hauing receiued curtesies from him as because I haue beene alwayes inclined to affect him thinking that he for his vertue had deserued it yet without hauing any regard to what he desired I followed my old custome hauing in euery action the good of the Common-wealth my sole obiect And in token of the truth Pompeius being of the Senate when he went into Rome to commend Publius Sextius and Vatinius one of the testimonies had tolde that I was become one of Caesars friends moued thereunto by his happy fortune I gaue him this answer That the fortune of Bibulus which hee esteemed full of misery was greater in my estimation then all the triumphs and victories And in another place I said euen in the presence of Pompeius that none but they thrust mee out of Rome which where occasion that Bibulus feared to sâ—ur out of doores And that examination of mine was onely to reprehend the Tribuneship of Vatinius Where I spake with great liberty and courage about violence authority and the donation of Kingdomes Neiâ—ther did I in this 〈…〉 but aâ— mâ—ny other times speake in Sâ—naâ—e with the same constancie And further Marcelinus and Philippus being Consuls thâ— Senate vpon the fift of Aprill was contented vpon my request that on the fifteenth of May in open Senate the case should bee proposed of the Campan Territorie Thinke you that I could at this time couragiously handle this cause rather then â—orget my owne calamities and call to remembrance my owne actions When I had spoken my opinion there grew great alteration in some particular persons which had occasion and in others also which I could neuer haue imagined For the decree being made after that manner that I had councelled Pompeius without making any demonstration vnto me that he was displeased tooke his iourney for Sardinia and Africa and went by Luca to meet with Caesar who complained much of this deed of mine as being incensed a little before in Rauenna by Crassus who had spoken much ill vnto him concerning mee And though I had vnderstood by many that Pompeius was offended with mee Yet my brother gaue mee the greatest notice who meeting him in Sardinia a little while after hee came from Luca was thus saluted by him In very deed Sir I desired to see no man rather then you neither could fortune haue brought mee any man with whom I could bee so much contented If you take not such order that your brother Marcus keepe the promise that you on his behalfe made vs this debt will fall vpon you What needs more vvords He complained grieuously hee made repetition of his deserts hee called to memory the agreement made about the acts of Caesar and follovved on yet further that he knevv vvell that Caesar lou'd my happinesse pâ—aying him at last to recommend vnto me the cause and â—he honour of the aforesayd Caesar And that at the least I should not oppugne him if I vvould not or could not help him When I had from my brother vnderstood these things and Vibullius by commission of Pompeius hauing beene a little before to speake vvith mee that I should in courtesie leaue till his returne the Campan cause in the state it vvas in driuen to bethinke me of my selfe I turned me vvholly to consider mine ovvne affaires becomming after a sort petitioner to the Common-vvealth That in consideration of so much paines as I had taken for it it vvould be pleased to grant me that I might shevv my selfe gratefull tovvards my benefactours and continue the trust of my brother and that it vvould suffer that man to bee good vvhom in all occasions it had found to be a good Citizen Novv in all my actions and sentences vvhich seeme to offend Pompeius I perceiued that there vvere certaine persons vvhom you may imagine vvhich notvvithstanding they vvere of my opinion and had alvvaies beene so yet they reioyced that I follovved not the vvill of Pompeius hoping assuredly that he for that cause should grovv a cold friend vnto me and Caesar a capitall enemie I had iust occasion to be grieued hereat but much more that in my prâ—sence they did most familiarly embrace vvelcome and kisse mine enemie But vvhy doe I say mine enemie rather enemie of the Lavv of the Courts of Iustice of the quiet of his Countrey and in conclusion of all men of honesty vvith that demonstration they had an opinion they should moâ—e mee to anger but it vvas not so because in mee all anger vvas extâ—nguished These passages therefore considered and making a calculation vvith that vnderstanding that God had giuen mee I reduced into forme all my discourses vvhich if I be able I vvil briefly recount vnto you If I should see the Common-vvealth to bee gouerned by vvicked loose Citizens as vve knovv falleth out in our times and haue vnderstood to haue at other times also occurred no force either of revvards vvhich I slightly esteeme nor yet of dangers vvhich were vvont to feare the stouâ—est men could haue such interest in me that I should consent to the liking of men of such condition although my heart should tell mee they had obliged mee But the Common-vvealth resting it selfe vnder the shadow of Câ—cius Pompeius vvho vvith his great deserts tovvards it and vvith his vvorthy actions hath gotten this povver and estimation and I hauing from my youth fauoured nay I say more hauing furthered him both vvhen I vvas Praetor and vvhen I vvas Consull and he in like manner helping mee as vvell by councell as by fauour and vnvvilling to haue other enemy in the Citie then that man that vvas to me an enemy I thought not that I should bee held for inconstant if I had a little altered some of my opinions inclining my vvill to that vvhich appertained to the dignity both of a man of his sort and of such an one as vvas my Benefactour And being of this minde it vvas necessarie for me as you see that I should also fauour Caesar hee being invvard vvith Pompeius to vvhich partly ancient friendship much moued me that I and my brother Quintus haue alvvaies as you knovv held vvith Caesar partly the humanity and courtesie vvhich hee hath many vvayes in short time shevved vs. And to this the respect of the Common-wealth made great addition seeming vnto mee that it did not onely dislike but strangely refused that there should be any contention with men of that quality Especially Caesar hauing performed many valorous actions thereunto behoofefull And I being heretofore entred into such deliberation was vpon the former occasions altogether settled by reason of the testimonie that Pompeius had giuen of me to Caesar and my brother to Pompeius Moreouer I should haue considered that which is by our Plato written so diuinely that Citizens were wont to bee such as their Gouernours I remember the first day of my Consulship and often afterwards that I might keepe the Common-wealth in a direct course and at one stay I layd so strong foundations
in all other occasions that he may thereby gather that I haue effectuallie recommended him Farewell Cicero to Lentulus Ep. 4. VPon the fifteenth of Ianuarie when we had the better hand in the Senate for that the daie before we had broken the neck of that opinion of Bibulus concerning thâ— three Ambassadors and that there was now onely resting the opinion of Volcatius to contend withall the businesse was with diuerse cauills pâ—olonged by our aduersaries who could not endure that we amongst so manie and so great varietie of opinions should carrie away the glorie of the dayâ— Curio was at that time a bitter enemie vnto vs Bibulus much more milde and raâ—her a friend than otherwise Caniniuâ— and Catâ— had resolued â—o propose no law before the next creation of Magistrates The Senate as you know by the inteâ—dict of the law Pupia cannot be reduced before the Calends of Februarie nor for all that moneth vnlesse the Ambassages be either dispatched or put off But the people of Rome are possest that those that enuie and hate you haue brought vp this brute of an inuented Religion not so much to hinder you as to keepe euery man else from seeking for credits sake to goe that iourney with the armie into Alexandria And no man can report other than that the Senate hath had good respect of you for it is well knowne that your aduersaries haue hindred the dispatch of your cause but if they shall attempt now any thing by wicked and trecherous proceedings as they haue done vnder pretence or name of the people of Rome it is sufficiently prouided â—â—at they can passe nothing vnlesse they will withstand authoritie and the lawes or else bring their intent about by violence I will omit to speake either oâ— mine owne faithfulnesse or other mens ingratitude For it were but a follie to make any ostâ—ntaâ—ion of my selfe considering that if I should spend my life for you I cannot counteruaile your courtesies And to complaine of other mens iniuries were but to renew my old troubles If in this time of weake Magistrates any thing shall be attempted by force I can make no resistance but if no violence shall be offered I can assure you that the Senate and people of Rome will doe what in them lyeth to support your reputation Farewell Cicero to Publius Lentulus Vice-consul Ep. 5. THough I desire nothing more than to be knowne first of your selfe and then to all the world for a most thankful man and one that cannot forget the good turnes you haue done me yeâ— it grieues me to the heart that the times since your departure are such as inforce you to make triall as well of mine as other mens trust and affection towards you For I vnderstand by your letters that you haue had the same proofe oâ— your friends in your authoritie that I haue had of mine in my health and prosperitie I endeuoured with all my vnderstanding care and poâ—er to bring about the cause of the king when on the sodaine Cato beyond all imagination proposed a wicked law which did not onely hinder the cause but hath made that businesse which was before light and easie to be very difficult and desperate But though in so crosse an accident we are to expect all mischiefe yet wee feare nothing more than treacherie Come what will come let Cato be wel assured we will resist him About the restoring of the king I promise you thus much that I will so bestur me that you shall rest fully satisfied Yet I doubt that either the businesse may be taken out of our hands or that there will be no further proceeding in it and I cannot well determine which of these two courses will leaft content me But if it come to this passe there is a third way which neither Selicius nor I dislike That we neither suffer the King to be abandoned nor let him be put ouer vnto that man for his restoring who is alreadie thought to haue obteined him We will doe the best we can that things may goe as we would haue them if not we will so leaue off that we may suffer no disgrace thereby It is for a man of your wisedome vnderstanding and valour to be well assured that all your greatnesse and honour proceedes from your owne vertue your noble actions and graue proceâ—dings which will neuer faile you and to set light by that that the perfidiousnesse of any man can detract from you in any thing wherein fortune hath inriched you Knowing for certaine that whatsoeuer is done in that kind will turne to them more hurtfull than to you hereafter There is not an houre passes but I am either doing something in your businesse or contriuing how to doe it And in euery thing I vse the helpe of Quintus Selicius whom I esteeme as discreete faithfull and louing vnto you as any of your other friends I make accompt that you haue vnderstood both by frequent letters and messengers aswell what we haue now in hand as that that hath beene hitherto effected Of that that is expected I hold none fitter then my selfe to send you mine opinion I haue seene Pompeius vpon two occasioÌ„s terribly troubled First for that on the â—â—xt of Februarie speaking to the people in the fauour of Milo they gaue not onely a negligent eare vnto him but often interrupted him with exclamations and villanies secondly because Cato speaking ill of him in the Senate and sharply accusing him had a moâ—t quiet audience so thaâ— it seemes he altogether shrinketh from this cause of restoring the king in which we haue alwayes held our owne the Senate not hauing taken any thing from you herein but that which by the Religion it cannot giue vnto another man Our hope therefore at this present is that the King finding himselfe deceiâ—ed in his opinion of thinking to be â—estored by Pompeius and being depriued of all other hopes herein will necessarilie applie himselfe vnto you In the effecting hereof wee will vse all diligence and he will doubtlesse be most willing so that Pâ—mpeius make but the least shew to be content therewith But you know how slow he is and â—lâ—o how silent in all his actions yet there is nothing that may be done herein by vs omitted The other iniuries that Cato threaâ—neth to doe vs shall need I hope but easie resistance Of the Conâ—ulars I find none to fauour you but Hortentius and Lucullus The rest are partly â—ecâ—et partly open enemies But be of good courage And wiâ—hout al doubâ— the rash attempt of this phantasticall â—ellow will come to nothing and you shall recouer your former honour and reputation Fare you well Cicero to Lentulus Ep. 6. HOw matteâ—s haue beene carried you may â—nforme your selfe of Pâ—llio who was not onely present at them but imployed in them In the depth of the trouble I suffer about your businesse my comfort is that I hope assuredly that the good Councell of your friends and time it selfe which discouereth
