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CICERO. 55 clemency of his nature, as also lest he should be thought to exercise his authority too insolently, and to treat too harshly men of the noblest birth and most powerful friendships in the city ; and yet, if he should use them more mildly, he had a dreadful prospect of danger from them. For there Avas no likelihood, if they suffered less tlian death, they would be reconciled, but rather, adding new rage to then* former wickedness, they would rush into every kind of audacity, while he himself, whose character for courage already did not stand very high with the multitude, would be thought guilty of the great- est cowardice and want of manliness. Whilst Cicero was doubting what course to take, a por- tent happened to the women in their sacrificing. For on the altar, where the fire seemed wholl}' extinguished, a great and bright flame issued forth from the ashes of the burnt wood ; at which others were affrighted, but the holy virgins called to Terentia, Cicero's wife, and bade her haste to her husband, and command him to execute what he had resolved for the good of his country, for the god- dess had sent a great light to the increase of his safety and glory. Terentia, therefore, as she was otherwise in her own nature neither tender-hearted nor timorous, but a woman eager for distinction (who, as Cicero himself says, would rather thrust herself into his public affairs, than communicate her domestic matters to him), told him these things, and excited him against the conspirators. So also did Quintus his bi'other, and Publius Nigidius, one of his philosophical friends, whom he often made use of in his gi'eatest and most weighty affairs of state. The next day, a debate arising in the senate about the punishment of the men, Silanus, being the first who was asked his opinion, said, it was fit they should be all sent to the prison, and there sufier the utmost penalty. To him all consented in order till it came to Caius Caesar, who