THE METROPOLITAN. No. CIII. NOVEMBER, 1839. RECOLLECTIONS OF ANCIENT LI-idol with the attributes of personal firmness TERATURE. BY AN IRISH BARRISTER. CICERO AS A STATESMAN. but he reduced them to practice with the worst success. In prosperity he was confident to rashness-in adversity, low-spirited and fretful. Sensitive beyond most men, his own ills were the all-engrossing topic of his mind-compared with his, the evils of the world were blessings, and he continually blamed the world that it had feeling for any woes but his own. He was jealous and suspicious, prone to offence, and the complying victim of bad men, who seduced him into and political profoundness, they seem to have disregarded or forgotten that they were writing in the teeth of ascertained facts. Did they read his letters containing his clear uncoloured sentiments, his calm premeditated reflections in the seclusion of his study, uninfluenced by the jars and tumults of In estimating the character of Cicero, we faction, and by any possibility could they must take care not to be dazzled by the mistake the defects of his political organizasplendour which his brilliant reputation as tion? Does not every page exhibit sympan orator and philosopher has thrown around toms of weakness amounting almost to his name. Conceding all that his most vehe- childishness? Traces of inconsistency and ment admirers demand for the great and irresolution are every where visible. His unquestionable services he rendered to philosophical notions are very just in theory, Roman eloquence and literature-for he maintained, and maintained powerfully, the cause of both against the whole range of Greek letters-there can be little doubt that he failed miserably as a statesman; and however anxious we may be to falsify the record in his favour, the solemn warning of history bids us be truthful. Any person at all conversant with the state of the times and parties in which Cicero played so conspicuous a part, must conclude that his weakness as a politician was decisive. It is the custom of Dr. Middleton and his followers-of whom a writer in the Quarterly Review is the last and best-to cry up his vast skill and courage to exaggerate his sagacity and penetration to an absurd excess, which Cicero himself, had he been living, might have swallowed with an avidity worthy of his vanity; and perhaps the consul might have begged the biographer and reviewer to minister to his appetite at the expense of historical truth, "ut et ea vehementius ornes etiam quam fortasse sentis, et in eo leges historiæ negligas." But while thickening the meagre character of their VOL. VIII. 33 * Speaking of the death of Hortensius, he says' "Dolebam, quod non ut plerique petebant adversarium aut obtrectatorem laudum mearum, sed potius socium et consortem gloriosi laboris amiseram." If it be, it is strangely at variWas this sincere? ance with the sentiments he expresses in a letter addressed to his brother Quinctus. "Quantum Hortensio credendum sit, nescio. Me simulatione amoris, summaque assiduitate quotidiana sceleratissime insidiosissimeque tractavit. Sed hæc occultabo, ne quid obsint." With all his professions of regard, it is clear that the fame of Hortensius tormented him, and that he suspected because he disliked that great man. - temporary friendship by flattering and judgment, the firmness of purpose, the quick masked professions of regard to the consti- perception of a measure, and rapid decision tution. Throughout his whole career he in carrying it into effect, which are the betrayed the most signal imbecility; and it essential qualities of the statesman. Philois only nis honourable conduct in Sicily and sophers are rarely men of action. They Cilicia, and the proud though clouded gran- may have enlarged views-their calm reflecdeur of his latter days, that rescue his cha- tion may enable them to reach the concluracter from the contempt which would sions of experience sooner than other men; otherwise attach to it. He was for ever but when the time arrives to act, and more compromising. "You succeeded," he says, especially in periods of great commotion, to that worst of advisers, Atticus, "in per- when society is disturbed by the operation suading me to keep well with Pompey be- of new, or the decline of old influences, they cause he had rendered me services, and are found wholly unfit for the guidance of with Cæsar because he possessed great public affairs. So was it with Cicero. A power." And again: "I followed your great social convulsion tore the bowels of advice so punctually, that neither of them the republic-the old public virtue, the had a favourite beyond myself." And after honour, the morality, that distinguished the the war had actually broken out, "I take it higher classes, were swallowed up in the very kind of you to advise me in so friendly universal dissolution of manners-in their a manner to declare as little as possible for vice, profligacy, and debauchery; while the either part." He professed a juste milieu be- poverty, the oppression, and savage discontween the contending factions; and had he tent of the lower orders were proportionate. acted on this neutrality, mean and unpa- Thus the poise of the state