But in the meantime the assassins had come with a band of
soldiers--Herennius, a centurion, and Popillius, a tribune, whom
Cicero had formerly defended when prosecuted for the murder of his
father. Finding the door shut, they broke them open, and when
Cicero did not appear and those within said they did not know
where he was, it is stated that a youth, who had been educated by
Cicero in the liberal arts and sciences, an emancipated slave of
his brother Quintus, Philologus by name, informed the tribune that
the litter was on its way to the sea through the close and shady
walks. The tribune, taking a few with him, ran to the place where
he was to come out. And Cicero, perceiving Herennius running in
the walks, commanded his servants to set down the litter; and
stroking his chin, as he used to do, with his left hand, he looked
steadfastly upon his murderers, his person covered with dust, his
beard and hair untrimmed, and his face worn with his troubles. So
that the greatest part of those that stood by covered their faces
whilst Herennius slew him. And thus was he murdered, stretching
forth his neck out of the litter, being now in his sixty-fourth
year. Herennius cut off his head, and, by Antony's command, his
hands also, by which his Philippics were written; for so Cicero
styled those orations he wrote against Antony, and so they are
called to this day.
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