may know how to defend me For there are some who though my death would no waies aduantage the Common-wealth yet they thinke it a great sinne that I doe liue And these men I am certaine thinke the number of them that were slaine in this warre to be very small who if they had followed my aduise though with vniust peace yet with honour they might haue liued For they should haue beene inferior in armes onely but not in equitie Heere is a longer Epistle then peraduenture you dâ—sired and I â—â—all beleeue you take it so except you write me another longer If I can dispatch some businesses of mine owne I hope shortly I shall see you Farewell Cicero to Marcus Marius Epist. 4. THE xiiii of this present I came into Gumanum with our Libo I thinke presently â—o goe to Pompeianum But I 'le first let you know of it I desire that you should be alwaies healthfull but more questionlâ—sse while wee are â—ogether For you see we shall shortly meet Wherefore if you determined to applie any remedie to the gowte deferre it while another time Be carefull thereâ—ore of your health and expect me within two or three daies Farewell Cicero to Caius Caesar Imperator Epist. 5. BEhold how secure I am that your minde is no waâ—es different from mine not onely in my owne occasions but also in those of my frends I thought to haue brought Caius Trâ—batius in my companie whither soeuer I went with an intent to do him all the honour and fauours that possiblie I could But seeing Pompeius iourney growes much longer then I supposed and in that I may easily for a ceâ—taine suspition that you are priuie to either stay or at least prolong my deparâ—ure see what securitie I repose in you I haue begun to resolue that Trebaâ—ius shall attend for that from you which hee hoped for from me and I haue promised him no lesse in your good affection then I was wont to assure him of mine owne But there hath happened a wonderfull accident as it were to assure mee that my conceite was not vaine and to secure me of your fauour For our â—riend Bâ—lbus being in my house and I speaking affectionately to him of the foresaid Trebatius a letter of yourâ— was brought me in the end of whiâ—h you wrote thus I will make Marcus Furius whom you commend vnto mee either kâ—ng of Gall or Lâ—pta's Ambassabour If you please send mee another that may for your sake be honoured I and Balbus blisse ourselues that this should happen at such a time as it seemed not fallen out by chance â—ut euen sent from heauen Behold therefore I send vnto you Trebatius and so much the more willinglie because besides mine owne desire you inuite me to send him also I entreat you my Caesar to embrace him with that humanitie which is so incident to your owne naturâ— and to conferre those benefits vpon him alone which for my sake you would procure any friend of mine And this I assure you in his behalfe not with my old manner of speech whereat writing to you of Milo you worthily laughed but after the Roman manner as discreet man speake that there is no man that in bountie valour or modestie goes beyond him whereunto may bee added for the greater ornament of his other qualities a singular memorie and perfect knowledge of that which appeâ—taines to the gouernment of Ciâ—ies I doe not require you to make him a Praefect or a Tribune or to giue him any othâ—r dignitie onely I desire that you would loue him and vouchsafe him your accustomed courtesie And yâ—t I shall not take it â—ll if you please to aduance him with such like titles of glory And finâ—lly ridding him as they say out of mine owne haâ—ds I put him into yours so famous for victorie and promise obserued But it may be I vse more ceremonies in this then your courteous disposition comporteth But for those I doubt not but wee shall finde a fitter opportunitie hereafter Be carefull of your health and continue the loue you beare me Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 6. I Neuer write to Caesar nor Balbus but I recommend you and that not with cold but with such feruent words as they giue great notice of the loue which I professe vnto you But I pray you shake off these fantasies and that same humour of returning to a Citie life and with care and resolution striue to obtaine that you hoped for vpon your departure And wee your friends will as readily pardon this as those noble and rich Matrones pardoned Medea that inhabited in the high Castle of Corinthus whom with her white hand she made beleeue that they ought not to reprehend her because she liu'd remote from her Countrey For in the lands of strangers Haue risen many rangers And haue their Countries publique good procured Many in their owne cottage Possest with drowzie dotage Haue their whole life without renâ—wne endured Among which questionlesse you had beene one if we by violence had not driuen you from hence But another time I 'le write more at large Now you that haue studied to open other mens eyes open so your owne that you be not deceiued by the Charretiers of Britannia Andâ— seeing I haue begun to enter into that passage of Medea reserâ—e this alwaies in your minde That hee 's not wise that 's not wise for his owne profit Looke to your health Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 7. I Forget not to recommend you but I would faine heare from you something about the effects thereof I haue great hope in Balbus to whom I often write effectually of you I wonder much that when I receiue letters from my brother you write not to mee I vnderstand that in Britannia there 's neither gold nor â—iluer if it bee so I would wish you out of hand to take a charriot and retuâ—ne presently to vs but in case that without Britannia we may compasse our intention seeke to thrust in amongst Caesars Familiars Wherein my brother and Balbus will greatly assist you but assuredly more your owne modestie and deserts You serue one who besides many meanes that he hath to prefer you is by nature most liberall You are of an age verie apt to serue him And by mee most assuredly you are recommended with all efficacie so that you neede to feare but one thing which is that you neglect not your selfe Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 8. CAESAR hath written very friendly vnto me how you haue yet no great familiariâ—ie with him in regard of his great employments but that without faile you shal haue hereafter And I returned answâ—r vnto him how acceptable euerie fauour and courtesie that he did for youâ— would be vnto me But in your letters I obserue too great haste and I cannot concâ—iue why you refused the benefit of the Tribuneship â—specially in that you should haue beene freâ— from the trouble of executing it I will expostulate thereof with Vacerra and
7. FRiâ—â—ds were not wont to bee reprehended though they slowly reioyce at other mens good fortunes so their slâ—cknesse proceeded not from negligence For I liue far off and newes comes hither but slowly I reioyce then that you haue obtained the Tribuneship and I desire euen from my heart that you may purchase therein eternall praise Further I exâ—ort you that in all things you cleaue to your owne wisdome and bee not led by the nose through other mens perswasions No man can better aduise you then your selfe You shall neuer erre if you sticke to your owne counsels I write not this without iust cause I know to whom I write it I can iudge of your vnderstanding and wisdome Questionlesse being directed by your owne iudgement you will neuer enter into any ignoble or vnworthy actions neither will you euer â—ather any other then discreet proceedings And being in these hard times of the Common-wealth possessed of your place not by chance but by your discretion not by accident bâ—t election and at this time when the state of publique affaires is in danger I am certaine you perceiue how farre the nature of times beare sway in the gouernment thereof what great varietie of affaires there is how doubtâ—ull their ends are and how easily the humors of men bend sometimes this sometimes that way Nor make I any question but you vnderstand that all negotiations in this world are carried with colour and deceit Open therefore your eyes I say open themâ— aâ—d doe as I haue directed you follow your owne course and onely rely on your owne counsels A man should hardly find one that can better aduise another then you who then should better direct your selfe Good God why am I not at Rome that I might bee an eye-witnesse of your honours and as it were enioy a part in them and bee at hand to aduise and couÌ„sell youâ— Though you haue no such need yet the sincerity and greatnes of my loue towards you would so worke that my faithfull instructions might stand you in some stead But at another time I 'le write more at large for within a few dayes I mean to dispatch priuate messengers to informe suddenly the Senate briefly of the victories wee obtained ouer our enemies all the last summer By your free-man Thraso I wrote vnto you how diligent I was about your Priesthood and the difficulties I met withall Deere Curio by the vnfained loue wee beare one another I entreat you that you will suffer mee to spend no longer time in the gouernment of this Prouince of which I now grow exceeding weary I spake vnto you hereof at Rome no wayes supposing you should this yeere haue beene Tribune And the same suit I often renewed by letters but then I sought your fauour as a noble Senator and a young Gentle-man generally beloued Now I importune it as from a Tribune of the people nay as from Curio the Tribune I pray therfore be pleas'd to vse all meanes not of comming to new consultation which ordinarily is the more â—edious course but rather to preuent the same by requesting that I may be tyed to those conditions enioyned me when I tooke vpon me this gouernment which are extant in the Senates decree and by the Lawes prescribed Let mee by all meanes craue thus much of you Farewell Cicero Vice-consull to Mâ—rcus Coelius Ep. 8. THis is not that which I expected from you It may be you thought I requiâ—ed you to write vnto me of fensing encountâ—rs the issues of suites or of the thefts of Chrâ—stus but I meant no such matter for these are things that when I was in Rome no man would presume to acquaint me with What look't I for then obserue in what nature I esteeme you and not without cause for in all my dayes certainely I haue not knowne a more vnderstanding man then your selfe in Common-wealth causes not that I care so much to haue such triuiall matters imparted to me nay nor will I that you should certifie me of matters of farre higher consequence daily discussed of in the Commonwealth except they concerned my selfe for other maâ—ters come diueâ—se wayes to mine â—ares and fame it selfe will relate them to me I expect not therefore from you either things past or present but râ—ther those future and to come as from a man that is cleare and farre sighted that beholding a draught of the Common wealths modell in your letters I may conceiue what the whole structure will be But I excuse you for not hauing sent me it â—itherto because nothing hath fallen out that any of vs might not forsee as wel as you you might rather haue foreseene then any of vs and especially my selfe who was sundry daies in Pompeies companie and euer in discourses of the Common-wealth which neither can nor ought to be exprest in writing Let me onely tell you that Pompeius is a famous and faithfull Cittizen and hee wants neither courage nor prudence to constitute those ordinances for the preseruation of the Common-wealth which are fit and expedient And therfore I would wish you to offer him your loue do but obserue how cheerefully he accepts of it For now at length he holds that those are good and those bad Cittizens that we were wont to hold so I stayed in Athens ten whole dayes where our good friend Gallus Caninius kept me alwayes companie Vpon this present being the sixt of Iulie I am to depart I commend all my businesses to your speciall care but aboue all my desire is that things may so be wrought that this office of mine may not be proroged How you should carrie your selfe herein I know you need not my direction I will remit my selfe vnto your wisedome Farewell Cicero Vice consull to Marcus Coelius Rufus chosen AEDILE Curule Epist. 9. I Am very glad both for mine owne and for your sake of the dignitie lately conferred on you and for that which you attend hereafter And though I doe this office slackly it is not out of negligence but because I heare not how matters passe at Rome the iourney being long and the wayes encombred with theeues which cuts off the expedition of newes I am glad then not onely for your present honor but for those also that are expected to succeed the same And besides my contentment I finde my selfe deepely bound vnto you neither can I deuise words to expresse my thankes because you are come to it by such a meanes that you haue giuen vs a subiect of that condition that will euer minister vnto vs matter of laughter So soone as I heard of it I set before my imagination the person of that man you know whom I meane and I represented vnto my thoughts those his youths of whom he so vainely gloried I am scarce able to speak for laughing But contemplating â—ou absent me thought I spake thus vnto you I regard not how great a matter you haue compassed nor what offence you haue committed And in that the businesse
of monies which I then had I wrote back vnto you as friendly as I could But mee thinkes it is not reasonable that I should bee bound to yeeld that vnto you now by way of obligation which then in courtesie I propounded Neither though you write vnto me of the sayd three thousand Ducatâ—s did I receiue your letter wiâ—h that discontentment as Debâ—ors in these times receiue letters from their Creditors You must withall consider that in Ephâ—sus I hauing leâ—t in the hands of the Toll-Masters threeâ—score six thousand Câ—ownes which I had lawfully gotten in my Prouince Pompey tooke it all Whereof whether I complaine or not questionlesse your losse being onely three thousand Crownes you may endure it with the greater patience imagining with your selfe that the Senate allowed you not so great prouisions as indeede it gaue you or that my selfe gaue you not so much as I did For if you lent mee those three thousand Crownes yet I am so confident in your good nature and in the loue you beare me that you would not now force me to sell somthing of mine owne to haue them againe for otherwise I haue no meanes to restore you them But all that I haue written esteeme it to bee written by way of merriment And the like doe I by that you haue written to mee Although when Tullius returnes out of the Countrey I will not forget to send him to you if you thinke it bee requisite I dâ—sire in any wise that you would rend this letter Farewell Cicero to Lucius Messinius Epist. 21. I Haue read your letters with contentment by which I vnderstood that you greatly desire to see mee Which I imagined though you had not written it Neither is my desire in this inferior to your owne And so let my thoughts obtaine their wished ends as I heartily desire to be with you For when our Countrey did more abound then now it doth with men of valour and true Citizens and the number of my friends was greater yet was there none with whom I was more willing to conuerse then with your selfe and but few with whom so willingly but now some being dead other some in remote Countries and others not bearing that mind towards mee they were wont to doe I should verily thinke one day better spent with you then all the time I consume with many of those with whom I conuerse out of necessitie And I assure you that solitarinesse would bee much more acceptable to me which notwithstanding is not granted mee then their enterâ—ainements that daily frequent my house except it be of one or two at the most Therefore I retire my selfe as I would wish you also to our pleasing studies and withall I comfort my selfe with the memoriall of my intentions thinking to my selfe that I neuer had respect as I suppose you conceiue to priuate benefit but to publique safetie And if hee whom you could neuer loue because you loued me had not borne me enuie hee and with him all other good men had been happy I would neuer consent that the violence of any particular man should bee so powerfull as to suppresse common libertie And after I saw those armes which I euer feared would bee able to doe more then the consent of good Citizens who according to my directions and examples vndertooke to defend the Common-wealth I was of opinion that discords were rather to be compounded though vpon vnequall termes so it weâ—e with securitie then to fight against those who were stronger then our selues But shortly wee 'l confer both of this and many other things And I remaine now in Rome for no other end but before my departure to know the successe of the war that is now on foot in Africa For I am of constant beleefe that we shal shortly see an end thereof And I am of opinion it imports me I know not what to delay my departure that I may ioyne with my friends to take some course according to the newes we shall receiue Although I cannot tell you what it is that should so import mee matters being growne to that passe as ouercome who will the victorie will be the same though equitie stand more with the one then the other part And yet notwithstanding now that I am out of all hope I beare a more contented â—inde then when wee were betwixt hope and feare And your last letters but one encreaâ—ed my confidence In that by them I vnderstood that to support iniuries your singular humanitie much encouraged you and much also your learning I 'le not bee sparing to tell you the truth At first I tooke you to bee rather of a soâ—t disposition then otherwise as for the most part all we are to whom the chaine of seruitude seemes too heauie being inured to liue nobly in a happie and free Citie But as in good fortune wee bare our selues moderately so ought wee to resist this constantly which is the worst that could haue happened That among so many euils we may enioy this little benefit that whereas in happie times it was our dutie to contemne death in which is felt no miserie now being plunged in so many tribulations we ought not so much to contemne as to desire it I request you for the loues sake that you beare mee to embrace this quiet and firmely to beleeue that besides offence and sin from which you haue beene hitherto and euer will bee exempted there can nothing light vpon a man how terrible soeuer which should dismay him I will presently come to you if I see there bee any occasion And if it be requisite to change resolution I will forâ—hwiâ—h aduâ—rtise you But I beseech you being so crazie hazard not to trauell out of a desire to see mee before you haue my aduice therein Let mee request you to loue me still as you doe and to regard your health alacritie and contentment Farewell THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE FAMILIAR EPISTLES OF M. T. CICERO Cicero to Aulus Torquatus Epist. 1. THough there be such a confusion of all things that euery one is discontented with his fortunes and that there 's no man that would not rather be any where then where he is neuerthelesse I make no doubt but that in these times it greeues euery honest man rather to bee in Rome then any where else For though there is great affliction felt in all places for the great losse both publike and particular neuerthelesse the eies encrease greefe when they are constrained to behold that which others heare neither doe they euer suffer vs to remoue our thoughts from miseries Whereupon though of necâ—ssitie seeing your â—elfe depriu'd of many things you must needs be affected with great greefe yet free your minde from being grâ—eu'd because you are not at Rome the which as I heare vexeth and troubleth you For though it may touch you neerely that you are separated from your friends and your owne fortunes yet they stâ—nd in their vsuall state nor would they be greatly
