Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/77

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CICERO. 69 into their houses. Most people, out of respect for Cicero, paid no regard to this edict, offering him every attention, and escorting him on his way. But at Hipponium, a city of Lucania, now called Vibo, one Vibius, a SiciHan by birth, who, amongst many other instances of Cicero's friendship, had been made head of the state engineers when he was consul, would not receive him into his house, sending him word he would appoint a place in the country for his reception. Caius VergUius, the prtetor of Sicily, who had been on the most intimate tenns with him, wrote to him to forbear coming into Sicily. At these things Cicero being disheartened, went to Brundu- eium, whence putting forth with a prosperous wind, a contrary gale blowing from the sea carried him back to Italy the next day. He put again to sea, and having reached Dyrrachium, on his coming to shore there, it is reported that an earthquake and a convulsion in the sea happened at the same time, signs which the diviners said intimated that his exUe would not be long, for these were prognostics of change. Although many visited him with respect, and the cities of Greece contended which should honor him most, he yet continued disheartened and disconsolate, like an unfortunate lover, often casting his looks back upon Italy ; and, indeed, he was become BO poor-spirited, so humiliated and dejected by his mis- fortunes, as none could have expected in a man who had devoted so much of his life to study and learning. And yet he often desu'ed his friends not to call him orator, but philosopher, because he had made philosophy liis business, and had only used rhetoric as an instrument for attaining his objects in public life. But the desire of glory * has great power in washing the tinctures of phi- • Doxa, the Greek word for haps, be translated " opinion." It " the desire of glory," should, per- is, in its original sense, " what peo-