It was altogether grand and eloquent discourse upon the loyalty and
nobility of holding with unswerving faith to the old laws and
constitutions of one's country against all fraud, oppression, and
wrong, tracing how Cicero's weak and vain character grew stronger at
the call of patriotism, and how eagerly and bravely the once timid
man finally held out his throat for the knife. It might be taken as
the very highest witness to the manner in which he had used his
divine gift of rhetoric, that Fulvia's first thought was to show her
bitter hatred by piercing his eloquent tongue! 'Yes, my friends,' he
concluded, with his eyes glancing round, 'that insult to the dead was
the tribute of tyranny to virtue!'
Annora's hands were clasped, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes
glanced with the dew of admiration, and there were others who were
carried along by the charm of the young orator's voice and
enthusiasm; but there were also anxious glances passing, especially
between the divine Arthenice and her son-in-law, M. de Montausier,
and when there had been time for the compliments the discourse
merited to be freely given, Madame de Rambouillet said: 'My dear
friend, the tribute may be indeed the highest, but it can scarcely be
the most appreciable either by the fortunate individual or his
friends. I therefore entreat that the most eloquent discourse of our
youthful Cicero of admires who have listened to it.
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