what state soeuer the Common-wealth stand you need not be afraid and if she be absolutely defaced in that you would not suruiue her though you might it is but reason that with all patience we should comport such an accident especially being innocent therein But no more at this present I should be very glad if you would write vnto me what you doe and where you will be to the end I may know whither to write and whither to come Farewell Cicero to Aulus Torquatus Epist. 3. IN the last letters I was somewhat long not that there was any need but to testifie the loue which I beare you For your valour is so solide of it selfe that no exhortation is necessary to susteine it neither am I in a state to comfort another being depriu'd of all consolation Wherefoâ—e at this present I must be briefe for if then it was not requisite to write at large much lesse is it now And if it were then necessary let that which I haue written suffice the rather because nothing new hath since occurred For though we haue newes euery day the which peraduenture you heare also yet all sort to that end which I discerne as well by my vnderstanding as the things that we behold with our eyes And yet I see nothing the which I know not vndâ—ubtedly that you likewise obserue For though no man can presage the euent of the battaile yet me thinkes I see it and if I see it not neuerthelesse in that of necessitie one or other must vanquish I conceiue what victorie will come to as well in the one as the other And let fortune bend to which side she will I perceiue such a scourge thereon depending that a man ought almost to seeke death to auoide it with which some suppose to daunt vs. For a life depriued of Honor is no life and death though it bring an end to a happie life was neuer by wisemen reputed a miserie But you are in that Cittie where the wals themselues can tell you these things and that more aboundantly and with greater eloquenceâ— I assure you though other mens miseries are but of small consolation that you are in no greater danger then any of those whosoeuer which either forsooke the war or of others thaâ— renewed it These fight and those stand doubtfull who shall remaine victor But this consolation is of no great moment behold an other farre ' greater the which I hope you will applie to your selfe euen as I also doe Nothing while I lâ—ue can affflict me being innocent oâ— all offâ—â—ce and if I liue not how can I feele any griefe But I call to minde that I returne anew as they say â—o bring owles to Athens I haue and euer will haue the greatest care I can of you of yours and your interests Farewell Cicero to Aulus Torquatus Epist. 4. THere is no newes at all and if there were I know your Friends certifie you thereof but of the future though it be hard to speake neuerthelesse a man may by imagination sometimes come neere it when the matter is such that a man may forecast the issue At this time it seemes onely probable that the warre will not long continue though some are of contrarie opinion I thinke that by this time some effect hath ensued not that I know it certainely but because wee may easily conceiue as much First euery man may expect the victorie and of all battailes the end is ambiguous Then the Armie both of one and other side is so great and so resolu'd to fight as it is no great wonder though either of them vanquish That opinion is euery day confirmed that although the occasions of the warre bee different yet betweene their victories there will bee no great difference One side wee know by experience on the other part if Caesar vanquish there is no man who doth not forecast how great feare theâ—e is like to be both because it is prouoked and in that it will haue armes in hand And in relating this to you if you think that I augment your griefe whereas I should mittigate it with some consolation I confesse that I finde no comfort in the common calamities besides one the which if you could embrace were very great and such as I euerie day make vse of and this it is That a man when hee hath wrought all the good hee is able â—ought not to bee disturbed for any contrarietie that may happen not hauing deserued it Therefore wee hauing alwaies aduised â—or the benefit of the Common-wealth and being rather the blame of Fortune then of our counsels that things haue succeeded ill and in a word for so much as did belong vnto vs we hauing neuer beene deficient we ought to endure that patiently which hath happened But yet I will not bee perswaded that I am able to comfort you in these common miseries wherein a greater wit then mine is required to giue it and singular vertue to support it Neuerthelesse euery one may easilie shew you how in particular you haue no occasion to complaine For although Caesar hath beene more slacke in releasing you from trouble then we supposed yet I know he carries a good affection to you For concerning others I doe â—ot beleeue you expect my opinion It remaines that you grieue because for so long time you are fâ—r from your friends This is certainely a great discontent you being separated from the sweetest and most pleasing children in the world But as before I wrote vnto you it is now a time when euery man esteemes his estate very vnhappie rather desires to be in any other place then where he is I â—or my part repute my selfe most vnfortunate for being in Rome not onely because in all euils it is more terrible to behold then to heare but in that being heere I see my selfe exposed to all those accidents which may happen on a suddaine Although to my selfe who deuise alwaies to comâ—ort you the knowledge of letters to which I haue euer beene addicted hath not afforded so great consolation as the length of time You may remember how much I haue beene grieued Wherein the first comâ—ort is that I saw more then others when I desired peace although the conditions were vnequall And though I presume not to haue presaged out of my vnderstanding but in that fortune was pleased to make me pâ—ognosticate that which ensued yeâ— I am delighted with this vaine praise of wisdome I finde another consolation which is common â—o vs both that if I weâ—e now summon'd to the last period of life I would not goe vnwilling for I would thinke by death to bring my afflictions to an end and I should depart from that Commonwealth wherin it auailes me not to liue Besides this I am now old and I thinke I haue spent my yeares so well that in one respect I should die with comfort and in another I should not take my selfe to be iniured though I be forced to passe that
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
my fauour and with my affection I will not faile to apply it whollie to youâ— benefit Be of an inuincible spirit as â—uer you haue beene Fâ—rst for the reasons aboue mentioned and then because you haue alwayes both counselled and wrought so well for the Common-wealth that now you may not onely hope for better fortune but if you did meet with it quite contrarie yet knowing that your counsels and actions haue alwaies beene laudable you ought to support it with valour and constancie Farewell Cicero to Quintus Ligarius Epist. 15. ASSVRE your selfe that I striue with all labour industrie and affectioâ— to obtaine your returne into your countrie For besides that I euer bare you singular affection the great pittie and feruent loue which your brethren shew towards yoâ— to whom I am growne as friendly as to your selfe permits not that I should omit any kinde of office or diligence or let slâ—p any occasion to helpe you But what I haue wroughâ— compassed for you I had rather you should vnderâ—tand by their letters then mine owne I will only write vnto you what hopes I haue of your safetie or rather what I fiâ—mely bâ—leeue and am sâ—re of If euer there were a man timorous in greaâ— and dangerous affaires and that alwayes rather feares contrary euents then hopes for prosperous I am the man and if this be a defect I must confesse I haue it Neuerthelesse you shall vndeâ—stand that the last oâ— February betimes in the morning I going to speake with Caesar and before I could be admitted in hauing suffered all indignitiâ— and protraction your brethren being prostrate at Caesars feete and with them your kinsmen I spake whatsoeuer I thought fitting for your purpose and not onely by Caesars answere which truely was fauourable and courteous but by his eyes his countenance and many other signes which I could better discerne then set downe in writing I tooke such a conceit as I esteeme your returne most certaine Be of good cheere therefore and seeing you wisely supported the more tempestuous times beare these also chearefully that begin to be more temperate Yet beleeue not that I wâ—ll abate a whit of my vsuall diligence rather I 'le follow your matters as if they stood vpon the worst termes and not onely to Caesar but to all his friends also whom I know very louing vnto me I will as hitherto I haue done preferre earnest supplications for your safetie Farewell Cicero to Basilius Ep. 16. I Congratulate with you I reioyce with my selfe I loue you I protect your affaires I desire to be certified of your loue to me and of the newes of your selfe and of those quarters Farewell Bithynicus to Cicero Ep. 17. IF there were noâ— betweene vs in particular many iust and worthie occasions of friendship I would rip the beginnâ—ngs thereof euen from our Fatheâ—s which I will leaue to them to do who haue noâ— with good offices preserued paternall amitie And therefore I 'le content my selfe with our friendship which animateth me to entreat you that you would assist me in my absence wherein soeuer need shall require if you stand not in doubt that I will forget your courâ—esie Farewell Cicero to Bithynicus Ep. 18. FOR many respects I desire once more to see the Common-wealth in bâ—tter esâ—ate but especially that I might be comforted by that which you promise me in that you write if this should â—ome to passe you will be euer with me It contents me that you carry such a mind and the same our inward friendship requires and that opiâ—ion which vvas sometimes held of me by thaâ— most rare man your father For I will not deny but that they to whom Fortune hath giuen much power by the greatnesse of benefits may intimate themselues with you more then I am able but beleeue not that any can loue you aboue my selfe Therefore I shall be glad that you preserue the memorie of our friendship and affect also to augment it Farewell Cicero to Lepta Ep. 19. HAuing seene what you wrote in one of yours that I râ—ceiued from your Seleucus I presently sent a note to Balbus that hee would let mee know what the Law was â—n that poynt He answered mee that it forbad that any one which was at that present Praeco shâ—uld be made Decurio buâ— not one that had beene so in former times So thaâ— let â—hese our friends bee of good comfort For indeed it were too hard a case That whereas in Râ—mâ— the Senatorian dignitie was conferred euen vpon â—he Haâ—uspices one might not in a free incorporaâ—ion be a Dâ—curio that in former times had borne office of Praeco There is no newes out of Spaine but take this for certaine that Pompeius hath a great armie For Caesar himselfe sent me a copie of a letter of Patâ—etuâ— which relates â—hat he hath eleuen Legions Besides this Mâ—ssalla wrote to Quintus Salassus how Pompeius put to death in the sight of the Armie Quintus Câ—rtius his brother because he had accorded with some Spaniards if Pompâ—ius went to a certaine towne whither hee resolued to goe about the prouision of corne to carrie hâ—m prisoner to Caesarâ— Whereas you write vnto me of the securitie you put in for Pompeius if Balbus who promised in your companie and is a man diligent enough in matter of his owne benefit hee reâ—urned out of the Countrey I will not cease to speake to him theâ—eof to bring the matter to an end whereof hee seemed to concâ—iue great hope I am exceeding glad that my booke of The perfect Oratâ—r so pleaseth you Certainely I perswade my selfe that I haue employâ—d therein all the iudgement I haue about the Art of an Orator And if it be such as you write it seemes vnto you there is some matter in mee also if otherwise I deny not but so much may bee taken from the opinion of my iudgement as is in that booke defectiue I would haue our Lepâ—a begin to bee delighted with such like compositions For although he hath not yet that iudgement which yeeâ—es will bring vpon him yet will it not be without great benefit if he inure His eares to such like accents I am not yet gone out of Rome bâ—cause my daughter lay in Now though she be as I hope in good state yet will I not depart till I haue receiued of Dolobella the first pension And to confesse vnto you the truth I delight no more to goe abroad as I was wont I tooke pleasure to visit my Farmes and to separate my selfe from occupations now I haue a house in Rome which in beautie is inferiour to none of my country buildings and I am as free from employments as if I were in the most solitarie place of this world and I may studie as much as I will for no man hinders me therefore I thinke to see you sooner here then you mee there Procure that our young Lepta may get Hesiodus without booke and let him haue euer in his mouth The hill
where vâ—râ—ue hath her residence Is of a steepe laborious ascent The Gods would haue it so 't is but sense That we should sweat to get so rare content Cicero to Lepta Ep. 20. IT likes mee well that Macula hath done this dutie I euer approued of his wine of â—aleâ—â—â—m for entertainment so there were house-roome enough to lodge my companie For other matters the place contents mee very well but yet I will not forbeare to come to Petrinum because both the village and the seat is so pleasant that both one and other inuites men not onely to lodge but to remaine there alwaies Whereas you write vnto mee that I should procure you to haue the charge of some of those festiuities which are to be celebrated in the countries I haue talked therof with Oppius for I saw not Balbus since your departure being so troubled with a paine in his feet that he comes not abroad But you should doe much more wisely not to seeke these employments for you cannot by this colour your designes Caesars friends being multiplied in such aboundance that hee rather leaues some then lets any new ones take place especially if hee bring nothing but endeauour wherein he will think that hee hath done you a fauour yea though hee should know that you did not receiue it Neuerthelesse wee 'l see what hope there is for if there be none I would aduise you rather to estrange your thoughts from it then to haue a desire thereof I thinke to stay some daies in Astura till Caesar comes thither Farewell Cicero to Toranius Ep. 21. HAuing written vnto you three dayes since by the seruants of Câ—eius Plancius I will now bee short and whereas before I comforted now I le aduertise you I thinke you cannot doe better then stay where you are till you bee certaine what you are to doe For besides that you shall auoyd the danger you might incur by sayling in the winter so many daies thorow a tempestuous sea and besides â—hat when you shall heare certain newes you may depart at your own pleasure you haue no cause to be so desirous to goe meet Caesar and moreouer I am affraid of many things whereof I reaâ—oned with our friend Chilo and to bring many words within a small compasse during these euils you could not bee in a more conuenient place hauing opportunitie to turne your selfe whither soeuer necessity cals you And if he coms hither you shall haue time to meet him And if any thing hinder him or prolong his comming as many accidents may fall ouâ— you shall be in a place where you may vnderstand all newes Thus think I and I aduise you not to do otherwise For the râ—st be assured as many times I haue written for your comfort that in your case you neede to â—eare nothing besides the common ruine of the whole Citie which though it bee greeuous to tolerate yet we haue liu'd in such manner and are of that age as wee ought valianâ—ly to beare all aduersities which may happen without our fault All your friends are here in health with hearty affection they desire loue and reuerence you Looke vnto the preseruation of your health and stir not from thence to no purpose Cicero to Toranius Epist. 22. ALthough 't is thought that the end of this pesâ—iferous warre is now at hand or that some effect hath ensued yet I cannot but daily thinke how you alone in so great an armie should be of the same opinion I am And that wee onely saw whaâ— ill was in that warre wherein all hope of peace excluded the victorie it selfe must needs be terrible which brought death if you were vanquished if Victor the yoke of seruitude Whereupon I whom those valiant and wise men the Domitij and Lentuli then said was timorous as indeed I was for I fear'd what came to passe doe now feare nothing and am prepared against euerie accident when I supposed that some part of the losses which afterwards wee sustained might haue beene preuented thâ—n I greeued that they prouided not for the same But now eâ—erie thing being ruinated no councell auailing vs there remaines no other remedie bâ—t with patience to support all euents especially death being the last period of humane miseries And I knowing that I haue laboured to maintaine the dignitie of the Common-wealth so long as I could and able to do no more I haue endeuoured at least the preseruation of her safety This I haue written not to vse speech of my selfe but to giue you occasion to think theron you euer hauing wished aduised the same that I did For 't is a singular comfort when a man cals to mind that though the contrary hapned neuerthelesse that he alwayes perswaded that which reason conscience did read vnto him And I would to God that we might once see the Common-wealth in some state and that enioying each other we may compare our afflictions together which we then suffered when we were reputed timorâ—us because we foretold those things which haue ensued As for your affaires be assured that you haue no cause to feare any other thing but the generall ruine of the Common-wealth Of me constantly beleeue that wherein I may be assisting to you your safetie and to your children I will euer be readie with the greatest care and diligence possible Farewell Cicero to Domitius Ep. 23. IF I haue not written to you since your comming into Italie the reason onely was because I could promise you nothing being in so miserable an estate neither could I aduise you my selfe wanting councell and in so grieuous tribulations I found no mâ—nner of comfort to giue you And though matters are not now a whit bettered but stand in worser tearmes then before yet I tooke occasion rather to write without matter â—hen not to write at all Though you were one of those that sought to labour more for the Common-wealth then their power would permit neuerthelesse in what I could I would exhort you to liue with those conditions which may be granted you Buâ— hauing impos'd thâ—t end to your resolute and commendable councell which Fortune will haue to be the bounds of our contentions I prâ—y and coniure you by our entire and auncient amitie and by that great loue we beare one another that for my comfort your Fathers your moâ—heâ—s your wiues and all your progenies â—o whom you are and euer were most deare to preserue your selfe and to haue a care of that which may turne to the good of your estate and of those that depend on you Now is the time to reduce to action the documents which with long studie you haue learn'd out of the writings of wise men In doing of which you shall support though not willingly at leâ—st with patience the desire of those fâ—iends you haue lost I know not mine ovvne worth nay I conceiue my worth to be but small but neuerthelesse I promise you that I will as effectually labouâ— that vvhich
