History: The Latin “Tollendum” equals: should be extolled… or lifted up… or lifted out… or removed. How a word can maintain that amount of meaning-tension is not something I understand.

Cicero tried to use Octavian, and wund up dead. Perhaps it was because he could not resist being a little too witty. I do not know where this tradition originated, but here is Cæsar Octavianus after the battle of Mutina in April -43, as reported by C. Velleius Patroculus in his “Compendium of Roman History” Book II, ch. 62. “Laudandum and tollendum” are the last three words of the passage quoted below in Latin: “should be praised and should be [fill in the blank]”:

C. Velleius Patroculus: Compendium of Roman History: Before the defeat of Antony [at Mutina in April -43] the [Roman] senate, chiefly on the motion of Cicero [Octavianus] , passed all manner of resolutions complimentary to Caesar and his army. But, now that their fears had vanished, their real feelings broke through their disguise, and the Pompeian party once more took heart. By vote of the senate, Brutus and Cassius were now confirmed in possession of the provinces which they  had seized…. Decimus Brutus was voted a triumph, presumably because, thanks to another's services, he had escaped with his life. Hirtius and Pansa were honoured with a public funeral.

Of Caesar [Octavianus] not a word was said. The senate even went so far as to instruct its envoys, who had been sent to Caesar [Octavianus]'s army, to confer with the soldiers alone, without the presence of their general. But the ingratitude of the senate was not shared by the army; for, though Caesar [Octavianus] himself pretended not to see the slight, the soldiers refused to listen to any orders without the presence of their commander.

It was at this time that Cicero, with his deep-seated attachment for the Pompeian party, expressed the opinion, which said one thing and meant another, to the effect that Caesar "should be commended and then—elevated…" <penelope.uchicago.edu/T…>