time of my gouernment be not prolonged And entreat Hortensâ—us our Colleague and familiâ—r friend that if euer he did or intended to doe me a pleasure hee will not now perseuer in his opinion of the gouernment for two yeeres for nothing can more molest or discontent me Wheras you would know in what state I stand I departed from Tarsus the seuenth of October and the day following I wrote these in the Countie of Mopsuhesâ—ia where I was with the Armie If I atchâ—ue any thing you shall bee aduertis'd thereof and I 'le neuer write home but you shall bee written to Concerning the Parthians I take it for a fable Those Araebians that came into my Prouince in Parthian habit are gone away as it 's reported and there is no feare of any warre in Syria I would willingly haue you write often of your affaires of mine and of the whole state of the Common-wealth at which I am much troubled so much the rather in that you write our friend Pompeius is to go into Spaine Farewell Ciâ—ero Imperator to Appius Pulcher. Epist. 9. WIth much a doe I haue at last read a letter well beseeming Appius Clodius full of humanity courtesie and friendly care Out of question the very sight of Râ—me hath returned you your former sweet proceeding For when you wrote vnto me on the way while you were yet in Asia about the matter of the Legates whose comming to Rome I prohibited and when you complain'd that I hindred the Appian edifications it gaue mee no small distaste mine own conscience witnessing that I had beene euer constant in louing you I returned an answer halfe in choller yet after I read the letters deliuered to Philotimus my Free-man I perceiued there were many in the Prouince which affected our falling out But after you came to Rome or at least as soone as you had seene your friends you vnderstood of them my perpetuall loue and affection towards you manifesting it selfe vpon all occurrents while you stay'd in your Prouince wherefore imagine how neere my heart those words went you wrote vnto meâ— If any thing fall out for my aduancement and dignity though it be vnpossible yet render me equall kindnesse This you may easily doe for what is there in this world which endeauour will not compasse Neither can any attempt be so difficult but a true affection may ouercome it I euer thought so my friends write that you should obtaine a Triumph but yet I am exceedingly satisfied in the certainty you giue me thereof and not becâ—use I hope my selfe as easily to get it for this were but an Epicurean part but in that your honour and dignity is of it selfe most deere vnto me Seeing therefore you haue greater conueniencie of messengers then any other for none would come hither without giuing you notice when my suit hath gotten that successe which you expect and I desire I should bee very glad to be therof aduertised If through those long Sessions of the Senate as our friend Pompeius was wont to terme them you are delayed a day or two for there is no likely-hood it shall bee longer your dignity will no wayes be impeach't by this deferring But for the loue you beare mee and for that that you expect from mee Vouchsafe to cheere me vp with this acceptable information and â—emember to keep promise with me about the present which you promised to make mee For besides that I am desirous of the Science of Auguration any gifts of yours infinitely please me they being an apparant testimony of the loue you beare me And because you demand some equall remuneration I must ruminate well vpon it that I may make you the like requitall For if I should not take the paines in this that vsually I doe in my other compositions which you are wont to thinke worthy of admiration You might haue iust cause to repute me not onely negligent but vnthankfull And of these matters enough Further now my desire is that you bring to effect the offer which you made me my meaning is that you labor by all means possible to compasse me my suites vsing therein your wonted diligence that the Senate may pleasure mee and out of hand with the honourablest demonstrations that may be You promis'd it me see you doe not faile and doe it likewise for the sake of our ancient amâ—tie I doubt I haue ouer-long deferred my writing thereof to the Senate and that my lettersâ— through difficult passage by sea came in time of the vacations But herein I followed your example and I thinke I did well in not writing so suddenly after my being called Imperator but after the end of many enterprizes brought to passe in all this summer Be therefore carefull of this according to your promise and so in all other occasions vouchsafe to take my affaires my selfe and all mine into your friendly protection Farewell Cicero Imperator to Appius Pulchâ—r Epist. 10. VVHen I heard of their presumptuous boldnesse that molested you though at the first hearing I was astonished becausâ— nothing could haue hapned further beyond my expectation yet when I more aduisedly considered thereof I tooke heart at grasse putting great hope in your selfe but greatest in your friends And many reasons perswaded me to think that this trouble would rather augment then extenuate your honor It vext me much that enuious men had found out a meanes to depriue you of the glory of your Triumph which questionlesse you should haue obtained conformable to your deserts Of which losse if you make the same reckoning that I euer esteemed should be made you shall do wisely triumph at last in the sorrow of your enemies For I know you to be so strong in friends and so prudent that vndoubtedly it will greatly grieue them that euer they run into such a leuity For mine own part I assure promise you calling all the gods to witnesse of my heart that for your dignitie for so I will rather terme iâ— then safetie in this Prouince which you gouerned I will haue more then ordinarie care entreating for you affectionately endeauouring my selfe no otherwise then if you were my kinsman vsing what authoritie and power one may haue that is deare as I hope to be vnto the Cities and hath the title of Imperator Command mee and expect at my hand all good offices for my endeuours shall surmount your imagination Quintus Seruilius deluer'd me a briefe letter of yours which notstanding I thought too long for your intâ—eating me made me take it for an iniurie I am sorrie the time is come wherein you shall haue cause to know what esteeme I make both of you and of Pompeius whom I must regard aboue all others and what loue I beare to Brutus Although you should haue discern'd it by some other way as no doubt but you shall But seeing such an occasion is offered if euer I faile in any thing let me be reputed a dishonourable and very bad man Pontinius
period whether nature her selfe hath almost conducted mâ—e Finally there hath died in this warre such a personage and so many valiant men haue therein left their liues that if wee were constrained to die me thinkes it were indiscretion to râ—fuse it For my part I propound vnto my selfâ— all accidents and there is no euill so great which I take not to bee neere at hand But yet I feare not the vexation being greater which is caused by feare then is the thing it selfe which we feare wherein there is not onely no griefe but wee shall finde the last period of sorroâ— But I 'le goe no further and peraduenture I haue said more then was requisite But not any delight of many words but meere good will drawes my letters out too long It displeas'd me that Seruius went from Athens who because hee was your familiar friend and one replenished with bountie and wisedome should I know haue euer beene neere about you and haue giuen you great comfort My desire is that as you ought and your custome is you would relie on your firme resolution I will with all diligence and care procure that which I shall thinke to be beneficiall for you and what may profitablie concerne either your selfe or yours In doing whereof I shall imitate your loue towards mee but neuer arriue to your deserts Farewell Cicero to Aulus Caecinâ— Epist. 5. WHensoeuer I see your sonne and I see him euery daie I offer and promise him my endeuour and diligence without exception either of lâ—bour employment or time but my authoritie and fauor with this exception wherein I am able or in what I can Your booke I haue and doe reade and keepe most diligently your goods and state cannot sit neerer my heart then they doe and euery day I conceiue more hope seeing many to labour faithfully therein as I know certainely your sonne writes vnto you who hath himselfe also the same hope But for these things which may bee foreseene by vnderstanding I presume not to discerne further then I perswade my selfe that yoâ— see and conceiue Yet neuerthelesse because it may bee that being dazeled with griefe you may not so cleerely discerne I thought good to write vnto you my opinion The nature of things present and the course of times is such that this fortune cannot long stand with you or with others neiâ—her in a cause so iust and vpon so good Cittizens so cruell an iniurie continue To that hope therfore which in particular I haue of your selfe not onlie for your valor and dignitie for these ornaments are in many others whereunto are added your owne proper qâ—alities that is an â—leuated wit and singular vertue Wherof Caesar makes an high esteeme And you could not haue stayed long in this fortune if he had not thought himselfe offended by those worthie parts for which you are to him most deare But the prouocation of his minde is euery daie mittigated and groweth more calme And I vnderstand from them that conuerse hourely with him that the opinion of your wit will commend you greatly to his fauour First of all therefore see that you be of an high and resolute spirit For you were borne of such a father bred and instructed after such a sort as 't is requisite for you to doe it And then bee of constant hopâ—s for the reasons aboue menâ—ioned And liue asâ—ured that you shall command me vpon any of your owne or your childrens occasions euen as our ancient friendship and my vsuall custome towards friends and the many benefits that I haue receiued from you requireâ—h Farewell Cicero to Aulus Caecina Epist. 6. I Know not how you remaine satisfied at my hands in that I haue not written vnto you as I stood bound â—â—well by our friendship and many interchangeable offices as â—ecause we were both of one and the same Faction Questionlesse both long since and many times I would haue written to you but that expecting dailie better euents I desired rather to reioyce with you then comfort you Euen as shortly I hope to doe which will minister me occasion to write againe vnto you Now though I am inform'd and hope that you contest with Fortune out of a resolute minde yet I 'le see whether with these letters I can adde vnto your forces I know I am not fit to doe it but that Authoritie which deriues from great loue ought to operate very much Neither will I attempt to comfort you as one afflicted and depriued of all hopes of safetie but as a person of whose safetie I promise my selfe neither more nor lesse then you heeretofore were wont to promise your selfe of mine I remember when I was expelled by them who thought they could not â—uine the Common-wealth except I were first supprest that manie of my friends who came out of Asia where you were to see mee told mee how you affirmed that I should be presently restor'd and with infinite honor If you through a certaine knowledge of Tuscan discipline which you had learned from your Father who was a noble and honest Gentleman tooke not your markes amisse No more should my prognostication bee false being grounded vpon that which many wise men haue written and I haue read as your selfe knowes with exact diligence Besides the apprehension I may haue therein through my great experience in publike affaires and for that which I haue obserued in my selfe to which kinde of prognostication I giue so much the greater credit because in present things so obscure and troublesome it neuer deceiu'd me I would speake of those things which I haue presaged but that I will not seeme to haue now â—eyned that which is come to passe Yet many can testifie how in the beginning I aduised Pompeius not to ioyne with Caesar and afterwards that hee should not separate himselfe from him perceiuing very cleerely that ioyning with him the authoritie of the Senate was much impaired and being separated a ciuill warre would grow I was a great friend to Caesar and I loued and honoured Pompeius but aâ— my counsell was loyall to Pompeius so both to one and other it was profitable Many other things passed which I foresawe Because I would not that Caesar to whom I was much bound should know that if Pompeius had obserued my directions he should haue beene in high state and honoured of all the Cittizens but yet hee should not haue had such a power as now he hath I perswaded Pompeius to goe into Spaine If he had gone thither the ciuill warre had not ensued I sought not to obtaine that Caesar being out of Rome might stand for the Consulship but when the people Pompeius the Consull himsâ—lfe vrging it with great importunitie had granted it him I said 't was good to satisfie him therein And discerning that this was the seede of ciuill discords with many reasons I laboured to extinguish it reprehending them which affected not peace the which though it were accompanied with vnequall conditions yet I preferred it