endeauours were verie beneficiall But knowing the trust you reposed in me and the affection you bare me euen from your younger yeares I had euer a minde not onlie to preserue your estate but to encrease both your honor and profit Wherefore when I had an opinion to goe into my Prouince you may remember what place I offered you without being entreated But after I changed my resolution perceiuing how Caesar held mâ— in good esteeme and loued me affectâ—onatelie and knowing his wonderâ—ull courtesie and rare constancie I sent you to him and recommended you with the greatest efficacie possible And he hath often written to me that for my sake he will shew you all fauors Euen as to your selfe also both in words and effects he hath manifested Hauing thereâ—oâ—e light vpon such a man if you thinke I either know any thing or wish you well neglect him not and if any thing peraduenture oâ—â—end you supposing that either through his great occupations or that he is not able he doth not so sodainely remunerate your seruice beare a while and expect the end which will yeeld you honor and contentment And take my securitie for the same It hoots not â—hat I spend more words in perswâ—dâ—ng you onlie I giue you this aduise that neither to purchase absolutely the loue of so honourable a man and so liberall nor to settle you in a Prouince of worthie emploâ—ments shall you euerlight vpon the like occasion Besides your bodilie vigor caâ— neuer be better And as you vse to write in your bookes So thought Quintus Cornelius I am verie glad you went not into Britannia both because you suffered not the discommodities of such a iourney and in that you haue not to relate vnto me those euents I praie write vnto mee where you meane to keepe your winter and with what hope and condition Farewell Cicero to Trebatius Ep. 18. I Receiued at one instant some letters of yours that were written at diuerse times Euery thing pleased me that you prepare your selfe for this warre and that you are a worthie fellow And though at the first you seemed to me somewhat vnconstant yet I thought not that this proceeded from a wauering minde but from an ardent desire to be with me Giue not ouer therefore so promising a beginning passe thorough this warlike employment with an inuincible minde Assure you you 'le gaine much thereby I 'le renue your commendation but vvhen the time shall be fitting Build vpon this that you cannot desiâ—e more thâ—n my selfe that your present absence may be very beneficiall And in testimonie thereof conceiuing that your lawes doe not helpe you much I sent you some few daies since a letter in Greeke by vvhich you might be ayded I pray write vnto me of the successe of the warres of Gallia For I giue credit to euery foolish and idle fellowes reports But as I said all that you wrote pleased me onely I maruailed that you wrote against all common vse many letters with your owne hand of one and the same tenor For as for writing to me vpon râ—zed paper I see your frugalitie and I commend you for it But I am a considering what it might be that was first vvritten there vvhich you vvould rather cancell then vvrite out vnlesse peraduenture they were your law cases For I cannot be perswaded that you would raze out my letters to insert your owne Was it happily your meaning to let me know that your employments were vnfruitfull and that you get not so much as may buy you paper This is your owne fault who carryed with you shamefastnesse and would not leaue it behind you here with vs. I 'le commend you to Balbus when he comes thither after the Romaine manner that is with all efficacie and if you receiue not my letters so suddainely doe not wonder For I will be abroad all the moneth of Aprill I write this in Pâ—ntinum staying a while in the Farme of Marcus Aemilius Philemon From whence I was wont to heare the noise of my Clients who by your meanes committed themselues to my care For 't was confidently told me that a multitude of frogs were assembled together in Vlâ—bra to come and visite me Farewell They viij of Aprill from Pontinuâ— THough your letter vvhich Lâ—câ—us Aruntiuâ— deliuer'd me vvas very innocent because it contein'd nothing that might not securely haue beene read in the hearing of the people yet I rent it as vvell because of Lucius Aruntius words vvho said that he receiu'd from you the like commission as because in the end of the selfe saâ—e letter you put me in minde to doe so but no more of this I maruaile that you neuer since wrote vnto me especially so great newes hauing occurred Fâ—â—evvell Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 19. SEE whether I loue you though certainely vpon iust occasionâ— for I doe not goe beyond you in loue for being now farre oâ—f I could not withhold that from you which in Râ—me I would not grant nor so much as promise you wherefore so soone as I depâ—rted from Vâ—liâ— I began a ship-bord to compose the Topicks of Aristotle and the sight of that Citie because it was so affâ—cted to you made mee haue a desire vnto it I sent you the booke from Regium in which you shall see that I haue entreated of that matter as plainely as possible I could but if some things seeme obscure vnto you you must imagine that no science can bee learn'd out of writing without an Interpretor and without some exercise and not to go â—aâ— from the matter your Lawes thinke you they can bee leâ—rn'd out of bookes onely which though they be many neuerthelesse they requiâ—e a teacher and exposition Though if you read my booke attentiuely and often I will not say you shall reape aâ—l the fruâ—â— that you desire but at least you shalâ— vnderstand the mattâ—r of your selfe And iâ— you will haue also the places from whence you draw your arguments when any question is propounded to come readily to minde exercise is necessarie wherin I will helpe you if I returne safe and finde things safe at Rome Farewell the xxviij of Iuly from Râ—gium Cicero to Trebatius Epist. 20. SInce I knew the affection that the Citie of Velia beares you I thought her more worthie of my loue though she loues not you onely who is belou'd of euerie one but also your Ruâ—io who is as much desired as if hee were one of vs. But I thinke you verie wise in causing him to come to your building For â—hough Velia is of no lesâ—e estâ—eme then Lupercal neuerthelesse I had rather you would make a building in Rome then anie where else But for all this if you 'l follow my councell as you were wont you shâ—ll not sell your fathers possessions which you haue here I speake this because the Velienses something doubted thereof Neither shall you leaue Heleâ—es an excellâ—nt riuer nor forsake the house sometimes of Papiâ—ius though it haue a groue
peraduenture will please you For I once vndeâ—stood that you reprehending my affliction said that you perceiu'd not in me that greatnesse of minde which my Booke inferred But as in that time I mournd for the Common-wealth which not onâ—lie for her benefits towards mee but also for mine towards her was veâ—ie deare vnto me so now though not onelie reason comforteâ—h me which is of great force but also time which impaireth griefe euen in fooles yet I lament that common libertie is so lost that no hope remaines to regaine it Nâ—ither hitherto can we complaine of him that gouernes all things except peraduenture this be his offence but Fortune hath beene in fault for some things and for some our selues also So that we must not grieue for that which is past As for that that is to come I see no hope at all Whereupon I returne where I began You were wise if iudgment happie if fortune caus'd your departure Farewell Manius Curius to Cicero his Master Epist. 29. FOR though Atticus bought me you enioy me so â—hat the fruite is yours and the possession his which if 〈◊〉 would sell he could finde but a little for it But what thinke you of the testimonie I make whersoeuer I come By saying that I acknowledge all my good from you that I liuâ— that I haue that I am in anie esteeme Wherefore my Cicero perseuer constantlâ— in preseruing me and coÌ„mencing me especially to Sulpitius your successor that I may the more easilie obey your precepts and see you at Rome to my great contentment and more commodiouslie carrie my things from hence and conueie them with me But shew not this letter to Atticus Let him beleeue that I am an honest man and that I vse not to gratifie two men with one thing Be carefull therefâ—re good Patron to maintaine your health and salute my Tiro in our behalfe The xxix of October Cicero to Curius Epist. 30. NOW I neither perswade nor entreate you to reâ—urne home nay and I also desire to dâ—part and arriue in some quarter where I may not heare the name nor the workes oâ— the children of Pelops You will not beleeue what blame I think my selfe worthie of fâ—r being present at these things You seeme to haue foreseene long beâ—ore what would ensue when you departed from hence For though these things be also bitter to heare yet â—o heare is more tollerable then â—o see â—hem You were not in Campus Marâ—ius when at two a clocke the people being to be assembled for the creation of Quaestors Quintus Mâ—ximuâ— his seate was placed whom â—hey nominated Consull but his death being vnderstood his seate was carried away and Caesâ—r leauing the creaâ—ion of Quaestors created a Consull who was to hold his Magistraâ—iâ— â—rom seauen a clocke till â—he Calends of Ianuâ—â—ie whâ—ch were on the morning of the day following So that all the while Caninius was Consull no man dined neither was â—here any hurt done For hee was so vigilant that hee neuer slept in all his Consulship You thinke these things worthie the â—â—uâ—hing at because you are not heere but if you were you would not forbeare teares And what if I should write vnto you of further matters For there are an infinite companie of such like the which doubtlesse I could not endure if I had not retired my selfe into the Port of Philosophie and had our Attiâ—us for a comâ—anion in my studies To whom seeing you wriâ—e that the possession and power of your person belongs and to me to employ and enioy you I am content therwith For then a thing is possessed when a man enioyes and vseth it But of this at some other time I 'le write more at large Acilius who was sent into Greece with an armie is much obliged to me For in the better times of the Common-wealth I defended him twice in cases of high importance And he is a thankâ—ull man and do'es mee great honour I haue written exactly this fastned lâ—tter in your fauourâ— which when hee receiueth what oâ—fers he makes you I would be glad to vnderstand Farâ—well Cicero to Curio Epist. 13. BY your letters I easilie comprehend two things which I haue alwaies desired one that you gâ—eatlie esteeme me another that you know your selfe beloued of me Let 's therefore contend in courtesies one to â—nother wherein whosoeuer remaines superior I shall be equallie satisfied I am glad that it was not neceâ—â—â—rie â—o deliuâ—r my letter to Acilius I see you haue had no great need of the Sulpicius offices because your matters were so shefled vp together that they haue as you write neither hands nor feete I would they had their feete to the end that you might once returne because you see that those wittie and ingenious mottoes so long in vse are euery day more and more decaying if wee few preserue not the auncient Atticke glorie as Pomponius who next to you in promptnesse of wittie sayings is the chiefest and I after him might deseruedly say Come therefore I pray you to the end that the seed of wittie iests may not be destroyed as the Commonwealeh is extinguished Farewell Cicero to Volumnius Epist. 32. BEcause familiarlie as you should you haue written vnto me without your forename first I was in doubt whether the Senator Volumnius with whom I entertaine great friendship wrote vnto me Afterwards the wittie conceits of the letter made me thinke that it was yours In which letter euerie thing gaue me great contentmentâ— but this â—hat you doe with little diligence defend the possession of my essaies writing to mee that after my departure all the sayings euen to those of Sextius are attributed to me Doe you then suffer it doe not you defend me I thought I had left my mottoes so sign'd â—hat they might haue beene discern'd from others But seeing in Roâ—e is such ignorance â—hat no saying is so vnproper that appeares not witâ—y vnto some man I entreat you by the loue you beare me if there bee not some pregnanâ— conceit in those which Iulius in my second booke of the Oâ—ator produceth that you will affirme all the rest not to bee none of mine offering to wager against him that will not beleeue it Whereas you complaine of the Iudgements I care much lesse let the worst enâ—ue that may of all defendants Let Selius also bee so â—loquent that he can make men beleeue that he is Free borne I care not much But I pray let vs defend with all ouâ— power the possession of gracefull wiâ—tie passages Wherein I onely preferre you and contemne all others You thinke that I â—est with you Now I see you haue wit But speaking in good earnest your letters appeared to mee very elegant And though they should be as they were ridiculous Yet did not I laugh Because I would that our â—riend should gouerne himselfe with all wisdom both for his own respect for I loue him well as you know as also for the CoÌ„mon-wealth which though she be
this present decree That Lucius Paullus and Caius Marcellus Consuls for the future yeere on the Calends of March which will bee the first day of their Magistracie should propound vnto the Senate the affaires of the Consular Prouinces and onely propound it omitting all other businesses And that in this they should not haue respect to the ordinary impediment of those daies when the people are called to parliament to the end that the decree may passe howsoeuer and when they doe this they shall haue ample authoritie to lâ—t none of those Senators enter into counsell which are in the number of the three hundred Iudges and in case it be needfull to speake thereof to the people or Plebeians that Seruiuâ— Sulpâ—â—ius and Marcus Marcâ—llus Consuls for the present yeere or the Praetors or Tribâ—nes of the people whether of them they thinke good shall take care to discharge this office and if the forementioned will not doe it the Magistrates of the yeere â—ollowing shall not faile to performe it A note of the Senators which confirmed the decree The last of September in the Temple of Apollo there were present Lucius Domitius Aenobarbus son to Cneius Quintus Ciciliâ—â— Metellus Piuâ— Scipio son to Quintus Lucius Villius Annalis son to Lucius of the Tribe Ponâ—ina Caius Sepâ—imius son to Titus of the Tribe Quirina Caius Scribonius Curio son to Caius of the Tribe Pupinia Lucius Atteius Capito son to Lucius of the Tribe Aniensis and Marcus Oppiâ—â— son to Marcus of the Tribe Tereâ—tina Marcus Marcellâ—â— Consull hauing propounded the motion of the Prouinces the Senate censured that none of those that haue power to hinder or oppose should put in any delay that the Consuls might not presently propound to the Senate and the Senate forthwith deliberate of things appertaining to the Common-wealth Whosoeuer shall oppose the Senate iudgeth such an one to haue attempted against the Common-wealth And if any resist the present decree the Senate ordaines that his opinion bee set downe in writing and bee discussed of in the Senate and in the presentâ— of the people To this decree Caius Coelius Lucius Vicinius Publius Cornelius and Caius Vibius Pâ—nsa opposed themselues Besides it hath pleased the Senate concerning the Souldiers that were in Caius Caesars armie that of such of thâ—m as had finished the terme of their seruice or had any iust occasion to giue ouer their entertainment the Senate might be informed that their reasons may bee considered If any man resist this decree the Senates pleasure is that his minde be put in writing and that the matter bee propounded to the Senate and people This decree Caius Coelius and Caius Pansâ— Tribunes of the people withstood And besides this the Senates pleasure is that the next yeere the Praetors of the yeere present bee sent into the Prouince of Cilicia and into the other eight Prouinces which are gouerned by those that haue beene Praetors and that they that are sent shall be sent by lot and if these bee not so many as may suffice that Praetors bee chosen out by lot of the next precedent yeeres which haue not beene in gouernment and that they be sent by lot to the gouernment of the sayd Prouinces And if there be not so many of these as may bee sufficient that one after another the Praetors of the immediate next yeeres cast lots that haue not beene deputed to gouernment and let this bee so long done while the number of them is made vp which are to bee sent to the gouernment of the Prouinces If any oppose this dâ—cree let his minde bee specified in writing to the Senate This decree Caius Coeâ—ius and Caius Pansa Tribunes of the people opposed Moreouer it was obserued by those words of Cneius Pompeius and great hopes therby was conceiued that hee could not without iniustice determine of Caesars prouinces beâ—ore the Calends of March but that after the Calends hee would thinke thereupon And being demanded what if any man should then oppose he answered that it should be as much as if Caesar should suborne one not to suffer the Senate to delibâ—rate as if openly hee should deny to obey it And what if he said another would be Consull and keepe the Armie too he replied free from choller What if my sonne would giue me the bastanado By these words it was collected that Pompeie and Caesar were not of accord Whereupon Caesar as I perceiue will now discend to one of these two conditions either to remaine in the gouernement of the Gaules and so being absent he cannot demaund the Consulship or else obtaining it he will depart Curio sets himselfe wholly against him I know not what he can doe But I see that he aymes at a good end and therefore cannot be ruinated He shewes me great courtesie But the present hee made me will redound to my losse For if he had not giuen me those Panthers which were brought out of Africa for his sports peraduenture I had neuer entred into this dance But seeing I am entred and that I must celebrate my sports I put you in mind of that which so often I haue written that you 'le procure me some Beast from those parts And I commend vnto you the credite I haue with Sitius I haue sent Philo thither my free-man and Diogenes Graecus who will speake to you in my name and deliuer you my letters I recommend them both vnto you and the cause for which I sent them the which how much it imports me you shall see in the letters that they shal present you Farewell Marcus Caelius to Cicero Epist. 