|
Dromo's Den
|
|
[Up] [Dromo's Den] Cicero Biography CICERO, Marcus Tullius, Roman orator, essayist and writer, born at Arpinum, Jan. 3, 106 B. C.; suffered death Dec. 6, 43 B. C. He belonged to an ancient equestrian family of considerable influence, his father being a man of culture. His education was designed to fit him for eminence in the state, for which purpose he was taken to Rome, where he was taught under the direction of the orator Crassus, and became acquainted with the language and literature of Greece. At the early age of sixteen he was introduced to the public life of Rome. His discipline in oratory, instruction in law, and knowledge of philosophy and science were alike complete. His mental exercises were in no way neglected to bring out his greatest powers, and render him fit to occupy a high station among the statesmen and philosophers of Rome. Among his early cases was the defense of Roscius, a private citizen, against a favorite of Sulla. Later he traveled in Greece and Asia to become acquainted with eastern learning, and, on his return ranked as the leading orator at the Romar bar. In the year 76 he was elected quaestor and appointed to a government in Sicily where he ruled with much ability and gave general satisfaction. On his return to Rome Cicero prepared six orations against Verres, a governor of Sicily, and placed the Sicilians under obligations to himself by his successful management of the case. Beginning in the year 70, he passed through the offices of aedile and praetor, and in 63 was elected to the consulship by an overwhelming majority. In the capacity of consul he became eminent by frustrating the conspiracy of Catiline, in delivering against him his famous "Orations against Catiline." By his promptness and efficiency he secured the friendship of the senators and was hailed by Cato and Catulus as the "Father of his country." Public thanksgivings were voted in his name. His popularity subsided with the expiration of his consulship, largely because of being charged by his enemies with having occasioned the execution of several conspirators without a formal trial, and he was obliged to seek safety in Thessalonica. After six months of exile, he was recalled to Rome and received with much enthusiasm. The envy of the honorable party of the senate was excited by his recovered dignity, and he desired to form a close friendship with them and with the influential factors of the state, Pompey and Caesar; both courted his alliance and co-operation. This placed him in a peculiar position and caused him to be betrayed into many actions which increased the power of the triumvirs. In the years 51-52 he administered in the province of Cilicia and returned to Italy on the eve of the civil war. He first became allied with the side of Pompey and the republic. Later he secured the friendship of Caesar and accompanied him to Rome. During the remainder of his life Cicero devoted much attention to the preparation of his orations and essays. Among the most celebrated, aside from the "Orations against Catiline," are "Philippics against Antony;" "Essays on Friendship;" "Old Age," and "The Whole Duty of Man." After the assassination of Caesar, he first endeavored to unite his interests with Brutus, but afterwards refrained from doing so. In the events that followed he was friendly to Octavianus, which friendship was the cause of the "Philippics against Antony," and these were the cause that led to his death. The proscription issued after Antony, Lepidus, and Octavianus had formed a triumvirate included Cicero's name among the proscribed. While endeavoring to escape from Tusculum, where the news of the proscription reached him, he was overtaken by Antony's soldiers. At this time he was in an infirm state of health and was borne on a. litter with the view of embarking, when he was taken captive. With a remarkable self-composure he put his head forward and offered his neck to the sword of his executioners. The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia, Vol. I (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 358-359. |