before warre which on our behalfe was most iâ—st Pompeius knew I spake truth but there were some so blinde that to enrich themselues and effect their desires holding victorie secure in that Pompeius was their Captaine they saw not the benefit of my Councell They came to armes I stirred not they went out of Italy I staid as long as I could In briefe the care of my honor wrought more in me then the feare of life I would not leaue Pompeius because he had not forsaken mee in my necessities therefore to shunne infamie like that Amphiarâ—us in the Fables I expos'd my selfe to manifest ruine In which warre no aduersitie fell out which I had not formerly denounced Seeing therefore you may perceiue the truth of my reasons you are bound to beleeue mee as men vse to beleeue Augures and Astrologers when they haue once spoken truth Neither doe I now goe after dreames as the Augures are wont to doe nor doe I marke how the birds flie nor hearken I how they sing nor minde how they eate but I obserue other signes which if they be not more certaine then those yet they are more easie to comprehend and consequently not so fallible And my Prognostication is grounded vpon two reasons On the one side I consider Caesars nature on the other that of the ciuill warres Caesar is benigne and clement iust as he is disciphered in that booke where you complaine of him Besides he loues noble spirits such as yours is and finally â—e will be ouercome with many mens entreaties seeing that they are not mou'd out of vaine ambition but out of office and charitie The which all Tuscanie doing 't is to be thought shee will be heard Now what 's the reason that hitherto these things haue done little good For he thinkes that granting your returne with whom it seemes he hath some cause to be angry he could not afterwards deny it many others Oh you 'le say what may I hope for then if he be angry with me he conceiues that he may extract his praises from the same fountaine by whose drops hee was formerly made wet or dashed Finally he is a man of great wit and prudent discourse He see'th plainely that he cannot long keepe you out of your Countrie you being in Tuscanie which is no base part of Iâ—alie but amongst others the most noble and equall to any in Rome of the more honourable sort of cittizens of your age for wit fauour and iudgement He will not that hereafter you should acknowledge this benefit rather from the time then now from him I haue spoken of Caesar Now I 'le speake of the nature of the ciuill warres There is no man such an enemy to that enterprise which Pompâ—ius with great courage but small preparations vndertooke that can say that we haue eyther beene bad cittizens or bad men Wherein I am wont to admire the grauitie iustice and wisedome of Caesar He neuer speakes but honorably of Pompeius Oh but he hath perform'd against him many terribly actions The blame is not Caesars but of armes and of the victory Doe but marke vs how hath he embraced vs He made Cassius his Legate He hath giuen the gouernment of Fraunâ—e to Brutus and to Sulpicius that of Gracia he restor'd Marcellus against whom he was wonderfully incenst with as great honor as could be wisht What can I therefore inferre Take the world what forme it will the nature of things and of ciuill warres will neuer permit but that in one and the selfe same cause all may haue the same condition and that good men and good cittizens that are innocent may returne into that Cittie whereinto so many guiltie banished men are returned This is my prognostication of which if I made any doubt I would rather vse that consolation with which you being a valiant man as you are I might easily suppose to comfort you That if you had taken vp armes for the Common-wealth for so you then thought with certaine hope of victorie you should not haue beene much to be commended but had you imagined it might so come to passe that we should be vanquish't the end of warre being vncertaine it would haue beene a thing most vnbeseeming you not to haue beene constant in aduerse fortune as you would haue beene discreet and moderate in prosperous I would discourse yet farther how much it would refresh you to call to mind that your deeds tended to a good end And how delightâ—ull your studies would be vnto you in aduersities I could rip vp vnto you the fearefull accidents not onely of auncient but also of moderne Captaines that haue beene in this war with you For other mens examples reducing that law to memorie whereunto all men are constrained to obey extenuate our griefe Besides this I would aduertise you in how great an hauak and confussion of things we liue in that we should lesse grieue to be depriu'd of our countrie when it is in ill state then when it is well but I would not haue you thinke of this reason For out of hand as I hope nay rather as I plainely discerne we shall see you in honor and safetie In the meane while although I haue at many other times performed this office neuerthelesse because Caesar and his friends do shew me euery day better countenance I more confidently promise you my paines my endeuour my loue and my labour And be assured that what authoritie or fauour soeuer I doe obtaine I 'le employ it all for your benefit as formerly I offer'd to your sonne the true image no lâ—sse of your minde then of your body a very well demean'd young man and exceeding constant in your aduersitie Looke to maintaine your selfe not onely with fortitude of minde but also with hope which you may haue aboundantly Farewell Aulus Caecina to Cicero Ep. 7. I Vnderstand that my sonne hath not let my booke be seene doubting and not without cause lest he might foolishly erre to our preiudice considering that the same which was written with a sincere meaning may bee wrested to a contrary sense And therefore if you haue not had it ascribe the blame to feare and to the qualitie of our state worthie doubtlesse of compassion This my misfortune which stâ—ll continues grew by writing and in this I know my selfe more vnfortunate then others For when a writing is vncorrected by cancelling the error there is remedie and when on is a foole fame giues him due chastisement But my error is amended by banishment the sum of which offence is that being armed I spake â—ll of my aduersary According to my opinion there is none of vs which prayed not for victorie and which desired not also when he sacrificed vpon any other cause that Caesar might be suddenly discomforted If himselfe thinke noâ— so he is truely happie if he know and conceiue as much why is he angry with me for hauing written somewhat that he would not haue to be written he hauing pardoned others
friend Vestorius writes vnto me that you giue mee infinite thankes I take it exceeding well that you diuulge my benefit and thaâ— among the rest our Syro knowes it For those things which I doe I would haue them pleasing to all wise men I desire to see you out of hand Farewell Cicero to Ampius Balbus Epist. 13. I reioyce with you my Balbus and vpon iust occasion neither am I so foolish to feede you with vaine hope least mocked thereby you dare hope no more after better fortune I pleaded your cause with greater freedome then my state required For being enflamed with honest charitie and moued by that loue which was euer common betwixt vs though my fauours were but weake yet I haue compassed the end of our desire Whatsoeuer concernes your returne and safetie all hath beene promised confirmed ratified and established I haue seene the effect I haue procured it I haue personallie interposed my selfe therein For all Caesarsâ—riends â—riends conuerse much with me and so well they like of my amitie that next to him they hold none more deare Wherein I haue beene carefull according to the qualitie of the times preâ—ent Paâ—sa Hirtius Balbus Oppius Matius and Posthumius wish mee all good And if I had made this triall for my selfe I should haue beene well â—ontented that I had effected so much â—n these times Which came to passe â—ecauâ—e I proceeded not with respect as it seemes these present times require And retaining old friendship with them I haue preuailed for your good But your good friend Pansa desirous to doe me all kindenesse being of no lesse authoritie then fauour about Caesar was he that fauoured me most aboue others Tillius Cimber also bare himselfe as well as I could haue wish'd But that which most imports is That Caesar willingly giues eare to them that petition him not through ambition but for some iust and due respect And because Cimbers suites were of this nature they haue sped better for you then they would haue done for any bodie else We haue not yet obtained the Patent because some men are so malicious vnto vs as they would swelâ— with despight that you had obtaineâ— leaue to returne whom they tearmâ— the Trumpet of the ciuill warre minding thereby to make shew that theâ— tooke no pleasure that a warre ensueâ— Wherefore I thought good to proceâ—â— secretly and to keepe the matter buâ—â—ed But by that time you shall reâ—â— these I make no doubt but the 〈◊〉 will be dispatched And Pansâ— whâ— is not a man of vaine words hath promis'd me giuing me his faith that with in few daies he will giue me the Pateâ— Nâ—â—erâ—â—elesse I thought good to wriâ—â— thus muâ—h to you that you might haâ—â— some cause to cheere vp your selfe the words of Aâ—pulâ—ia your wife and the tears of Ampia your daughter making me thinke that you are not of so good comfort as your letters demonstrate And they beleeue that themselues not being with you you will be much more assailed with pensâ—ue cogitations And therefore to rid you of all griefe that might ceaze on your minde I iudge no remedie could be better then to giue you full notice of your deliuerie which is most certaine You know that before when I wrote vnto you I onely comforted you as an inuincible and wise man but I gaue you no certaine hope of returning into your countrie till the heate of this warre were quenched Remember your letters wherein you shewed a great minde fiâ—me and constant to endure all accidents Which seem'd no wonder to me when I call'd to minde that from a youth you did negotiate in the Common-wealth and it fell out that you had all your Mâ—gistracies in the greatest dangers of the sameâ— and you entred into this warre not onely with an intention to be happie if you prou'd victor but to bee wise though you were vanquish't Besides spending all your studies in celebrating the worthie acts of valiant men you must consider that you ought to do nothing in which you should shew your selfe vnlike to them But these instructions were rather to bee vsed if you were in those miseries from which you are now free'd But now resolue onely to tolerate with vs these inconueniences which at this instant oppresse vs to which if I found any medicine I would also giue it vnto you But thereâ— no other refuge then learning and studies wherein we haue alwaies exercis'd our selues the which in prosperous Fortunes yeelded vs onely contentment but now with contentment they giue vs life also But to returne to the beginning be assur'd that your restitution is obtained Farewell Cicero to Quintus Ligarius Epist. 14. THough in these your molestations it was my part to write vnto you sometimes to comfort you and to giue you assistance neuerthelesse I did it not hitherto supposing that I could not either with words mitigate or in any other maner extenuate your griefe But seeing I conceiue great hope that within a short time you may compasse your returne into your country I could not but signifie vnto you my opinion and desire First therefore I will write that which I discerne and see clearely that Caesar will not be so bitter to you as he hath beene hitherto because not onely the matter it selfe the times and the opinions of men but as I perceiue his owne nature also doth euery day more and more mollifie him This hope I conceiue for all men but for your person I may haue it farre greater being secured thereof by his nearest fauorites to whom since newes first came out of Africa I haue not ceased to sue together with your brothers who are so carefull to procure your returne as I constantly beleeue that Caesar seeing their valour and singular affection towards you will graunt what they would and if the matter suffer some longer delay then we could wish it is because we cannot haue audience from him being exceedingly busied in that hee must giue answere to so many demaunds And moreouer being prouoked against them that haue renued the warre in Africa it seemes he hath a purpose to punish them longest from whom he hath recâ—iued longest trouble And yet against these men also he growes euery day more pacified Whereupon I promise you and keepe in minde what I say that you shall not continue in these perplexities any long time Thus much touching my opinion My loue I had rather should be manifest vnto you by effects then by words And were I able to doe as much as by right I should in that common-wealth of whom I haue so well deseruâ—d as you suppose you should not remaine in so miserable an estaâ—e But the same occasions haue depriued me both of power fauour which were vnto you the cause of youâ— afflictions Neuerthelesse looke what the shaddow of my former dignities can compasse what I am able to perâ—orme with that little authoritie that remaines vnto me with my studie with my counâ—ell with my endeuour with
Maâ—ilius but not with Corneliuâ—â— because confessing that you were instructed by him you cannot commit an errour without some imputation to himselfe I pray make vse of this opportunitie and occasion for you will neuer finde a better Concerning what you write vnto mee about that Doctor Pretianus I cease not to remember you to him And hee in like manner writes to mee that you haue occasion to bee beholding to him I would faine know wherein and I look that you should write often to mee out of Britannia Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 9. THese many daies I know not what you doe for you write nothing to me nor for these two moneths haue I written to you Seeing you were not with my brother Quintus I knew not whether nor by whom to write I desire to know where you are and where you meane to winter I could bee glad it were with Caesar but I durst not write to him thereof knowing how discontented hee is now but I haue written of it to Balbus See you bee not forgetâ—ull of your selfe and returne a little the later to returne the richer you need not make haste to come hither especially Vacerra being dead But you want no counsell I would faine know what resolution you haue vndertaken Cneius Octauius or whether it be Cnâ—iuâ— Cornelius your familiar friend borne of a noble family of which no man hath notice knowing that I am your friend inuites mee often to supper with him But hitherto hee could neuer bring mee thither and yet I accept of his good will Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 10. I Haue read your letters by which I vnderstood how our Caesar is of opinion thâ—t in the knowledge of the Lawes you are very profound You haue cause to reioyce that you are gotten into a Country whâ—re it is thought you know somewhat And if you had also gone into Britannia vndoubtedly in that so great an Island you would not haue met with your equall But neuerthâ—lesse I may well laugh seeing you inuite me to it I beare you a kinde of enuie that you were called by him to whose friendshipâ— not through any pride in himselfe but by reason of his many negotiations others cannot attaine But in these letters you write nothing to me of your affaires which certainely touch me as neerely as mine owne I am affâ—aid lest this winter you be frozen and therefore I wish you to keepe alwayes a good fire Mucius and Manilius concur with me in this opinion as they that know that you are not very well furnished with clothes though I heare that you in those parts meet with them that set you on heat Through which aduertisement I feared much your occasions But you are