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Caesar himself； and so filled the senate with anger and resolution；
that a decree was passed for the execution of the conspirators。 But
Caesar opposed the confiscation of their goods； not thinking it fair
that those who rejected the mildest part of his sentence should
avail themselves of the severest。 And when many insisted upon it； he
appealed to the tribunes； but they would do nothing； till Cicero
himself yielding； remitted that part of the sentence。
After this； Cicero went out with the senate to the conspirators；
they were not all together in one place； but the several praetors
had them； some one； some another； in custody。 And first he took
Lentulus from the Palatine； and brought him by the Sacred Street；
through the middle of the market…place； a circle of the most eminent
citizens encompassing and protecting him。 The people； affrighted at
what was doing； passed along in silence； especially the young men；
as if； with fear and trembling； they were undergoing a rite of
initiation into some ancient sacred mysteries of aristocratic power。
Thus passing from the market…place； and coming to the gaol； he
delivered Lentulus to the officer； and commanded him to execute him；
and after him Cethegus； and so all the rest in order； he brought and
delivered up to execution。 And when he saw many of the conspirators in
the market…place； still standing together in companies； ignorant of
what was done； and waiting for the night； supposing the men were still
alive and in a possibility of being rescued； he called out in a loud
voice； and said； 〃They did live；〃 for so the Romans； to avoid
inauspicious language； name those that are dead。
It was now evening； when he returned from the market…place to his
own house； the citizens no longer attending him with silence； nor in
order； but receiving him； as he passed； with acclamations and
applauses； and saluting him as the saviour and founder of his country。
A bright light shone through the streets from the lamps and torches
set up at the doors； and the women showed lights from the tops of
the houses； to honour Cicero； and to behold him returning home with
a splendid train of the most principal citizens； amongst whom were
many who had conducted great wars； celebrated triumphs； and added to
the possessions of the Roman empire； both by sea and land。 These； as
they passed along with him； acknowledged to one another； that though
the Roman people were indebted to several officers and commanders of
that age for riches； spoils； and power； yet to Cicero alone they
owed the safety and security of all these； for delivering them from so
great and imminent a danger。 For though it might seem no wonderful
thing to present the design； and punish the conspirators； yet to
defeat the greatest of all conspiracies with so little disturbance；
trouble； and commotion； was very extraordinary。 For the greater part
of those who had flocked in to Catiline； as soon as they heard the
fate of Lentulus and Cethegus； left and forsook him； and he himself；
with his remaining forces； joining battle with Antonius； was destroyed
with his army。
And yet there were some who were very ready both to speak ill of
Cicero； and to do him hurt for these actions； and they had for their
leaders some of the magistrates of the ensuing year； as Caesar； who
was one of the praetors； and Metellus and Bestia； the tribunes。 These；
entering upon their office some few days before Cicero's consulate
expired； would not permit him to make any address to the people； but
throwing the benches before the rostra； hindered his speaking； telling
him he might； if he pleased； make the oath of withdrawal from
office； and then come down again。 Cicero； accordingly； accepting the
conditions； came forward to make his withdrawal； and silence being
made； he recited his oath； not in the usual； but in a new and peculiar
form； namely； that he had saved his country and preserved the
empire； the truth of which oath all the people confirmed with
theirs。 Caesar and the tribunes； all the more exasperated by this；
endeavoured to create him further trouble； and for this purpose
proposed a law for calling Pompey home with his army； to put an end to
Cicero's usurpation。 But it was a very great advantage for Cicero
and the whole commonwealth that Cato was at that time one of the
tribunes。 For he； being of （equal power with the rest and of greater
reputation； could oppose their designs。 He easily defeated their other
projects； and in an oration to the people so highly extolled
Cicero's consulate； that the greatest honours were decreed him； and he
was publicly declared the Father of his Country； which title he
seems to have obtained； the first man who did so； when Cato gave it to
him in this address to the people。
At this time； therefore； his authority was very great in the city；
but he treated himself much envy； and offended very many； not by any
evil action； but because he was always lauding and magnifying himself。
For neither senate； nor assembly of the people； nor court of
judicature could meet； in which he was not heard to talk of Catiline
and Lentulus。 Indeed； he also filled his books and writings with his
own praises； to such an excess as to render a style； in itself most
pleasant and delightful； nauseous and irksome to his hearers； this
ungrateful humour like a disease； always cleaving to him。
Nevertheless； though he was intemperately fond of his own glory； he
was very free from envying others； and was； on the contrary； most
liberally profuse in commending both the ancients and his
contemporaries； as any one may see in his writings。 And many such
sayings of his are also remembered； as that he called Aristotle a
river of flowing gold； and said of Plato's Dialogues； that if
Jupiter were to speak； it would be in language like theirs。 He used to
call Theophrastus his special luxury。 And being asked which of
Demosthenes's orations he liked best； he answered； the longest。 And
yet some affected imitators of Demosthenes have complained of some
words that occur in one of his letters； to the effect that Demosthenes
sometimes falls asleep in his speeches； forgetting the many high
encomiums he continually passes upon him； and the compliment he paid
him when he named the most elaborate of all his orations； those he
wrote against Antony； Philippics。 And as for the eminent men of his
own time； either in eloquence or philosophy； there was not one of them
whom he did not； by writing or speaking favourably of him； render more
illustrious。 He obtained of Caesar； when in power； the Roman
citizenship for Cratippus； the Peripatetic； and got the court of
Areopagus； by public decree； to request his stay at Athens； for the
instruction of their youth and the honour of their city。 There are
letters extant fr