was destroyed, triotic as it was, his fame would have suf- and inevitable ruin menaced the Roman fered less. But no he was perpetually constitution. To manage the excesses of shifting from one extreme to another; at both parties-to alleviate the deep misery one time cheering the tribunes, at another of the people, and curb the scandalous indethe senate-now flattering the people with cency of the aristocracy, required physical the hope of remedying abuses-immediately and moral qualities which Cicero did not after denouncing their demands as anarchi- possess. Even though he had the inclinacal-talking of liberty and the republic in tion, he wanted the courage, the principle, one breath-in another throwing himself at the judgment to carry it into execution. the feet of Cæsar, and basely flattering the What great opportunities Cicero missed to usurper and his government. Fabius de- raise himself to the first rank as a statesscribed his policy with sarcastic truth - man, and render everlasting service to his "aliud stans, aliud sedens de republicâ country? How differently, and how much sentit." He never did a decisive act that he more disadvantageously, was Demosthenes did not repent of. His moral cowardice was circumstanced, and with how much superior astonishing-he quailed to every man who skill did he act! The contrast is too obpractised on his timidity. He shrank before vious, and it was only in the death-struggle, Cato, who had not an hundredth part of his when all irresolution was cut off, and pagenius, but possessed that which Cicero triotism was forced on him, that Cicero wanted, a statesmanlike firmness. When followed in the path, and for a moment Clodius bullied, he shook with very fear; in rivalled the renown, of the Athenian. Everyhis hands Cicero appears the weakest and thing conspired in Cicero's favour. Sprung most despicable of men. But it was not from the people, long recognised by the Clodius at the head of a shouting mob whom people as their champion, elected consul Cicero alone feared, for after the death of without almost a dissentient voice-favoured the tribune we find his brother Appius exer- by the powerful equestrian order-the first cising the same, or a more powerful ascen- of eloquent men in a community where dency over his mind. It is melancholy to eloquence was a passport to all dignities and behold a great man, than whom none ever honours-what a field was open to him! rose to power by more virtuous and irre- what a splendid theatre for great action! proachable means-the purity of whose If any man could stay the fall of Rome, and private morals was equal to the integrity of infuse fresh blood into the constitution, Cicero his public life-who began a career of so was that man. He might have done both, or much promise and glory, and ended in a at least checked the ruin which his own blasted and withered maturity. From his imbecility accelerated, had he acted conconsulship, every succeeding year witnesses sistently or prudently. Day after day he the decay of his influence, until it expired witnessed phenomena which betokened the altogether with the death of Pompey. speedy downfall of the republic-symptoms Mr. Taylor lays it down as a principle, of a change were continually recurring, in that a statesman must not be speculative. which public liberty would be buried, and Without stopping to inquire into the general the tyranny of factions would supersede the truth of this proposition, or how far it may spirit of constitutional government. A mind be applicable to modern politicians, it may of ordinary sagacity would have observed be said of Cicero that his imperfections as a and profited by these occurrences-it would statesman are ascribable to the speculative cut out the gangrene that rotted into the nature of his mind. Philosophical investi- heart of Roman freedom by introducing gation is very different from the solidity of timely reforms-it would remove the com mon danger by striking at the causes that the tree. He observed with secret exultaproduced it. By such means confidence tion Cicero's foolish defence of the Manilian would be restored to all classes; and though law, for a precedent was thereby established faction and intrigue may still persevere, which he might afterwards turn to good there would soon be no aliment to maintain account. He cajoled, he flattered, he phithem, and the state would gradually recover losophised with Cicero, he eulogised him in that harmony and subordination which are the senate and the forum, he had trained necessary to the existence of any form, but accomplices about him, whose duty it was more particularly of a republican govern- to retail to Cicero the extravagant encoment. The affection of the people is the miums of the artful Cæsar. All was swalsurest basis of authority-their alienation its lowed without reserve or suspicion-it was most certain dissolution. Cicero witnessed nectar to his self-love-Cæsar was all that their estrangement, but he did not profit by Roman liberty could require. He had been his own experience or that of history. He sent into Gaul, where he first seriously saw men without rank or genius-with no-meditated a blow against the republic. thing