next morning Antonius assembled the Senate, and called for Cicero by name. Cicero refused to go, and kept his bed, feigning that he was weary with his journey and pains he had taken the day before: but indeed, the cause why he went not, was, for fear and suspicion of an ambush that was laid for him by the way, if he had gone, as he was informed by one of his very good friends. Antonius was marvellously offended that they did wrongfully accuse him, for laying of any ambush for him: and therefore sent soldiers to his house, and commanded them to bring him by force, or else to set his house afire. After that time, Cicero and he were always at jar, but yet coldly enough, one of them taking heed of another: until that the young Cæsar returning from the city of Apollonia, came as lawful heir unto Julius Cæsar Dictator, and had contention with Antonius for the sum of two thousand five hundred myriads, the which Antonius kept in his hands of his father's goods. Thereupon, Philip who had married the mother of this young Cæsar, and Marcellus, who had also married his sister, went with young Cæsar unto Cicero, and there agreed together, that Cicero should help young Cæsar with the favour of his authority and eloquence, as well towards the Senate, as also to the people: and that Cæsar in recompense of his good-will should stand by Cicero, with his money and soldiers. For this young Cæsar, had many of his father's old soldiers about him, that had served under him. Now there was another cause that made Cicero glad to embrace the friendship of this young Cæsar, and that was this. Whilst Pompey and Julius Cæsar were alive, and in good case: Cicero dreamed one night that the Senator's sons were called into the Capitol, because Jupiter had appointed to shew them him, that one day should come to be lord and king of Rome, and that the Romans being desirous to see who it should be, ran all unto the temple: and that all the children likewise were waiting there in their goodly guarded gowns of purple, until that suddenly the doors of the temple were open, and then that all the children rose one after another, and went and passed by the image of Jupiter, who looked upon them all, and sent them discontented, saving this young Cæsar, unto whom he put forth his hand as he passed by, and said: My lords of Rome, this

child is he that shall end all your civil wars, when he cometh to be lord of Rome. Some say, that Cicero had this vision in his dream, and that he carried in good memory the look of this child, howbeit that he knew him not: and that the next morning he went of purpose into the field of Mars, where these young boys did exercise themselves, who, when they came thither, had broken up from playing, and were going home, and that amongst them he first saw him whom he had dreamed of, and knew him very well, and musing at him the more, asked him whose son he was. The boy answered, that he was the son of one Octavius (a man otherwise of no great calling) and of Atia, the sister of Julius Cæsar: who having no child, made him his heir by his last will and testament, and left him all his lands and goods. After that time, it is reported, that Cicero was very glad to speak to him when he met with him, and that the boy also liked Cicero's friendship, and making of him: for by good hap the boy was born the same year that Cicero was Consul. And these be the reasons alleged, why Cicero did favour this young Cæsar. But in truth, first of all the great malice he bare unto Antonius, and secondly his nature that was ambitious of honour, were (in my opinion) the chiefest causes why he became young Cæsar's friend: knowing that the force and power of his soldiers, would greatly strengthen his authority and countenance in managing the affairs of the state, besides that the young man could flatter him so well, that he called him father. But Brutus being offended with him for it, in his epistles he wrote unto Atticus, he sharply reproveth Cicero, saying, That for fear of Antonius he flattered this young Cæsar: whereby it appeared, he did not so much seek for the liberty of Rome, as he did procure himself a loving and gentle maister. This notwithstanding, Brutus brought with him Cicero's son that studied philosophy at Athens, and gave him charge of men under him and employed him in great affairs, wherein he shewed himself very forward and valiant. Now Cicero's authority and power grew again to be so great in Rome, as ever it was before. For he did what he thought good, and so vexed Antonius, that he drave him out of the city, and sent the two Consuls Hirtius and Pansa against him, to fight with him: and caused the

