Page:Cicero And The Fall Of The Roman Republic.djvu/387

47 B.C.]

only a foretaste of the general reign of rascality which is to be expected from the victory of such a crew. This adds to Cicero's despair. "I see no chance of peace," he writes, "and the party now in power will, I think, bring itself to ruin, even if there be no adversary to oppose it."

Cæsar was occupied with war and pleasure in Egypt during the first half of the year 47, and trustworthy news from him was wanting. When he did write, Cicero doubted whether the letter was really Cæsar's. Thus the comfort to be derived from the Dictator's intentions regarding him was delayed. Cæsar, when he had time to attend to the matter, behaved as generously as possible. He pardoned Quintus at a word, "would not even allow himself to be entreated," and expressed himself so kindly about Marcus Cicero that his brother wrote heartily in congratulation. Cæsar likewise sent word to Cicero to keep his laurelled fasces, thus ignoring the part he had taken in the Civil War, and indicating that he looked on him merely as the pro-consul on his way home from Cilicia and claiming the honour of a triumph.

After settling the affairs of Egypt and Asia Cæsar returned in the month of September, and Cicero met him somewhere in southern Italy. When he