ATTICUS. 



13 



Atticus 

 Titus. 



ration and humanity during that sanguinary period ; 

 and to this circumstance, no loss than to his strict 

 neutrality, we are to ascribe his wonderful success in 

 preserving the good opinion of all parties. It was 

 his constant maxim to alleviate, as much as in him 

 lay, by his influence alid money, the misfortunes of 

 the sufferers, to whatever cause they were attached. 

 Thus, though his strict intimacy with Cicero render- 

 ed him naturally favourable to the interest of Brutus, 

 in opposition to Antony ; yet, when Antony's affairs 

 seemed utterly irretrievable, and his friends went over 

 to the other side, Atticus interposed his good offices, 

 and restrained Cicero and his coadjutors not only from 

 committing any violence on the person of Antony, 

 but from persecuting his remaining adherents ; whom 

 he liberally supplied with whatever they required, out 

 of his own pocket. Such, however, was the depra- 

 vity of heart which influenced the proceedings of the 

 triumvirate, that these services were not sufficient to 

 prevent the name of Atticus from being inserted in 

 the list of the proscribed. The fury of Antony ra- 

 ged to such a degree against Cicero, that he had re- 

 solved to extirpate from the face of the earth the ora- 

 tor and all his friends without a single exception. 

 But the tyrant was prevailed upon to relent in favour 

 of Atticus, who had retired into concealment : he 

 wrote to him a letter with his own hand, inviting him 

 to return, and sent a guard to escort him through the 

 horrors of the night. It is a singular fact, that after 

 Antony and Augustus quarrelled, Atticus continued 

 to be their common friend : he frequently received 

 letters from Antony, detailing his plans and opera- 

 tions in the East ; while at the same time he main- 

 tained a daily correspondence with Augustus, who 

 consulted him on the most important questions. The 

 refined policy by which he conducted himself in this 

 delicate predicament, almost justifies the eulogium of 

 his panegyrist, when he says, that the history of At- 

 ticus has taught the world, " That man is fortunate 

 or unfortunate, according to his own conduct." 



The same prudence and forbearance which prevent- 

 ed Atticus from taking any active part in the civil 

 commotions of his time, prevented him also from 

 availing himself of many opportunities of obtaining 

 public offices. The honour and emolument attached 

 to these, he considered as completely counterbalanced 

 by the cares and dangers from which they are insepa- 

 rable in troublesome times. On more than one occa- 

 ion, he might have obtained a province : but this he 

 declined as incompatible with that rule of political 

 quiet which he had adopted. To this indolence he 

 was also probably inclined from the maxims of the 

 Epicurean philosophy, to which he professed an at- 

 tachment. As pleasure, that is, virtuous enjoyment, 

 together with the absence of pain and care, consti- 

 tuted the sole object of his desire, he would be dis- 

 posed not to interfere in the angry contentions of the 

 world ; but rather, like the gods of Epicurus, to ob- 

 serve them in dignified repose, at a distance. It is 

 difficult to determine whether this political neutrality 

 be altogether consistent with the interest which a 

 good man ought to take in the welfare of his coun- 

 try. But the truth is, that the Roman empire at that 

 time had extended itself over so many kingdoms and 

 provinces, that the proper idea of country was in a 

 VOL. III. PART I. 



great measure lost, and the feelings of patriotism, 

 which are ever most ardent in a small state, could 

 there have scarcely been excited. 



In his domestic capacity, Atticus was equally in- 

 teresting. He was remarkably assiduous in the ma- 

 nagement of his private affairs, taking charge not on- 

 ly of his own, but of those of Cicero, Marius, Hor- 

 tensius, Cato, and others. Though his revenue was 

 considerable, his expenses were extremely moderate. 

 He had no magnificent equipage, nor costly villa : in 

 all things he was partial to the simplicity of the an- 

 cients, whose manners he had thoroughly studied. 

 His house, which stood on the Quirinal hill, was a 

 plain old edifice ; though at the same time abundant- 

 ly convenient, and suitable to his equestrian rank : 

 and here every thing was equally remote from mean- 

 ness and ostentation. Splendid occasionally in his 

 hospitality, and entertaining, as he did, men of the 

 irost exalted condition, such as Cicero, C<esar, An- 

 tony, and Augustus ; still there was displayed more 

 politeness than magnificence ; more neatness than 

 show. It was his peculiar praise, that of all his 

 household, there was none who was not born under 

 his own roof ; and every person, to the meanest lac- 

 quey, was a proficient in the valuable arts of reading- 

 and writing. His feasts were never attended by bands 

 of music, nor accompanied by any sumptuous exhibi- 

 tions, such as were agreeable to the gross taste of most 

 of his cotemporaries. The only vocal entertainment 

 allowed by him on these occasions was reading, which 

 was performed by persons trained for the purpose ; 

 and this rational amusement communicated the most 

 lively pleasure to the guests, who, he took care, were 

 always of the same taste with himself. What must 

 have been the elegance of the remarks, and the in- 

 terest of the whole amusement, when the companv 

 consisted of Atticus, Cicero, Caesar, the poet Calli- 

 dius, Sallust, Hortensius, Cornelius Nepos, and simi- 

 lar men of letters ! 



In conversation, Atticus was so fascinating, that 

 young men preferred his company to that of their 

 own equals : but in his gayest moments, he had such 

 a regard for decorum, that when even in jest, he had 

 an air of dignity and elevation ; so that it was uncer- 

 tain whether he was more beloved or respected by his 

 friends. Enviable talent ! which could thus temper the 

 suavity of the companion with the dignity of the in- 

 structor ; which could insensibly charm the levity of 

 youth into the chastened majesty of philosophy ! 



In his attachment to his friends, Atticus possessed 

 the utmost steadiness, and, unlike many a pretended 

 patron, when he once made a promise, he considered 

 the whole business as his own till he performed it. 

 His economical style of living enabled him to indulge 

 the generous dispositions of his heart to a much 

 greater extent than most could afford, who even sur- 

 passed him in wealth. Money was not his object, 

 but the luxury of bestowing it well ; and this he often 

 did in the noblest manner. When Brutus was in the 

 plenitude of his power, Atticus refused to support 

 him ; but his fortunes were no sooner broken, than 

 he relieved his private necessity by a princely dona- 

 tion. To Cicero, when stript of his possessions, and 

 driven into exile, his faithful friend sent a um of 

 money in his distress, amounting to ^2000 sterling! 



Atticus 

 Titus. 



