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exile of Cicero

Background

The Good Goddess affair. Clodius (Claudius), who had become enamored of Ceasar's wife, Pompeia, sneaked into Ceasar's house on the Good Goddess festival. When answering to a bodyguard of Caesar's his voice gave him away. A search was later conducted throughout the house to hunt the fleeing Clodius down, who was later found hiding under a bed. The Senate immediately set up a special tribunal under the consideration that a trial might infuriate the populares. Upon the court, Clodius pleaded that he could not have been the intruder with an alibi. However, Cicero, goaded by his wife Terentia, reported Clodius' presence in Rome on the day in question. Cicero's report put Clodius into a very precarious situation, which would have led to his conviction, had Crassus not bribed the other witnesses into testifying favorably for Clodius. (v. Ad Atticum 16 I.16) (Everitt 122)

Clodius was acquitted with his mind made up that he would vindicate himself someday by punishing Cicero for the wrongs he had done to himself. Cicero, however, did not take it seriously. Quite amused by Clodius, Cicero continued to jibe at him.

declining popularity

Cicero lost his support from the equites as a result of a senatorial decree which removed their immunity from persecution. Cicero turned to support Lucius Flavius' bill to distribute land to Pompey's soldiers. The optimates opposed the bill, since it would enhance Pompey's interests at their expense. The conflicts between the two factions overheated the political atmosphere. Cicero attempted to keep in favor with all sides, while he himself was increasingly marginalized in the politics of Rome. He published some books to remind people of his success as consul, but received people's ridicule. (v. ad atticum 18 I.18) Cicero's brother Quintus' performance as governor in Asia was far from satisfactory to him.

Cicero: Reputation and Criticism

Antiquity

Catullus

Catullus dedicated a poem (enclosed in his Carmina) to Cicero.

Catullus 49:

IL. ad Marcum Tullium Ciceronem (To Marcus Tullius Cicero)

DISERTISSIME Romuli nepotum, (The highest skilled among the sons of Rome)

quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, (so many that are, that were, Marcus Tullius,)

quotque post aliis erunt in annis, (and that will be in the years to come,)

gratias tibi maximas Catullus (Catullus gives you the greatest thanks,)

agit pessimus omnium poeta, (as the most worthless poet of all,)

tanto pessimus omnium poeta, (and as much he is the most worthless poet,)

quanto tu optimus omnium patronus. (as you the finest protector of people.)

Ideas

humanism

Reliquae sunt venationes binae per dies quinque, magnificae—nemo negat—, sed quae potest homini esse polito delectatio, cum aut homo imbecillus a valentissima bestia laniatur aut praeclara bestia venabulo transverberatur? quae tamen, si videnda sunt, saepe vidisti, neque nos, qui haec spectavimus, quidquam novi vidimus. Extremus elephantorum dies fuit: in quo admiratio magna vulgi atque turbae, delectatio nulla exstitit; quin etiam misericordia quaedam consecuta est atque opinio eiusmodi, esse quandam illi beluae cum genere humano societatem. (Fam 7.1)

influences

Byron

  Wandering in youth, I traced the path of him,
  The Roman friend of Rome’s least mortal mind,
  The friend of Tully: as my bark did skim
  The bright blue waters with a fanning wind,
  Came Megara before me, and behind
  Ægina lay, Piræus on the right,
  And Corinth on the left; I lay reclined
  Along the prow, and saw all these unite
  In ruin, even as he had seen the desolate sight;

George Eliot

Longum illud tempus quum non ero magis me movet quam hoc exiguum

Oh may I join the choir invisible

Of those immortal dead who live again

In minds made better by their presence.