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commonwealth which he had chosen from the beginning； but Cicero
might have been more useful to his country and friends； if；
remaining neuter； he had attended and used his influence to moderate
the result； instead of coming hither to make himself； without reason
or necessity； an enemy to Caesar； and a partner in such great dangers。
By this language； partly； Cicero's feelings were altered； and
partly； also； because Pompey made no great use of him。 Although；
indeed； he was himself the cause of it； by his not denying that he was
sorry he had come； by his depreciating Pompey's resources； finding
fault underhand with his counsels； and continually indulging in
jests and sarcastic remarks on his fellow…soldiers。 Though he went
about in the camp with a gloomy and melancholy face himself； he was
always trying to raise a laugh in others； whether they wished it or
not。 It may not be amiss to mention a few instances。 To Domitius； on
his preferring to a command one who was no soldier； and saying； in his
defence； that he was a modest and prudent person； he replied； 〃Why did
not you keep him for a tutor for or your children？〃 On hearing
Theophanes； the Lesbian； who was master of the engineers in the
army； praised for the admirable way in which he had consoled the
Rhodians for the loss of their fleet； 〃What a thing it is；〃 he said；
〃to have a Greek in command！〃 When Caesar had been acting
successfully； and in a manner blockading Pompey； Lentulus was saying
it was reported that Caesar's friends were out of heart； 〃Because；〃
said Cicero； 〃they do not wish Caesar well。〃 To one Marcius； who had
just come from Italy； and told them that there was a strong report
at Rome that Pompey was blocked up； he said； 〃And you sailed hither to
see it with your own eyes。〃 To Nonius； encouraging them after a defeat
to be of good hope； because there were seven eagles still left in
Pompey's camp； 〃Good reason for encouragement；〃 said Cicero； 〃if we
were going to fight with jackdaws。〃 Labienus insisted on some
prophecies to the effect that Pompey would gain the victory； 〃Yes；〃
said Cicero； 〃and the first step in the campaign has been losing our
camp。〃
After the battle of Pharsalia was over； at which he was not
present for want of health； and Pompey was fled； Cato； having
considerable forces and a great fleet at Dyrrachium； would have had
Cicero commander…in…chief； according to law and the precedence of
his consular dignity。 And on his refusing the command； and wholly
declining to take part in their plans for continuing the war； he was
in the greatest danger of being killed； young Pompey and his friends
calling him traitor； and drawing their swords upon him； only that Cato
interposed； and hardly rescued and brought him out of the camp。
Afterwards； arriving at Brundusium； he tarried there some time in
expectation of Caesar； who was delayed by his affairs in Asia and
Egypt。 And when it was told him that he was arrived at Tarentum； and
was coming thence by land to Brundusium； he hastened towards him；
not altogether without hope； and yet in some fear of making experiment
of the temper of an enemy and conqueror in the presence of many
witnesses。 But there was no necessity for him either to speak or do
anything unworthy of himself； for Caesar； as soon as he saw him coming
a good way before the rest of the company； came down to meet him；
saluted him； and； leading the way； conversed with him alone for some
furlongs。 And from that time forward he continued to treat him with
honour and respect； so that； when Cicero wrote an oration in praise of
Cato； Caesar in writing an answer to it； took occasion to commend
Cicero's own life and eloquence； comparing him to Pericles and
Theramenes。 Cicero's oration was called Cato； Caesar's； anti…Cato。
So also it is related that when Quintus Ligarius was prosecuted
for having been in arms against Caesar； and Cicero had undertaken
his defence； Caesar said to his friends； 〃Why might we not as well
once more hear a speech from Cicero？ Ligarius； there is no question；
is a wicked man and an enemy。〃 But when Cicero began to speak； he
wonderfully moved him； and proceeded in his speech with such varied
pathos； and such a charm of language； that the colour of Caesar's
countenance often changed； and it was evident that all the passions of
his soul were in commotion。 At length； the orator touching upon the
Pharsalian battle； he was so affected that his body trembled； and some
of the papers he held dropped out of his hands。 And thus he was
overpowered； and acquitted Ligarius。
Henceforth； the commonwealth being changed into a monarchy； Cicero
withdrew himself from public affairs； and employed his leisure in
instructing those young men that would； in philosophy； and by the near
intercourse he thus had with some of the noblest and highest in
rank； he again began to possess great influence in the city。 The
work and object to which he set himself was to compose and translate
philosophical dialogues and to render logical and physical terms
into the Roman idiom。 For he it was； as it is said； who first or
principally gave Latin names to phantasia； syncatathesis； epokhe；
catalepsis； atamon； ameres； kenon； and other such technical terms；
which； either by metaphors or other means of accommodation； he
succeeded in making intelligible and expressible to the Romans。 For
his recreation； he exercised his dexterity in poetry； and when he
was set to it would make five hundred verses in a night。 He spent
the greatest part of his time at his country…house near Tusculum。 He
wrote to his friends that he led the life of Laertes either jestingly；
as his custom was； or rather from a feeling of ambition for public
employment； which made him impatient under the present state of
affairs。 He rarely went to the city； unless to pay his court to
Caesar。 He was commonly the first amongst those who voted him honours；
and sought out new terms of praise for himself and for his actions。
As； for example； what he said of the statues of Pompey； which had been
thrown down； and were afterwards by Caesar's orders set up again； that
Caesar； by this act of humanity； had indeed set up Pompey's statues；
but he had fixed and established his own。
He had a design； it is said； of writing the history of his
country； combining with it much of that of Greece； and incorporating
in it all the stories and legends of the past that he had collected。
But his purposes were interfered with by various public and various
private unhappy occurrences and misfortunes； for most of which he
was himself in fault。 For first of all； be put away his wife Terentia；
by whom he had been neglected in the time of the war； and sent away
destitute of necessaries for his journey； neither did he find her kind
when he return