Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/71

 CICERO. 63 to bear testimony in a certain cause, one who aflfectorl to be thought a lawyer, though ignorant and unlearned ; to whom, when he had said, " I know nothing of the matter," he answered, " You think, perhaps, we ask you about a point of law." To Metellus Nepos, who, in a dispute be- tween them, repeated several times, " "Who was your father, Cicero?" he replied, "Tour mother has made the answer to such a question in your case more difficult ; " Nepos's mother having been of ill repute. The son, also, was of a giddy, uncertain temper. At one time, he suddenly threw up his oflBce of tribune, and sailed off into Syria to Pom- pey ; and immediately after, with as little reason, came buck again. He gave his tutor, Philagrus, a funeral with more than necessary attention, and then set up the stone figure of a crow over his tomb. " This," said Cicero, " is really appropriate ; as he did not teach you to speak, but to fly about." When Marcus Appius, in the opening of some speech in a court of justice, said that his friend had desired him to employ industry", eloquence, and fidelity in that cause, Cicero answered, " And how have you had the heart not to accede to any one of his requests ? " To use this sharp raillery against opponents and antag- onists in judicial pleading seems allowable rhetoric. But he excited much ill feeling by his readiness to attack any one for the sake of a jest. A few anecdotes of this kind may be added. Marcus Aquinius, who had two sons-in- law in exile, received from him the name of king Adras- tus.* Lucius Cotta, an intemperate lover of wine, was censor when Cicero stood for the consulship. Cicero, being thirsty at the election, his friends stood round about • Adrastus, king of Argos, mar- CEdipus. "Without Apollo's leave " ried his daughters to the exiles, would be a phrase like " invit.a Tydeus and Polynices. The verse Minerva" applied to any unsuc- below. quoted from a tragedy, must cessful, or infelicitous, or injudi- refer to Laius and his son, born cious proceeding, against the warning of the oracle,