[13]
Gradually his alarms subsided. The Senate's party was finally overthrown.
Caesar wrote to him affectionately, and allowed him to retain his title as
Imperator. When it appeared that he had nothing personally to fear, he
recovered his spirits, and he recovered along with them a hope that the
constitution might be restored, after all, by other means than war.
"Caesar could not live forever, and there were many ways in which a man
might die."
Caesar had dined with him in the country, on his way home from Spain. He
had been as kind as Cicero could wish, but had avoided politics. When
Caesar went on to Rome, Cicero followed him, resumed his place in the
Senate, which was then in the full fervor of its affected adulation, and
took an early opportunity of speaking. Marcus Marcellus had been in exile
since Pharsalia. The Senate had interceded for his pardon, and Caesar had
granted it, and granted it with a completeness which exceeded expectation.
Cicero rose to thank him in his presence, in terms which most certainly
did not express his real feelings, whatever may have been the purpose
which they concealed.
* * * * *
"He had long been silent," he said, "not from fear, but from grief and
diffidence. The time for silence was past. Thenceforward he intended to
speak his thoughts freely in his ancient manner.
Pages:
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618