MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO. 209 



a scarcity of corn, he acquitted himself in that delicate situation with 

 such address, as to supply the clamorous wants of the people without 

 oppressing the province from which the provisions were raised. 1 

 Returning thence with greater honours than had ever been before 

 decreed to a Roman governor, he ingratiated himself still farther in 

 the esteem of the Sicilians, by undertaking his celebrated prosecution Prosecution 

 of Verres ; who, though defended by the influence of the Metelli and of Verres - 

 the eloquence of Hortensius, was at length driven in despair into 

 voluntary exile. 



Five years after his quaestorship, Cicero was elected aedile, a post jEdiie. 

 of considerable expense from the exhibition of games connected with 

 it. 2 In this magistracy he conducted himself with singular propriety; 3 

 for, it being customary to court the people by a display of splendour 

 in these official shows, he contrived to retain his popularity without 

 submitting to the usual alternative of plundering the provinces or 

 sacrificing his private fortune. The latter was at this time by no 

 means ample; but, with the good sense and taste which mark his 

 character, he preserved in his domestic arrangements the dignity of a 

 literary and public man, without any of the ostentation of magnifi- 

 cence which often distinguishes the candidate for popular applause. 4 



After the customary interval of two years, he was returned at the 

 head of the list as praetor ; 5 and now made his first appearance in the praetor, 

 rostrum in support of the Mamilian law, which will be found in the 

 volume of this Encyclopaedia containing the public history of Rome. 

 About the same time he defended Cluentius. At the expiration of 

 his praetorship, he refused to accept a foreign province, the usual 

 reward of that magistracy ; 6 but, having the consulate full in view, 

 and relying on his interest with Caesar and Pompey, he allowed 

 nothing to divert him from that career of glory for which he now 

 believed himself to be destined. 



It may be doubted, indeed, whether any individual ever rose to 

 power by more virtuous and truly honourable conduct ; the integrity Different 

 of his public life was only equalled by the correctness of his private estimates 

 morals ; and it may at first sight excite our wonder, that a course so 

 splendidly begun should afterwards so little fulfil its early promise, 

 We have, in our memoir of Caesar, contained in the volume above 

 cited, traced his course from the period of his consulate to his praetor- 

 ship in Cilicia, and found each year diminish his influence in public 

 affairs, till it expired altogether with the death of Pompey. This 

 surprise, however, arises in no small degree from measuring Cicero's 

 political importance by his present reputation, and confounding the 

 authority he deservedly possesses as an author, with the opinions 

 entertained of him by his contemporaries as a statesman. From the 

 consequence usually attached to passing events, a politician's celebrity 



1 Pro Plane. 26 ; in Verr. v. 14. 2 Ibid. 



3 De Offic. ii. 17 ; Middletou. 4 Pro Dom. 58. 



5 In Pis. 1. 6 Pro MimenS, 20. 

 [G. R. P. j P 