9. DOe you thinke that Hirrus remain'd scorned but you doe not well know all For if you knew how easily and with how little paines I put him downe you would blush calling to mind how he was sometimes so impudent as to concurre with you And after this repulse he laughes with euery man to counterfeit a good Cittizen he speakes against Caesar he blames the Senate for being so slacke to deliberate he followes Curio with ill words what needes more this repulse hath made him change nature Besides this though he neuer appeared in the Forum and hath little practise in pleading yet is there not a more courteous aduocate then he He entertaines and followes euery cause but seldome after noone I wrote vnto you that on the xiij of August the matter of the Prouinces would be determined but because Marcellus chosen Consull for the yeare following was of another opinion it is put ouer to the first of September The Consulls were so farre from doing any thing els that they could not bring many Senators to Counsell I sent not these before to day which is the second of September and hitherto no course at all is taken For any thing I seeâ— this cause will be deferred tiâ—l the next yeare and so farre as I conceiue you must leaue one in the gouernment of the Prouince For otherwise exchange cannot be made seâ—ing it cannot be
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
sollicite but to challenge you of performance And I could not choose but send you foure bookes which shall admonish you to pay the debt without any great respect This new Academie hauing as I suppose you know rather a presumptuous forme then otherwise And therefore I doubt that these foure bookes which I send vnto you comming out of the center of the same Academie will challenge your promise with too much importunitie which I haue enioyned them that they sâ—ould but onely put you in minde that I liued in expectation that you would haue honoured me with the dedication of some worke of yours and for this cause I forbare to write vnto you to the end that hauing first seene your present I might haue deuised the like to recompence you But obseruing your slackenesâ—e though I will rather terme it diligence then slacknesse I could not forbeare to write the said bookes vnto you to manifest vnto the world in the best manner I could the firme knot both of our studies and mutuall loue by which we are conâ—oyned And so I haue digested in forme of a Dialogue that discourse we had together in Cumâ—num Pomponius Atâ—iâ—â—s being present And because I concâ—iued that Antiochus opinion pleased you I haue brought you in to defâ—nd it and I maintaine that of Philo. You will in reading wonder at some things vttered by vs which neuâ—r were spoken But you know the custome in Diâ—loguâ—s Hereafter we will betweene vs endite many things and vpon the subiect of our selues Which we should haue done before now but for the time past the Common-wealth excuseth vs for the time to come the blame should be laid vpon vs. And would to God that in a retired life and in a state of our coâ—ntrie though not â—rosperous â—et secure we might exercise our studies together Alâ—hough occasions would not be then wanting to meditate and practise somthing else But now without studies what a life would ours be In sooth I know not certainly whither with them I may likewise liue but without I shall neuer be able But we will discusse this together hereafter and verie often Whereas you write vnto me about the house you haue bought and how you are gone to dwell there I wish you all happinesse therein and I thinke you haue done very wisely Haue a care of your health Farewell Dolabella to Cicero Ep. 9. IF you be well I am glad of it I am in health and our Tullia is exceeding well Terentia felt her selfe very ill but I know certainely shee is recouered All your other matters stand in very good stateâ— you know that before now I perswaded you to follow Caesars part or else to retire you into some secure and quiet place neither am I perswaded that you imagine that I aduised you more for the interest of our faction then for your owne good And therefore now that we are euen vpon the point of victorie I should thinke I committed a greater fault if I did not exhort you a new And I beseech you my Câ—câ—ro to take in good part what I write and if you like not to follow my counsell at least beleeue that I haue stirred in your actions and done the offices which now I performe for no other end but for the great loue I beare you You see now that Cneius Pompeius is nothing the better for the glory of his name nor for his so great prowesse or being so much followed by Kings and Nations wherein being loftie and proud he continually vaunted He is driuen out of Italiâ— he hath lost Spaineâ— And his armie of old souldiâ—rs it taken from him finallie he is now besieged and that which neuer fell out to any one how base soeuer he was hapneth to him that he cannot flie without disâ—onor Neither doe I thinke that any of our Captaines were euer in such diâ—grace Whereâ—ore being wise as you are consider well what hopes now remaine either to him or you And in so doing you may dispose of your selfe to take that course for your businesses which shall be most profitable One fauour I demand of you that if he escape this beleaguering and flie away by Sea that you looke well to your own estate and resolue at length to be better to your selfe then to any other whatâ—oeuer You haue diâ—charged your dutie you haue satisfied the inward amitie you had with Pompeius you haue satisfied also each part and that CoÌ„mon-wealth which you iudge to be good Now it remaines that you must be contented with that we haue seeing you cannot be in that which so much pleased you Therefore I desire my sweete Cicero if peraduenture Pompeius be driuen out of the place where he is and be constrained to retire himselfe anew into other countries that you withdraw your selfe either to Athens or else into some other quiet Cittie And when you doe so be pleased to aduertise me for if it may be Iâ—le come speâ—dily to find you And besids that I am certaine your selfe shall obtaine of Caesar whatsoeuer you will about your honor because he is verie courteous I am also furthâ—r of opinion that he will be much moued at my entreaties I know your fidelitie and loue the one makes me beleeue that the carrier of this present may returne hither againe securely and the other that he will bring me your letters Farewell Cicero to Dolabella Ep. 10. I Thought it an error not to write vnto you our friend Salâ—ius hauing occasioÌ„â—o come where you are although to say truth I know not what to write more then that I loue you tenderly which though I should not write yet I am certaine you would hold it infallible I should rather looke for letters from you then you from me nothing passing in Rome which you care to vnderstand except peraduenture you would know this that our Nicias and Vâ—dius haue made choice of me for their Iudge One produceth as he seemes to informe me a loane made to Nicias written in two verses the other like a second Aristarcus saith it is false I as an auncient Iudge must determine whither it be false or true I suppose thâ—t you reasoning now within your selfe may say vnto me Haue you then â—orgotten those mushromes which you eate in Nicias houâ—e and those gâ—eat banquets of Sophia daughter to Septimia But whâ—t's your meaning by this doe you thâ—nke I haue forgotten my selfe so farre that whereas before I was verie seuere now that I haue the authoritie of a Iudge should I make no account of Iustice I 'le carrie the matter so that our Nicias shall not be wronged neither will I in any case condemn him to the end that you may haue no occasion to restore him least he goe to Plancus Bursâ— to instruct him in letters Buâ— what doe I I range too farre not well conceiuing whither you haue a reposed minde or as it falls out often in the warres whither you finde your selfe plunged in some care or businesse of importance When
I vnderstand that you are in case to laugh I 'le write to you more at large Yet will I not omit to tell you this that the people were wonderfully toucht with the death of Pubâ—ius Silla before they knew the certaintie Now they neuer striue to vnderstand how he died they thinke it enough to know that he is dead I for some reason beare it patiently I am affraid of one thing that by this mans death Caesars publike out-crie will bee hindred Farewell Cicero to Dolabella Ep. 11. I Had rather you should vnderstand by my letters of mine owne death then that of my daughter which assuredly I should the better support if I had you about me For your words would haue comforted me exceedingly and the vnspeakeable loue you beare me But because I hope within a small time to see you againe you shall finde me at such a passe that I may receiue also from youâ— no small assistance not that I am so afflicted that I haue forgotten my selfe to be a man or that I conceiue not that Fortune should be resisted Neuerthelesse as I was wont to be the most cheerefull and milde man of the world vpon which you tooke such liking to my conuersation So now am I turned quite contrary yet you shall vnderstand that I haue not a whit diminished that freedome and constancie of spirit I was wont to haue if it be â—â—ue that euer I had it Whereas you write that you defend me stoutly against my detractors I make not so much account of that as I desire it may appeare as questionlesse it doth that I am beloued of you And I pray you with the most effectuall entreaties that can be vsed be pleased to perseuere in that so louing an officâ— and to pâ—rdon me though I write briefely to you the which I do first in this respect because I imagine we shall shortly be together Besides because this blow hath so astonisht me that I find not my selfe yet in case for writingâ— Farewell Cicero to Dolabella Ep. 12. I Congratulate with the Baths of Baiae seeing as you write on a sudden they are growne healthfull against their old custome Except peraduenture they are enamored of you and desire to applie themselues to your occasion giuing ouer while you are there their ordinarie disposition Which if it be true I maruaile not though euen heauen earth leaue their vsuall properties for your commoditie I send you the briefe Oration which I made in defence of King Deiotarus which I knew not to be about me The subiect is very mean and almost vncapable of ornaments nor verie worthie to be set downe in writing But because Deiotarus is my guest and a friend of many yeares standing I thought good to send him this poore present as a garment of a grosse graine like those presents he was wont to send to me I aduise you to shew wiâ—edome and valour to the end that by your modestie and grauitie the iniuries of your enemies may light vpon their owne heads with dishonour and infamie Farewell Cicero to Dolabella Ep. 13. CAius Suberinus Câ—llenus is a familiar of mine and an inward friend to Lepta our most domesticall This man to auoid the warre going into Spaine with Marcus Varro with a resolution to remaine in that Prouince where none of vs since Afranita was defeated supposed that any rumors of warre would haue risen did light precisely into those verie mischiefes which he laboured to shunne For on the suddaâ—ne he was surprized with a warâ—e which being first kindled by Scapula was afterwards in such sort reinforced by Pompeius that in no wise Suberinus could dis-intricaâ—e himselfe from that miserie Marâ—us Planiuâ— Haeres is as it were in the same perplexiâ—iâ—s who is likewise Calenuâ— a familiar friend of our Lâ—pta I commend therefore vnto you both these with the greatest loue and efficacie possible I desire to doe them fauour and not onely amitie but euen humanitie mooues me thereunto Besides Lepta being so much grieued thereat that he could not be more in case of his owne substance I am vrged to feele therein if not as much affliction at the least little lesse Whereupon though I had many times by prooâ—e vnderstood how entire the loue you beare me is neuerthâ—lesse be asâ—ured that I shall more securely iudge thereof in this present occasion I pray you thereâ—ore so woâ—ke that both these Caleni miserable not by fault but through Fortune to whom euery one is subiect may receiue no damage to the end that by your meanes I may do this fauour to them also to the company of Calenus with whom I haue great friendship and to Lepta which more imports then all the rest What I am to speake I thinke is not much to the purpose neuerthelesse 't is not hurtfull to deliuer it I say thereforâ— that one of these hath very little substance and the other hardly so much as may maintaine him in the ranke of a Caualâ—ere Wherefore seeing Caesar out of his clemencie hath giuen him his life besides which they haue not much to loâ—e see if you can procure fauour if you loue me so much as questâ—onlesse you doe that they may returne home wherein they gaine nothing else but a tedious iourney which will not bee wearisome to them so they may liue and die with their friends Which thing I request you most earnestly to procure with all endâ—uour or rather to effect it for I am of opinion that you are able to doe it Farewell Cicero to Dolabella Consull Epist. 9. THough I could content my selfe my Dolabella with your glory and take therein wonderfull satisfaction and contentment yet I must needâ—s confâ—sse that I feele my selfe replenished with infinite ioy seeing that by the common opinion of men I am made partakâ—r of your praises With whomsoeuer I come to speake thereof And euery day I speake with very many for there is a great number of vertuous men whiâ—h for the meanes of health repaire to these places and besides this diuers others my neâ—re friends which come vnto vs from prâ—uâ—ledged places all which aftâ—r they haue exalâ—ed you to heauen with exceeding prayses they presently giue me the greatâ—st and most effectuall thankes that can be For they say they make no doubt but that you following my documents and instructions may discharge those offices Which to an excâ—llent Cittizen and honoâ—able Conâ—ull are conformable And though I may answer them in all truth that the matters you compasse your owne iudgement and likeing moues you to effect them and that you neede not anothers aduise neuerâ—heâ—esse neither doe I whollie yeeld to their words because I would not extenuate your praise in that it may seeme wholly to proceed from my Councels nor doe I altogether oppose them because I am more hungrie after glorie then is conuenient And yet that deâ—ogaâ—es not from your dignitie which Agamemnâ—n king of kings reputed â—or so great honor to hauesome Nâ—stor for a
