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.
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