Cicero   

IT is generally said, that Helvia, the mother of Cicero, was both
well-born and lived a fair life; but of his father nothing is reported
but in extremes. For whilst some would have him the son of a fuller,
and educated in that trade, others carry back the origin of his family
to Tullus Attius, an illustrious king of the Volscians, who waged
war not without honour against the Romans. However, he who first of
that house was surnamed Cicero seems to have been a person worthy
to be remembered; since those who succeeded him not only did not reject,
but were fond of that name, though vulgarly made a matter of reproach.
For the Latins call a vetch Cicer, and a nick or dent at the tip of
his nose, which resembled the opening in a vetch, gave him the surname
of Cicero.
Cicero, whose story I am writing, is said to have replied with spirit
to some of his friends, who recommended him to lay aside or change
the name when he first stood for office and engaged in politics, that
he would make it his endeavour to render the name of Cicero more glorious
than that of the Scauri and Catuli. And when he was quaestor in Sicily,
and was making an offering of silver plate to the gods, and had inscribed
his two names, Marcus and Tullius, instead of the third, he jestingly
told the artificer to engrave the figure of a vetch by them. Thus
much is told us about his name.
Of his birth it is reported that his mother was delivered, without
pain or labour, on the third of the new Calends, the same day on which
now the magistrates of Rome pray and sacrifice for the emperor. It
is said also, that a vision appeared to his nurse, and foretold the
child she then suckled should afterwards become a great benefit to
the Roman states. To such presages, which might in general be thought
mere fancies and idle talk, he himself ere long gave the credit of
true prophecies. For as soon as he was of an age to begin to have
lessons, he became so distinguished for his talent, and got such a
name and reputation among the boys, that their fathers would often
visit the school that they might see young Cicero, and might be able
to say that they themselves had witnessed the quickness and readiness
in learning for which he was renowned. And the more rude among them
used to be angry with their children, to see them, as they walked
together, receiving Cicero with respect into the middle place. And
being, as Plato would have the scholar-like and philosophical temper,
eager for every kind of learning, and indisposed to no description
of knowledge or instruction, he showed, however, a more peculiar propensity
to poetry; and there is a poem now extant made by him when a boy,
in tetrameter verse, called Pontius Glaucus. And afterwards, when
he applied himself more curiously to these accomplishments, he had
the name of being not only the best orator, but also the best poet
of Rome. And the glory of his rhetoric still remains, notwithstanding
the many new modes in speaking since his time; but his verses are
forgotten and out of all repute, so many ingenious poets have followed
him.
Leaving his juvenile studies, he became an auditor of Philo the Academic,
whom the Romans, above all the other scholars of Clitomachus, admired
for his eloquence and loved for his character. He also sought the
company of the Mucii, who were eminent statesmen and leaders in the
senate, and acquired from them a knowledge of the laws. For some short
time he served in arms under Sylla, in the Marsian war. But perceiving
the commonwealth running into factions, and from faction all things
tending to an absolute monarchy, he betook himself to a retired and
contemplative life, and conversing with the learned Greeks, devoted
himself to study, till Sylla had obtained the government, and the
commonwealth was in some kind of settlement.
At this time, Chrysogonus, Sylla's emancipated slave, having laid
an information about an estate belonging to one who was said to have
been put to death by proscription, had bought it himself for two thousand
drachmas. And when Roscius, the son and heir of the dead, complained,
and demonstrated the estate to be worth two hundred and fifty talents,