much more circumspect in the Art of war then in pleading For though you can swim excellent well yet you were not willing to swim in the Ocean nor to see the Charretiers of Britannia although when you were at Rome you neuer fail'd to goe see them run and manage horses How effectually I haue written to Caesar in your behalfe your selfe knowes how often I know It is true that for this many daies I discharg'd not this office onely because I would not seeme to distrust in his infinite courtesie aâ—d of the singular affection that he beares me notwithstanding in these last that I wrot I thought to renue your recommendation to him And I would bee glad to know what I haue wrought and withall of your estate and all your designes And therefore I desire to know what you doe what you expect and how long you thinke to liue from vs and bee assured that I cannot endure your absencâ— if I perceiue not that it is â—oâ— your good For otherwiâ—e we are both the foolishest men in the world I because I seeke not to draw you to Româ— you because you come not away flying One meeting that we haue together whether it bee about graue or iesting matters is certainly morâ— worth then not onely our enemies but the very Edâ—i our brethren And therefore let me know all as soone as you can For by comfortâ— counsell or effeâ—t I 'le fâ—rther you Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Ep. 11. IF you were not aâ—readie departed from Rome you would now certainly haue a desire to leaue it For in so many Interrâ—gnum's vvho hath need of a Lawyer I would aduise all Doctors to demand two Aduocateships of euery Interrex Doe you not thinke that I am a great proficient in your Law termes But tell me vvhat doe you how goe matters for I see that you beginne to iest These signes are better then the Statues of my Tusculanum the vvhich vve also cal signes But I desire to know vvhat this imports You write that Caesar takes your Councell I would be gladder that he tooke counsell of himselfe to doe you some good And if he doe it or that you hope he will doe it beare with this warre and leaue it not For I with the hope of your benefit vvill moderate my desire of seeing you But if you see no way to enrich your selfe there returne to Rome For here either you shall at one time or other get somewhat or if not one discourse betwixt vs will questionlesse bee worth more then all the Samarobriâ—ae that are in the worlâ— Besides if you returne presently you shall minister no great matter of rumour or talke but if you continue long abroad without anie profit I am much affraid not onely of Lâ—bâ—rius but of Valerius also our companion For in a Comedie the person of a Doctor of Britannia may fitly bee represented Doe you laugh I laugh not but of a most important matter as my vse is I write iestingly vnto you But now to lay aside all iests I most louingly entreat you if by the meanes of my letters you be honored as you deserue that you will curbe the desire of being with vs and seeke to â—ugment your reputation and benefit But if matters goe ill forward returne hither But be câ—rtaine that with your own woâ—th and with those offices I performe in recommending you most effectuallie you shall obtaine the end of all your desires Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Ep. 12. I Could not imagine the cause why you gaue ouer writing to me But my friend Panfa tells me that you are become an Epicurean Oh! what 〈◊〉 honorable warre what would you haue done if I had sent you to Tarentum and noâ— to Samarobrina I neuer liked you since you commended the liâ—e whereunto Titius also my familiar acquaintance meant to applie himselfe But how will you defend ciuill equitie doing euery thing for your owne iâ—tâ—rest and nothing for your cittizens vvhat vvill that part of the law benefit you vvhich commands that amoâ—gst good men promise be kept how can he be a good man that does nothing for any man but himselfe how will you shew that that which is common ought to be deuided if they which onely respect their owne delight will haue
nothing common How would you haue men sweare by Ioueâ— if you thinke that Ioue cannot be angrie with any bodie And how shall the people of the Vlubrans doe if you be of opinion that a man must take no care of publicke things I am therefore verie sorrie if it be true that you are entred into the schoole Epicurâ—s but if you counterfeit to humor Panâ—a for your profit I excuse you so you will sometimes vvrite what you doe and what you would haue me doe or procure for you Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Ep. 13. HOw come you to conceiue that I should be so vnreasonable as to be angrie with you because you seemed so instable and desirous to returne to Rome and that for this cause I forbare long time to write vnto you It 's true that the gâ—iefe and discontentment of your minde which I percâ—iued in your first letters troubled mee verie much But I omitted to write vnto you for no other cause but because I knew not where you were and yet you complaine and accept not of my excuse Alas I pray tell me my Tribatius is it money that makes you so presumptuous or is it because Caesar so great a Captaine employes you I would I might die if I doe not thinke such is your vaine-glorie that you had rather be employed by Caesar then to bee gilded ouer with gold But be it the one and the other who will support your pride besides my selfe who am a man apt to endure euery thing But to reâ—urne to my purpose I am very glad that you remaine there so willingly and as your former discontentment was grieuous to me so now I am delighted to see you conâ—ented Onelie I am in doubt that your Art will helpe you but little For I vndâ—rstood that there Nâ— man decides his cause by law But being crost begins to drawe And you are not a man to maintaine quarrells nay I know you to bee so modest that your aduersariâ—s cannot put in this plea against you that you with armed power were the first to assaile them But â—hat I may giue you soâ—e item also of those that are not in your bookes I aduise you to take heed of the Treuiri I heare that they are â—ruell I had rather they were rich But anoâ—her time peraduenture I shall haue more leisure to iest I pray write vnto mee diligently how al matters are carried there the iiij of March Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 14. CHrysipâ—us Vettius free-man to Cyrus the Architect made me thinke that you had not yet forgotten me For hee saluted me in your name you are growne very coy that you vouchsafe noâ— to write to me who am so neere a friâ—nd vntâ— you And if you can write no more there will bee found but few hâ—ereaâ—ter whom you are like to ouerthrow in their suites But if you haue forgotten me I will endeauour to come vnto you before I be cleane razed out of your memorie If also the â—eare of the sommer debilitate you deâ—ise some excuse as you did about Britannia The foresaid Chrysippus told me to my singular contentment that you are one of Caesars intimates but certainely it would like me better and more reason there is that I should haue daily iâ—formation of your proceedings by your owne letters To which desire questionlesse you had neuer giuen cause if with as great care you had learn'd the lawes of amitie as you did those that belong to pleadâ—ng But all this I speake by way of â—est as â—ou are wont to doe and I too sometimes I beare you vnfeined affection and I desire yea verily I beleeue that you do the same Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Ep. 15. HOw hard a matter 't is to content them that loue this may teach you First you made me dispaire in that you would not remaine where you are And now I no lesse despaiâ—e iâ— that you write that you continue there willingly Then I was vextâ— becaâ—sâ— you were not contented to be recommended by my letters now I am diâ—pleas'd because you liue contented being separated from me But yet I had rather suffer the want of my pâ—esent desire then not to behold you in that state I hope to see you in I cannot vtter how glad I am that you are entred into amitie with Caius Matius a courteous and learned man Vse all meanes poâ—sible to endeare him to you Vndoubtedly in this Prouince you cannot make a greater purchasâ— See you looke vnto your health Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Ep. 16. IN the Tragedie entituled the Troiane Horse it 's written as you know towards the end The Troianes wit beâ—gins too late But you little one delayed not long to get wit In the beginning you wrote letters â—o mee full of complaints rather foolish then otherwise Afterwards you were not very â—ond to see Britannia for which I can not blame you and now I see you whollie addicted to the winter residences and you thinke not to stir a foote You must be wise euery way for â—his is the course to improue you If I did vse to sup abroad I would haue satisfied Cneius Octauius in his desire But I could not forbeare hee inuiting me so often to aske him who he was Not to iest he is an honest man I would you had taken him along with you Let me vnderstand by all meanes what you doe and whether you meane to come into Italie this winter Balbus writes to me of a certaintie that you 'le become a rich man I will not now examine whether â—ee spake after the Romane phrase that you were to hâ—ue money enough or else according to the Stoickes who affirme that all they are â—ich which enioy heauen and earth As many as come from thence aueire that you are so haughtie as you scâ—rne to answer to a demand made Neuerthelesse you haue reason to reioyce in that it is generally knowne that at Samarobrina there is not a learneder man in the laws then your selfe Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 17. I Haue giuen my brother thankes as you wrote I should and now finally I may commend you seeing at last your determinations are firme and stable In the first moneths you â—rouck't me much to anger and sometimes I'lâ— tell it yee with your patience you appeared very mutable in desiring â—o returne to Rome sometimes â— counterfeit otherwhiles timerous in thoâ—e commands that are imposed vpon souldiers and often which was not wont to be your fashion hâ—lfe preâ—umptuous and impudent For you would presentlie râ—turne full of monie as if you had gone to Caesar with a bill of exchange and not with a letter of recommendation And you remembred not how they that went to Alexandria with letters of exchange to recouer their debts haue not yet receiued â—o much as one Harrington If I had aimed at mine owne profit I would vndoubtedly haue desired to keepe you about me for your conuersation yeelded me no small contentment and your counsell and
the people gaue to vnderstand that he would in no wise support that a decree should passe in the matter of supplications not to loose that which through Pâ—ullus furie hee had purchased to the end it might neuer be said that hee had betrayed the people Whereupon wee accorded with the Consuls that this yeare they should propound no other supplicaâ—ions to the Senate but yours In truth you must thanke both the Consulls but especially Paullus For Marcellus answered Curio that he had no hope in these supplications Paullus said that for this yeare he would not procure them for any other It was told vs that Hirrus would oppose vsâ— I sounded him he was not onely not contrarie vnto vs but comming to the matter of the enemies when he might easilie haue hindered the cause if he had but demanded the number of the slâ—ine hee remained silâ—nt onely he said hee was contâ—nt to be referred to what Cato had said who had commended you but yet not counselled that your supplications should be granted The like did Faâ—â—nius So that hauing respect to the nature and fashion of euery one you should thank the three forementioned and Curio them because though they spake not in your fauour yet they shewed a good minde and being able to offend you entred into no opposition Curio because he interrupted the course of his owne actions for your sake Furnius and Lentulus as reason required no otherwise then as interessed in their owne honour ioyned heads with vs. I may also praise my selfe for the indeauor and friendly solicitation of Balbus Cornelius who spake effectually to Curio afâ—irming that if he did otherwise he should wrong Caesar and giue him occasion to esteeme him for a counterfeit friend Domitius and Scipio who grudged that you should haue this honour were notwithstanding assistant Doe you know the cause because they thought the matter would neuer haue past to whom Curiâ— perceiuing that in vrging him to oppose they solicited the effect answered like an honest man that he was not willing to contrarie it because hee sawsome who procured the supplications would not haue them take effect Aâ— for the state of the Common-wealth they are yet indiscussing the businesse about the Prouinces neither do thâ—y treate of any thing else It seemes that Pompeiâ—s and the Senate are agreed together that Caesar shall leaue the Galliae before the xiij of Nouember Curio is resolued to expose himselfe to any disaster rather then suffer this and hath giuen ouer all his other enterprises But our friends whose humor you well know dare not come to the triall The somme of all is this Pompeius to shew that hee labours not against Caesar but constitutes that which he thinkes to be but reason saith that Curio seekes to raise discords But he will permit by no meanes and feareth much that Caesar will be elected Consull before he haue left the Army and the Prouince Curio treates him very crossely and speakes hardly of his second Consulship I conclude that if the Senate extend the vttermost of their authoritie to suppresâ—e Curio Caesâ—r will be deâ—ended but if they feare his resistance as they make shew Caesar shall râ—maine in his prouince as long as he will What each mans opinion in the Senate was you shall finde it â—n the booke of such matters as passed in Rome Wherin you may only read that that you shall thinke worthie to be vnderstood and passe ouer many othâ—r toyes inserted therein to no purpose especially of sports obsequies and other such like things For I had ratheâ— erre in â—xposing to your vnderstanding that which â—ou desire not to know then in omitting any thing which was requisite to be vnderstood I am glad you were mindefull of my debt with Sitius but seeing you perceiue them â—laâ—ke enough in obseruing their promise I pray you to be carefull of it as mine Attourney Farewell Marcus Caelius to Cicero Epist. 