to recommend them to popular favour Pompey, though not remarkable for shrewdbut a strong sympathy with the popular ness, discovered to Cicero the true intentions wrongs, rising into importance as vast as it of Cæsar. He told him his object in rewas sudden; he saw them borne into the maining in Gaul was to train his legions; tribunitian chair on the shoulders of the but Cicero could not, or would not, see the people, and resolutely bearding the senate drift of so palpable a design, and, borne and aristocracy; he even saw the consulship away by imprudence, he had Cæsar's admiinvaded by an ignorant soldier for the bold-nistration continued for five years more. ness of his invective. To all this Cicero The consequences were soon manifest: was mole-eyed-the Gracchi were wild Cæsar scorned the semblance of a constituvisionaries-Saturninus a clamorous fool- tion-he assumed a daring attitude-the Marius a creature of fortune. He never senate remonstrated-so did Cicero-it was looked beyond the surface; like a bad phy- too late. The people looked on coldlysician, he treated as a cutaneous eruption a they had nothing to expect from either disease which pervaded and poisoned the party; more, however, from Cæsar than the whole body politic from the head to the senate. They remained in sullen silence, extremities. The truth is, from the day he and saw without emotion the usurper wage became consul, he ceased to identify himself war on public liberty. When the legions of with the people. He scorned plebeian con- Cæsar crossed the Rubicon, how deep was nection, and seemed to forget that the Decii the grief, and bitter the repentance, of the were plebeians-that plebeians checked and aristocracy! Then it was they wished they conquered Pyrrhus-subdued the Gauls of had done what they left undone, and reItaly-stopped the victorious march of Han- tracted what had been overdone; then it nibal-extirpated the Cimbri and Teutones was they bewailed their past errors, and -that the Catos, the Gracchi, the Bruti, were swore to redress the wrongs of an indignant plebeians and last, not least, himself. The people then it was they lamented the aristocracy flocked round the parvenu, and murder of Gracchus, and the indiscriminate operated on his vanity or his fears, until he massacre of three thousand citizens without became as conservative of injustice as them-|the form of trial. But the people were too selves. All his subsequent acts were sui- often betrayed, to place confidence in the cidal of his influence, and tended to give men who had violated the most solemn vigour and concentration to that bitter ani- engagements-who had ground them down mosity whose final triumph he witnessed in under every form and shape of oppression. a military dictatorship. Cicero saw a young They would not lift a sword for freedom, man reeling home one morning from a notwithstanding the pathetic eloquence of drunken debauch as he was going to the Cicero, and the moving calls of the senate. forum; he staggered against one of his What was freedom to them who wanted attendants, and, slightly scratching his es- bread, or a roof to shelter them? Why senced locks with his forefinger, hiccupped should they spill their blood in support of a an apology. Ah! that young spark will faction whose instrument was tyrannydishonour his forefathers," observed Cicero; whose sole law was their passions-whose "he will never come to good." It was conscience was their avarice or ambition? Cæsar. That prophecy, like many others, They remembered the virtual abrogation of was falsified, for that young profligate was the Licinian law-the sacrifice of their little his rival in eloquence, and took advantage properties to swell the territory of a rapaof that power which he cast off. Far more cious nobility. All this rose up in judgment penetrating and profound than the weak against the senate, and when the day of Cicero, he knew how success was to be danger was at hand the people were passive. compassed, and skilfully applied himself It was a mild but fearful retribution. There to its attainment. He was not, like Napo. were the men whose arms bore the standard leon, the rapid offspring of a revolution; of the republic to every quarter of the earth he watched the flexures of troubled times--whose courage and discipline made the he knew his own power, and foresaw that Roman name an object of veneration or the administration, like a rotten pear, would terror-whose intense patriotism, even more drop into his hands when he chose to shake than their valour, subjugated the world; แ there they were, determined, fierce, and with professions of patriotism," semper fui sullen-not a sword could with safety be in reipublicæ causâ fortis; quis audeat dicommitted to their hands. "Oh, what a cere me deserturum ?"