Sometimes he
resolved to go into Caesar's house privately, and there kill
himself upon the altar of his household gods, to bring divine
vengeance upon him; but the fear of torture restrained him. And
after passing through a variety of confused and uncertain
counsels, at last he let his servants carry him by sea to Capitae,
where he had a house, an agreeable place to retire to in the heat
of summer, when the Etesian winds are so pleasant.
There was at that place a chapel of Apollo, not far from the sea-
side, from which a flight of crows rose with a great noise, and
made towards Cicero's vessel as it rowed to land, and lighting on
both sides of the yard, some croaked, others pecked the ends of
the ropes. This was looked upon by all as an evil omen; and,
therefore, Cicero went again ashore, and entering his house, lay
down upon his bed to compose himself at rest. Many of the crows
settled about the window, making a dismal cawing; but one of them
alighted upon the bed where Cicero lay covered up, and with its
bill, little by little pecked off the clothes from his face. His
servants, seeing this, blamed themselves that they should stay to
be spectators of their master's murder, and do nothing in his
defence, while the brute creatures came to assist and take care of
him in his undeserved affliction; and therefore, partly by
entreaty, partly by force, they took him up, and carried him in
his litter toward the sea-side.
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