12. I Am ashamed to confesse vnto you the truth and to complaine of Appâ—us as ingratefull towardâ— meâ—â— as a man may be For aâ—ter the receiuing of many benefits from me not being able to frame his auaritious nature to requiâ—e me he begins to beare me hatred and hath stirred vp warre against me secretly And yet not so secretly but that besides the being of it made knowne vnto me by many I my selfe perceiued that hee bare a very bad minde towards mâ— But after I found out how he had wrought the Collâ—dge of Augures spoken openly to somâ— that he would order the matter with Domitius who so farre as I perceiue is my great enemie that Pompeius should accuse me I could not knowing him to be indebted to me for his life frame my minde to entreate him that hee would not doe me such an iniurie But what did I I spake presently with some Friends who were witnesses of my deserts towards him And when I saw my selfe of so little esteeme with him that he would not vouchsafe to come vnto me and excuse himselfe I rather made choyce to be beholding to Lucius Piso his Colleague who as well â—or other respects as for your sake wish't me ill then to come before that Ape Which when he knew being pufâ— vp with choler said that I sought to break with him as if I took occasion â—oâ— not being payed to persecute him Afterwards he forbare not to cal vnto him in publike Seruiâ—s the accuser and to plot with Domitius and betwixt them three finding no iust cause to accuse me they deuisâ—d a way but did not perceiue that they could not hurt me and like insolent men tooke order to call me to iudgement the last day of my Circensian sports by the law Scantincaâ— Seruius had scarcely made an end of speaking when also by the same law I callâ—d Appius the Câ—nâ—or in iudgement I neuer saw a matter betterfall out For the people and â—uery inferior man seemed to take so great satisfaction therin that the aspersion of this made Appius more to grieue then the accusation After this I demanded a Chappell which hee had in his houseâ— The long delaie of this seruant hath much wronged me For after I deliuered him this he stayed for the letters of more then â—ortie I know not what to write but you know that Domitius feares the day of hearing I â—xpect you with great desire and wish to see you presently I pray you so grieue at my iniuries as you imagine I was wont both to be sorrie for yours and to reuenge them Farewell Marcus Coelius to Cicero Epist. 13. I Am glad you haue married yâ—ur daughter to Dolabilla who in the conceit I haue of him is certainely a man of great goodnesse For what beloâ—gs to his other defects by which hitherto hee hath got himselfe but little profit they are now worne out with his yeeres And if any yet remaine I assure my selfe your conuersation your authority and your daughters modâ—sty will correct them For hee is not obdurate
interest I haue in you to set you downe some instruction Beleeue therefore my deere Plancus that all the degrees of honour you haue hitherto obtained and you haue enioyed the greatest will be no true honours though they carrie the title If you ioyne not your selfe with the libertie of the people of Rome and the authoritie of the Senate Many in the commotions of our Common-wealth were Consuls but he that wrought nothing worthy of his Consulship was neuer held for Consull Such an one therefore it is fitting that you should be First that you fall off from the league of wicked câ—tizens much vnlike your selfe Then that you resolue to be head principall and conductor of the Senate and all good men and lastly that then you iudge it to be a peace not when armes are laide downe but when all feare of armes and â—eruitude is remoued If you performe and approue of these things you shall then not onely bee Consull and Consular but also a great Conâ—sull and a great Consular But if otherwise these so much reputed titles of honor will not onely not honour you but call vpon you great dishonor The loue I professe vnto you hath made me peraduenture to write too freely but you shall vnderstand that I haue spoken the truth if you make thereof but that triall which is requisite Farewell Plancus Imperator elected Consul to Cicero Epist. 7. I Would write more at large vnto you of my counsells and I would giue you a particular accompt of all things that you might the better conceiue that I both according to your instructions and mine owne promiâ—e haue done what I am able for the benefit of the Common-wealâ—h for I euer desired aâ—well your good opinion as your loue and my inâ—eâ—tion was not to be defended by you in erroâ—rs but for my deserts to be commended but I intend to be briefe for two causes one is because in my publike letters I haue particularlie set downe all things another by reason that to Marcus Varisidius a Romane knight and my friend I haue giuen order that he should come of purpose to finde you out and that he should informe you of whatsoeuer had occurred Certainely I felt extreame griefe seeing others enioyed the possession of praise But I would attempt no enterprise determining to prepare my selfe thereunto after such a manner that I might atchieue something which might be worthie of my Consulship and your expectation And if Fortâ—ne deceiue me not I hope my disseigne will fall out as I would haue it that euery one may both now perceiue and hereafter remember that I haue giuen great ayde and assistance to the Commonwealth I beseech you be fauourable to my dignitie and endeauour that those rewards may bee yeelded me which you propounded vnto me in recompence of my commendable labours which doing you shall more incite me heereby to the defence of my countrie I know that your power herein is equall to your desire Be carâ—full of your health and loue me as I loue you Lucius Plancus Imperator elected Consull to the Consulls Praetors Tribunes of the people Senate people and Communaltie of Rome Epist. 8. IF some peraduenture thinke that I haue held too long in suspence the expectations of men and the hope which the Common-wealth had of me I suppose it first requisite for mee to excuse me to these men before I promise that from this time forward I will discharge my duâ—ie For I will not appeare to haue corrected an error committed but I would it should bee knowne that hauing alwaies borne a reall minde now when I found a conuenient time I haue discouer'd it I vnderstood my selfe thus farre that in so great troubles and in such a tumultuous estaâ—e of the Cittie it was very profitable to giue a testimonie of an affectionate Cittizen and I saw diuers had receiued great honours vpon the like occasion but Fortune hauing brought me to that passe that if I manifested my selfe for you too soone I should frustrate my designes and lose the hope I had to assist the Common-wealth and in not laying my selfe open I might haue greater oportunities to doe you seruice I made choice to haue a regard to common safetie more then to mine owne estimation And what man in the world in the fortune I haue had after I had liued as euerie one knowes I did liue being in the hopes that I am in could euer support anie base action or desire anie which might be dangerous But time great labour and mightie expence was requisite to perâ—orme that in effects which I to the Common-wealth and all good men had promised and to repaire to the ayde of my Couâ—trie with such forces as were answerable to my intention It was behouâ—full for me to confiâ—me the Armie tempted oftentimes with great rewards and to induce it rather to hope for moderate maâ—â—â—rs from the Common-wealth then infinite bounties â—rom one alone It was conuenient to confirme diuers Cities the which our enemiesâ— the yeere paâ—t by large donatiues had oblieged to thâ—mselues whom it was expedient to perswade that they should not esteem gifts which proceeded from men of that condition and that it were moâ—e coâ—mendable for them to receiue the same benefits from persons that bare a better minde towards the Common-wealth Besides thiâ— It was behouefull by policie to win the hearts of others which had the gouernment of neighbour Prouinces and of the Armies to the end they might esteeme it betâ—â—r to defend generall libertie in the companie of many then with a few to obtaine a victory lamentable to the whole world And besides the things forementioned it was neceâ—sarie that I should fortifie my selfe by ingrossing the Armie and to multiplie succors to the end that when afterwards I openly reuealed my minde then though some tooke it ill there might be no danger to make knowne what part I would defend Therefore I will neuer denie that I fained diuers things againâ—t my will and dissembled many with my griefe to attaine my end of such designes For how dangerous it was for a good Cittizen before due time to manifest himselfe by my Colleagues case I had conceiued And for this respect to Caiâ—s Furnius my Legate a valiant resolute man I gaue more commissioÌ„s by word of mouth then in writing to the end they might more secretly be to you coÌ„ueied my self râ—maine more secured I also informed him of the prouisions which to secure the common safetie and to arme vs is behoouefull From whence it may be collected that long since the defence of the coÌ„mon wealth had in my heart made deepe impression Now through the Gods benignitie I being well furnished of all things I desire that men would not onely hope well of me but settle on me a secure and infallible iudgement I finde my selfe to haue fiue Legions vnder their Standards for their fidelitie and valour much affected to the Common-wealth and through the bountie I haue vsed
giuing of your voyce some which I demonstrate that you haue out of zealous loue and tendernesse performed as in that about the charge of publicke sports But you who are most learned know well that if Caesar were a King as I suppose he was you may for the office you vndergoe be both praysed and blamed praised because your faith and humanitie is to be commended for louing your friend after death which reason I am wont to vse blamed because our Countries libertie should be preferred before the life of a friend vpon which your aduersaries ground themselues I much desire that the controuersies I haue had about these clamors might be related to you But amongst others there are two speciall particularities in your commendation which no man infeâ—s more willingly or oftner then my selfe which is that you perswaded more then any other that the ciuill warre might be withstood and the victorie moderated Wherein I neuer found any mâ—n that was not of my opinion Wherefore I thanke our Trebaâ—ius who was the cause that I wrote vnto you these letters To which if you giue no credite you must needs iudge me very discourteous and inhumaine which would woÌ„drously displease me and differ much from your owne disposition Farewell Caius Matius to Cicero Epist. 28. I Tooke great contentment in your letters because I vnderstood that you retaine that opinion of me which I hoped and wished you should haue Whereof though I no waies doubted yet in that I made greaâ— reckoning that it might be entirely preserued it did a little touch me 'T is true that I was priuie to my selfe that I had committed nothing that could offend the minde of any honest man And therefore I did the lesse beleeue that you being adorned with infinite and excellent sciences would be rashly perswaded to any thing especiâ—lly knowing well that I euer did and doe beare you singular affection Which hauing succeeded as I wisht I will â—nswer to the false oppositions against which you haue oftentimes defended me performing an office answerable to your most ingenuous condition and worthy of our amitie For I know what matters they obiected against me since the dâ—ath of Caesar. They accuse me because I lament the death of a great friend and that I am afflicted because a man is slaine whom I loued affâ—rming that my countrie should be 〈◊〉 before any friâ—ndship as if they had alreadie made triall that such a death was beneficiall to the Commonwealth But I will not argue subtiâ—lie I confesse thaâ— for mine owne part I cannot perceiue it and that I am not yet arriued to this height of wisedome Neither did I follow Caesar in ciuill discord but in that he was my friend though the course displeased me yet would I not abandon him Neither did I euer approue the ciuill warre much lesse the occasion thereof hauing in the very infancie oâ— it applied all my endeuour to extinguish it And therefore in his victorie though he was that great friend vnto me that he was I was neithâ—r delighted with honour or monie Of which rewards others were insatiable whose power was lesse with him then mine was And on the other side my goods by Caesars law were damagâ—d and by my fauour most of them that reioyce at Caesars death obtain'd that they might liue in their countrie That the cittizens who were vanquished might be pardoned I laboured no lesse thâ—n for mine owne safetie I therefore who laboured for eueâ—y mans preâ—eruation should I not greeue for his death from whom I purchas'd it especially being hated for their occasion who murdred him You shall therefore vndergoe the penaltie say they because you dare question that that we haue acted Oh pride neuer heard of that some may vaunt in their impietie and others cannot so much as mourne without their ouerthrow And yet in all ages seruants haue beene allowed to feare to reioyce and to grieue rather when they sawe good then any other The which libertie they now which make profession to haue giuen it vs for so they often report seeke violently to depriue me oâ— by threatnings But they labour in vaine There shall be no danger so terrible that shall make me halt in my dutie or humanitie For I haue alwaies held that an honorable death should neuer be auoided but rather oftentimes desired But why should they be angrie with me for desiring them to repent them of what they had committed I confesse I would haue euery man to be greeued for the death of Caesar. Oh But I am enioyned by the office of a good Cittizen to desire the