ABSTRACT
There is something in human nature that makes it difficult for the defeated to find any whole-hearted champions, except in the case of those who can claim the ostentatious glory of a martyr’s death. Carcopino’s picture of Cicero is one that can be obtained from the Letters, but only at the cost of suppressing all the evidence that is favourable to Cicero, exaggerating whatever is prejudicial, and distorting anything that is neutral. In his Life of Cicero Plutarch says that, although Cicero’s family estates were comparatively small, yet he received neither present nor fee in return for his services at the Bar. Carcopino seizes upon this statement, and goes to great lengths to prove not merely that Plutarch was wrong but that Cicero was venal and rapacious. It has been suggested that Cicero’s motive in speaking on behalf of the Lex Manilia was to get Pompey’s support for his candidature for the consulship.
