now, and Caesar had managed matters so that force was on the
other side. Therefore the general conclusion was that Cicero
must make up his mind to go. Some useless efforts were made
to induce the consuls to intervene against Clodius. But about
the middle of March the crisis came. Cicero left Rome just
before Clodius carried his three laws, and went into exile.
Clodius quickly procured his outlawry and the confiscation of
his property. He was not to remain within 400 miles of Italy:
within that limit, to kill him was no murder. He fled eastwards
by way of Dyrrachium. At Thessalonica he was still within the
zone of danger, but Cn. Plancius, quaestor to the governor of
Macedonia, protected him, so that he was not compelled to move
on. There the great orator, to whom the life of Rome was every-
thing, passed weary months in a state of collapse and despair.

521. The removal of Cato was not less adroitly managed.
A law was carried by Clodius to annex the island of Cyprus.
He then urged the appointment of a thoroughly trustworthy
commissioner with full powers, to see that the Roman state was
not defrauded of any part of its new property. Cato was the
very man, and Cato was forced to go, though sorely against his
will. He could not on his own principles definitely refuse to
obey the order of the Assembly, even though controlled by
Clodius. For fear he should do the work speedily and return
too soon, he was also charged with the duty of settling some
matters in dispute at Byzantium. Cyprus was taken over without
a war. The reigning Ptolemy, a brother of the Piper, poisoned
himself. Cato left his nephew M. Brutus to take possession of
the royal property, while he dealt with the Byzantine questions.
Brutus, reared in Cato's high principles, was like other noble
Romans. He took the opportunity of being first in the field
to invest capital in the new country. The Cypriotes, no doubt
called upon for payments in cash, were driven to borrow from
him at ruinous interest, and he remained some years in the East,
wringing a fortune out of the subjects of Rome. Cato did all
his business thoroughly and incorruptibly. Cyprus was made a
part of the great province Cilicia. Over £1,500,000 is said to
have been collected for the Roman treasury. Cato did not return
to Rome till the year 56. Meanwhile many things had happened.
Caesar had only waited to see the three Clodian laws safely passed
in March 58, and then set out, none too soon, for Gaul.

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