Fadius Pompei's sâ—uldier hauing â—wiâ—e foughâ— withâ—ut reward beiâ—g vrged by another into the listes â—t his requâ—st would not fiâ—ht and made his â—â—fuge to the people Fiâ—st he set Gaullâ—sh horsemen against the pâ—ople â—or he had stones cast at him when Fadiuâ— was draâ—ne by force â—â—tâ—rwâ—rds dragâ—ing him away within 〈…〉 put him in a pit and burnt hiâ—â—â—â—ue At whiâ—h time he hauing diâ—â—d bâ—re footed vnbraced with his hands bâ—â—â—nd him he struâ—ting walked vp and dowâ—e and to that poore wâ—â—tch who 〈◊〉 sayd I am a â—iâ—tizen of Râ—mâ— he made answer Now goe câ—â—uâ— fâ—â—ouâ— of the people Besides this he câ—st vnto the wild beasts Râ—nare Cittizens And amongst thâ—se a certaine out-cryer a man verâ—â— well knowne in Hispâ—liâ— he gaue to be torne asunder by the same Beasts for no other cause but that he was deformed I haue had to doe with this monster But when we be together we will talke of him more aâ— large Now more to the purpose ordaine what I should do I haue three Legions of valiant souldiers One of which that is the eight and twenâ—ith Antonius in the beginning of the warre hauing called it to him with this promise that the same day it arriued in his Campe he would giue them fiue hundred Romane pence a man and in victory the same rewards as to his owne Legions Which largesses would haue beene inâ—inite and beyond all measure It being very desirous to haue gone to him I detained it but hardly vndoubtedly Neither could I haue detained them if I had had them all in one place considering that some of those cohorts muâ—ined though they were remote one from another The other Legions he hath not ceased to incite by letters and large promises As also Lepidus hath vrged me both by his owne and Antonius letters to send vnto them the thirtieth Legion Whereupon if this Armie which I haue I would neither sell for rewards nor diminish for feare of those daungers of which Antonius and Lepidus remaining Conquerours I mâ—ght be in iealousie you may well iudge that it was by me detained and reserued for the seruice of the Commonwealth and you may hold for most certaine that I would haue performed whatsoeuer you had commanded me to doe perceiuing I had done that which you imposed vpon me For I haue kept the Prouince in quiet and the armie vnder my power I neuer went beyond the extent of my Prouince to goe any whither I neuer sent a souldier into any part not onely of the Legions but not so much as of strangers or those that haue colleagued themselues and if I found any horsemâ—n stealing away or parting I haue punished him For all which actions I shall thinke I haue receiued a great gâ—erdon if the Common-wealth continue But if it and the greater part of the Senate had well knowne me I might ere this haue done them greater seruice I haue sent that Epistle to you which I wrote to Balbus while he was yet in the Prouince In like manner the Comedie if you please to read it call for it from Gallus Cornelius my friend This seuenth of Iune from Corâ—uba Farewell Caius Asinius Pollio to Cicero Epist. 33. LEpidus by hauing detain'd my posts for nine dayes was the occasion that I had more late aduertisement of the battailes fought vnder Mutina although we ought to desire that the newes of so great a losse to the Common-wealth should arriue very slowly especially to them that can no wayes helpe vs nor giue vs any remedie And I would to God that by the same decree of the Senate with which you called Plancus and Lepidus into Italie you had likewise imposed vpon me to come thither Vndoubtedly the Common-wealth had noâ— receiued a wound so dangerous Whereat if any at this present reioyce for it seemes that the Captaines and old souldiers of Caesars partie are dead neuerthelesse they must afterwards needs lament when they shall behold the ruine of Italie For the very strength and race of good souldiers is extinguished if the nevves we heare be in any part true And I knew it euidently that if I had ioyned with Lepidus I should wonderfully haue assisted the Common-wealth For whereas he hunge off and was doubâ—full what part to cleaue vnto I would by all meanes haue perswaded him to haue resolued on a course especially with the ayde of Plancus But he writing vnto me such letters as you shall peruse and like to the open speeches which they say he vttered at Naâ—bona it was necessarie I should draw him on with faiâ—e words if I meant to get prouision marching through his Prouince Besides this if the battaile had beene fought before I had effected my determination I doubted that my good intention might by mine aduersaries haue been discouered misconstrued considering the acquaintance I haue had with Antonius which notwithstanding was no greater then what Plancus had also with him Whereupon at Gades in the moneth of Aprill I embarqued two messengers in two ships and I wrote vnto you to the Consulls and to Octauian that you would informe me how I might be best seruiceable to the common-wealth But according to my accompt on the same day that Pansa ioyned battaile on the very same the ships set out from Gades For since the Winter there was no setting of Saile before that day And in truth not supposing that any ciuill tumults would haue growne with a setled mind I had billeâ—tâ—d my Legions in Lusitania to the end they might lie there al the winter But both of them after such a manner sought to fight as if their greatest feare had beene that the warre could not be ended without the vtter ruine of the Common wealth But if theâ—e were occasion of hast Then I see that Hirtius in al things demean'd himselfe like a most valiant Captaâ—ne For these things were written and certified vnto me out of Gallia which is in Lepidus gouernment that Pâ—nsa's Armie was hewen in peeces Pansa himselfe slaine with manie wounds the Martian Legion destroyed in the same battaile together with Lucius Fabatus Caius Peduceus Decimus Carsulenus Then that in Hirtius battaile boâ—h the fourth Legion and generally all those of Antinius passed the edge of the swordâ— In like maner Hirtiuâ—â—ourth â—ourth Legion hauing ceas'd vpon Antonius tents were cut in peeces by the fift Legion and here also Hirtius and Ponâ—ius Aquila perished And I heare it is reported that Octauianus was there slâ—ine which newes if they be true as God â—orbid I shall be infinitely sorrowfull Morâ—ouer that Marcus Aâ—tonius dishonourabâ—â—e left the siâ—ge of Mutina but that the Cauallerie and three armed legions vnder their Standards onâ— of Publius Vagienus with a great â—uÌ„ber of diâ—aâ—med men and that Venâ—idius alâ—o is vnited with him with three Legions the seuenth the â—ight and the ninth and thâ—t if Lâ—pidus faile him in whom he hath great hope he will be take him to his last refuge and will raise not onely
Caesar would rather â—ish to meete with friends like me then like themselues For my part if things fall out conformable to my desire I meane to passe so much of my life as remaines quietly at Rhodes but if it so happen that any accident disturbe me I will remaine in Rome and remaine there alwaies wishing that they may doe well I giue great thankes to our Trebatius because he plainely declared vnto me how your minde stood towards me which I discerne to be full of sinceritie and affection and because he was the occasion that I hauing euer willingly loued you should now also be further tyed both to honour and respect you Farewell Cicero to Marcus Oppius Epist. 29. I being as our Atâ—icus knowes very doubtâ—ull about this iourney In that my minde on eiâ—her side suggested many râ—asons your iudgement and counâ—â—ll greatly induced mee to deliberate and make my resolution For you both plainely wrote vnto mee what your opinion therein was and Aâ—ticus related that vnto mee which you had spoken vnto him thâ—reof I euer tooke you to bee wise in deliberating and very faithfull in aduising and I haue had good expâ—rience thereof when in the beginning of the ciuill warre I requiring you by letters that you would aduise mee what I should doe either in going to Pompeius or remaining in Italie you perswaded mee to doe that that stood best with mine honour By which I perceiued what your opinion was therein and I admired that you were of so great fideliâ—ie and in aduiâ—ing mee â—o honâ—st a man â—or you thinking that the contrarie was desired by him that was your best friend you had greater râ—spect to my office then his will or pleasure Certainely before this fell out I loued you and euer knew that my selfe was by you beloued And when I was absent and stood in great danger I remember that in my absence yoâ— defended mee with great care vsing the like humanitie to all mine that were in Rome and after my returne how domesticallie you liued with mee and what opinion I retained of you and what things I diuulged all those that usuallie looke into such actions can truelie testifie But how faithfull in louing you and how constant you reputed mee you then euidently shewed when after Caesars death you betooke you whollie vnto mine acquaintance Which opinion of yours iâ— I by my dearest loue and best offices doe not acknowledge I shall not repute my selfe a man Perseuer you my Oppius in louing me although doubtlesse I write this vnto you not that I thinke you stand in neede of any such remembrance but because it is vsuall to write thus and take all my affaires into your protection Whereof that you may be fully informed I haue giuen commission to Atticus And when I shall be at better leisure I will write vnto you more at large Be carefull of your health For you cannot doe me a greater pleasure THE TWELFTH BOOKE OF THE FAMILIAR EPISTLES OF M. T. CICERO Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 1. BE assured Cassius that I neuer cease to think vpon you and our Brutus that is of the whole CoÌ„monwealth which hath reposed all her hope in you and Decimus Brutus And certainly from this time forward I begin to conceiue better hopes seeing may Dolabella hath performed such materiall seruice to the Common-wealth For that euill which sprung vp in the Citie continually dispersed it sâ—lfe and euerie day so encreased that for my part I held both the Citie and the peace of Citizens vtterly lost But it is so stop't that as for that reprochfull danger I suppose wee may liue for euer secure Other thâ—ngs that yet remaine to bee acted are important and many but you must be the man that must effect them al Though we are intentiue to dispatch those which are of greatest moment For touching that which hath hitherto beene done wee haue freed our selues of the King but not of the Kingdom For though the King be slaine yet we put all that in execution which the King appointed to be performed And not onely this but some things also which hee himselfe if hee had liued would not haue acted wee approue because hee designed them And of this I know not when wee shall see an end New Lawes are propounded exemptions are granted great taxes imposed banished men are restored and false decrees of the Senate are produced so as it seemes that the hatred onely of that wicked man and the greefe of seruitude is remoued but the Common-wealth is still tormentâ—d with those troubles whereinto hee brought her Of all these things you must make an end of necessitie and not suppose that the Common-wealth hath had alreadie from you what was sufficient Shee hath indeed so much as I would neuer haue hoped for but shee is not content with this and the greatnesse of your benefit and courage considered shee expects and desires froÌ„ you greater matters Hitherto with the death of the Tyrant and by your meanes she is reuenged of her iniuries but which of her ornaments hath shee recouered Take you peraduenture these for ornamenâ—s that shee obeyes him dead whom liuing shee could â—ot support or that wee defend his writings whose Lawes we ought to abrogate you 'l tell me we so determined It is true But wee did it to giue way vnto the times which in a Common-wealth are of great â—orâ—â— But some bearing themselues indiscreetly and vngratfully assume too much securitie vpon our courtesie Of which and manie other things wee will shortly discouâ—se at our meeting In the meane while perswade your selfe that I both in respect of the Common-wealth which was euer most dâ—aâ—e vnâ—o me as also for the loue we beare one another haue an especiall care of your dignity Looke vnto your heath Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 2. I Am verie glad that my sentence and Oration giues you content The which if I could often vse it would be no great labour to vs to re-establish the Common-wealâ—h in lâ—bertie But this foolish and debauched companion and a wickedâ—â— wretch then hee was of whom you weâ—e wonâ— to say that there was slâ—ine an impious man seâ—kes all meanes to procure a murder and hee doth for no other end charge me thâ—t I ploâ—ted Caesars death but because the old souldiers might rise vp against mee Which danger no wayes daunts me so that I may also purchase praise for that which you most gloriously haue â—ffected Aâ—d thus neither Piso who was â—he first that spake against him without anie man to second him nor I who a â—onth after did the like nor Publius Serâ—â—lius who spake after me can securâ—ly goe into the Senate For that bâ—oudie fellow vseth all meanâ—s to pâ—ocuâ—e some slaughter and the xx of Seâ—tember he thought to begin with mee And I can tell you he camâ— prouided iâ—to the Senate hauing for manie dâ—ies in Metellus villâ—ge wâ—ll consideâ—ed that which hee meant to vtter against me But what sound
looke you should presently introduce me a speaker in your Dialogues as you promised And I am certaine that in wâ—iting any thing of the death of Caesar you will afford me in that action and your owne loue no little portion Farewell and let me recommend my mother and all mine vnto you From Athens the 25. of May. Cicero to Quintus Cornificius his Colleague Ep. 17. THe memoriaâ—l you retaine of mee is according as you signifie in your leâ—ters beyond measure to me acceptable and I entreat you to preserue it not that I any waies doubt the contrarie but because it is the custome to be thus â—ollicitous There 's newes out of Syria of certaine tumults whichâ— in that they aâ—e nearer to you then vs I am more soâ—rie for yours then mine owne respects Rome is in wonderfull quiet but it were farre better that it were busied in some beneficiall and honouraâ—le â—rauâ—iles which I hope will be because I â—eâ— Caesar hath a desire thâ—reunto Vnderstand that in your absence I eâ—dâ—e very boldly because me thinkes I may you being absent and â—mong maâ—y thiâ—â—â— which peraduenture would noâ— dislâ—kâ— you I hâ—ue lately written of the perfect forme of speaking Wherein I thought many times that you were somewhat discrepant from my opinion after that manner that a learned man vseth to dissent from one that is vnlearned I would haue you first commend this Booke for it owne desert and then though you should thinke it deserues nothing yet to doe me a pleasure I will giue it to your friends to be written out that they may send it you For I suppose though you approue not of the subiect yet finding your selfe now without employments you will take delight in euery thing that comes from me Whereas you recommend vnto me your dignitie and reputation in this you follow the custome of oâ—hers but I assure you that besides the great accompt I make of your friendship I doe so estimate your vertuous studies and vnderstanding and haue so great hope that you will aâ—ise to eminent degrees of honor as I preferre none before you and hold but few your equalls Farewell Cicero to Cornificius his Colleague Epist. 18. TO the last poynt of your last letters I will fiâ—st make answere because I haue somtimes obserued this custome in you that are great Oratorsâ— you complaine that I write not vnto you and I euer wrote when I heard by your friends that there was any opportunitie By your letters me thinkes I conceiue that you will doe nothing but deliberately and that you will not resolue of any thing before you vnderstand what will become of I know not what Caecilius Bassus The which I presuppos'd out of your prudence and now your graue letters ratifie as much And I entreat you as earnestly as I can â—o write often to me to the end I may vnderstand what you doe and what is done as also what you meane to vnder take Though at your departure from hence I was much grieued to be depriued of your companie yet I was comforted through hope that you should goe into great quietnesse and remoue your selâ—e from affaires of moment which were imminent But the quite contrarie hath hapned for there you haue warre here we haue peace but such peace as if you were here many things would dislâ—ke you by which euen Caesar himâ—elfe is also disgusted For the end of câ—uill warre is euer of this naâ—ure that matters are not carryed according to the will of the Conquerour onely but they also must be obeyed by whose assistance the victory hath beene obtained For my part I am now so accustomed hereunto as in Caesars sports I had the patience to behold Tiâ—us Plancus and to heare the Poems of Publiuâ— and Laberius I would haue you know that I want nothing more then to haue one by me with whom I might learnedly and familiarly laugh at these things You shall be thâ— man if you come speedily and this I suppose imports not onely me but your selfe also Farewell Cicero to Cornificius Epist. 19. I Most willingly read your letters whâ—rein I tooke great contentment perceiuing that you had receiu'd mine For I made no question but you would desiâ—oâ—sly peruse them I onâ—ly doubted of their deliuerie By yours I vnderstood how Caesâ—r committed to you the warre of Syria and the gouâ—râ—ment thereof I pray God you may haue good and happie successe in that employment as I hope you shall being confidâ—nt in your wisedome and industrie But what you write vnto me touching the suspition of a Parâ—â—ian waâ—re hath much disturbed me Conâ—idering your strength by what I gather from your letters and mine owne coniecture Wherefore I desire at this presâ—nt that the Parthians may not stir till those Legions are arriued which must as I heare be brought vnto you And if you haue not power â—nough to fight faile not to take the same course which was once taken by Marcus Bibâ—lus who shut himselfe within a well fortified very plentifull Town so long as the Parthians were with in the â—rouince But you may better dispose of these things accordinâ— to the time and to th'occasioâ—â— I shall euer be pensiue for youâ— till I know whaâ— hâ—th succeeded I neuer heaâ—d of â—ny messâ—â—ger that went to you buâ— I deliuered him leâ—ters for you I râ—quest you to doe â—â—e like and aboue all to writâ— vâ—â—o your friends in such a manner that they may conceiue me to be yours Farewell Cicero to Cornificius his Colleague Epist. 20. YOur letters were very welcome to me but that you disdained to lodg at the little Inne at Sinvâ—ssa But know that that little village will take it ill vnlesse in Cumanum and Pompâ—â—anum you reforme the error you haue committed Therefore doe as I bid you and let me haue you to loue me and by writing sometimes to me inuite me to doe the like For I can more easily answere then prouoke But if you be negligent as you beginne I will vrge you least your litheâ—nâ—sse beget ignorance More at more leysure Thâ—se I scribled in the Senate Farewell Cicero to Cornificius Epist. 21. CAius Anitius my familiar acquaintance a well quallified person comes into Africa about his priuaâ—e affaires with a titular Embassie I desire you would assist him in euery thing and procure that he may dispatch his businesse with all possible conueniencie and especially which he much regardes that he may be honoured and respected according to his dignitie And I requâ—st you that he may haue Lictors aloâ—ted him Which in my Prouince I euer allowed to all Senators without entreatie hauing had frequent presidents therof by men of greatest account vpon mine owne knowledg and other mens relation Therefore my Cornificius let this be done And in all other occurrenâ—s as you loue me haue a care of his honour and occasions for you cannot doe me a greater pleasure Be carefull of your health Farewell Cicero to Cornificius Epist. 22. HEre we
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
