A Pillar of Iron [antikvár]

foreword Any resemblance between the Republics of Rome and the United States of America is purely historical, as is the similarity of ancient Rome to the modern world. There were many personalities in the great Roman, Marcus Tullius Cicero: the poet; the orator; the lover; the patriot; the politician; the husband and father; the friend; the author; the lawyer; the brother; the son; the moralist; the philosopher. A book could be written about each of these personalities alone. His letters to his publisher and dearest friend, Atticus, fill many books in the Vatican Library, and in other great libraries all over the world. His fife as a politician alone would fill a library, and he has been called the Greatest Lawyer of Them All. His own books are voluminous, concerning law, old age, duty, consolation, morals, etc. His family life deserves a novel in itself. Though a skeptical Roman he was also very devout, a mystic and philosopher, and was finally appointed to the Board of Augurs in Rome and was highly regarded by the wise College of Pontiffs. His life as Consul of Rome (similar to the office of President of the United States) would make a thick volume without reference to his office as Senator. His law cases are famous. His Orations constitute many volumes. Patriots for two thousand years haVe quoted his books concerning man's duty to his God and his country, notably De República. His letters to and from the historian Sallust could fill several books, without referring to anything else. (Vatican Library and other famous libraries.) A bibliography is included at the end of this book. His letters to Julius Caesar reveal his conciliatory and affable nature, his humor and sometimes his irascibility, and his awareness of Julius Caesar's own antic, subtle, light-hearted, and powerful temperament, not to mention his deviousness. Though so different in natures they were, as Julius Caesar once said, "like the Gemini." Julius rarely deceived him—though he tried! "I trust only you in Rome," Julius once said. They loved each other in their own individual way—with caution, wariness, laughter, anger, and devotion. Their association is a fascinating subject. The dearest and most devoted friend of Cicero was his editor and publisher, Atticus, and their correspondence, covering thousands of letters over