New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-15


ncrpetual excitement proved too much for his
feehle frame He was obliged to retire from the
Forum and the courts. and seek the restoration VI
his health by cessation from Work. WIN 'h's
view. and for the sake Of change OF air and scene
he made visit TO Athena. We can easily imagine
what charms there we're for him in the sight OF
F." the mother of arts and eloqueDce." He was per-
fecty at home in the Greek language He was an
enthusiast in the study of the Greek philosophy
His enjoyn ent of Athens was enhanced by the So
ciety of relatives and friends. His brother Quintus
his cousin Lucius, and his dear friend Auicus were
with him there. For six months they studied TO-
gether and enjoyed the recreations of the place.
| Leaving Athens, Cicero travelled in ASIA Minor,
receiving instruction from the most celebrated
masters Of rhetoric whom he met with on his jour-
ney. At the end Of two years, he Nturncd 70
Rome. His health was completely reestablished
and he came back almost changed man. lie al
once resumed his practice in the courts. ABOUT
this time, his marriage is supposed to nave 1aXeh
place, when he was in his thirty-hrst year. Ills
wife was Tcrentia, lady II distinguished family,
whose sister Faba was a Vestal virgin. He lived
happily with her for many years, with warm alice
other for some mysterious reason, and the mar
rage was terminated by divorce
The correspondence of Cicero with Atticus, which
gives such lively and brilliant picture of cotem-
porary events began in his thirty -ninth year. In
those letters, we to hear the groans OF the ex-
lpiring Republic which had been MORALLY wounded
during the long civil Of Marius and Syila AT
one time We watch the arrival of corner Al
, Tusculun, with letter from Atticus telling his
, friend the news of the day. In Ciceros reply We
q learn the fluctuations Of hope and fear which ar
tated his soul during the perilous crisis o. his
, country. At another time, we see him IN the
scclus N Of his villa, plain country gentleman
improving his estate, building farm-houses, laying
GU; strawberries or amusing himself with pietures
and statues and the objects which appeal TO
refined and elegant taste. Again We find him al
Rome, Disguised with the strife and turmoil Of the
day, and dcscsnting in somber terms on the vanity
, Of ambition and popular applause. Now be II
{ exalted 10 the summit Of human glory by the con-
CALCULATIONS of the Senate, and now sunk IN despair
{ as an exile from his beloved Rome. Sometimes he
sends message TO his friend from the little Tullia,
his ghter, reminding him of his promise to make
her present; and then he speaks of his only son,
. the honey-swcet Cicero, who with his sister YES
the pride and JOY of his daily life He often audes
10 his passion for books. lie tells Atticus after his
library had been arranged that il seemed AS If his
house he'd got soul. lie is in rapures with new
D bookcase ornamented with the gay colors Of the
4 parchment covers in which the precious rolls were
n kept. lie requests his friend 10 send him two OF
his librarians to help glue the parchments, and To
bring with them skin to make indexes He declares
that he does not envy Crassus his wealth. and can
despsc the broad acres Of Others If he has II only
in his power TO purchase books.
The favorite residence Of Cicero was his rural
villa Of Tusculum, about fourteen miles from Rome
This was in charming locality, bosomed high IN
|, tufted trees ard commanding view of mag
, Diicent landscape. Tho towers and walls of Rome
glittered in the distance across the Csmpagna; be-
yond were the blue waters of the Mediterranean
on the right lay Tiyoli and on the left the Aiban
lake which hid itself from sht amidst the eur
rounding hills. The villa arranged Oh the
model Of the Academy at Athens. 1t was built
with long corridor AID an exercise ground, and u
gymnasium had been added by Cicero himself 1t
was here that Cicero and Atticus passed many de-
lghtful hours away from the noise and hustle ri
Rome, communing together on the Hottest themes
of philosophy and letters and enjoying the pleasures
Of friendship and the entertainments Of rural liie
The neighborhood Of Tusculam q frequent
resort Of the old Roman nobility. On the declivity
of the hill we're scattered the villas of many emf
nent citizens Cicero was in the midst Of his
acquaintance and friends. Besides his house at
Rome and his residence at Tusculum, Cicero had
several other villas, most Of them on tue west
coast of Italy.
h After attaining the highest public honors, and
enjoying popularity such as is rarely attained in
official life Ciccros fortunes began 10 decline. His
enemies were un carried in their efforts to tarnsh bis
name, and to make him odious TO the people. At
length they succeeded in procuring his Punishment
from Rome. This event forms gloomy passage in
the biography of the illnstTious orator. The sen
T tence was put in force with terrible severity.
Cicero was at once treated as beyond the pale Of
the law His whole property was conbscated. His
house on the Palatine Hill was in flames before
pightfaIl and reduced to ashes. His Tuscuan and
Fornian villas were afterwards plundered and laid
waste. The exile, on leaving Rome, Travelled
SLOWLY hoping for time TO hear that he was re-
called His first intention was to go TO Sicily or
r Malta; this was subsequently, forbidden; and he
turned his steps toward Brundnsium, with view
to reach the opposite coast Of Greece. Here he
received letters from Atticus inviting him to cross
over to Epirus and stay there at his country
seat. There were grave obstacles TO this, and he
was thrown into a state of wretched pcrplexity
and doubt. He was prevented from laying
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