Cicero   

defective in his delivery, and on that account paid much attention
to the instructions sometimes of Roscius the comedian, and sometimes
of Aesop the tragedian. They tell of this Aesop, that whilst he was
representing on the theatre Atreus deliberating the revenge of Thyestes,
he was so transported beyond himself in the beat of action, that he
struck with his sceptre one of the servants, who was running across
the stage, so violently that he laid him dead upon the place. And
such afterwards was Cicero's delivery that it did not a little contribute
to render his eloquence persuasive. He used to ridicule loud speakers,
saying that they shouted because they could not speak, like lame men
who get on horseback because they cannot walk. And his readiness and
address in sarcasm, and generally in witty sayings, was thought to
suit a pleader very well, and to be highly attractive, but his using
it to excess offended many, and gave him the repute of ill-nature.
He was appointed quaestor in a great scarcity of corn and had Sicily
for his province, where though at first he displeased many, by compelling
them to send in their provisions to Rome, yet after they had had experience
of his care, justice, and clemency, they honoured him more than ever
they did any of their governors before. It happened, also, that some
young Romans of good and noble families, charged with neglect of discipline
and misconduct in military service, were brought before the praetor
in Sicily. Cicero undertook their defence, which he conducted admirably,
and got them acquitted. So returning to Rome with a great opinion
of himself for these things, a ludicrous incident befell him, as he
tells us himself. Meeting an eminent citizen in Campania, whom he
accounted his friend, he asked him what the Romans said and thought
of his actions, as if the whole city had been filled with the glory
of what he had done. His friend asked him in reply, "Where is it you
have been, Cicero?" This for the time utterly mortified and cast him
down to perceive that the report of his actions had sunk into the
city of Rome as into an immense ocean, without any visible effect
or result in reputation. And afterwards considering with himself that
the glory he contended for was an infinite thing, and that there was
no fixed end nor measure in its pursuit, he abated much of his ambitious
thoughts. Nevertheless, he was always excessively pleased with his
own praise, and continued to the very last to be passionately fond
of glory; which often interfered with the prosecution of his wisest
resolutions.
On beginning to apply himself more resolutely to public business,
he remarked it as an and absurd thing that artificers, using vessels
and instruments inanimate, should know the name, place, and use of
every one of them, and yet the statesman, whose instruments for carrying
out public measures are men, should be negligent and careless in the
knowledge of persons. And so be not only acquainted himself with the
names, but also knew the particular place where every one of the more
eminent citizens dwelt, what lands he possessed, the friends he made
use of, and those that were of his neighbourhood, and when he travelled
on any road in Italy, he could readily name and show the estates and
seats of his friends and acquaintance. Having so small an estate,
though a sufficient competency for his own expenses, it was much wondered
at that he took neither fees nor gifts from his clients, and more
especially that he did not do so when he undertook the prosecution
of Verres. This Verres, who had been praetor of Sicily, and stood
charged by the Sicilians of many evil practices during his government
there, Cicero succeeded in getting condemned, not by speaking, but
in a manner by holding his tongue. For the praetors, favouring Verres,
had deferred the trial by several adjournments to the last day, in
which it was evident there could not be sufficient time for the advocates
to be heard, and the cause brought to an issue. Cicero, therefore,
came forward, and said there was no need of speeches; and after producing
and examining witnesses, he required the judges to proceed to sentence.
However, many witty sayings are on record, as having been used by
Cicero on the occasion. When a man named Caecilius, one of the freed
slaves, who was said to be given to Jewish practices, would have put