Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/56

 48 CICERO. For Cicero, it may be said, was the one man, above all others, who made the Romans feel how great a charm eloquence lends to what is good, and how invincible justice is, if it be well spoken ; and that it is necessary for him who would dexterously govern a commonwealth, in action, always to prefer that which is honest before that which is popular, and in speaking, to free the right and useful measure from eveiy thing that may occasion oflfenca An incident occurred in the theatre, during his consulship, which showed what his speaking could do. Por whereas formerly the knights of Rome were mingled in the theatre with the common peojjle, and took their places amongst them as it happened, Marcus Otho, when he was prastor, was the first who distinguished them from the other citizens, and appointed them a proper seat, which they still enjoy as their special place in the theatre. This the common people took as an indig- nity done to them, and, therefore, when Otho appeared in the theatre, they hissed him ; the knights, on the con- trar}'^, received him with loud clapping. The people repeated and increased their hissing; the knights con- tinued their clapping. Upon this, turning upon one another, they broke out into insulting words, so that the theatre was in great disorder. Cicero, being infonned of it, came himself to the theatre, and summoning the people into the temple of Bellona, he so effectually chid and chastised them for it, that, again returning into the theatre, they received Otho with loud applause, contend- ing with the knights who should give him the greatest demonstrations of honor and respect. The conspirators with Catiline, at first cowed and dis- heartened, began presently to take courage again. And as- sembling themselves together, they exhorted one another boldly to undertake the design before Pompey's return, who, as it was said, was now on his march with his forces for