Whereas, Cicero's love of mockery often ran him into
scurrility; and in his love of laughing away serious arguments in
judicial cases by jests and facetious remarks, with a view to the
advantage of his clients, he paid too little regard to what was
decent. We are told that Cicero, being consul, undertook the
defence of Murena against Cato's prosecution; and, by way of
bantering Cato, made a long series of jokes upon the absurd
paradoxes, as they are called, of the Stoic sect. When loud
laughter passed from the crowd to the judges, Cato, with a quiet
smile, said to those that sat next to him, "My friends, what an
amusing consul we have."
And, indeed, Cicero was by natural temper very much disposed to
mirth and pleasantry, and always appeared with a smiling and
serene countenance. But Demosthenes had constant care and
thoughtfulness in his look, and a serious anxiety which he seldom,
if ever, laid aside; and, therefore, was accounted by his enemies,
as he himself confessed, morose and ill-mannered.
Also, it is very evident, out of their several writings, that
Demosthenes never touched upon his own praises but decently and
without offence when there was need of it, and for some weightier
end.
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