Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/91

 CICERO. 83 at it, he asked him who were his parents. And it proved to be this young Cassar, whose father was a man of no great eminence, Octavius, and his mother, Attia, Caesar's sister's daughter ; for which reason, Csesar, who had no children, made him by will the heir of his house and property. From that time, it is said that Cicero studi- ously noticed the youth whenever he met him, and he as kindly received the civility; and by fortune he happened to be born when Cicero was consul. These were the reasons spoken of; but it was princi- pally Cicero's hatred of Antony, and a temper unable to resist honor, which fastened him to Coesar, with the pur- pose of getting the support of Ctesar's power for his own public designs. For the young man went so far in his court to him, that he called hun Father; at which Brutus was so highly displeased, that, in his epistles to Atticus he reflected on Cicero saying, it was manifest, by his courting Caesar for fear of Antony, he did not intend liberty to his country, but an indulgent master to him- self Notwithstanding, Brutus took Cicero's son, then studying philosophy at Athens, gave him a command, and employed him in various ways, with a good result. Cicero's own power at this time was at the greatest height in the city, and he did whatsoever he pleased ; he com- pletely overpowered and drove out Antony, and sent the two consuls, Hirtius and Pansa, with an army, to reduce him ; and, on the other hand, persuaded the senate to allow Csesar the lictors and ensigns of a prtetor, as though he were his country's defender. But after Antony was defeated in battle, and the two consuls slain, the armies united, and ranged themselves with CfEsar. And the senate, fearing the young man, and his extraordinary for- time, endeavored, by honors and gifts, to call oif the sol- diers from him, and to lessen his power ; professing there