New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06


in defence of Roscius was in itself daring ut
| tcrancc. and it became the expression of an in
domita BILE courage when it was spoken within
few PAGES of Chrysogonus the cruel and power
| full intriguer who had been among those most
responsible for the very evils against which
Cicero inveighed. NJ. Boissier reminds u.s.
| furthermore. that Cicero began so he ended
After the death of Caesar he saw with the pre-
science or an experienced statesman that there
was small likelihood of opposing successfully
the onset OF Antony and the latter's legions and
that any resistance of his was bound to be flu
tile There doomed Ap again that fear of vio-
fence which was part of the life of the time.
Cicero. having human preference for a whole
NECK and knowing that his task was finished,
wisely Withdrew from Rome. But when being
on his way to Greece and having been cast by
d gale upon the shores of Rhegurn, he presently
Joined Brutus at Nclia. how niagnificently he
took up the cause that his friend was cham
pioning. how bravely he returned to Rome and
there took his noble stand. He spoke vaiantly
IN the Senate when it required the boldest cour-
age 70 speak at all on the side which he had
made his own And when at last, at Formiae
his assassins found him they met a fearless vic
TIM NJ Boissier turns then to Plutarch's IA
nous Vlgnette of the old man, his beard and
hair dirty. his countcnance worn taking his
chin IN his left hand his manner was and
looking steadily at his murderers.' The SYM
Pathelc student feels instinctvely in the pres
ence Of that last impressive scene that somehow
the orator and patriot. for all his vacations,
was not ignoble. NJ. Boissier fortifes this i'm
preston by a thousand eloquent touches. He
shows us that Cicero made mistakes and that
some or them were not only severe. but the
iruit OF warped and errins judgment. He is
not sure that Cicero was wholly without respon-
slbility for the breach between himself and his
wife. AS an advocate. too. he was not always
any more scrupulous than his fellows. He liked
the eClat of winning a bad aft
onstrating pretty clearly that as a politician
Clcero's hands were clean. NJ. Boissier is still
forced to conclude that his very comfortable
fortune must have been derived from the eli
ents who were forbidden by law remunerate
him for his services. Laws could be evaded
then as now. Cicero not the man to scruple
at such an evasion. But all this leaves the
sential values OF his character untouched He
was sincere in his patriotism and fought FOR it
all his life long skilfully as he could. In that
tangled epoch the wisest of men might easily
have gone wrong. 1t is to be said for him that
he left as consistent u record as could have been
expected in Roman politician. Finally he had
the lofty tone of man for whom study and
literary labors were matters of loving enthusi-
asm. and when all his faults counted up he
remains a gentle. almost lovable image. Read
too. the letters to Trio. that beloved slave who
returned his masters kindness by such devoted
service before and after the latters death. When
Trio is i'll at Tuscuum Cicero writes to him: IF
you love US all. and particularly me who have
brought you up. you will only think of re-es-
tablishing your health. / beg you not to
regard expense l have written to GURUS to
give you all that you want. and to pay the doc
tor literally that he may be more attentive.
You have rendered me numberless services at
home. at the Forum. at Rome. in my province,
in my public and private affairs, in my studies
and my literary work. but You will put the fin
ishing touch IL, as hope. 1 you again in
good health" The Cicero of this affectionate
letter is the. Cicero with whom NJ Boissier is
most concerned which is to say, the Cicero who
is most human. most attractive. and longest i'm
pressive.
Indeed. the whole drift Of this volume is to de-
tach the society of the Rome Of Cicero from
the deadening traditions OF dry scholarship, and
To show 1T to us as som ethng lively. amusing
full OF every-day charm. 1t was corrupt I'M
doubleday. and in his chapter Caelius there
are Passages concerning the notorious Cloda in
which NJ. Boissler, identifying that brilliant
courtesan with the Lesbia of Catullus paints n
condition of things far from edifying. The
women of the time, he canddly admits We're
hardly OF class to arrest the rapid downfall of
Roman rectitude and stateiness But it was n
singularly artless life that was led by the
Romans with whom Cicero forega red, artless