Senate also to decree, that young Cæsar should have sergeants to carry rods and axes before him, and all other furniture for a Prætor, as a man that fighteth for his country. After that Antonius had lost the battell, and that both the Consuls were slain, both the armies came unto Cæsar. The Senate then being affraid of this young man, that had so great good fortune, they practised by honours and gifts to call the armies from him, which he had about him, and so to minish the greatness of his power: saying, That their country now stood in no need of force nor fear of defence, sith her enemy Antonius was fled and gone. Cæsar fearing this, sent men secretly unto Cicero, to pray him to procure that they two together might be chosen Consuls and that when they should be in office, he should do and appoint what he thought good, having the young man at his commandment, who desired no more but the honour only of the name. Cæsar himself confessed afterwards, that being afraid he should have been utterly cast away, to have been left alone: he finely served his turn by Cicero's ambition, having persuaded him to require the Consulship, through the help and assistance that he would give him. But there was Cicero finely colted, as old as he was, by a young man, when he was contented to sue for the Consulship in his behalf, and to make the Senate agreeable to it: wherefore his friends presently reproved him for it, and shortly after he perceived he had undone himself, and together also lost the liberty of his country. For this young man Octavius Cæsar being grown to be very great by his means and procurement: when he saw that he had the Consulship upon him, he forsook Cicero, and agreed with Antonius and Lepidus. Then joining his army with theirs, he divided the empire of Rome with them, as if it had been lands left in common between them: and besides that, there was a bill made of two hundred men and upwards, whom they had appointed to be slain. But the greatest difficulty and difference that fell out between them, was about the outlawing of Cicero. For Antonius would hearken to no peace between them, unless Cicero were slain first of all: Lepidus was also in the same mind with Antonius but Cæsar was against them both. Their meeting was by the city of Bolonia, where they continued three days

together, the three only secretly consulting in a place environed about with a little river. Some say that Cæsar stuck hard with Cicero the two first days, but at the third, that he yielded and forsook him. The exchange they agreed upon between them, was this. Cæsar forsook Cicero: Lepidus, his own brother Paulus: and Antonius, Lucius Cæsar his uncle by the mother's side. Such place took wrath in them, as they regarded no kindred nor blood, and to speak more properly, they shewed that no brute or savage beast is so cruel as man, if with his licentiousness he have liberty to execute his will. While these matters were a-brewing, Cicero was at a house of his in the country, by the city of Tusculum, having at home with him also his brother Q. Cicero. News being brought them thither of these proscriptions or outlawries, appointing men to be slain: they determined to go to Astyra, a place by the seaside where Cicero had another house, there to take sea, and from thence to go into Macedon unto Brutus. For there ran a rumour that Brutus was very strong, and had a great power. So, they caused themselves to be conveyed thither in two litters, both of them being so weak with sorrow and grief, that they could not otherwise have gone their ways. As they were on their way, both their litters going as near to each other as they could, they bewailed their miserable state: but Quintus chiefly, who took it most grievously. For, remembring that he took no money with him when he came from his house, and that Cicero his brother also had very little for himself: he thought it best that Cicero should hold on his journey, whilst he himself made an errand home to fetch such things as he lacked, and so to make haste again to overtake his brother. They both thought it best so, and then tenderly embracing one another, the tears falling from their eyes, they took leave of each other. Within few days after, Quintus Cicero being betrayed by his own servants, unto them that made search for him: he was cruelly slain, and his son with him. But Marcus Tullius Cicero being carried unto Astyra, and there finding a ship ready, embarked immediately, and sailed along the coast unto Mount Circeum, having a good gale of wind. There the mariners determining forthwith to make sail again, he came ashore, either for fear of the sea, or

for that he had some hope that Cæsar had not altogether forsaken him and therewithal returning towards Rome by land, he had gone about a hundred furlongs thence. But then being at a strait how to resolve, and suddenly changing his mind: he would needs be carried back again to the sea, where he continued all night marvellous sorrowful, and full of thoughts. For one while he was in mind to go secretly unto Octavius Cæsar's house, and to kill himself by the hearth of his chimney, to make the furies of hell to revenge his blood: but being affraid to be intercepted by the way, and cruelly handled, he turned from that determination. Then falling into other unadvised determinations, being perplexed as he was, he put himself again into his servants' hands, to be conveyed by sea to another place called Capitæ. There he had a very proper pleasant summer-house, where the north winds, called etesix, do give a trim fresh air in the summer season. In that place also there is a little temple dedicated unto Apollo, not far from the seaside. From thence there came a great shoal of crows, making a marvellous noise, that came flying towards Cicero's ship, which rowed upon the shore side. This shoal of crows came and lighted upon the yard of their sail, some crying, and some pecking the cords with their bills: so that every man judged straight, that this was a sign of ill-luck at hand. Cicero notwithstanding this, came ashore, and went into his house, and laid him down to see if he could sleep. But the most part of these crows came and lighted upon the chamber window where he lay, making a wonderful great noise: and some of them got unto Cicero's bed where he lay, the clothes being cast over his head, and they never left him, till by little and little they had with their bills plucked off the clothes that covered his face. His men seeing that, and saying to themselves that they were too vile beasts, if they would tarry to see their master slain before their eyes, considering that brute beasts had care to save his life, seeing him so unworthily entreated, and that they should not do the best they could to save his life: partly by entreaty, and partly by force, they put him again into his litter to carry him to the sea. But in the meantime came the murderers appointed to kill him, Herennius a Centurion, and Popilius Lænas, Tribune of the soldiers (to