At
first, it is said, he as well as Demosthenes, was 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 while
representing in the theatre Atreus deliberating the revenge of
Thyestes, he was so transported beyond himself in the heat 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 wit and sarcasm
were thought to suit a pleader well.
He was appointed quaestor in a great scarcity of corn, and had
Sicily for his province, where, 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
honored 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.
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