whether he be there or not you would call to mind that he is one of my most intimate and dearest friends and entreat you to carry your sâ—lfâ—â—â—â— towards him that he may perceiue that my recommendation did afford him great assistance Farewell Cicero to Acilius Vice-consull Epist. 31. I Frequent Caius Flauius a Romaine Knight of noble discent and honourable estate verie domestically In that he was a viscerall friend of Caius Piso my sonne in law and in that not onely he but also Flaâ—ius his brother obserues me wiâ—h all respect I would haue you therefore to honour me shew him all those fauours and courtesies which you mâ—y honestly performe aâ—d without empeachment to your dignitie I will take it for so great kâ—ndnesse as you cannot doe me a grâ—ater And moreouer I asâ—ure you not out of vaine glory but because out of ouâ— familiaritie friendship and truth it selâ—e I may affirme it You shall find Caius Flâ—uius so oâ—ficious and respectiue and withall so bountifull and so esteem'd of all his friends as you will remaine much satisfied in hauing pleasur'd him Farewell Cicero to Acilius Vice-consull Epist. 32. IN Alesa a pleasant and noble cittie dwell Marcus Clodius Archagathus and Caius Clodius Philo who in respect of the domesticall entertainments and familiaritie that passe betwixâ— vs are my singular good friends But because I commend many men vnto you with equall importunitie I feare least it may seeme that out of a certaine ambition I am led to preferre all my recommendations after one manner Though in truth you satisfie to the full both mee and all those whom I recommend vnto you But you must vnderstand that this familie especially these are conioyned to mee as well by the ancient acquaintance we haue had togeather as also through the mutuall offices wee haue interchanged and breefly in respect of the loue wee beare one another And therefore I request you as effectually as I can that you will afford all those furtherances to the aboue-mentioned which may stand with your credit and dignitie And in so doing I shall receiue inestimable contentment Farewell Ciâ—ero to Acilius vice-Consull Epist. 33. CNeius Otacilius Naso is my very domeâ—ticall friend and so neere that I haue not with any man of his ranke more priuate conuersation For dailie keeping him companie I take wonderfull pleasure and contentment in his nobilitie and honest disposition It imports not that you should regard in what words I recommend him to you he being so familiar with mee as I haue written He hath certaine businesses in your Prouince where Hilarius Antigonus and Demostratus his Free-men sollicite them These togeather with th' affaires of Naso I no otherwise recommend vnto you then if they were mine owne I shall repute iâ— for a singular pleasure to heare that this my commendation preuailed with you more then ordinarie Farewell Cicero to Acilius vice-Consull Epist. 34. MY deceased progenitors and those of Lyso Lilybaetanus sonne to Lyso made a friendship in respect of the hospitalitie which passed betwixt them which we hauâ— successiuelie preserued And besides hee greatly obserues me and I haue found him a man worthie of such a father and grand-father for he is of a most noble Familie And therefore with the greatest zeale I am able I recommeâ—d vnto you his house and substance And I require it at your hands as a speciall fauour that you will cause him to perceiue that my recommendation of him to you turned vnto his great honor and benefit Farewell Cicero to Acilius vice-Câ—nsull Epist. 35. CAius Aâ—iâ—nus Philoxenus is auâ—ciently woâ—t to entertaine me and besidâ—s he is my very familiar friend Caesar at my request made him a cittizen amongst the Nouocomenses Besides hee hath taken vpon him the name of Auianus because hee was more then any man domesticall friend of Flaccus Auianus This â—laccus I thinke you know to be my very louing acquaintance All which things I râ—p vp to informe you that this my recommendation is not vulgar I therefore request you to assist him whereinsoeuer you may without your own preiudice and repute him in the number of your friends and make him by any meanes to vnderstand that my â—resent letters gaue him great â—uâ—thâ—rance And I shall take it for a speciall fauour Farewell Cicero to Acilius vice-Consull Epist. 36. DEmetrius Mega and I haue of long time vs'd to lodge one another and there is betwixt vs so great acquaintance as there is neuer a Sicilian more familiar with me Dolabella by my entreatie obtain'd â—rom Caesar that he was made free-denizen Whereat I was present And therefore hee is now called Publius Cornelius And Caesar hauing ordain'd that the Table wherin the names of new created cittizens were engrauen should bee cancelled and taken away by reason of the abhominable auarice of such as sold his fauours in this respect granted for money he said in my presence to Dolabella that he should take no care for Mega â—or he would haue the fauour which he intended to him take effect This I thought good to tell you to the end you might esteeme him in the number of the Romanâ— ciâ—tizens And in any occasions I commend him after such a manner that I neuer with greater affection recommended any man vnto you If you â—o entreat him that hee may discerne that he was much graced by my commendation you shall doe me an acceptable kindeneâ—se Farewâ—ll Cicero to Acilius vice-Consull Epist. 37. WIth the greatest desire possible I commend vnto you Hippia Calatinus sonne to Philoxenus my host and very good friend His goods as I heare say against the priuiledges of the Calatiâ—j are possessed by the publike for certaine moneyes which he owes to others And if it be so without my recommendation the businâ—s it selfe may inuite your equâ—tie to assist him But howsoeuer I â—equest so much fauour at your hands as to dispatch him and to procure him all conueniencie in these or any other his occasions so farre forth as may stand with your credit and dignitie This will highly content mee Farewell Cicero to Acilius vice-Consull Epist. 38. LVcius Brutus a Romane Cauallier and a compleat young man is my gâ—eâ—t â—riend and much â—espects mee Bâ—sides I haue had speciall amitie with his father euer since my Quaestorship in Sicilia It is true that this Brutus is now in Rome with me But for all â—his I commend vnto you his familie goods and solliciters with as much efficacie as I am able You shall fauour mee highlie if by the effects you manifest vnto Brutâ—s that my recommendation was as beneficiall vnto him as I had promis'd him Farewell Cicero to Acilius vice-Consull Epist. 39. VVIth the Titurnian Familie I haue had ancient and inward friendship of which there remaines onlie Marcuâ— Titurnius Rufus whom I am bound to take care of and to vse all endeauour and discharge all offices I am able for his benefit It lies in you to let him vnderstaâ—d thaâ— I am of
haue departed from me had I not permitted him Wherefore I recommend him to you as one of my house and as my verie vsefull friend You shall doe me a great pleasure if you so entrâ—at him that hee may take notice of the profit and assistance that did accrue vnto him through my recommendation Farewell Cicero to Publius Seruilius his Colleague Ep. 72. BEfore you departed from Rome I recommended vnto you in your garden as effectuallie as I could the goods moueables reckonings and possessions that my necessarie friend Caerellia hath in Asia and you according to your custome and continuall waightie courtesies freely tooke vpon you to doe any thing Now I hope you are as mindfull of the said businesse as you were wont to be of other matters Notwithstanding Caerellia's Solicitors haue written to me that it were good to giue you often remembrance thereof being for the greatnesse of your Prouince and the multitude of affaires much employed I desire therefore that you would be mindfull how freely you promised me all those fauours which your dignitie might affoord I am fully of opinion that you haue ample authoritie of satisfying Caerellia out of that decre of the Senate which was enacted in that cause of the heires to Caius Vennonius Wherein notwithstanding I referre my selfe to your councell and iudgement as being to eâ—terpret it in such sort as shall appeare best vnto your wisedome For I know that you haue euer highly esteem'd the authoritie of that order It onelie remaines for me to tell you that wherein so euer you fauour Caerellia you shall doe me a singular pleasure Farewell Cicero to Quintus Philippus Vice-consull Ep. 73. YOur gouernment being expired I congratulate your healthfull and safe returne with the preseruation of your owne honour and great satisfaction to the Common-wealth And if I had seene you in Rome I would presentially haue giuen you thanks for the loue and fauour you shewed to my familiar friend Lucius Egnatius in his absence and Lucius Oppius that was present Antipater Derbetes vseth to entertaine me and I him and besides there passeth great familiaritie betwixt vs. I heard that you are very much displeased with him and it grieâ—'d me I know not whither he deserued it but sure I am that such a person as you are would doe nothing without iust occasion Howsoeuer it be I entreat you as effectually as possible I can for our auncient and true friendship that you would be pleased to pardon his sonnes who are vnder your power especially at my intercession If you thinke it not preiudiciall to your owne reputation Iâ— which case I would not request it for I should haue a respect of greater antiquitie to your honour then to Antipaters acquaintance But I verily beleeue yet I may be deceiu'd that by such an act you shall rather get prayse then infamie About this matter what may be done and what you may doe for my sake for I make no doubt of what you would doe I desire so it be not troublesome vnto you to be further certified Farewell Cicero to Quintus Philippus Vice-consull Ep. 74. THough I am assured that out of the loue you beare me and for the familiar friendship that is betwixt vs you are mindfull of my recommendation yet will I not omit most effectually to recommend againe vnto you my kinde friend Lucius Oppius presâ—nt and the affaires of my domesticall acquaintance Lucius Egnatius absent The frieÌ„dship familiaritie I haue with him is so great as I could not be more carefull if it were mine owne cause Therefore I shall take it as an extraordinarie kindnâ—sse if you giue him cause to concâ—iue how I am no lesse beloued of you then I giue my selfe to vnderstand You cannot doe me a greater fauour then this and I earnestly request you to performe it Farewell Cicero to Titus Titius sonne to Titus Legate Ep. 75. THough I am of constant beleefe that my first recommendation preuailed much with you yet I am desirous to giue contentment to Caius Auianus Flaccus my familiar friend whom I am not onely desirous but bound â—o fauour wherein possible I am able of whom in presence I spake effectuallie to you when you kindly made me answere and with great efficacie I wrote vnto you afterwardes thereof I request you to pardon me if to giue him satisfaction I may seeme vnmindfull of your constancie I desire therfore the same fauour at your hands which is that you will permit Auianus that at all times of the yeare he may conueie his come whâ—ther soeuer stands best with his commoditie Which courtesie in like manner by my meanes he obtained for three yeares while Pompeius had this charge To conclude that wherein you may doe me greatest pleasure is to let Auianus know your loue towardes me seeing he is assured of mine to himselfe This will be very acceptable to mee Farewell Cicero to the Quatuor-viri and Decuriones Epist. 76. THe friendship I enterteine with Quintus Hippius growes from so many occasions as there cannot be found a more absolute then our coniunction And were it not for this I would follow my accustomed manner which is to be troublesome to you in nothing For you can beare me sufficient testimonie that though I were certaine to obtaine whatsoeuer I desired yet would I neuer be burdensome vnto you I request you therefore as earnestly as I can or am able that you will so farre fauour me as to vse Caius Valgius Hippianus with all courtesie and make an end with him by exempting and making free that possession which somtimes he bought of you in the Fregellan territorie If you satisâ—ie me in this my request I shall thinke I haue receiu'd a speciall benefit Farewell Cicero to Publius Sulpitius Imperator Ep. 77. I Went not often into the Senate by reason of the conditions of the times but hauing receiu'd your letters and vnderstood how your honor was herein touched I obseru'd that it was my dutie to goe thither and that doing otherwise I should haue wrong'd our auncient amitie and haue perform'd a matter vnworthie of our benefits one to th' other Wherefore I went thither and willingly aduis'd that all the Temples of the gods â—hould publiquely bee visited and thankes rendred to them for what you had effected in the behalfe of the Common-wealth And vpon euery occasion when either your profit honor or dignitie comes in question I will neuer faile you in those endâ—uours and offices wherein I am engaged And you shall doe me a pleasure to write thereof vnto your friends notifying vnto them my affection and the desire I haue to write vnto you that so they may securely build vppon me whensoeuer it occurres that I may giue you any assistance Marcus Bollanuâ— is a friend to me of manie yeares standing an honest man valiant and adorned with as many good parts as can be desired I recommend him to you wiâ—h all zeale and entreat you to let him vnderstand how this my
I answere that whereas you doubted that those you â—ormerly wrote had neuer beene deliuer'd me you shall vnderstand I haue receiued them all and I take great contentment that you haue so diligently aduertis'd me of euery thing The last which Acastus brought are briefe neither doe I wonder at it for it may bee you daily expect my comming or to say better that we shall come together And questionlesse we are also very desirous to see you with the first opportunitie Although hearing in what state the Common-wealth now stands I see too euidently that we shall come in the midst of great troubles and by the letters of sundrie friends sent vnto me by Acastus me thinkes I perceiue that this ciuill controuersie must be ended with Armes So that as soone as euer I come I shall be enforced to discouer my affection But seeing we are to come we will vse all diligence to come most speedily to the end we may haue more time to deliberate about this matter and consequently to resolue with greater wisdome I desire that you would come as farre hitherward as you can to meete me so you may doe it without your inconuenience Touching the Praetian inheritance which doubtlesse is an occasion to me of great griefe considering this benefit accrews vnto mee by the death of a man whom I heartily loued Take order in case the outcrie be made before my arriuall that Pomponius may take into his hands the portion that belongs to vs and if Pomponius cannot attend it procure Camillus to take vpon him the charge thereof What remaines further to be done we will performe at our comming And though peraduenture at the receipt of these you are vpon the waie to meete vs yet forbeare not to procure the performance of what I haue written We by gods helpe hope to be in Italie about the midst of Nouember You my sweetest and most desired Terentia and you Tulliola if you loue vs endeuour to preserue your selues From Athens the xviij of October Farewell Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 6. WE neither meet with often mesâ—â—ngers nâ—r mâ—tters to â—rite of by your former letters I vnderstood that â—ou could not make â—ale of any poâ—â—esâ—iâ—â— Wâ—erefore I would haue yoâ— find soâ—e meanes to satisfie him whom you know I would not haue vnsatisfied Whereas our friend thankes you I wonder noâ— that you deserue thankes and deseruing it I as little wonder that shee thankes you If Pollex be not yet dâ—parted by all meanes dispatch him withouâ— delay And be carefull of your health the â—v of Iuly Farewell Cicero to Terentia his wife Epist. 7. I Haue put off and abandoned all penâ—â—ue molestation which not without mine intollerable discontentment gaue me to conceiue that you were in miserie togither with our Tulliola dearer then my life vnto me And I knew the reason of the euill the day after I left you In the night I vomited a quantity of meere choâ—er and aâ—teâ— it I beganne to feele my selfe so well as I thought some God had cured me And therefore in acknowledgement thereof render you vnto the same God condigne thankes with a religious and pure heart as you are accustomed I hope I haue gotten a commodious ship wherein being embarked I wrote these which ended I will write to many of our friends and recommend vnto them with all possible care both you and Tuâ—â—iola I would exhort you to endure constantly the assaults of Fortune were you not more resolued then any man whatsoeuer Besides I hope matters are come to such a passe that you may remaine there most commodiously and that I once againe may come thither to defend the Common-wealth together with mine equals If you would giue me contentment first be carefull of your health then if you thinke good conâ—inue in those villages where there is no feare of the souldiers If corne grow deare you may conueniently reside with your Cittie seâ—uants in Arpinas Our sweet Ciceâ—o sends you a thousand salutations And I a double farewell The â—ij of Iune Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 8. IF you haue your health as I haue all goes well If you desire to giâ—e me content be very chairie of your selfe For 't is written to me and deliuer'd for certaine that a fever tooke you presently after my departure In that you certified me of Caesars letters you did me a pleasure Likewise hâ—reafter if need shall require when there is any newes let me know it Haue a care of your health The xi of Iune Farewell Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 9. THe infirmities of Dolabella and of Tullia adde new miseries to mine old ones I know not now what course to take nor what to doe I am so beleaguer'd with molestations Endeuour to preserue your health together with our Tullia Farewell Cicâ—ro to his wife Terentia Epist. 10. I Wrote my mind to Pomponius more lately then was requisite Speaking with him you shall vnderstand my will I did not thinke good to write more plainely hauing to write to him I pray you about this present businesse and of other occurrents let me forthwith be aduertised Looke precisely to your health The 9. of Iulie Farewell Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 11. IF you be as I am in health 't is well Our Tuâ—â—ia came hither the xiij of Iune whose comming did not onely not diminish my greefe but infinitely encreased it Should I not lament that so louing and constant a daughter by my negligence is fallen into this misfortune whereas for the feruent loue shee beares mee and for her rare qualities she deseru'd a fortune much more fortunate I was in the minde to send Cicero to Caesar and Câ—eius Salusâ—ius with him If he goe I will giue you notice Be carefull with all dâ—lâ—gence to preserue your selfe Farewell The xv of Iune Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 12. YOu reioyce at our being arriued safe in Italy and I desire this your ioy may be perpetuall But daunted in part with the griefe of publique ruines and partly by iniuries vnworthily receiued I haue taken such a course as I doubt of the end Wherefore ayde vs as much as you can But what can you doe For my part I know not It is not materiall for you at this time to put your selâ—e on the way first it is long and dangerous Besides I see not what helpe your comming will afford vs. Farewell Brunâ—usium the iiij of Nouember Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 13. IT is true that befâ—re I wrote vnto you about a diuoâ—ce buâ— becâ—uâ—â— I know not whâ—thâ—r this man may easilie raise the peoâ—le or whether the people haue anie diâ—poâ—ion to an innouation I aduertize you discâ—eetly to weigh the action For as wee may feare him in case he should bee prouoked so on the contrary we may hope thâ—t he may bee the author of our quietnesse Howsoeuer In this so lamentable a case take that course which is least lamentable Farewell The x.
