MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO. 211 



Yet, after that eventful period, we see him resigning his high station Want of 

 to Cato, who, with half his abilities, little foresight, and no address, 1 UmneS. 

 possessed that first requisite for a statesman, firmness. Cicero, on the 

 contrary, was irresolute, timid, and inconsistent. 2 He talked indeed, 

 largely of preserving a middle course, 8 but he was continually vacil- 

 lating from one to the other extreme; always too confident or too 

 dejected ; incorrigibly vain of success, yet meanly panegyrizing the 

 government of an usurper. His foresight, sagacity, practical good 

 sense, and singular tact, were lost for want of that strength of mind 

 which points them steadily to one object. He was never decided, 

 never (as has sometimes been observed) took an important step with- 

 out afterwards repenting of it. Nor can we account for the firmness 

 and resolution of his consulate, unless we discriminate between the 

 case of resisting and exposing a faction, and that of balancing con- 

 tending interests. Vigour in repression differs widely from steadiness 

 in meditation ; the latter requiring a coolness of judgment, w r hich a 

 direct attack upon a public foe is so far from implying, that it even 

 inspires minds naturally timid with unusual ardour. 



His consulate was succeeded by the return of Pompey from the First Trium- 

 east, and the establishment of the First Triumvirate ; which, disap- v ite. 

 pointing his hopes of political greatness, induced him to resume his A.'cleo.' 

 forensic and literary occupations. From these he was recalled, after 

 an interval of four years, by the threatening measures of Clodius, who at 

 length succeeded in driving him into exile. This event, which, consider- His exile and 

 ing the circumstances connected w r ith it, was one of the most glorious * etur "' 96 

 of his life, filled him with the utmost distress and despondency. He A', c. 58. * 

 wandered about Greece bewailing his miserable fortune, refusing the 

 consolations which his friends attempted to administer, and shunning 

 the public honours with which the Greek cities were eager to load 

 him. 4 His return, which took place in the course of the following 

 year, reinstated him in the high station he had filled at the termination 

 of his consulate, but the circumstances of the times did not allow him 



house ; that I have ever associated the populace with the nobles, the equestrian 

 order with the senate." Editor.'] l Ad Atticurn, i. 18, ii. 1. 



2 See Montesquieu, Grandeur des Remains, ch. xii. 3 Ad Atticum, i. 19. 



4 Ad Atticum, lib. iii. ; ad Fam. lib. xiv. ; pro Sext. 22 ; pro Dom. 36 ; Plutarch, 

 in Vita. It is curious to observe how he converts the alleviating circumstances of 

 his case into exaggerations of his misfortune : he writes to Atticus : " Nam quod me 

 tarn saepe et tarn vehementer objurgas, et animo infirmo esse dicis, quaeso ecquod 

 tantum malum est quod in mea" calamitate non sit ? ecquis unquam ex tarn amplo 

 statu, tarn in bond causa, tantis facultatibus ingenii, consilii, gratias, tantis procsidiis 

 bonorum omnium, concidit ?" [" You frequently and earnestly reprove me, and 

 call me weak-minded. But tell me, what aggravation of misery is there which 

 belongs not to my calamity ? Has any man ever fallen from so high a position, in 

 so good a cause, with such ample resources of ability, of judgment, of influence, 

 with such powerful support of all good men?" Editor."] iii. 10. Other persons 

 would have reckoned the justice of their cause, and the countenance of good men, 

 alleviations of their distress ; and so, when others were concerned, he himself 

 thought ; pro Sext. 12. 



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