The Shasta courier., 1863-04-25
rhe Death of Cicero.

The Death Of Cicero.
After the death Of Julius Caesar. by the
daggers of his assassigs, Octavius Caesar
soon succeeded to the throne. He immedi-
aselX AG,ed decree that all ilnpl Gated in
the assassination of Julius Caesar should be
arrested. wherever found, and brought to
trial Octavius united himself with Antony
and Lepidus, and they, as a triumvirate, ,.rul-
ed the world. They made out prescription
list of a hundred and thirty senators, with
still larger number of the equestrian order,
offering large rewards to any who would bring
the head of any of the prescribed to the tri-
umvirs, and warning all, by the severest pen
penalties, against harboring them in any way.
The corruption of the times is, perhaps, in
nothing more conspicuous than in the eager
ness with which sons sought the promised
reward by betraying their fathers to death.
The name of Marcus Tullius Cicero was
sound on this prescription list. Cicero had
seen warm friend and partisan Of the aris-
tscracy. But being by nature time server,
AZ fading the plebians and partricians SO
e PLY divided that it was quite uncertain
" th party would gain. the ascenQancy, he
ip. orlously endeavored to maintain neu-
trll position, that he might easily pass to
ether side which would prove victorious.
lis powers of eloquence were so remarkable
that the plebeians and patricians were both
intensely anxious to secure his advocacy.
Octavius condescended to write to Cicero, en-
treating him to espouse his cause in the SEN
ate. Cicero, casting longing eye towards
his patrIcian friends, Brutus and Cassius,
who were now far away beyond the Ionian
gulf, yentured to accept, though very hesita-
tinsly, the profered hand of the young pie
beiar r'adveDturer, Octavius. The imperial
orato bsacompan the Caesar to Rome, and
went h him to the forum. Octavius wish
ed, as kr as possible, to reconcile the two
antagfhistic elements of aristocratic privilege
and Popular rights. Still he was ths child
of democracy, and the spirit of Julius Caesar
was in his heart. As in the Roman forum
he had addressed the citizens, and, in the
ferver of his speech, pointed to the statue of
his uncle. and vowed, by the immortal gods,
that he ,would emulate his uncle's spirit, and
strive to attain his uncle's greatness, the peo.
pie applauded him to the skies; but the no.
bles turned away in indignation and disgust.
,Civll convulsion agitated the whole Ro-
man ehssass- Soon the party of the mobiles
seemed to be gaining the ascendency and
Octavius found it necessary to fly from Roire.
The pendulum of Cicero's mind instantly
swung b4c4 to .Shs side of the aristocracy.
He fastened to Rome. and in full meeting
of the senate delivered his renowned oration,
entitled the Third Philippe. In this he pro-
posed vote of thanks to Brutus, the assas-
sin of Cesar, and tIe most ilustrious advo-
cate of the aristocracy. AT the same time
he proposed vote of thanks to Octavius, the
chief representative of the plebian cause.
Cicero Mayed this double game, since he was
we'll az y that it was then by no means
certain which party was to come into power
Soon it became manifest that the son Of
Octavirs was ascending the horizon. But
the parties became so much embroiIed in the
complexities ofpolitical intrigue. that often
it was not little embarrassing to know
which, was the popular and which the aristo-
cratieside. Brutus in Syria, and Cassius in
Greece, were rousing Pompey's veteran lie.
gions into advocacy of the old aristocratic
commonwealth. Their success so intoxica-
ted Cicero, that forgetting his ordinary dis
crehon, he so lauded in one of his orations
thoss two assassins of Caesar, that the people,
who had loved Julius Caesar very much as
the American democracy loved Andrew
Jackson, turned against him bitterly. An
tony the friend partisan fCasar, rallied the
poplar party. and persuaded Octavius to
place himself undisguisedly at their head.
Ittavius, then in command of the forces in
Cisllpine Gaul, wheeled around his columns
and commenced a march towards Rome. He
was at the head of an army flushed with vic
tory, and by a singular coincidence marched
along the same road which his uncle Julius.
upon the same embassage, had previously
trs-yersed. The revolution of the wheel which
ha1 ba e. al toJ h.
pie, was almost instantaneous. he marched
to Rome unopposed, everywhere recognized
by the people as the nephew of his uncle
The heel of the plebeian now fell crushingly
upon the patrician's head. 1t was under these
circumstances that Cicero found his name on
the list of the prescribed. liz great terror
fpr though an eloquent he was not brave
'<an. he fled from Rome, and in disguise has
ten-1 to the coast, that be might embark for
Macedonia, where the partisans of Pompey
had assembled their forces He obtained a
vessel and commenced bis voyage. A violent
storm arose, which drove back his frail bark,
and he suffered SO severely from sea sickness.
that he could not be induced to re-embark
but with unwonted heroism declared. /" I will
Jein that country which | have SO often
saved
1iccrO WAS HOW IN MS SlXJV-tllrd year.
With composure which his previous life would
noA have led one to anticipate, he returned to
his villa. at Formie, and there awaited his
doom. His slaves, who were all white men,
prislners, or the children of prisoners taken
in tAttle, were devotedly attached to their hu-
manA thoughtful and virtuous master. They
kepse vigilant watch, and one day, seeing
soldiers approaching, and knowing full we'll
their object, they hurried Cicero, unresisting,
into ailitter that they might convey him to
the slore and place him on board vessel
The soldiers overlook them when but a short
distance from the house and stil on the acres
included in Cieero's estate. As the soldiers
approached in numbers which rendered resis-
tance useless, Cicero commanded his slaves
to set down the litter. He knew full well his
doom, and with manliness which inspired
respect, he met it. Reclining in his litter,
he calmly stretched out his head, with his
neck bare. to be severed by the sword. The
Roman arm. with keen, cutting blade, al
most instantly cut the h ad from the body.
and the cory trophy remained in the hands
of his &rdened, merciless executioners.