Octavian and Antony were reconciled and formed the second triumvirate with Lepidus. The three of them drew up lists of political opponents who were to be put to death. Octavian fought hard to save Cicero but Antony, still smarting from Cicero's speeches against him, was adamant, and Octavian gave in. Cicero's name headed the list. Cicero and his brother Quintus were at Cicero's estate at Tusculum when the news of the proscriptions came, and they decided to flee to Brutus' army in Macedonia.
Quintus returned home for more supplies while Cicero continued on his journey. When he reached one of his villas on the coast, he dithered about whether to actually set sail or not until it was too late. On 7 December 43, while Cicero was being carried down to the sea in a litter, Herennius, one of Antony's centurions, arrived. Cicero ordered the litter bearers to put the litter down, and looking steadfastly at Herennius stretched out his neck. He was decapitated. His head and the hands, which had written his speeches against Antony, were taken back to Antony, who had them posted up on the rostra in the forum.
Nearly 40 years later, Octavian, now the emperor Augustus, found one of his grandsons reading a book by Cicero. Terrified, the boy tried to hide the book, but Augustus took it and read it for some moments. He then gave it back to the boy, saying, "He was a learned man, my child, a learned man and a lover of his country." (Perrin's translation)
