Such a man, however, might be silenced for a while--taught to perceive that his efforts were vain--and then brought into favor by further overtures, and made of use.
Personally he was pleasant to Caesar, who had taste enough to know that he was a man worthy of all personal dignity.

But Caesar was not, I think, quite accurate in his estimation, having allowed himself to believe at the last that Cicero's energy on behalf of the Republic had been quelled.
[Sidenote: B.C.58, aetat.

49.] Now we will go back to the story of Cicero's exile.

Gradually during the preceding year he had learned that Clodius was preparing to attack him, and to doubt whether he could expect protection from the Triumvirate.
That he could be made safe by the justice either of the people or by that of any court before which he could be tried, seems never to have occurred to him.

He knew the people and he knew the courts too well.
Pompey no doubt might have warded off the coming evil; such at least was Cicero's idea.