safetie of the Commonwealth That this desire is in me if it be not knowne without my relating it both by those things which hâ—eretofore I haue effected and by those which heereafter I hope to performe I am content that in defendiug mine owne causes words may not auaile me Therfore I earnestly entreat you that you will conceiue better of my reasons â—hen I am able to vtter them and that you will thinke if you be of opinion that it is a good thing to doe well that I can hold no mâ—nner of commerce with bad men Were it peraduenture fit â—or me now that I am laden with yeares to goe out of that path wherein I haue led my youth which carryeth with it some excuse for error shall I againe nâ—w mould my selfe This error I will not commit nor will I doe any thing that may displease Except I doe lament the vnhappie fortune of my dearest friend and so great a personage And if I were of an other minde I would neuer denie it least that besides my being reâ—puted wicked in offending I might be thought timerous and a false dissembler Tâ—ue it is that I had the chaâ—ge of the publike shewes which Caesar the little youth made in honor of Caesars victorie But this had reâ—pect to a particular office not to the state of the Common-wealth In which charge notwâ—thstanding both for the memoriall I reserue of so great a â—riend and for the desire I haue to honour him thus dead as he is I could not be deficient And the youâ—h of such great hopes and so worthie of Caesar requesting me therâ—unto I was constrained to accept of it I also went many times to the house of Antonius the Conâ—ullâ— to salute him to whom you shall finde that euen they which esteâ—me me little affected â—owards my countrey resorted daily only to craue of him or carry awâ—y something But what an arrogancie is this That Caesar did neuer forbid me to conuerse with whom I thought good and euen with persons whom he loued not and these men that haue bereâ—uâ—d mee of my friend by carping or reprehending me doe their worst to enforce me nor to loue them that I like well of But I know I haue hitherto liued so modestly that heereafter euill tongues shall be little able to defame me and that also they who loue me not because I still perseuer in louing
to Quintus Legat Vice-Praetâ—r Epist. 4. THe Vâ—laterrani are my very kinde friends For I hauing conferred vpon them a benefit oâ— note they haue returned me an ample gratuitie considering that they neuer left mee either in prosperitie or in miserie With whom though I had nothing to doe yet because I loue you entirely and that I know you haue much honour'd me I would put you in minde and â—xhort you to retaine them so in your recommendation that their possâ—ssions may not be confiscated especiallie hauing more reason to bee heard then oâ—hers First because they shunned the crueltie of Sylla's times through the benignitie of â—he gods immortall And then because with the great fauour of the people of Râ—me in my Consulship they they were by me defended For the Tribunes of the people hauing enacted a most wicked law â—ouâ—hing their landes I easilie perswaded the Senate and people of Râ—me â—hat they would haue some respect to those Cittizens whom Fortune as it were through compassion had preserued And this my opinion was approued and confirmed by Caius Câ—sar in his first Consulship when he renewed the law about possessions Whereupon the Countie of Volaterra and the towne was by him perpetuallie free'd from all incumbrance So as I may be secure that he who was pleas'd to purchase new friends would continue his old benefits And therefore it befits your prudence either to follow his authoritie whose part and gouernment you followed with great reputation or at least to reseruâ— vnto him the entire businesse But certainely you shall doe well to make a firme resolution to oblige perpetually vnto your selfe so worthy so mightie and so noble a Citie by so great a benefit But what I haue formerly written was to exhort and aduise you what followes to entreat you To conceiue that I do not only councell you for your owne benefit but that I haue also occasion to entreat and seeke vnto you I therefore giue you to vnderstand that you shall doe me a singular pleasure if you procure that the Volaterrani may not in any respect be ouerborne or damniâ—ied I commend their whole estates Fortunes and affâ—ires to your fidelitie equitie and bountie as hauing both by the immortall gods and by renowned-cittizens of our Common-wealth with the speciall fauour of the Senate and the Romane people beene preseruâ—d And if I as I was wont had now the meanes to defend the Volaterrani in that manner as I vsed to assist my friends I would omit no office vneffected â—or their benefit And brieâ—ly I would refuse no contâ—station in their behalfe and fauour But seeing I am confident I shall now preuaile no lesse with you then I haue alwaies done with euery man by that inward amitie we hold together and by that loue we mutually beaâ—e one another I entreate you in fauour that you will vouchsafe to vse towards the Volaterrani that humanitie and courtesie as they may iudge this dispatch to haue beene committed as it were by diuine prouidence to a person whom I their perpâ—tuall defender was able more to dispose of then of any other Farewell Cicero to Quintus Valerius Orca sonne to Quintus Legatâ— Vice-Praetor Epist. 5. I Am not sorie that the neere friendship I entertaine with you is knowne to many nor yet doe I forbid you as you may suppose that in this office which by Caesar was impos'd vpon you and is waightie and difficult â—ou should not carrie your selfe as is requir'd both for your fidelitie and diligence according to his pleasure For though diuers seeke vnto me for sundrie fauours because they assure themselues of your affection towards mee yet will I not interrupt thâ— course of your Office With Caius Curâ—ius from my younger yeares I haue had speciall familiaritie He complâ—iâ—ed vnto mee of the great dammage he most vniustly sufferâ—d in the time of Sylla And thinking that they who runne into these misâ—ortunes might be permitted by â—uery ones consâ—nt hauiâ—g lost all their substance aâ— lâ—aâ—t to reâ—urne into their countrie I helpt hâ—m to obtâ—ine this fauour He hath in the territories of Volatâ—rra a possession whither hee had conueyed all the reliques of his Fortunes redeem'd as it were from ship-wracke Now at this time Caesar hath created him Senator which dignitie if he loose â—his possession he can hardly support It would bee strange that being exalted to an higher degree of honor he shâ—uld fall into baser Fortunes And there is no reason that the same poâ—â—ession which by Caesars commisâ—ion is to be diuided should be taken from him who by Caesars benefit is made a Senator But I will not make the equitie of his cause to bee my plea. To the end it may not appeare that you haue rather contented mee in obseruing of iustice then doing mee a kindenes Wherefore â— very earnestly entreate you to suppose that the goods of Câ—ius Curtius are mine owne and what you would doe for my sake if you performe it for Caius Curâ—ius esteeme it as done vnto my selfe But if he obtaines any thing by my means make your account that you are the man by whom I haue obtained it Anâ— heeâ—ein I must seriously solicit your perfoâ—mance Farewell Cicero to Quintus Vâ—lâ—rius Orca sonne to Quinâ—us vicâ—-Conâ—ull Epist. 6. I hope you are in good health as I am I suppose you remember how in the presence of Cuspius I talked with you when I accompanied you in your departure towards your Prouince And afterwards about the same matter I reâ—soned with you more at large requesting that whatsoâ—uer friends of hâ—s I commend vnto you you would esteeme them in the number of mine owne â—he which out of your infiâ—ite good will and loue you promis'd mee Cuspius a very officious man to all his friends with wonderfull feruencie fauours and loues certaine men of this Prouince because he hath beene twice in Africa with charge to dispatch important businesses of the Tax-masters And I am wont to assist as much as my power and fauour will permit me his courtesie towards them Wherefore I haue thought good to manifest vnto you in this Epistle the cause why I recommend vnto you all the Cuspians In other letters I will onely put that marke or token that wee haue agree'd vpon and withall I will signifie vnto you that hee is one of the friends of Cuspius But conceiue that this commendation of mine by reason whereof I wrote you this present letter is so full of affection that no man can deuise to vse more feâ—uencie therein For Cuspius in deepe passion hath constrayned me most carefully to recommend vnto you Lucius Iulius Which office though I should performe after the same manner as I was wont when any thing was effectually required at my hands yet I thinke 't were impossible to bee answerable to the desire oâ— Cuspius Hee would haue mee take a new course and imagines that I can heerein vse a certaine artificiall manner I haue pâ—omised him that out of the
secretest cabinets of our Art I will extract an admirable forme of recommendation Which if I doe nor performe endeuor you that by th' effect he may he may beleeâ—e at least that I haue seru'd his turne with letters full of vnusuall Art and motiues This will be done if you shew him all mannâ—r of courtesie that either your nobilitie moues you to or by your authoritie is permitted you not only in action buâ— also in words breefly with your â—â—ry coâ—ntenance Whiâ—h things how much they preuaile in a Prouince I would you had once put in practise Neuerthelesse I hold opinion that the man I commend vnto you is very worthy of your friendship And beleeue it not onely because Cuspius affirmâ—s as much vnto me though this might suffice but in that I know hee can censure of men and hath iudgement in the election of his friends In a word I shall be enform'd of what force these letters were with you and as I hope I shall haue occasion to thanke you And in the meane while in any thing wherein I thinke you would be glad that I should vse mine endeuour I will not faile withall effectuall diligence to employ it Respect your health PVâ—lius Cornelius the bearer heeâ—â—of was commended vnto me by Pâ—blius Cuspiâ—s to whom both onâ— oâ— loue and obligation how much I desire to giue all satisfaction by what is written may be gathered My especiall request is that from this recommendation I may out of hand receiue the greatest and most frequent thankes that poâ—sible can bee giuen mee by Cuspius Cicâ—ro to Caius Cluâ—ius Epist. 7. WHen vpon your departure for Gallia moued by our interchanged affection and the great respect you beare me you came home to visit me I spake with you about the Aâ—ellani who pay tribute for that part of their Countie which lies in Gallia intimating vnto you how neerely I was touched with their interest 's And after your departure the matter being such as it mainly imported a towne of that worth and which I so much esteemed being confident in your good inclination towards me I thought my selfe obliged to write vnto you theroâ— with all possible diligence Though I am not ignorant either of the condition of the times or of your power And I vnderstand but too well that the charge yâ— was giuen you by Caius Caesar was not to iudge but to execute Wherfore I request you to do only so much as I thinke you can and will for my cause willingly And first I would haue you to conceiue it to be true that all the busines of this towne or Incorporation is that there maine interest lies in this County which paies tribute and now through the burdensome impositions it hath endur'd it is â—alne into extreame pouertie Which inconuenience though it appeareth that many other haue equally suffered neuerthelesse I assure you that this towne in particular hath suffered moâ—â— then other Which I forbeare to reâ—â—â—e vnto you least in complaining of my friends miseries I may seeme to distaste those persons whom vnwillingly I would Wherefore were I not confident in my hopes that I can manifest vnto Caesar how that towne vndeseruedly was ouercharg'd with such a burden I would neuer haue sollicited you vpon this occasion But because I am assurâ—d and perswaded that he will haue respect vnto the worth of the Towne to the equiâ—ie and also to the good affection the inhabitants thereof beare towards him I thought good to request and entreat you that you will reserue this cause to him to bee dispatched Which though I would not forbeare to entreat of you though I had not heard that you euer granted so much before yet I entertaine more liuely hopes of obtaining it seeing 't was told me how the Rhegienses had obtained from you the selfsame fauour Who though they be linked in friendship with you yet your loue towards me bids me hope that what courtesies you haue done for your owne you will also performe for mine acquaintance Especially considering that hauing many friends which would sue for the like at your hands by my meanes I request this kindenes only for these men And though I assure my selfe you vnderstand that I discharge not this office without cause and that no vaine ambition hath tickled me on with so great instance to sollicite you yet would I haue you giue credit to my sincere speeches that I am to this towne much obliged it hauing euer aswell in time of my prosperities as disasters made knowne their singular affection to me Wherefore in respect of the viscerall amitie we hold together and for that great loues sake which you haue euer borne me I do in the greatest earnest I am able entreate you that you considering that the estate of â— who le Towne is heere handled which is neere vnto me both in friendshippâ— office and affection will bee pleased to gratifie me And wee shall so value your fauour if wee obtaine from Caesar as our expected grace wee shall repute it granted by your benefit if otherwise wee shall notwithstanding remaine in the same obligation in that you labour'd to procure it vs. And besides the singular pleasure you shall doe me thereby you shall by meanes of such an important fauour further oblige vnto yoursâ—lfe most bountiful noble and most gratefull cittizens and such as shall be worthy of your friendship of whom you may alwaies make any vse either in your owne or friends occasions Farewell Cicero to Marcus Rutilius Epist. 8. BEing a sufficient testimonie to my selfe of the respect that I owe you and hauing by experience made triall of the loue that you beare mee I haâ—e had the boldnesse to requâ—st a fauour as much importing mee as it was necessarie for me to require it of you What esteeme I make of Publius Sextius there 's no man knowes better â—hen my selfe and how much I ought to esteeme him you and all men can imagine Hauing heard from others how well you stand affected to me hee requested me that I would write vnto you with all possible efficacie about the busines of Caâ—us Albinus the Senator by whose daughter the same Publiuâ— Sextius had that vertuous young man Lucius This therefore I haue written vnto you to the end you may apprehend that not only I am bound to haue a care of Publius Sextius but Sextius of Albinus Now the busines is this Caius Albinus receiu'd in payments certaine Farmes of Marcus Laberius at the prises they were valued at which Farmes Laberius bought of Caesâ—r being part of the estate of Plotius If I should say â—hat iâ— would not bee profiâ—able for the Common-wealth that they should be deuided it might seeme that I did not entreat but instruct you But it being Caesars pleasure that the sales and assignements made by Sylla should stand good to the end that his might be thought more durable if the same Farmes be diuyded which Caesar himselfe hath sold what securitie can there bee
