#a journey to sicily
Chapter 21: Preparations
The next few days were a whirlwind as Cicero prepared for our journey to Sicily. First, he met at length with Sosethius, Heraclieus and Epicrates, who would provide letters of introduction to help Cicero gain the confidence of the many Sicilians who had already submitted written testimony in the case.
An acquaintance of Cicero’s, Lucius Calpurnius Piso, cognominated Frugi, offered the services of his son to help with baggage and manage any materials or documents we collected. In exchange, Cicero agreed to help strengthen the young man’s rhetorical skills, for he wished to become an advocate. Relieved for the extra hand, he sent young Gaius Calpurnius Piso Frugi ahead to Ostia to book passage for the party to Messana.
Quintus, in the meantime, helped to arrange for accommodations and plan our itinerary. We would make a grand tour of the island, stopping in virtually every city to talk with the locals, collect evidence and recruit the many witnesses Cicero hoped would make the trip to Rome to testify.
All this would take money, however, and while Cicero’s law practice was finally earning him a small income through legacies, property gifts and in-kind payments that would not violate the senate’s membership qualifications, it did not generate enough coin to cover the expenses of such a case – which could easily reach 100,000 sesterces. Argue over it as he and Quintus did, Cicero could only see one possible source of funds.
Terentia, of course, used the request as yet another way of belittling her husband, but eventually relented, giving him an advance of 50,000 sesterces – exactly half the amount he had requested.
“We shall have to be thrifty,” he told Quintus and I after leaving her sitting room. “While I have no doubt my wife would not deny me more money if needed, I do not relish the thought of asking for it, and we will not only need to complete our tour of Sicily, but pay transportation and lodging costs for any witnesses who agree to testify for us here in Rome.”
Yet even when the final preparations for our journey had been made, Cicero slowed down not a bit, calling a final meeting of his inner council on the eve of our departure. Sitting comfortably in the triclinium after an early dinner, Cicero assigned everyone their tasks.
“I believe we are ready to depart,” Cicero said. “Tiro and I will leave at dawn for Ostia, where we will meet young Frugi and his party before setting sail for Messana. We shall endeavor to be gone no longer than seventy days, if possible, but much will depend on what we find there.”
“And while you are gone?” Servius Sulpicious asked. “What would you have us do?”
“I was coming to that, old friend,” Cicero said, nodding.
“My first task is for Quintus, who I ask to manage my campaign for the aedileship,“ he said, turning to his brother. "Work with the guilds, host dinners and schedule appearances at all of the largest crossroads colleges. I have always had a lot of support among the head count – especially in Subura – but now I want common citizens from one side of Rome to the other to have no other name on their lips but Cicero.”
“You can count on me, brother,” Quintus said, nodding.
“Atticus, I leave it to you to gather support among the knights,” Cicero said. “While I count many of them as clients already, I expect an even larger number of supporters among your class. Find out what is important to them that I can, as aedile, deliver, and promise it to them if it is within my power to give. I will not have the support of many plebeians or patricians, if any, so my support among the equestrian class must help carry the election.”
“I shall do what I can, of course, my dear Cicero,” Atticus responded.
“And I?” Sulpicious asked. “What would you have me do?”
“Ah, yes, Servius Sulpicious,” Cicero replied with a grin. “For you, I have perhaps the most important task. You have contacts across Rome, both highborn and lowborn. Use them – not necessarily to benefit me in the election, but instead to build anticipation and excitement around my prosecution of Verres. Assure them all of my intent to see Verres convicted and sent into exile, and promise a show such as the forum has not seen in generations! When I deliver my opening speech, I want a crowd of record numbers!”
Sulpicious laughed. “That, my friend, I can do.”
“Now, my friends, I’m afraid we must say goodnight,” Cicero said, rising. “Tiro and I leave early tomorrow, and we all have much to do before our work is done.”
“May the gods protect you both, Marcus,” Atticus said.
