year 53 had passed in content and disorder. Party dissensions had been so violent unscrupulous that no magistrates had been elected for 89 following year. On the 1st of January, 52, there were consuls to be inaugurated. Milo was one of the candida but Clodius had found means to prevent his election. 1 wheels of government had therefore stopped, and accord to constitutional usage a series of interreges had to appointed by patrician senators to set them in motion aga At this crisis it happened that Clodius and Milo met by accident upon the via Appia a few miles from the city, each attended by his gang of bullies and roughs. A quarrel began among their followers, and a free fight followed. Clodius was wounded and took refuge in a house near the road, from which by Milo's orders he was dragged and murdered. His body was carried to the city, and his funeral was made the occasion of a disorderly political demonstration. The corpse was burned in the senate house, and the building itself took fire and was consumed. Anarchy ran riot, and order was not restored until Pompeius, in defiance of constitution and laws, was made "sole consul" and put an end to the battle of bludgeons with the swords of his soldiers. THE ORATION FOR MILO. - A special commission was 90 appointed to try all cases growing out of the disturbance on the Appian Way, and all the members of this commission or court were selected by Pompeius. At the same time all men capable of service in Italy were called to arms and made to take the oath of obedience to Pompeius. Troops were stationed at the Capitol, and the special court, sitting in the forum, was surrounded by soldiers. Before this court on the 10th of April Milo was arraigned on the charge of assault and homicide. Cicero undertook his defence for personal and political reasons. As he began his speech he was received with hoots and yells by the partisans of Clodius which the troops were unable to suppress. The consequence was that, for the first time in his long career, he lost his composure and broke down. Milo went into exile at Massilia, whither Cicero sent him a carefully polished (§ 10) copy of the speech which he had intended to deliver, and which we now possess. Milo is said to have replied on reading it that he was glad the speech had not been spoken, as in that case he should not have been enjoying the delicious mullets of Massilia. The oration in its revised form is regarded as perhaps the very best specimen of Cicero's eloquence, CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Coss., C. Atilius Serranus, Q. Servilius Caepio. Cice Coss., C. Marius IV., Q. Lutatius Catulus. Marius defea Coss., M. Antonius, A. Postumius Albinus. Coss., Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos, T. Didius. Coss., Cn. Cornelius Lentulus, P. Licinius Crassus. Coss., C. Cassius Longinus, Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus. Coss., C. Marius II., C. Flavius Fimbria. 103 4 Coss., C. Marius III., L. Aurelius Orestes. his first and last campaign. 88 87 86 21 17 Coss., C. Caelius Caldus, L. Domitius Ahenobarbus. Coss., C. Claudius Pulcher, M. Perperna. Coss., L. Marcius Philippus, Sex. Iulius Caesar. Cice Cicero ser 19 Coss., L. Cornelius Sulla, Q. Pompeius Rufus. Civil W Marius is driven from Rome by Sulla. 20 Coss., Cn. Octavius, L. Cornelius Cinna. The consuls qu rel. Marius is recalled by Cinna. Reign of Terror. Coss., L. Cornelius Cinna II., C. Marius VII. Death Marius. Birth of Sallust. Coss., L. Cornelius Cinna III., Cn. Papirius Carbo. Coss., Cn. Papirius Carbo II., L. Cornelius Cinna IV. Cin about to make war upon Sulla in the east, is killed by own soldiers. |