of Iulie Cicero to Terâ—ntia his wife and to Tulliola his young daughter Epist. 14. 'T Is well with vs if you bee well You must not hereafter expect that I should aduise you what couâ—se to take in that â—ou may herein counsâ—ll your selues If he come to Rome with an intention to permit nothing to bee done otherwisâ— then what 's bâ—sitting it will not be much out of the way for you now to keepe still at home but if he come enflamed with furie and resolued to sack the Citie I beleeue in that case Dolabella himselfe would hardly bee able to preserue you And besides this you must consider that in delaying your departure the waies may bee all so laid that then you cannot goe when you would Aboue all you must obserue whether anie womâ—n of your qualitie continue in Rome which you may better enforme your selues of then I. And if none remaine for my part I see not how you can staie there with your honour Howsoeuer the matter goe so the gouernment of these quarters be left vnto me this will be a verie conuenieÌ„t residence for you you may either reside together with mee in the townes or in your Granges And besides the reasons aboue mentioned I must needes likewise acquaint you with this that I feare within few daies there will grow a great dearth within the Citie Communicate with Pompâ—nius and Camillus about all things and by whom you thinke good bee aduised but in anie wise be of a resolute mind The comming of Labienus stood vs in great stead Piso also here assists vs For hee attends not his sonne in law Caesars comming into the Citie but hee termes him Impious and leaues Rome because he would not see him You my deerest soules write often vnto mee both what you doe and how matters passe there abouts My brother and his son and Rufus salute you Fare ye well From Minturnae the xxiiij of Iune Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 15. SOme daies since I wrote vnto you that I was determined to send Cicero to meet Caesar but since I chang'd my minde hauing no certainty of his comming For other matters though there be no newes neuerâ—helesse from Siâ—â— you shall vnderstand my minde and aduice how we are to beare our selues at this present Tullia shall now remaine with mee Preserue your health careâ—ully Farewell The xx of Iune Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 16. THough the times are such as it is not materiall that either I should â—xpect your letters or you mine Neuerthelesse I daily looke for them and whâ—nsoeuer I hâ—ue opportunitie I likewiâ—e write vnto you and I know not why Vâ—luâ—â—â—a should hâ—ue beene more officious to yâ—u then shâ—â— hath beene and â—hat little sâ—e hath donâ— she might hâ—ue pâ—râ—orâ—'d it moâ—e diligenâ—ly and wâ—â—h grâ—â—teâ— caution But what imports this there â—re other maâ—ters of greâ—ter conâ—â—qâ—â—nce and greaâ—er molâ—â—tation which procure â—e thaâ—â—ffliction whiâ—h they arâ— glaâ— of â—hat haue beaten mee from mâ—â—e own opinionâ— Be careâ—ull of youâ— health The iiij of Ianuarie Cicero to Terentia his wife Epist. 17. IF I had anie thing to write I would doe it freely and verie often You now see to what passe matteâ—s are brought But how I am aâ—fected yoâ— may know of Leptâ— and Trebatius â—ee you haue a care of your owne health and Tullia's Farewell Cicero to Terentia his wife and to Tuâ—â—iola his daughter Epist. 18. I Beseech you deare soules to bee weâ—l aduised what you meane to doe whether to remaine in Rome or to come and liue with mee in some secure place It belongs not onely to me buâ— to you also to take some course herein Me thinkes you may continue secuâ—elie in Râ—me by Dolabelia's protectâ—on through whose meanes if anie violence or rapine should begin you might haue a waie to preserue your goods and persons But on the other side I feare seeing all good men are out of Rome and haue their women wiâ—h them So that it would not bâ—e muâ—h amisâ—e that you should come to mâ—e in theâ—e parts which are vnder my Gouernment where you might remaine with me during your pleasure and when you would depart you may be secure in our Guâ—risâ—ns In conclusion I cannot discerne which is the better course Obserue you what other Gâ—ntle-women doe and tâ—ke heede â—hat you be not enforced to staie when â—ou would bee gone Consider thereâ—pon verie aduiâ—edly amoâ—gst your â—elues and with our friends Cause Philotimus to make Bulwarkes about the house place a Gard about it And I pray you take vp Corrier's of purposâ— to the end no daie may passe without receiuing letters from you And aboue all things as you desire our healths looke to your owne From Formiae The xx of Ianuarie Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 19. AMongst other excâ—eding great sorrowes the sicknesse of our Tullia goes verie neere me Of whom it imports not that I write anie thing else vnto you being assured that you haue as great a care of her as I haue Wheras you desire that I would come neerer hand I see it requisite and had alreadie done so but that I met with manie impediments which as yet aâ—e not remoued But I expect letters from Pomponius which I praie you conuey presâ—ntlie vnto meâ— Tender your health Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 20. WE thinke to bee at Tusculanum within ten or eleuen daies See euerie thing be there prouided for it may so falâ— out that wee may bring manie with vs and I beleeue wee shall continue there sometime together If there bee not a bathing â—ub within the stoue let one bee gotten as also all other necessaries that belong eithâ—r to nourish or preserue vs. Farewell The xxviij of September Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 21. I Should be glad you were in health as I was at the wriâ—â—ng hereof Endâ—uor to grow strong againe Mâ—ke prouision of things necessâ—rie Let vs haue them â—ccoâ—ding to the â—imes And aduerâ—ise me of alâ— occurrenâ—s Farewell Cicero to his wife Terentia Epist. 22. I Should be glad c. We daily expect your Corrier's when they come wâ—e shall peraduenâ—ure conceiue what wee are to doe and will presently acquaint you Bee verie carefull of your health Farewell The first of September Cicero to his wife Terâ—ntia Epist 23. IF you bee as I am all 's well Hitherto I can heare no certaintie either of Caesars comming or of the letters which they say Philâ—timus hath When the truth is knowne I will forthwith aduertise you Bee carefuâ—ly respectiue of your health The eleuenth of August Cicero to his wife Terâ—ntia Epist. 24. IF you be as I am all 's well I haue at leâ—gth receiued letters from Caesar full of loue and courtesie and 't is reported he will be heere sooner then is imagined When I haue made my determination You shall know whether I meane to meet him or expect him Dispatch the Corrier's with all expedition And be verie carefull
of your health Fâ—rewell The xâ—j of August THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE FAMILIAR EPISTLES OF M. T. CICERO Cicero vice-Consull to the Consulls Praetors Tribunes of the people Senate and people of Rome Epist. 1. IF you bee well c. But that I thought Marcus Bibulus vice-Consull could haue giuen you certâ—ine information of the euents succeeded in his Prouince I would not haue omitted so soone as the newes was brought me speedily to aduertise you that the Parthians with almost their whole forces had passed ouer Euphrates Though this were reported to me for a certaine truth yâ—t I thought it not my office to write vnto you of the particulâ—rs of another mans Prouince But perceiuing the same newes euery day more verified and that it was a matter of that consequence and because we did not heare that Bibulus was come into Syria and besides all this in that the managing of this warre appâ—rtâ—ined as it were vnto vs both I iudge it requisite to giue you aduertisment theâ—â—of The Ambassadors of King Antiochus Commagenus were the first that certefied meâ— of a great Armie of Parthians passing ouer Euphrates Hauing heard this some being of opinion that credit should not bee so suddainely giuen to the foresaid King I thought it expedient to attend a while till tydings might arriue of greater certaintie The xix of September conducting mine Armie into Cilicia betweene the confines of Lycaonia and Cappadocia letters were deliuered me from King Tarcondimâ—tus who hath report to be as faithâ—ull an associate of the people of Rome or more trustie then any beyond Mount Taurus Wherin he gaue me to vnderstand how Pacorus sonne to Orodes King of the Parthians was passed Euphrates with a mightie Cauallerie and encampâ—ed himselfe vnder Tyâ—a And thâ—t great tumults were raised through all Syria The selfeâ—same day I recâ—iued letters to the same effect from Iamblicus th' Arabians Phylaâ—â— Who is thought to be well affected and a friend to our Common-wealth These newes being heard though I had little securitie of the doubtfull valour of our associats who would take no notice thereof expecting â—ome present innouation yet I hoped that they were become somewhat more friendly to the people of Rome amongst whom I had alreadie beene and who by â—ryall had found our integritie and clemencie and that Cilicia might the better be confirmed in loyaltie if it had but some proofe of our equitie And to this effect and for the suppressing of those Ciliâ—ians who were in armes and to make the enemie who was in Syria to conceiue that the Romanâ— Armie did not only not drawe backe as daunted by these rumors but aâ—so aduancâ—d as resolu'd to vanquish I began to march with the Armie towards Mount Taurus It is not requisite to relate vnto you in what state these Prouinces are in that you had other meanes to vnderstand it But if my authoritie bee of any esteeme with you in those things especially which you haue heard and whereof I am an eye witnesse I would aduise you to send succours hither which though they shall come later then was conuenient yet is it good to sâ—nd them You know that I came to the gouernment of this Prouince with little strength though so dangerous a warre was feared as now is expected And though I knew my selfe weakely prouided to defend it yet for mine honors sake I would not refuse such a charge preferring your authoritie before any disaster that might befall meeâ— And now seeing that to succeed which was feared I informe you that if you send not in defence of thâ—se countries as great an Armie as you vse to send to those places that are pestered with warres of grâ—atâ—st consideration You are in danger to loose â—heâ—e Prouinces which you well know to be of waightie consequence to the Râ—mane people Neither must you put any confidence in the souldiers that are heere for they are but few and these few cannot looke the enâ—mie in the face And they haue gâ—uen so bad a triall of themselues that Marcus Bibulus being in Asia in great want of men as a very prudent man would not entâ—rtaine them although hee had your lycence to that effect We can hope for little from our fâ—iends for hauing beene pillaged and oppressed by our gouernours they are either so weake that they can afford vs no ayde or beare vs such an hatred as it would bee meere â—olly to â—â—ust to them in any enterprise King Dâ—iotaâ—us is with all his forces at our command Cappadocia is emptie The other Kings and Princes cannot doe much neither are they willâ—ng I will not be discouraged though I want souldiers And I hope I shall not want direction Th' euent is vncertaine God grant we may come off with safetie for I make no doubt of honour Farewell Cicero vice-Consull to the Consuls Praetors Tribunes of the people Senate and people of Rome Epist. 2. I Could not arriue in my Prouince beâ—ore the last of August through the difficultie of my iouâ—ney as wâ—ll by sea as by land But being come thither I began pâ—eâ—ently to view the Armâ—e and to furnish it with what was necessarie And though I had but weake meanes yet hâ—uing respect to that which you enioyned mee I wrought so that by mine industrie and diligence I prouided it of all things necessarie This being done newes and letters comming euery houre how the Parthians were come downe into Syria with all their forces I resolu'd to march by Lycaonia by th' Isaurâ— and through Cappadocia fearing much least the Parthians might get out of Syria and fall into my Prouince Whereunto they had an open way marching by Capadocia which is an open passage And doing as I determined I took my way through that part of Cappadâ—cia that confineth vâ— on Cilicia And comming with my Armie to a certaine towne called Cybistra lying on the side of Mount Taurus there â— encamped to the end that Artuasdes king of the Armeâ—â—ans might know howsoâ—uer hee were affected that the Romane Armie was vpon his confines And besides this to haue the supportation of King Dâ—iâ—tarus a loyall friend to our Common-wealth Who by his counsell and force might greatly assiâ—t vs. Here therefore pitching our Tâ—nts for the speedy receiuing of aduertisements out of Syria and sending my Cauallâ—rie into Cilicia that the Citties there perceiuing my ariuall might the rather persâ—uer in their fidelitie I staid there for the space of three daies Which I spent in a very important and necessarie office Which wasâ— that I offâ—r'd my selfe to king Ariobarzanes a very iust King and friend to the Romanes promising him â—ll ayde and succor for the defence of himselfe and of his kingdome and causing him to vnderstand how affectionately you had recommended him vnto me and with how great honor to himselfe you seemed to hold him in high esteeme in that the Romane Senate neuer vs'd so louing an action to any king as they had done to him giuing him no slender
as a speciall fauour that you will effectually labour and procure that no wrong may be done me which is that the due time assigned for my Office be not prorogued that I may thereby arriue in such a time as I may taste the contentment of your excellent gouernment And fauouring mee heerein I will annexe this benefit to your many others Farewell Cicero Imperator to Lucius Paulus Consull Epist. 13. FOR diuers respects I could haue wished I had beene in Rome with you but principally that both in demanding and managing your Consulship you might haue discern'd the good affection that deseruedly I beare vnto you True it is that I was euer certaine that in your petition you would finde no obstacle at all but yet I would haue beene glad vpon such an occasion to haue manifested some louing demonstration And in your consulshippe though it be my desire that you should not incounter with many troubles yet doe I much distaste that in exchange of so many fauours which being a young man I haue receiued from you I at these yeares should not haue the power to returne you some such gratitude as is befitting But I thinke it was a certaine influence of the heauens which alwaies opened the way to you in oblieging me and clos'd it vp when I should shew my gratitude vnto you in that I euer had aprompt and readie will thereto but meanes that were slow and vnable to accomplish You assisted me to attaine to the Consulship and to returne into my countrie from which I was vniustly banished And now the happie times permits that vnder your consulship it hath beâ—ne my fortune to compasse some laudable effects Wherefore seeing you are placed in so high and honorable a dignitie and occasions are presented vnto me of being honoured on the one side I am instigated humblie to intreat and vrge you to endeauour so that the Senate may establish a decree vpon my Fortunate successes with all the fauour regard that can be imagined on the other I dare not with you vse ceremonies least I should make you conceiue that either I haue forgotten the forme which you haue heeretofore vsed in doing me courtesie or that I might imagine you are forgetfull Wherfore laying aside as I thinke you desire all circumstances of faire words I will breefely demand a fauour of him whose deserts towards me are knowne to all nations If your selfe were not Consull O Paullus I would vse your meanes that you might procure mee their affection who had that dignitie but because this great honor and authoritie placed in your selfe and our intrinsicall amitie is hid from no man I entreate you in the best manner I am able to procure that with all fauourable interpretation and possible expedition my actions may be scanned and gratified Wherof I write to you that are Consulls and to the Senate You shall vnderstand that they are worthy to bee accounted of and such for which thankes are deseruedly to bee rendred vnto the gods And not only in this but in any other occasion wherin the interest of my honor represents it selfe I request you to vouchsafe your vndertaking the defence thereof And aboue all bee carefull to cut off euery designe which is intended for the prolongation of my gouernment I desire to see you Consul and to obtaine from you being Consull both absent present the end of mine intentioÌ„s Farwel Cicero to Caius Cassius vice-Quaestor Epist. 14. YOu fauour me in recommending Marâ—us Fabius as a friend vnto me wherein I make no great gaine because alreadie for many yeares I haue beene able to dispose oâ— him at my pleasure and in that I loue him as farre as the nobilitie of his mind and his respectiue obseruaÌ„ce towardes me deseruâ— tâ— But neuâ—rthâ—lesâ—e perceiuing how he loues you aboue any other I am become a greater friend vnto him Wherefore though your letters haue preuailed yeâ— the certaine knowledge I haue had of his great afâ—ection towardâ—s you hath so much the rather recommended him In conclusion I will labour hard for the dignitie of Fabius as you entreat me For diuers reasons I would we could meete together first to satisfie the longing I haue had to see you to whom these many yeares I haue beene well affected and that in presence I may reioyce with you as I haue done in letters Withall that we communicate betweene our selues you yours I mine occurrents and finally to weaue the web of our friendship which wee haue framed with sundrie obligations but through instabilitie of the times could neuer arriue to it full perfection Which falling out so conâ—rarie in stead thereof wee 'le vse the helpe of letters wherby we may in abâ—ence conuerse as if we were together It is most true that by writing I shall not reape that fruit which I should by your presence and that contentment which growes from congratulation would be much the greater if I could face to face reioyce with you But yet I will nâ—t forbeare to discharge this office as heretofore I haue done â—iâ—st to congratulate with you for the magnanimous effâ—cts which you haue produced and then for the opporâ—uâ—itie of the time in that by thâ—se â—râ—sh successâ—s you are departed from your Prouince attended with greatest glory and infinite commendations and with the generall â—atisfaction of the whole inhabitanâ—s And thirdly to negotiate the same affaires afarre of which we would in presence haue discussed Mine opinion is that you should with all expedition goe to Rome considering that at my departure from thence your businesse went on succesfully and then by reason of your late and honourable victorie your returning thithâ—r will vndoubtedly augment your reputation But if your kinsmen discouer themselues so malicious as to put some iniurie vpon you If you know your selfe to be of that power that you can acquite your selfe you cannot any where get greater glory If not then be circumspect leâ—t this return of yâ—urs proue mischiâ—uous You must relie on your owne strength and you know what you are able to vndergoe If you can goe through It will be laudable popular If not the reâ—orts of men in absence are more tollerable Touching my occasions againe I request you to appliâ— all your power that the office of my Prouince may not be prorogued which both by the Senate and people was committed to me but for a yeare onely and I exact this of you as that whereon my whole fortunes are depending You shall haue herein the consent of Paullus my verie good friend and enclin'd to doe me any pleasure Curiâ— and Furnius labour in this matter most feruently supposing that all my contentments depend thereon Nothing now remaines to be mentioned but the confirmation of our friendship and herein it shall not be requisite to vse many words You in your tender years affectionately sought my amitie and I was euer of beleefe that your conuersation was an ornament vnto me Afterwardes you were the secure Port in
