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orator's instrument of rhetoric； and summoned into action his
political faculties； diligently exercising himself in declamations and
attending the most celebrated rhetoricians of the time。 He sailed from
Athens for Asia and Rhodes。 Amongst the Asian masters； he conversed
with Xenocles of Adramyttium； Dionysius of Magnesia； and Menippus of
Caria； at Rhodes； he studied oratory with Apollonius； the son of
Molon； and philosophy with Posidonius。 Apollonius； we are told； not
understanding Latin； requested Cicero to declaim in Greek。 He complied
willingly； thinking that his faults would thus be better pointed out
to him。 And after he finished； all his other hearers were
astonished； and contended who should praise him most； but
Apollonius； who had shown no signs of excitement whilst he was hearing
him； so also now； when it was over； sate musing for some
considerable time； without any remark。 And when Cicero was discomposed
at this； he said； 〃You have my praise and admiration； Cicero； and
Greece my pity and commiseration； since those arts and that
eloquence which are the only glories that remain to her； will now be
transferred by you to Rome。〃
And now when Cicero； full of expectation； was again bent upon
political affairs； a certain oracle blunted the edge of his
inclination for consulting the god of Delphi how he should attain most
glory； the Pythoness answered； by making his own genius and not the
opinion of the people the guide of his life； and therefore at first he
passed his time in Rome cautiously； and was very backward in
pretending to public offices； so that he was at that time in little
esteem； and had got the names； so readily given by low and ignorant
people in Rome； of Greek and Scholar。 But when his own desire of
fame and the eagerness of his father and relations had made him take
in earnest to pleading； he made no slow or gentle advance to the first
place； but shone out in full lustre at once； and far surpassed all the
advocates of the bar。 At first； it is said； he； as well as
Demosthenes； was defective in his delivery； and on that account paid
much attention to the instructions sometimes of Roscius the
comedian； and sometimes of Aesop the tragedian。 They tell of this
Aesop； that whilst he was representing on the theatre Atreus
deliberating the revenge of Thyestes； he was so transported beyond
himself in the beat of action； that he struck with his sceptre one
of the servants； who was running across the stage； so violently that
he laid him dead upon the place。 And such afterwards was Cicero's
delivery that it did not a little contribute to render his eloquence
persuasive。 He used to ridicule loud speakers； saying that they
shouted because they could not speak； like lame men who get on
horseback because they cannot walk。 And his readiness and address in
sarcasm； and generally in witty sayings； was thought to suit a pleader
very well； and to be highly attractive； but his using it to excess
offended many； and gave him the repute of ill…nature。
He was appointed quaestor in a great scarcity of corn and had Sicily
for his province； where though at first he displeased many； by
compelling them to send in their provisions to Rome； yet after they
had had experience of his care； justice； and clemency； they honoured
him more than ever they did any of their governors before。 It
happened； also； that some young Romans of good and noble families；
charged with neglect of discipline and misconduct in military service；
were brought before the praetor in Sicily。 Cicero undertook their
defence； which he conducted admirably； and got them acquitted。 So
returning to Rome with a great opinion of himself for these things；
a ludicrous incident befell him； as he tells us himself。 Meeting an
eminent citizen in Campania； whom he accounted his friend； he asked
him what the Romans said and thought of his actions； as if the whole
city had been filled with the glory of what he had done。 His friend
asked him in reply； 〃Where is it you have been； Cicero？〃 This for
the time utterly mortified and cast him down to perceive that the
report of his actions had sunk into the city of Rome as into an
immense ocean； without any visible effect or result in reputation。 And
afterwards considering with himself that the glory he contended for
was an infinite thing； and that there was no fixed end nor measure
in its pursuit； he abated much of his ambitious thoughts。
Nevertheless； he was always excessively pleased with his own praise；
and continued to the very last to be passionately fond of glory； which
often interfered with the prosecution of his wisest resolutions。
On beginning to apply himself more resolutely to public business； he
remarked it as an and absurd thing that artificers； using vessels
and instruments inanimate； should know the name； place； and use of
every one of them； and yet the statesman； whose instruments for
carrying out public measures are men； should be negligent and careless
in the knowledge of persons。 And so be not only acquainted himself
with the names； but also knew the particular place where every one
of the more eminent citizens dwelt； what lands he possessed； the
friends he made use of； and those that were of his neighbourhood；
and when he travelled on any road in Italy； he could readily name
and show the estates and seats of his friends and acquaintance。 Having
so small an estate； though a sufficient competency for his own
expenses； it was much wondered at that he took neither fees nor
gifts from his clients； and more especially that he did not do so when
he undertook the prosecution of Verres。 This Verres； who had been
praetor of Sicily； and stood charged by the Sicilians of many evil
practices during his government there； Cicero succeeded in getting
condemned； not by speaking； but in a manner by holding his tongue。 For
the praetors； favouring Verres； had deferred the trial by several
adjournments to the last day； in which it was evident there could
not be sufficient time for the advocates to be heard； and the cause
brought to an issue。 Cicero； therefore； came forward； and said there
was no need of speeches； and after producing and examining
witnesses； he required the judges to proceed to sentence。 However；
many witty sayings are on record； as having been used by Cicero on the
occasion。 When a man named Caecilius； one of the freed slaves； who was
said to be given to Jewish practices； would have put by the Sicilians；
and undertaken the prosecution of Verres himself； Cicero asked；
〃What has a Jew to do with swine？〃 verres being the Roman word for a
boar。 And when Verres began to reproach Cicero with effeminate living；
〃You ought；〃 replied he； 〃to use this language at home； to your sons；〃
Verres having a son who had fallen into disgraceful cours