your devotion to my welfare was not too enthusiastic-but still I knew that you, who in the early days of my political folly-or, I should say, suicide-gave me your sympathy and shared my empty fears, had felt our separation most bitterly, and had 10 lavished your energies, enthusiasm, and devotion without stint on securing my release. So I can honestly assure you of this, that in the universal joy of my return, and the congratulations of all on the consummation of my heart's desire, the one thing I needed to crown my happiness was the sight of you and your 15 welcome. Once reunited, we will never be parted again. And if I do not reclaim and enjoy all the fruits of your good nature so familiar in times past, why, I shall count myself unworthy of my reversal of fortune. I had thought recovery difficult enough, but so far, politically 20 speaking, I have laid hold again of my reputation at the Bar, my influence in the House, and my popularity with the Patriots, beyond my wildest hopes. Dealing with the business of my private estate (you know well the extent of the ruin, upheaval, and depredation) I am working my hardest, and I need your 25 advice in the matter of collecting and arranging all that is left, no less than your talents, which I judge to be at my disposal. No doubt the full Roman news has reached you by friends or travellers' tales. Nevertheless I will give you a summary of the points which I think you would like to hear from me 30 personally. On August 4th I set out from Dyrrachium, the very day on which the law against me was passed. I arrived at Brundisium the next day. There was my darling Tullia awaiting me-and it was her birthday! the foundation-day both of the colony of Brundisium and of your neighbour, 35 St. Saviour's, a curious coincidence remarked and duly celebrated with great enthusiasm by the good people of Brundisium. On the 8th of August I heard by letter from my brother that amidst remarkable enthusiasm of all ages and classes of the population, and the jubilation of incredible crowds from the 40 countryside, the law had been passed in Rome. I was then honoured by the leading men of the town, and began a journey marked everywhere by congratulatory addresses. During my approach to the City no man of any note or importance failed to come and speak to me, except those 45 enemies who were not allowed to conceal or deny their animosity. On my arrival at Capena Gate, I found the steps of the Temples filled with the humblest of the people; and they . having marked with terrific applause their congratulations, a similar throng, similarly applauding, escorted me all the way to the Capitol; and in the Forum and on the Capitol itself the 50 crowds were wonderful. On the next day, the 5th of September, I returned thanks in the House. Favonius is leading an aristocratic clique against me. I say nothing, the more readily because the College has made no 55 pronouncement yet about my house. If they waive their scruples I shall have a fine site, and the Consuls, following the Senate's decree, will value the structure. If they decide otherwise, they will carry out the demolition; they will put the contract through on their own responsibility, and estimate 60 the total charges. So much for my private position, for a successful man a little unsettled, but good enough for an unfortunate. The Sanctity of the Roman House. Clodius had razed to the ground Cicero's house on the Palatine Hill (58 в.с.) which was probably near the site where the substructures of the Emperor Caligula's Palace still stand ; and he had hypocritically erected a shrine to Liberty on the spot. Appealing for its restoration to secular uses, Cicero contrasts this cheap Liberty invoked by Clodius, the champion of licence and licentiousness, with the deep-seated love of freedom which made the Roman's home his castle, inalienable and indestructible. Cicero, by ordering the execution of Catiline and his fellow conspirators, had overridden in a legal technicality the liberties of the Democracy. Clodius, the champion of anarchy, despised the spirit of all that the Roman character deemed sacred. THAT wonderful Liberty you invoke overthrew the shrine of my Home, outraged its most sacred associations, and established herself therein like a victorious chief. There is nothing more holy, nothing more securely guarded by every 5 religious instinct, than each individual Roman's home. His altars, his fireside, his shrine, his worship, his conscience, his ceremonies-all are centred here. Here he has a refuge and a stronghold so sacred that it is a crime to use violence against it or to deprive him of it. And this strengthens my argument, 10 gentlemen, that you should close your ears to the ravings of such as he. Our forefathers wished these traditions to be enshrined in the national conscience. Clodius has not merely dealt them a blow in defiance of Religion-nay, in the very name of Religion he seeks to trample them in the dust. § 7 CICERO, de Domo sua 109. (57 в. с.) Sacred Associations of the City of Rome. Camillus' Speech on the Proposed Migration to Veii. (390 В.