Much is said, too, in these letters about the literary work to which Cicero turned with more eagerness than ever to assuage his grief; and the output was enormous. A book on consolation in times of sorrow, a general introduction to the philosophical works which followed, the De Finibus, the Academica—rewritten, three times[[5]]—and a small rhetorical treatise, the Partitiones Oratoriae, were published during the year, while the Tusculanae Disputationes, the De Natura Deorum and the De Senectute were projected and begun. Certainly Cicero was right in saying that he had no lack of words![[6]]
[5]. XIII. 13 and 16.
[6]. XII. 52.
Of political affairs little is said; indeed, in Caesar's absence there was not much to say. But there are occasional sneers at the honours paid to him[[7]] and at his projected extension of Rome.[[8]] For the latter part of the year, after Caesar's return from Spain, there are no letters in this collection except two amusing letters in December, one describing a conversation with his nephew, who was trying to make peace with his relatives after a violent quarrel,[[9]] and the other Cicero's entertainment of Caesar at Puteoli.[[10]]
[7]. XII. 45; XIII. 27 and 44.
[8]. XIII. 35.
[9]. XIII. 42.
[10]. XIII. 52.
Not long afterwards came the murder of Caesar, at which Cicero to his regret was not present, though he was in Rome and hastened to the Capitol to lend his support to the murderers. He found, however, the cold Brutus hard to stir into action, and after Antony's speech at the funeral he thought it wiser to retire from Rome. The letters written at the time are full of rejoicing at the death of a man, towards whom he never seems to have felt any attraction, in spite of the kindness he had received at his hands. But he soon realised the hopelessness of the Republican cause, which lacked both a leader and a following. He himself regained something of his old position, and we find him not only consulted by Brutus and the rest of his party, but politely addressed by Antony in a note, asking his permission to recall Cicero's old enemy Clodius.[[11]] Cicero, taking the request as a demand, returned an equally polite note of assent;[[12]] but what he thought of the request and of Antony is shown by a letter sent to Atticus simultaneously.[[13]] For a while there are occasional bursts of hope in a revival of the old constitution, for instance when Dolabella threw down the column erected in the forum in honour of Caesar;[[14]] but despair at the inactivity of Brutus and his friends and at Antony's growing influence and the respect shown for Caesar's enactment after his death prevail; and Cicero contemplated crossing to Greece to visit his son and escape from the war he foresaw. Octavian's arrival and opposition to Antony did not comfort him much, in spite of attentions paid to himself by the future emperor, as he mistrusted Octavian's youth, his abilities and his intentions. But, when just on the point of sailing, news reached him that there was a chance of Antony giving way and peace with something of the old conditions being restored; and he hurried back to Rome to take his part in its restoration.[[15]] There he found little chance of peace, but, once returned, he recovered sufficient courage to take the lead in the Senate and deliver his first Philippic against Antony. After that there are only a few letters written towards the end of the year. In them he still expresses great mistrust for Octavian, who was continually appealing to him for his support;[[16]] and, in spite of his renewed entry into public affairs, one
[11]. XIV. 13a.