James Leigh Strachan-Davidson

“ Gabinius judged that so ineffective a master had best be deserted, and when the Civil War came, he no less than Vatinius was to be found on the side of Cæsar. Cicero never really forgave himself for his pliancy on this occasion. "Why," he writes in the bitterness of his heart five years later—"why should I take account of my enemies? there are friends of mine, men whom I have defended at the bar, whom I cannot see in the Senate-house without pain, or associate with them without disgrace." ”

“ It is clear, however, from the account of the magistracies in the third book of The Laws, that no extraordinary authority, like that established by Augustus in the next generation, was contemplated in Cicero's Republic. The character drawn, so far as we can judge from the few lines that remain, seems to be only that of the "best citizen," the ideal statesman, who guides a free commonwealth by his advice and influence. It was a part [65] which might have been played by Pompey or by Cæsar or by Cicero himself, or even by all three at once. ”

“ Above all Cæsar approached Cicero on his most sensitive side by constant kindness and attention to his brother Quintus, who was now serving 54 B.C. as lieutenant-general in Gaul. The two were together in Britain during the summer of 54 B.C., and when the troops went into winter camps, the choice of quarters was allowed to Quintus, who selected the territory of the Nervii, one of the Belgic tribes. The younger Cicero was a brave and skilful officer. By a sudden rising the Gauls overwhelmed one division of the Roman army, and they next made a furious attack on the isolated station of Quintus. ”

“ An offensive and defensive alliance between Pompey and Cicero seemed imminent, and the two, once united, would secure the adherence of the equestrian order and of the country-people of Italy. If Pompey should support Cicero in this first assault, the Nobles would probably attack the grant of a province to Cæsar by the law of Vatinius. Domitius Ahenobarbus, whose candidature for next year's consulship seemed certain of success, openly declared his intention to propose Cæsar's recall. ”

“ For those who have the advantage in resources, in arms and in power, seem to me through the folly and inconsistency of their opponents to have been given the advantage in argument as well. So with very faint opposition they have obtained through the Senate what they never expected to obtain even through the People without revolution. With little or no trouble pay has been voted for Cæsar's troops, ten lieutenants have been granted him, and in assigning provinces under Gracchus' law, [15] it has been resolved that he shall not be susperseded. ”

“ Roman politicians and place-hunters flocked to Luca, and provincial governors found the little town on the way to or from their posts. It is said that 120 lictors could be counted and 200 senators. [2] But no state or pageantry could adequately express the importance of this meeting between the three chiefs. If they could come to an agreement, their power was sufficient to dispose of an Empire which was the civilised world.
The terms which Cæsar offered were so liberal that Pompey at once assented to them, and the bonds of the coalition were drawn closer than ever. ”

“ As early as the year 54 B.C. he seems to be pretty free from these difficulties. "Very little is now wanting," he writes to Quintus, [59] "for my habits of life are simple, and I shall have no difficulty in meeting what calls remain if only I keep my health." His debt to Cæsar however was still owing, and his letters to Atticus in 51 B.C. are full of instructions as to its discharge. In view of the political complications which were likely to arise between Cæsar and the Senate, Cicero felt it necessary for his own freedom of action that he should no longer be Cæsar's debtor. ”

“ It is my duty as a senator to secure to the best of my power that no eminent or powerful man shall have just ground for complaint against this House; and this, even if I were Cæsar's bitterest enemy, I should maintain for the good of the commonwealth." [18]
In setting forth the recent services, on which Cæsar rests his claims to the consideration of the Senate, Cicero has a theme worthy of his eloquence. Here there is no need for hesitation or apology. "He has striven on glorious battle-fields with the fierce tribes and mighty hosts of Germania and Helvetia ”

“ These precautions seem to have been absolutely necessary to preserve order, and we cannot fairly accuse Pompey, though his own wishes were against the prisoner, of attempting to coerce the jury. Cicero, who had throughout been unremitting in his exertions, and who owed Milo a debt of gratitude for many deeds of faithful partisanship, was sole counsel for the defence. ”

“ Cicero could not save Milo, but he procured the acquittal of Saufeius, Milo's comrade in the fight, and when he brought to the bar Munatius Bursa, who had taken a leading part in the riotous proceedings after Clodius' death, the jury convicted in spite of the efforts of Pompey on his behalf. "They were brave citizens," writes Cicero to his friend Marius, [57] "who dared convict him against all the influence of the man who had selected them as jurors. ”

“ The union between them seemed now absolutely re-established, and Cicero did not at this time appreciate how hollow the alliance necessarily was. In this settlement, which left Pompey for the moment the acknowledged head of the State, Cicero believed that 55 B.C. he was obliged to acquiesce. Early in the year 55 he writes to Lentulus: [23] "The State lies beyond question in the power of our friends, and that so absolutely that it is unlikely that this generation will see any change in the situation. I subordinate my action to the wishes of the man whom I am bound in honour not to oppose ”

“ To my mind, even his opponents would not do wrong if, feeling themselves to be no match for him, they were now to desist from contending. . . Peace is the best we can hope for now, and that the present rulers seem likely to secure us, if men will submit patiently to their domination. ”

“ Cicero's first action in the Senate on these new lines related to certain votes in favour of Cæsar, which, though fully justified by the work which Cæsar was now doing for Rome,June, 56 B.C. were awkwardly inconsistent with the attack which had been contemplated on his position. Cicero describes these measures in very reserved language to Lentulus Spinther: [14] "You ask me about the political situation; there is much contention, but no struggle on equal terms. ”

“ Well yes, even that. . . . The place in my heart, where resentment used to dwell, has grown callous." [53]
In the year 53 B.C. occurred the destruction of Crassus and his army in Mesopotamia. This disaster entailed on the Romans much anxiety for the safety of the eastern portion of 53 B.C.their empire. But the external danger passed away without serious consequences, and the death of Crassus was important chiefly as it affected the situation of Roman leaders and Roman parties. For Cæsar it was a most untoward event ”

“ Cons., 13, 33 seq. ↑ Ad Att., iv., 5. ↑ I.e., Hortensius, Bibulus, Domitius, and other leaders of the optimate party. ↑ I.e., The triumvirs. ↑ Ad Fam., i., 8, 1-4. ↑ I.e. The Knights and Pompey. ↑ Ad Q. F., ii., 7, 2. ↑ Ad Fam., i., 9, 20. The reconciliation did not alter Cicero's opinion of Crassus' character. "What a rascal it is!" he exclaims in a confidential letter (Ad Att., iv., 13, 2) immediately afterwards. ↑ In the year 54 B.C. the rate of interest rose from four to eight per cent., owing to the demand for ready money to be spent in bribery ”