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The Villa of Marcus Brutus
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“Then you can see why I am in such ill health. So few senators defend the republic as we have Brutus.” Cicero replied generally, hoping to gauge a better reaction from Brutus. With a small smile, Brutus said,

“I’m afraid I deserve very little praise for my defense. In any case, I do not wish to regard Caesar with such suspicion. He may be a colossus, but he is no tyrant.” Brutus decided there was very little risk to revealing this small portion of his mind, it would give something for Cicero to chew on for the time being.

The meeting wasn’t going too well. Brutus, as usual, was keeping his cards closed and Cicero couldn’t tell whether Brutus was afraid of exposure and held back his thoughts or if he was genuinely in full support of Gaius Julius Caesar, his current uncle-in-law. A change of strategy was needed to extract something out of the aloof Nobile if not his true feelings about the Republic’s distress. Sitting back at his couch comfortably, Cicero fired back,

“Tyrant? Oh, I am not afraid about that, Brutus! Indeed, having lived during the times of Cornelius Sulla, I daresay Caesar would only produce the mildest of tyrants – such is the nature of the Man. No, I harbour no doubt about this matter.” Cicero was maneuvering cleverly, speaking about this sensitive matter with a double meaning; Brutus could choose what suited him most. Would he decide that Cicero thought Caesar would not turn to be a tyrant at all or that he believed Caesar would be a tyrant but a mild one? Up to the host’s judgment! “It is rather more worrying that our dear friend is moving too fast with his legislations; you may call it an old man’s melancholy if you think you must! I am worried that not much of the old ways will be preserved due to this wave of reforms. You may say that I fear waking up in an unrecognizable Rome; not much have changed during the last forty or fifty years of my life and I dread the possibility of this sudden loss of habit! An old man can’t learn new things, they say, and I sense this will be my case as well. Hopefully though, with young men such as you to mediate and advice Caesar, the future looks bright indeed. It cannot be denied; some reform is indeed necessary…” Cicero offered Brutus a smile of sympathy during his tactful retreat. Leaning forth again, Cicero continued with stating his mind;

“Truthfully, it is of our Senators that I am wearier of. It seems, alas, that the Senate is growing complacent under Caesar’s guide – an august body indeed but also a plump one, due to its inactivity. Rarely have I seen in my public life the Senate so quiet for such a long time! I cannot place whether our Senators are so timid to speak up their arguments with Caesar - but why they would be? - or if they are simply waiting for something to happen. Like what, you ask? I am not sure what but something is going on… Surely, you also sense what I have come to suspect?” Cicero asked.