between the First and Second Punic Wars--were closed, and Rome was at
peace with all the world.


MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO.

CICERO'S public life covered a period of nearly forty years, from the
dictatorship of Sulla to the fall of the Republic. Although endowed by
nature with great talents, he was always under the sway of the moment,
and therefore little qualified to be a statesman; yet he had not
sufficient self-knowledge to see it. Hence the attempts he made to
play a part in politics served only to lay bare his utter weakness.
Thus it happened that he was used and then pushed aside, attracted and
repelled, deceived by the weakness of his friends and the strength of
his adversaries; and at last threatened by both the parties between
which he tried to steer his course.




CHAPTER XXXVI.

AUGUSTUS (30 B.C.-14 A.D.)


After enjoying his triple triumph, Octavius should, according to the
precedents of the Republic, have given up the title of IMPERATOR; but
he allowed the Senate, which was only too glad to flatter him, to give
him that name for ten years,--a period which was repeatedly renewed.
In this way he became permanent commander of the national forces. Next