ther of Cicero, was well born;
but of his father nothing is reported but in extremes. For whilst some
would have him the son of a fuller, and educated in that trade, others
carry back the origin of his family to Tullus Attius, an illustrious
king of the Volscians, who waged war not without honor against the
Romans. However, he who first of that house was surnamed Cicero seems
to have been a person worthy to be remembered; since those who succeeded
him not only did not reject, but were fond of that name, though vulgarly
made a matter of reproach. For the Latins call a vetch Cicer, and a nick
or dent at the tip of his nose, which resembled the opening in a vetch,
gave him the surname of Cicero.

Cicero, whose story I am writing, is said to have replied with spirit to
some of his friends, who recommended him to lay aside or change the name
when he first stood for office and engaged in politics, that he would
make it his endeavor to render the name of Cicero more glorious than
that of the Scauri and Catuli. And when he was quaestor in Sicily, and
was making an offering of silver plate to the gods, and had inscribed
his two names, Marcus and Tullius, instead of the third, he jestingly
told the artificer to engrave the figure of a vetch by them.

Cicero was born on the third of January, the same day on which now the
magistrates of Rome pray and sacrifice for the emperor. As soon as he
was of an age to begin to have lessons, he became so distinguished for
his talent, and got such a name and reputation amongst the boys, that
their fathers would often visit the school, that they might see young
Cicero, and might be able to say that they themselves had witnessed the
quickness and readiness in learning for which he was renowned. And the
more rude among them used to be angry with their children, to see them,
as they walked together, receiving Cicero with respect into the middle
place. And being, as Plato would have the scholar-like and philosophical
temper, eager for every kind of learning, and indisposed to no
description of knowledge or instruction, he showed, however, a more
peculiar propensity to poetry; and there is a poem now extant, made
by him when a boy, in tetrameter verse, called Pontius Glaucus.
And afterwards, when he applied himself more curiously to these
accomplishments, he had the name of being not only the best orator, but
also the best poet of Rome. And the glory of his rhetoric still remains,
notwithstanding th