It has been seen that
Cicero had lately spoken of Caesar's continuance in life as a disgrace to
the State. It has been seen also that he had long thought of assassination
as the readiest means of ending it. He asserted afterward that he had not
been consulted when the murder was actually accomplished; but the
perpetrators were assured of his approbation, and when Caesar was killed
he deliberately claimed for himself a share of the guilt, if guilt there
could be in what he regarded as the most glorious achievement in human
history,[9] It maybe assumed, therefore, that Cicero's views upon the
subject had remained unchanged since the beginning of the Civil War, and
that his sentiments were no secret among his intimate friends.
Cicero is the second great figure in the history of the time. He has
obtained the immortality which he so much desired, and we are, therefore,
entitled and obliged to scrutinize his conduct with a niceness which would
be ungracious and unnecessary in the case of a less distinguished man.
After Pharsalia he had concluded that the continuance of the war would be
unjustifiable. He had put himself in communication with Antony and
Caesar's friend and secretary Oppius, and at their advice he went from
Greece to Brindisi, to remain there till Caesar's pleasure should be
known. He was very miserable.
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