it especiallie appertaines to my care and ofâ—ice in that I being desirous to reduce that Towne into better forme I haue beene the cause that my sonne my nephew and Marcus Caesius my great friâ—nd should be made Aediles for in our Towne this onely Magistracie is created and no more These you shall honor and especially my selfe if by your fauour and vigilancie â—he Communaltie of this Towne shall end their businesse without difficultie which I request you to effect as earnestly as I can possibly Farewell Cicero to Brutus Ep. 12. IN another Epistle I did generâ—llie commend vnto you the Commissioners of Arpinas and with the greatest care I could In this I more particularly recommend vnto you Quintus Fusidius my especiall friend not any waies to diminish the former but to adde this recommendation For he is sonne in law to my singular good friend Marcus Caeâ—ius and heretofore in Cilicia he was with me Tribune of the souldiers In which place he so bare himselfe as I thought I had rather receiued then bestow'd a benefit Besides this he is delighted with our studies which you were wont to esteeme highly Wherefore I would entreat you to enterteine him with all courâ—esie and to vse all meanes that this Embassie which being inioy'd by â—â—ine authoritie he hath with his owne inconueniencie vndertakeÌ„ may ad glory to his industrie For he desires as â—uery vertuous man naturally doth to reape great commendation as well from vs who perswaded him therunto as also â—rom our countri-men Which he shall compasse if he obtaine your fauour by my recommendation Farewell Cicero to Brutus Ep. 13. LVcius Castronius Patus the chiefest without comparison in the towne of Luca is noble wise full of courtesie a man of great bountie and graced both by vertue and also fortune if this be any thing to the present purpose And besides he is so far my most familiar friend that he more respectiuely obserues no man of our order Wherefore I commend him vnto you both as my friend and one that 's worthie of your acquaintance Whatsoeuer you doe for him will assuredly be returned by your owne content and mine acceptance Farewell Cicero to Brutus Ep. 14. LVâ—ius Titius Strabo a Romaine Knight of an honourable familie and of great and rich estate is my bosome friend and all intrinsecall rightâ— runne equally betweene vs. This man should haue certaine moneys out of your Prouince from Publius Cornelius The matter is remitted into Gallia by Volcatius a iudge of Rome And because it is more honest to be carefull of a friends moneys then of our owne I more seriously then if it were an interest of mine request you that about the procuring an end of the action you would interpose your selfe for expedition And to endeuour so farre aâ— you thinke it iust and reasonable that Strabo's Freeman who is sent for this effect may without any encumbrance finish the businesse and recouer the moneys And it shall both giue me great contenâ—ment and you your selâ—e shall acknowledge Lucius Titius to bee most worthie of your friendship And I heartily entreat you to employ that care herein which you were wont to take in euerie thing wherein you found that I delighted Farewell Cicero to Caius Caesar Imperator Ep. 15. I Solidly commend vnto you Praecilius whose Father is your friend my familiar and a man of great integritie For besidâ—s that I beare an infinite loue to this young man being ciuill and modest and because he loues me entirely I haue manifestly found his father in all my occasions to haue beene much affected to me This is he who amongst others was especially wont to laugh at my proceedings and reprehend me in that I did not ioyne with you and the rather because you inuited mee thereunto with honourable conditions But his inducementâ— drâ—e not my consent Because on the other part I heard those our great defenders of the Common-wealth cry out Be valorous that after world's may rayse Some brain to blazon thy deserts praise Thus was I puckled in a foggie mist. And yet he continued his exhortations But they though I were alreadie thoroughly hot seeking by glorie to enflame meâ— said Die not vnusefull and without renowne But die that memory thy acts may crowne But now you may perceiue they moue me but a little And therefore leauing the loftie style of Homer I betake me to the true precepts of Euripides I hate his councell that 's for others wiâ—e And in his owne occasions wants his eyes Which verses Praecilius the elder commendes exceedingly affirming that we may liue warily and yet retaine our precedencie and principalitie But to returne where we began you shall shew me a memorable fauour if out of your singular courtesie you enterteine this young man and to the good inclination which I am perswaded you haue to pleasure him and his Father make vpon this my recommendation some new addition I haue vs'd a new style of writing to giue you to vnderstand that I send no vulgar commendation Farewell Cicero to Caius Caesar Imperator Ep. 16. AMongst all the mobilitie I lou'd no young man so well as Publius Crassus and hauing conceiu'd great hope of him in his tender yeares I began to hope better seeing my iudgement of him to be verified Now you shall vnderstand that euen when he liued I much esteem'd and made great accompt of Apollonius his Free-man because he was affected to Crassus and Crassus in his vertuous studies made so good vse of him that he lou'd him dearely Then after the death of Crassus I thought him also for this cause more worthie of my loue and to be receiued into my protection in that he held himselfe bound to obserue and honour those that Crassus lou'd and loued Crassus Whereupon he came to me in Câ—licia and seru'd me in manie occurrents both faithfully and prudently And as I thinke in the warre of Alexandria hee neuer fail'd you in whatsoeuer he was able to compasse either by his fidelitie or industrie And hoping that you also had the same opinion of him he came into Spaine first questionlesse vpon his owne deliberation but next for your assistance Neither did I otherwise promise to recommend him vnto you not but that I suppos'd my commendation would be of some effect with you but in that I thought he needed not be to you commended hauing beene with you in the warre and you for the memoriall of Crassus reputing him in the number of your owne And if he would haue sought recommendation he saw that other men also would haue done him this pleasure For the iudgement I made of him I haue willingly passed my word both because he esteem'd much thereof and in that I knew my testimonie would be of some credit with you I say therefore that I haue found him a learned man and studious of all â—xcellent sciences and that euen from his tender yeares For when he was but a childe he remain'd a good while
to the Lacedaemonians Wherefore I onely request you that when you shew the Lacedaemonians those fauours which stand with your credit dignitie and equitie if you thinke good cause them to vnderstand that you are desirous to heare that the pleasures which you doe them may by me also be approued For it concernes me that they should beleeue that I haue a care of their Interests This I request you with the greatest zeale that I am able Farewell Cicero to Lucius Plancus Epist. 29. I Make no question but you conceiue how amongst all those friends your Father left you I am nearest vnto you not onely for those reasons which carrie a great apparence of alliance but also for those that consist in familiaritie and conuersation The which you know betweene your father and mee were the greatest and most delightsome in the world From these beginnings spring the loue which I beare you Which loue made our amitie greater then that wee held with your Father And so much the more because I perceiued that so soone as you attain'd to the yeares to be able to iudge in what proportion euery one deseru'd to be esteemed of you that you began to honor obserue and loue me aboue all others Besides all this we were knit together with a farre firmer knot as by the knot of studies which of it selfe greatly imports especially being of those studies and those vertues which of themselues procure that the parties which are of one minde are also conioyn'd in familiaritie I suppose you expect what this far-fetcht discourse will tend vnto First therefore you shall vnderstand that I haue not ript vp this commemoration without great and worthie respects I frequent most familiarly with Caâ—us Atteius Capito You know both the prosperous and contrary euents of my affairs Both in the one and th' other I haue made proofe oâ— Capito'â— good will and affection And I did not onâ—ly mâ—ke vse of his endeuour authoritie and fauour but also of his goods according as the necessitie of my good or bad Fortunes required Titus Antisâ—ius was a kinsman to this man Who by accident being Quaestor of Macedâ—nia and hauing no successor therein Pompeâ—us went thither with his Armie Anâ—istius could not doe as he would For if hee might his greatest contentment had beene to haue return'd to Capito whom he loued as a Father especially conceiuing what an esteeme he â—uer had and did make of Caesar. But being vnder anothers power and in that hee could doe no lesse he tooke vpon him some commaund When the moneys were coin'd in Apoâ—â—â—nia I cannot say that he had the ouer-seeing thereof nor denie that he was present But certainly not aboue two or three moneths From that time forward he neuer was in the Campe he shunned all command Beleeue thâ—s from me as a most true testimonie For he obseru'd my discontentment in that warre he imparted all his secrets to me Whereupon he retir'd to hide himselfe in Macedonia flying from the Campe as far as he could and not onâ—ly from taking vpon him any charge but from being so much as present From thence after the battaile fought he went into Bithynia to Aâ—lus Plancius his verie good friend There Caesâ—r seeing him he gaue him not one bitter nor sharpe wordâ— he enioyned him to come to Rome A few dâ—ies after he fell sicke and recouer'd not that sicknesse Hee câ—me sicke to Corcyra and there dyed Of his goods by force of a will that he made in Rome when Paulus and Marcellus were Consulls Capito of twelue parts is to enioy ten the other two parts fall to them whose portion without any iust complaâ—nâ— of any man falls to the Publicke and amounts to the value of nine hundred Crownes My Plancus for the inward amâ—tie that passed sometimes betwixt me and your Father and for the loue we beare one another For our studies sake and conformable manner of life we haue alwaies obserued I request and entreat you as effectually and perswasiuely as I am able that you will repute it as mine owne suâ—e and employ therein your whole power and so procure that Capito by this recommendation and by meanes of your fauour and Caesars benefit may obtaine his kinsmans enheritance All the fauours which in this high renowne and esteeme you are in with Caesar I could haue had graunted from you vpon request I will thinke conferred vpon me out of your owne voluntarie free will if you doe but graunt me this petition And because you may the more readily encline to comfort him herein behold one reason well knowne to Caesar himselfe that Capito euer bare wonderfull loue and great respect to Caesar. But Caesar himselfe can testifie thus much I know he hath a verie good memorie and therefore I 'le mention it no further I require nothing else but that you will moue Caesar in the cause of Capito with equall zeale to the memoriall you shall perceiue that he retaineth of Capito I 'le deliuer vnto you what experience I haue made of him of what validitie it is your selfe shall iudge You vnderstand what part I tooke what cause was by me defended You are priuie what men and what societie of men I followed Of thus much be assured that if in this warre I perform'd any thing against Caesars mind I was aduis'd â—xhorted and euen driuen vnto it by others and I am not ignorant how Caesar himselfe knowes that I was violently haâ—â—d thereunto but if in the same warre I bare my selfe more temperately and moderately then anie other Capito was the man that councelled and perswaded me so to doe like to whom if my other friends had bin peraduenture it might haue beene profitable to the Common-wealth and my selfe I know I should haue infinitely benefitted Now my Planâ—us if you satisfie me in this my desire I shall bee confirmed in my hopes that I am of you beloued and you shall gaine the same Capito a most thankefull officious and very honest friend in requitall of a fauour so important Farewell Cicero to Acilius Vice-Consull Ep. 30. LVcius Manlius Sosis was sometimes of Catina but he is now become a Romaine Cittizen together with th' other Neapolitanes and was created Decurio of Naples For before it was granted to the conâ—ederates of the people of Rome to be free denizens and to those of Latium he was chosen cittizen of the Towne of Naples His brother not long since died in Catinâ— Wee doe not thinke he will any waies be crost about the inheritances descended to him for he is now in possession of them but in that besides these goods he hath other old negotiations in Sicilia I recommend vnto you both this inheritance left him by his brother and all other his affaires but aboue all I commend himselfe vnto you as a man of great integritie my very familiar friend and one that is adorned with those studies of doctrine and that learning wherein I especially am delighted I request you therefore that
