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 CICERO. 39 cians of the time. He sailed from Athens for Asia and Rhodes. Amongst the Asian masters, he conversed with Xenocles of Adramjttium, Dionj^sius of Magnesia, and Menippus of Caria ; at Rhodes, he studied oratory with ApoUonius, the son of Molon, and philosophy with Posi- donius. ApoUonius, we are told, not understa,nding Latin, requested Cicero to declaim in Greek. He comphed wil- lingly, thinking that his faults would thus be better pointed out to him. And after he finished, all his other hearers were astonished, and contended who should praise him most, but ApoUonius, who had shown no signs of ex- citement whilst he was hearing him, so also now, when it was over, sate musing for some considerable time, without any remark. And when Cicero was discomposed at this, he said, " You have my praise and admiration, Cicero, and Greece my pity and commiseration, since those arts and that eloquence which are the only glories that remain to her, will now be transferred by you to Rome." And now when Cicero, full of expectation, was again bent upon political affairs, a certain oracle blunted the edge of his inclination ; for consulting the god of Delphi how he should attain most glory, the Pythoness answered, by making his own genius and not the opinion of the people the guide of his life ; and therefore at first he passed his time in Rome cautiously, and was very back- ward in pretending to pubhc offices, so that he was at that time in little esteem, and had got the names, so readily given by low and ignorant people in Rome, of Greek and Scholar. But when his own desire of fame and the eagerness of his father and relations had made him take in earnest to pleading, he made no slow or gen- tle advance to the first place, but shone out in full lustre at once, and far siu-passed all the advocates of the bar. At first, it is said, he, as well as Demosthenes, was de- fective in his dehvery, and on that account paid much