-who conquered Cafalling off was there!" Time was, when tiline, and arrayed himself in a beautiful robe not only one, but a succession of armies, of self-adulation-who strangled the halfwould have rushed forth and encountered dead Lentulus, and erected a statue in his the invader on the very threshold of Italy-own honour with the flattering inscription of when an hundred thousand citizens in arms" Saviour of his Country"-who abandoned would have avenged the insulted dignity of his friend in misfortune, and adopted the free Rome. But the spell was broken-successful for the better cause? Cicero's Pompey stamped in vain. Well may the patriotism, firmness, and integrity! Where veteran general weep-not a citizen started did they ever manifest themselves? Was it at his call. The nerves of war were in patriotism to fly from Rome through sheer abundance-the treasury was full of money, cowardice, where, as Cato properly observand Rome of soldiers-officers scarred in a ed, he might have been of some service? hundred fights-a commander, whose life Was it firmness to vacillate between parties, was an uninterrupted series of victories. siding with one or the other according as One element was wanted, without which fortune inclined to either? Was it integrity exchequers and generals are unavailing. to rush to Tarentum and embrace Cæsar? Shame drove Pompey from Rome-the bit- Never did man so grossly violate all the ing shame that he could not raise a single obligations of public virtue and private legion, whose stamp once raised armies. friendship. We say this reluctantly, but How did Cicero act in this emergency? with a firm assurance of its truth. Far be With his habitual sickly irresolution. He it from us to ascribe such delinquency to remained for some time in Rome now chim- the corruption of his heart; it originated in ing in with Cæsar, now with Pompey, so the absence of great and solid principles of that the partisans of both claimed the valu- conduct, in a grovelling timidity, which was able prize. He was devoured with doubt. the curse of his country as well as his own, "Whither," he says, trembling, "shall I for it rendered his existence troubled and turn? Pompey has the more honourable painful to the last degree. Cæsar made the cause; but Cæsar manages his affairs with greatest use of him. Grown strong in the greater address, and is better able to save affections of the people, for he dazzled them his friends. I know whom to avoid, but not by triumphs, and ministered to their stowhom to seek." It was not the justice of the machs and curiosity alike with bread and cause he regarded-liberty was a feather gladiators, while his veterans overawed the compared with personal safety. Such was voice of freedom, he sought to consolidate his dignity and firmness. He told Trebatius his authority by the attachment of the aristhat he would not leave Rome in order to tocratic party. Though they openly did gratify Cæsar, and in a short time after we homage to his virtues, they secretly abhorred find him cracking ill-seasoned jests in Pom-him-an enmity not unknown to Cæsar. pey's camp. He did not remain long attach- Cicero was the instrument of conciliation. ed to his cause. He grew jealous because Cæsar called him a Pericles and Theramehe was not employed in services for which nes; and Cicero, not to be outdone, in his he was not adequate, sneered at Pompey's oration for Marcellus went a step higher, preparations, attacked his counsels, and and ranked Cæsar with the gods! There made himself ridiculous almost to buffoonery cannot be much doubt but he would have by his sorry wit. Whoever wishes for spe- submitted cheerfully to the government of cimens of his bilious humour will find them the dictator, and brought over the senate to abundantly in Plutarch; and whatever opi- his support, had he not been controlled by a nion may be formed of his eloquence, whe- more determined heart and head than his ther it be of the first or second order, there own. His intimacy with Brutus saved him can be very little question of the rank he from eternal dishonour. Questionable as holds as a wit. At Pharsalia he pretended may be the prudence of the deliverer, the ill health, and absented himself from the sincerity of his patriotism admits of no quesfield; and when Pompey fled, and Cato tion. Cicero is indebted to his friendship offered Cicero the command in consequence for his last redeeming glory. He it was who of his consular dignity, he refused it with created that revolution in his opinions and an indecent jest, on which young Pompey feelings which dictated the celebrated endenounced him as a traitor, and would have comium on Cato, the first symptom of rekilled him but for the interposition of Cato. turning liberty. Cæsar, as is well known, He then fled to Brundusium to wait the replied in his "Anti-Cato," which unfortuarrival of Cæsar, and throw himself into nately for literature is lost. He praised the his arms. He was tired of Pompey and of wisdom and eloquence of Cicero, but the liberty-because his vanity was wounded, bait did not succeed. In the hope of still he renounced all his past convictions, and securing him and the senate, he pardoned shamelessly ranged himself under the ban- Marcellus, though he could not but perceive ner of the conqueror. What are we to think the insincerity of the orator when he said, of a man who during his whole life had been" The republic ought to be immortal, but it mouthing praises about freedom and the depends entirely on your existence. You, republic, who had stunned the public ear therefore, ought to be as immortal as the |