who knows that this may not proue for the best but wee 'le talke of that at our meeting Hold you on your course that you may loue me and know that I loue you Farewell Cicero to Caius Sextilius Rufus Quaestor Epist. 48. I Recommend vnto you all the Cyprij but more especâ—ally the Paphij Wherin soeuer you assist them I shall greatly be obliged And this office of recommending them I performe so much the more willinglyâ— because I suppose it will also redownd as I desire to your owne commendation comming first Quaestor into that Island to institute those orders according to which others are to bee gouerned Which as I hope you may the more easily effect if you doe but follow the law of your louing friend Publius Lâ—ntulus and the orders by me constituted Which I am conâ—ident will purchase you great estimation Farewell Cicero to Curius vice-Consull Epist. 49. QVintus Pompâ—ius sonne to Sextus is for many and ancient respects of amitie interessed in me If this man heeretofore were accustomed to preserue his goods by my recommendations fauour and dignitie Questionlesse now when you gouerne the Prouince by meanes of my letters hee must needs take comfort in obseruing that he was neuer so highly recommended vnto any as at this present vnto you Wherefore I request you earnestly that whereas for our priuate amities sake you are to obserue all my friends as your owne aboue all others take this man so to your protection that he may perceiue that nothing could haue turned more to his honor and benefit then my recommendation Farewell Cicero to Aristus vice-Consull Epist. 50. YOur obseruance of me which I manifestly discern'd when wee were togeather at Brundusium giues me encouragement to write with familiaritie and as it were with authoritie unto you when any thing falls out that imports me Marcus Curio who negotiâ—ted at Patrae is so domesticall with me as a nearer acquaintance can not bee deuised I haue receiu'd many benefits from him and he as many from mee And which is aboue all we beare one another singular affection Which being so as you haue any hope in my amitie as you would make the fauours and courtesies you shewed me at Brundusium to bee of greater acceptâ—nce though they were most acceptable as you seeme to be beloued of al yours grant and bestow vpon me this kindenes that Manius Curius suffer no preiudice and that by you he may be freely exempted from all exaction detriment and molestâ—tion And I assure you and all your friends in my behalfe shall warrant that from â—y friendship and your humanitie vs'd vnto me great benefit and contentment shall accâ—ew vnto you Farewell Cicero to Publius Câ—sius Ep. 51. PVblius Messiâ—nus a Romane Knight is a man so qâ—alifiâ—d and compleat as he is in nothing defectiue and besides he is my most Familiar friendâ— Wherfore with the greatest care I can I recommend him to you entreating you both for ours and our fathers friendship to take him to your protection and to haue a care of his goods and honour you shall binde vnto you a verie honest man and one that 's worthie of your friendship and for mee you shall heerein doe an acceptable office Farewell Cicero to Rex Epist. 52. AVâ—us Licinâ—us Arisâ—oteles of Mâ—lita hath anciently entertained me and is besides my familiar acquaintance out of the daily conuerâ—ation hath pass'd betwixt vs. For which reasons I assure my selfe you will hold him the more effectually recommended because I vnderstand by many that you make gâ—eat esteeme of my recommendation This man by my meanes obtained pardon of Caesâ—r For he tooke part with mee in the behalfe of Pompeius and perseuered longer in action thâ—n I did The which very respect in my iudgement should make you conceiue the better of him Procure therfore my Rex that he may finde that these letters did highly pleasure him Farewell Cicero to Quintus Thermus vice-Praetor Epist. 53. OF long time I haue had familiar acquaintance with Lucius Genucilius Curuus a very honest and gratefull man I recommend him to you in the best manner I canâ— and cast him wholly into your armes entreating you to be fauourable to him in all his occurrents so farre as your trust and dignitie will suffer you And well it may in all things suffer you for I know he will require nothing but that which shall be correspondent aswâ—ll to yours as to his owne honest disposition But parâ—icularly I commend vnto you his businessâ—s in Hâ—llesponâ—us First that he be permitted to enioy the priuiledge of the exemption of lands granted him by decree and giuen him by the cittie of Parium which he hath euer enioyed without controuersie And further if he haue Suite with any one of Hellespontus thâ—t you will refer it to that Diocesse But seeing in generall I haue commended him â—o you with such efficacie me thinkes I should not so particularly write of his affaires The summe is this all courtesie benefit and honor which you shal place on Genâ—cilius I wil repute it as performeâ— to my selfe and for mine owne interest 's Farewell Cicero to Thermus vice-Praetor Epist. 54. OF many offices which you haue perâ—ormed vpon my recommendation there 's none for which I hold my selfe moâ—e bound vnto you then for the singular couâ—tâ—sie vsed to Marcus Marcilius soâ— vnto my friend and my interpreter Who comming to Laodicea highly extolled you and gaue me infinite thankes because at my request you had confâ—rred vpon him your fauour Wherefore nothing now remaines but to request you that seeing you besâ—ow benefits on gratâ—full persons that you will for this respect be the more fauourable to them and vâ—e all meanes that stand with your reputation that the mother in law of the said young man be not cal'd in question As before I carefully commended Marcilius so now I recommend him much more carefully hauing by long seruice had experience of the singular and as it were incredible fidelitie abstinence and modestie of the father of Marcilius Farewell Cicero to Thermus vice-Praetor Epist. 55. THough me thought I perceiu'd when I talked with you in Ephesus about the businesse of Marcus Anneius my Legate how you were readie vpon all occasions to doe him pleasure neuerthelesse both the same Marcus Anneius is â—o deare vnto me that I am enclin'd to effect any thing that may bee for his benefit and I esteeme my selfe so neare vnto him as I am assured that besides your â—ormer disposition to doe him good you will adde a new desire of fauouring him vpon my commendations For â—hough I haue loued Marcus Anneius of long time and conceiue that opinion of him which th' effects demonstrate hauing voluntarily chosen him Legate which office hath bin sued â—or by many whom I euer refused neuerthelesse seeing he was with mee in the warre and in the managing of military actions I discern'd in him so great valour prudence fidelitie and good will towards me that there are
none more deare vnto me then himselfe You know how he is in sutes with the Sardiani In Ephesus I inâ—orm'd you of the cause which notwithstanding you shall face to face better and more easily vnderstand For the rest I haue quâ—stionlâ—sse beene long doubtfull how I should wâ—ite vnto you it being plaine to youâ— great commendation made manifest after what manner you administer Iustice and we hauing neede of nothing else but that you will proceed according to your vsuall fashion Notwithstaâ—ding beâ—ng not conceal'd from me of what authoritie a Praetor is especialâ—y if he be of that integritie grauitie and clemencie wherewith it is openly knowne you are endowed I request you for our friendly league and for our equall and mutuall offices that with authoritie endeuour and fauour you will so procure that Marcus Annâ—ius may vnderstand both that you lou'd him heretofore as he supposeth and hath often told me and that my letters haue made you loue him more effâ—ctuallie During your gouernment and auâ—horitie in that Prouince no occasion can occur vnto me wherein you can shew me greater fauour Withall I am assured that you vnderstand how well your fauour and courtesie will be placed vpon a man that is so thankefull and so honest Farewell Cicero to Thermus Vice-Praetor Epist. 56. CAius Cluuius a Puteolan obserues me greatly and is my familiar acquaintance He hath certaine affayres in your Prouince which if he cannot compâ—sse while you are there Gouernour by meanes of my recommendations he will hould them for lost and desperate Now seeing so great an iniunction is laid vpon me by a friend more officious to me then any other I will impose so it be not troublesome vnto you the like charge vppon your selfe as being encouraged by your former exceeding fauours Cluuius should haue money of the Mylasij and the Alabandenses Euthydâ—mus told me once in Ephesus that he would cause the Mylasij to send their Proctours to Rome And there 's nothing yet performed I vnderstand they haue sent thither Ambassadors but I should be more glad that their Proctours were come that I might deale with them and conclude somewhat Wherefore I require at your hands as a fauour that you would enioyne them and the Alabandâ—nses to send their Proctours to Rome Besides Philotes the Alabandensian hath bound and made ouer vnto Cluuius certaine lands I desire that you would vrge Philotes either to put the agents of Cluuius in possâ—ssion of the said morgages or else to paie the moneys And moreouer that you would take order that Hâ—racleotae and Bargyletae satisfie the debt they owe to Cluuius either with readie coyne or out of their reâ—enues The Caunij are also his debtors but they say the money was committed vnto them vpon â—â—ust whereof I would desire you to be informed And if you finde that theâ—e be no decree nor â—dict passed that free 's them from paying interest for the money so dâ—poseâ— procure that it may be pay'd him according to the cusâ—ome in your Prouince Oâ— the matters aboue menâ—ioned I take the greater care because it conceâ—nes the particular inâ—erest of my deare frâ—nd Cneius Pompeius and in that I see that he is more carefull thereof then Cluuius himselfe and because I much desire that he may remaine satisfied in my best offices I beseech you therefore in all loue that you will be pleased to graunt what I haue requested Farewell Cicero to Thermus Vice-Praetor Ep. 57. THe more I heare by letters and messengers that there is great war in Syria the more I entrâ—at and enioyne you by the great friendsâ—ip that is betwixt vs to send me presently Marcus Annelus my Legate backe againe because I know I may make vse of the endeuour counsell and experience he hath in Militarie discipline to the infinite benefit of the Common-wealth And if necessitie had not vrged him to come vnto you neyther would he vpon any tearmes haue lâ—ft me or I haue graunted that he should I make account to set forward towards Cilicia about the first of May and Anneius must needs before that â—ime be râ—turned I formerly spake and wrote vnto you about a matter he hath in hand with the Sardian people And I now againe most earnestly request and entreat you to procure that he may according to the merit of his cause and dignitie be dispatched I conceiu'd by your words when I talked with you about it in â—phesuâ— that you were enclin'd to shew all fauour to Marcus Anneius for his owne sake neuerthelesse be assured if I vnderstand that he hath by your meanes a good end of the forâ—â—â—d businesse according to his expectation I shall thinke I haue receiu'd from you a singular kindnesse And I most â—arnâ—stly entreat you to vse therin all expâ—dition Farewell Cicero to Caius Titius Rufus sonne to Lucius Praetor in Rome Ep. 58. LVcius Custidius is my kinsman country-man and familiar friend Hâ— hath a certaine suâ—e which is likelie to come into your Court. I should bee as much asham'd to demand any thing dishonest in his behalfe as you out oâ— your respect to your office and honor would be to grant it I therefore onely entrâ—at you that he may haue fauourable accesse vnto you And that hauing right you will graunt it him That he may vnderstand that my friendship euen when I was furthest off was of force with you to further him Farewell Cicero to Curtius Poeduceanus Praetor Epist. 59. I Beare a singular affectâ—on to Marcus Fabius and we haue conuersed together of long time wâ—th great familiaritie In his sutes I request you not to iudge one way or other for you will obserue that which vpon edict and your ordâ—r belongs to your credit and your dignitie but that he may onely haue the benefit to be heard and that you will but willingly graunt him what is iust to the end he may know that my friendship though I were farre absent was beneficiall to him and especiallie with your selfe Which I make my earnest request Farewell Cicero to Caius Munatius sonne to Caius Ep. 60. LVcius Liuineius Trypho is free-man to Lucius Regulus my verie familiar acquaintance whose mis-fortune is a cause that I am more officious to him then vsuall For I cannot be more affectionate to him then I haue beene But I loue Trypho for his owne deserts For hee did me great pleasuâ—â— in the time of my mis forâ—unes â—â—erâ—in â— might euidently perceiue each mans good will and coâ—stâ—ncie I recommend him therefore to you with the same vehemencie with which those that would be accompted grateâ—ull are bound to recommend them fâ—om whom they haue receiu'd a benefit I shall be highly pleas'd thaâ— he might perceiue that you out of your loue vnto me tooke in good part also the kindnesse he did me in exposing himselfe to many daungers for my safetie and his often going to Sea for me in the midd'st of Winter Farewell Cicero to Publius Silius Vice-Praetor Epist. 61. I Suppose