С.) As a romantic historian and a great artist, Livy shows deep insight into the principles underlying the history of his country, perhaps more through sympathy than direct experience, for the culture of his day had tempered the strong, rough emotions of early times (cf. Tacitus, II. §8). Much of his narrative, however, which once seemed trivial, has been proved interesting and important. Rome, for the first and not for the last time in her history, has been conquered and humiliated; even Livy can hardly save her honour. Her one hope lies in her belief in herself and her destiny, that is, her sure trust in her gods. The Romans set about rebuilding their city. There is a proposal to start afresh with a new city on the site of conquered Veii, a proposal no doubt popular among the rank and file of the army, among the migratory plebs. But Camillus shows the sin of this, appealing to their deepest instincts and superstitions. A city is nothing without her gods. Manes are inherent in the very soil. You cannot remove religious associations. Material success purchased at the price of these is illusory. Thus is the Roman love of home illustrated in primitive warfare. HAEC AEC culti neglectique numinis tanta monumenta in rebus humanis cernentes ecquid sentitis, Quirites, quantum vixdum e naufragiis prioris culpae cladisque emergentes paremus nefas ? Vrbem auspicato inauguratoque conditam habemus; nul5 lus locus in ea non religionum deorumque est plenus; sacrificiis sollemnibus non dies magis stati quam loca sunt in quibus fiant. Hos omnes deos publicos privatosque, Quirites, deserturi estis ? Quam par vestrum factum [ei] est quod in obsidione nuper in egregio adulescente, C. Fabio, non minore hostium admiratione quam vestra conspectum est, cum inter Gallica tela degressus 10 ex arce sollemne Fabiae gentis in colle Quirinali obiit ? An gentilicia sacra ne in bello quidem intermitti, publica sacra et Romanos deos etiam in pace deseri placet, et pontifices flaminesque neglegentiores publicarum religionum esse quam privatus in sollemni gentis fuerit? Forsitan aliquis dicat aut Veiis ea nos 15 facturos aut huc inde missuros sacerdotes nostros qui faciant; quorum neutrum fieri salvis caerimoniis potest. Et ne omnia generatim sacra omnesque percenseam deos, in Iovis epulo num alibi quam in Capitolio pulvinar suscipi potest ? Quid de aeternis Vestae ignibus signoque quod imperii pignus 20 custodia eius templi tenetur loquar? quid de ancilibus vestris, Mars Gradive tuque, Quirine pater? Haec omnia in profano deseri placet sacra, aequalia urbi, quaedam vetustiora origine urbis ? Et videte quid inter nos ac maiores intersit. Illi sacra quae- 25 dam in monte Albano Laviniique nobis facienda tradiderunt. An ex hostium urbibus Romam ad nos transferri sacra religiosum fuit, hinc sine piaculo in hostium urbem Veios transferemus ? Recordamini, agite dum, quotiens sacra instaurentur, quia aliquid ex patrio ritu neglegentia casuve praetermissum est. 30 Modo quae res post prodigium Albani lacus nisi instauratio sacrorum auspiciorumque renovatio adfectae Veienti bello rei publicae remedio fuit ? At etiam, tamquam veterum religionum memores, et peregrinos deos transtulimus Romam et instituimus novos. Iuno regina transvecta a Veiis nuper in 35 Aventino quam insigni ob excellens matronarum studium celebrique dedicata est die! Aio Locutio templum propter caelestem vocem exauditam in Nova via iussimus fieri; Capitolinos ludos sollemnibus aliis addidimus collegiumque ad id novum auctore senatu condidimus; quid horum opus fuit 40 suscipi, si una cum Gallis urbem Romanam relicturi fuimus, si non voluntate mansimus in Capitolio per tot menses obsidionis, sed ab hostibus metu retenti sumus? De sacris loquimur et de templis; quid tandem de sacerdotibus? Nonne in mentem 45 venit quantum piaculi committatur? Vestalibus nempe una illa sedes est, ex qua eas nihil unquam praeterquam urbs capta movit; flamini Diali noctem unam manere extra urbem nefas est. Hos Veientes pro Romanis facturi estis sacerdotes, et Vestales tuae te deserent, Vesta, et flamen peregre habitando 50 in singulas noctes tantum sibi reique publicae piaculi contrahet? Quid alia quae auspicato agimus omnia fere intra pomerium, cui oblivioni aut cui neglegentiae damus ? Comitia curiata, quae rem militarem continent, comitia centuriata, quibus consules tribunosque militares creatis, ubi auspicato, 55 nisi ubi adsolent, fieri possunt? Veiosne haec transferemus ? an comitiorum causa populus tanto incommodo in desertam hanc ab dis hominibusque urbem conveniet? At enim apparet quidem pollui omnia nec ullis piaculis expiari posse; sed res ipsa cogit vastam incendiis ruinisque relinquere 60 urbem et ad integra omnia Veios migrare nec hic aedificando inopem plebem vexare. Hanc autem iactari magis causam quam veram esse, ut ego non dicam, apparere vobis, Quirites, puto, qui meministis ante Gallorum adventum, salvis tectis publicis privatisque, stante incolumi urbe, hanc eandem rem 65 actam esse ut Veios transmigraremus. Et videte quantum inter meam sententiam vestramque intersit, tribuni. Vos, etiamsi tunc faciendum non fuerit, nunc utique faciendum putatis : ego contra-nec id mirati sitis, priusquam quale sit audieritisetiamsi tum migrandum fuisset incolumi tota urbe, nunc has 70 ruinas relinquendas non censerem. Quippe tum causa nobis in urbem captam migrandi victoria esset, gloriosa nobis ac posteris nostris; nunc haec migratio nobis misera ac turpis, Gallis gloriosa est. Non enim reliquisse victores, sed amisisse victi patriam videbimur: hoc ad Alliam fuga, hoc capta urbs, hoc circumsessum Capitolium necessitatis imposuisse ut desere 75 |