expect all courtesie from him and bee not yoâ— too hastie to follow me for I had much rather see you come late cured then presently infirmed Labour therefore onely to recouer and leaue the rest to my prouidence Many times farewell Vpon my departure from Leucas the vij of Nouember Cicero to his Tiro Epist. 2. WEE haue beene seuen daies at Corcyra But my brother Quintus and his son are at Buthrotum Wee were maruellous carefull about your health neither doe I wonder that wee receiue no letters from you For with those windes that should serue you hither we should saile from hence which if they had serued we would not haue lien waiting at Corcyra Looke therfore vnto your selfe and get strength and when coâ—ueniently both for your health and season of the yeare you can haue passage come vnto vs that loue you dearely None loues vs that likes not you Euery man wisheth you well and lookes for your comming Good Tiro haue a singular care of your health Farewell This xviij of October From Corcyra Cicero to his friend Tiro Epist. 3. I Thought I should more easily haue endured your absence but I finde I cannot And though it greatly concernes miâ—e honour to be with all possible speed at Rome Yâ—t mee thinkâ—s I sin in leauing you But in thaâ— I thought you were firmely resolu'd not to put your selfe vpon the voyage before you were well recouered I approued your determination as now I doe if you be also of the same opinion But after you haue recouered your appetite if you finde your selfe in state to follow mee doe your pleasure I haue sent Mario to you that if you thinke good to come he may beare you companie If not I would haue him presenâ—ly turne backe againe Bee assured I desire nothing else but that you should come with your owne ease if it be possible but if you perceiue it requisite to remaine some daies in Patrae for your better recouerie Know that I desire nothing more then to haue you cured If you presently commit your selfe to sea follow vs by Lâ—ucas But if you meane to attend till you are absolutely well bee carefull of youâ— companie of the weather and of getting good shipping But as you loue mee Tiro take heede that you let not Mario's comming or these letters anie way moue you for in doing that which shall bee most auailable for your health you shall doe mee the greatest pâ—easure Therefore looke you vnto it for I so desire you as you may finde I loue you My loue would see you here sound my desire preâ—ently but the first especially Therefore aboue all bee careâ—ull to bee well for amongst the infinite courtesies which you haue done me this will proue the greatest Farewell The third of Nouember Cicero â—o his Tiro Epist. 4. I Neither can nor am willing to write vnto you how it troubles me to be without you I onely write it will be an exceeding greaâ— content vnto vs both if we could presently come so together that I might see you recouered The third day after wee departed from you we arriued at Alyzia a place on this side Leucas some foureteene miles In Leucas I hope you will ouertake mee or at least Mario with your letters As you loue me or thinke I loue you so looke to â—our health From Alyzia This v. of Nouember Cicero to his friend Tiro Epist. 5. WE staied all yesterdaie at Alyzia from whence I wrote before vnto you Quintus not being yet arriued To day which is the fifth of Nouember I write these before daie being in a readinesse to deparâ— I entreat you for the loue you beare to all of vs but especially to my selfe your Master endeuour to recouer With a verie vnquiet minde I expect especially your selfe and then Mario with your letters Wee long all but I aboue the rest to see you presently but in no case without your health good Tiro And therefore make no haste I shall thinke I haue euerie daie seen you so you come lustie and strong vnto vs. I can doe what is to bee done without your helpe and therefore suppose not that mine owne benefit driues mee to desire your health so much as the loue I beare you Farewell Cicero to his Tirâ— Epist. 6. I Haue read your leâ—ter with diuers agiâ—ations of minde the first side much disturbed me but the other gaue me some relaxation Wherefore now know seriously that you must not take anie iourney either by land or sea till you are perfectly â—uâ—ed You write vnto me how you haue a good opinion of the Physician and I heare no lâ—sse But yet I commend not in anie sort his course of dieting sicke persons for I tooke it not to be well done that hee made you drinke broth hauing a distempered stomacke Notwithstanding by a letter of mine I entreat him efâ—ectually that he would cure you with all diligence and in another I likewise recommend you to Lyso To Curius being of so sweet a dâ—sposition full of integritie and couâ—tesie I haue written at large about your occasions and among other things if you so thinke good that hee should conueigh you to his owne house because I put no confidence in Lyso's diligence first because the Greâ—kes ordinarily are verie negligent and then in that hee return'd mee no answer to my letters which he receiued but you commend him and therefore take what course shall best please your selfe One fauor I require at your hands my Tiro that you will spare no charge in things â—equisite for your health I write to Curius that hee should giue the Physician what you appoint because it were good to giue him some thing to the end he may attend you with the greater diligence When in what or wheresoeuer it hath beene may hap to employ you I haue receiued good satisfaction euer was highly contented with your endeuour But you shall exceed whatsoeuer you haue formerly done for me if as I hope I may but see you lustie If you finde your selfe strong in bodie you may imbarque your selfe with Messinius the Quaestor for I suppose you shall haue pleasing and louing companie of him Hee is verie affâ—ble and so far as I can perceiue beares an affection to you But as I said take counsell of your abilitie of bodie and then bee carefull to saile commodiously and in seasonable weather I desire no other but that you may returne in health and safetie And bee assured my Tiro that there 's none who loues mâ—e but beare you singular affection And though it more imports vs then anie other that you were in health yet manie besides also are desirous of the same Hitherto because you would not leaue me in anie place you could not recouer your maladie Now there 's nothing hinders you Laie aside all cares and attend wholly to your recouerie for if you bee carefull thereof I shall thinke you make great esteeme of mine affection Farewell my Tiro Be healthfull and merrie
Sciences and especially to Philosophie yet this studie delights mee more â—uery day then other ouâ— of the maturitie of my yeares as I suppose which inclines to wisedome and through the malignitie of these times which is so violent that no other remedie is auaâ—leable enough to defend our minde from those molestations that enuiron it to which studie you write you could not attend by reason of the multâ—tude of negotiations which you may wâ—ll doe allowing your selfe some time in the nighâ—'s now growing somewhat longer Our Seruius honours mee with great respect and hee breedes my infinite contentment for besides his learning I discerne in him singular goodnâ—sse conioyn'd with valour He often discourseth with me of your affairâ—s asking me the question whether you must remaine still in your Prouince or depart Hitherto my opinion is that we dispose of our selues to Caesars will If you were at Rome besides your friends you could finde nothing wherewith to bee delighted Caesar himselfe is the best of all other considerations But the estate of the Common-wealth is such that you would rather desire to heare of it then see it This I speake against mine owne minde because I desire to see you in Râ—me for my consolation but I speake it because I preferre your benefit before mine owne contentment Farewell Seruius Sulpitius to Cicero Epist. 5. FOr the death of your daughter Tuâ—lia I waâ— as truely sorrowfull as behoued me but this I reputed a common misfortune and had I been there I would haue assisted you with all possible kindnesse and with your owne eies you should haue read my griefe Now though their estate be pitiful lamentable that vndertake to comfort others who either being kinsfolkes or neere fâ—iends haue more need of consolation themselues being no waies able â—o discharge this office without aboundant teares in that they are afflicted with the same care and griefe yet will I not forbeare to set before your eyes those things which at â—his present come into my minde not because I imagine that you did not discouer them but in that by the vaile of your griefe they are peraduenture concealed from you What 's the reason that the death of your daughter should so afflict you Remember how Fortune hath hitherto toâ—sed vs. Shee hath depriued vs of those goods which men ought to esteeme no lesse deere then their children our countrey our dignities all honours and commendable customes What greater sorrow could pierce your heart through the accesse of this disaster or what minde is there that is not so inured to these things that it is ere this time hardned and that in feeling them is sorrowfull haue you compassion of her bâ—cause she is dead In deed I suppose this greeues you Though neceâ—sarily you must as wee alâ—o oftentimes consider that they haue beene very fortunate to whom the heauens were so fauourable as depriuing them of life they brought vpon them a death without vexation And why should shee desiâ—e longer life To what end Vpon what hopes To marry with some Gentleâ—man with whom she might haue liu'd hâ—ppily I beleeue that amongst our young Nobilitie you might haue made choice of a son in law coâ—respondent to your owne dignitie to whose trust you might â—ecurely haue committed your children Or because she might haue occasion to reioyce when shee saw her children in flourishing estate And such who of themselues might be able to gouerne their fathers inheritance might attaine successiuely to all honours might shew courtesie in their â—riends occasions Which of these things was not taken away before it was giuen Oh but you 'l say The losse of children goâ—s neere the â—eart 'T is true it is an â—uill but to suffer what we suffer is far worse I le relâ—te a thing vnto you which gaue mee no small consolaâ—ion to try if it can aâ—ford you as much Returning out of Asia and sailing from Aegina towards Megara I cast mine eye round about Bâ—hinde me lay Aegina before Mâ—garâ— on the â—ight hâ—nd Piraeâ—us and on the left Corinthus whâ—ch were sometâ—mes renowned Cities but now appeare to euery mans view demolished and euen wiâ—h the gâ—ound And thus I began to conâ—ider with my selfe Doe we then poore wretched men so dismay our selues when any one of vs is slaine or dead When in one onely place so many bodâ—es of razed Citâ—es are seene lying on the ground Wilt not thou ô Seruiuâ— acknoâ—ledge and remember thy selfe to bee borne morâ—aâ—l Iâ— you thinke good propound to your selâ—e this other example Not long since at one instant many honourable men were slaine The Empire was much impayr'd All the Prâ—uinces were tormented And doe you for one siâ—ly womans breath expir'd poure out so infinite lamentation Who if shee were not now dead within a few yeeres of necâ—ssitie shee must dye being mortall borne Alas banish this passion from your heart and rather recall those things to your minde that are worthie of your person that shee liu'd as long time as was requisite that she liued in the flourishing estate of the Common-wealth that she saw her father Pâ—aetor Consull and Augure that shee was married to one of the noblest young men in Rome that shee tasâ—ed all contentments that possibly may bee â—nioyed in this world and at last departed this life at the same instant when the Common-wealth her selfe failed And therefore neiâ—her you nor shee could complaine of Fortune Besides you must remember how you are the same Cicâ—ro that was wont â—o perswade and comfort others Doe not therefore imitate ignorant Physiâ—ians who in other mens maladies professe they haue the Art of Physicke but by no meanes can cure themselues rather haue recourse to those remedies with which you were wont to cure others misfortunes There is no greefe so great which length of â—ime doth not make lesse and extenuate It becomes you not to expect this time and not to withstand it by your wisdome And if it bee true that the soule is immortall then she questionlesse out of the loue she beares to you and the affection to the râ—st of her friends would noâ— haue you commit this errour Deny not this fauour therefore to your daughters soule Dâ—ny it not your good friends who sorrow â—or your greefeâ— Nor deny it to your Country because if shee stood in need of you shee may vse your aid and councell And seeing we are reduced to such a point that we must also haue a respect to this take heed lest others censure that you lament not so much for your daughter as for another mans victorie and the calamities of the Common-wealth I am asham'd to write vnto you of this more at large because I would not seeme to be diffident of your wisdome with this breefe record therefore I will make an end We heretofore saw that you gouern'd prudently in your happy â—ortâ—nes and reaped thereby high commendation Now let it appeare vpon this accident that you know how to demeane your selfe also
in disasters without taking greater greefe then is conuenient to the end that of all other vertues this may not onely seeme wanting in you As for the occurrents of these parâ—s when I heare of the pacification of your minde I will presently giue you aduertisement Farewell Cicero to Seruius Sulpitius Epist. 6. I Wish my deere Seruius as you write that you had beene at Rome when this grieuous accident befell me For if your letters haue somewhat â—asde my mind so much the more doe I suppose that with your presence you might haue assisted me both in comforting me and mutually mourning for the cause of my griefe For fiâ—st you set me downe reasons that are of force to stay my teares and then your selfe also as it were for a kinde of comfort haue associated your griefe with mine But yet your Sâ—ruiuâ— in all the louing offices that at such time could be shewed did manifest both in what esteeme himselfe held me and how he thought that you alâ—o â—ooke well at his haâ—d this his affection towards me Whose loue did so comfort me that I know not what greater contentment I could haue desired for ioy I cannot tearme it Neither do your words onely cheare me vp and your fellow feeling as it were of my heart griefe but your authoritie also turnes to my especiall consolation For me thinks I am ashamed I should not tollerate my mis-fortunes with that fortitude of minde as you being a man of singular wisedome thinke fit I should doe And yet sometimes I am so ouerwhelmed with sorrow that I can scarcely support it wanting those comforts which others in the like Fortunes fail'd not of whose example I propound vnto my selfe For both Quintus Maximus who lost a son that had beene Consull and after the same dignitie performed many famous enterprisâ—s and Lucius Paulus who in seauen dayes was depriu'd of two with our Gallus and Marcus Cato who had â—ne died that was replenished with prudence and valour these liued in those times that the honours which the Common-wealth afforded them were to them a comfort But no other comfort was left me then that which death bereau'd me of I had lost those ornamâ—â—â—s â—hiâ—h you recount and which I with painefull endeauours had purchased my minde was not busied neither with my friends occasions nor the managings of the Common-wealth I could not plead any cause nor could I counsell the Senate it appeared vnto mee euen as in effect it was that I had lost all the fruits of my labours and fortunes But on the other side considering â—hat this misfortune happened not to mee alone but extended it selfe further to you and some others also I arm'd my minde with patience and so much the more readily because I knew whither to flye where to repose mee and where with sweet and pleasant discourse to expell out of my minde all clouds of duskie and heaâ—uie meditations But now this greeuous wound makes me feele those olde scars which I tooke to bee healed Heretofore though I were depriued of the Common-wealth yet I found them at home which yeâ—lded me comfort But now of that societie which I so deerly loued finding my selfe left alone mee â—hinkes I haue lost all those delights that should haue eased my afflictions about the Common-wealâ—h And thus I haue lost all both publique and priuate comâ—ort which makes me the rather desire that you would speedily returne all the consolations of letters are nothing in respect of those which our conuersation and conference will afford me and herâ—of I shortly looke to receiue comfort For I heare your returne is expected I desire for many causes to see you out of hand and amongst the rest that we may before it be too late consult how to passe ouer this time wherein the forme of our life must bee fram'd according to the will and pleasure of one man who though he be replenished with wisdom and courtesie and so far as I can perceiue beares towards mee rather a good minde then otherwise and a singular affection to you yet herein we must be circumspect how wee resolue and that we stir in nothing but quietly repose our selues vnder the shadow of his gracious fauour Farewell Cicero to Marcus Marcellus Epist. 7. THough I will not presume to reprehend the courses which hitherto you haue taken not because I am likewise of the same opinion but in that I repute you so wise that I will not take vpon me to prefer mine own iudgment before yours yet for our ancient loues sake and for the infinite good will you haue borne me from your child-hood I could not but impart that vnto you which I iudge most profitable for your life without any preiudice to your honour or reputation I remember full well you are the man which in your Consulship performed wonderfull matters I likewise call to minde that you neuer approu'd that a ciuill war should bee made in such forme and manner as it hath beene Neither did you euer like of Pompeyes Armie And you alwayes fear'd the perils which since haue hapned as also you cannot forget that my selfe was euen of the same opinion And therefore as you would be present in the war but a small time so I vsed all the meanes I could to keepe from thence because there was no fighting with counsell authoritie or cause which were things wherein we excelled but the buckling was by force and hand-blowes wherein we were not equall and therefore wee were vanquished and if not vanquish't for it seemes that a iust and honest cause can neuer be ouercome at least wee were disturbed discomfited Wherin not only your counsel is by euery man to be commended in that together with the hope of victory you gaue ouer your desire of fighting giuing in this to vnderstand that euery wise good Citizen as he enters into a ciuill war against his will so doth he as vnwillingly perseuere in the same till it bee ended I see that those who followed not your aduise are diuided into two sorts For some of them did what they could to renew the war in Africa And othersome haue cast themsâ—lues at the feet of the Conquerour as also I my selfe haue done You haue kept a â—iddle way râ—puting peraduenture of the other two waies the â—ormer very imprudent the second to be scarse honourâ—ble Questionlesse most men yea all in general both censure that you did wisely and many likewise extoll therin your magnanimity and fortitude But it may suffice you that you haue made your selfe known for such a man especially â—eeing you want nothing else for the â—ecouery of your former estate but a will in your selfe For I vndestand there is nothing troubles his mind that 's Lord of all but onely the doubt he is in â—hat you will not accept of your restitution at his hands In which it boots not for me to deliuer my opinion considering what I haue done my selfe Notwithstanding if you were formerly
that shall offer neare your price that thâ—re be no sale made vnder the price you offer But no more iestâ—ng I will obserue you with that diligâ—nce which I ought As for Bursa I am sure you receiue great contentment but you reioyce â—oo coldly with me supposingâ— as you write that by â—eason of his ignobilitie I esteeme the mirth the lesse Be assured that I was more ioyfull at â—his sentence then when Clodius was slaine First because I loue rather to ouercome with reason then with armes then because it is pleasing to me to ouercome rather with the glorie then â—â—â—ne of my freind And aboue all it lik'd mee that good Citizens haue manifested so great affection to me though they perceiuâ—d in opposition the preualent practises and infinite desire of Pompeius a man so honorable and potent Last of all which could scarcelie seeme probable I wish't worse to this man then to Clodius himselfe For â—o Clodius in opposing him I had done an inurie and to â—his defending him a benefit and Clodius aimed at an high enterprize sâ—eing all the Commonwealth was to runne the same Fortune with me neither did hee moâ—e of himselfe but through their assâ—stance who I being safe could not bee sâ—fe themselues But this fooliâ—â— creature for his recreâ—tion went about to molest me and made some that enuied mâ—e beleeuâ— that hee would alwaies be galling of me I pray therefore reioyce exceedinglie A great victorie is obtained There were neuer more resolued Cittizens then they who durst attempt to condemne him against Pompeius power who had chosen them for his iâ—dges which they would neuer haue done if they had not beene touched at the heart with my passion Wee are so incombred heere with aboundancâ— of Iudges and new lawes that euerie day wee praie that some suspension follow not to the end that as soons as may be wee may see you Farewell Cicâ—ro to Marcus Marius Epist. 3. WHEN I consider as many times I doe on the common miseries wherein for so maniâ— yeares wâ—e haue liued and for any thing I see are like stâ—ll â—o liue I call to minde that tâ—me when wâ— were last together Nay I remember the day it selfe For on the xiii of May in the yeere when Lâ—anâ—ulus and Marcellus were Consuls I comming in the euening into Pompeianum you came presently vnto me with a minde much troubled Aâ—d the griefe did arise partly from thinking on my office and in part also for my danger If I remained in Italie you doubted least I should faile in my office and if I went to the ciuill war you feared I should runne inâ—o some imminent perill At which time you might perceiue me also â—o disturb'd and depriued of all counsell that I knew not how to elect the best Neuerthelesse I chose rather to yeelde to the feare of infamie then to respect mine owne safetie Which afterwards I grieued at not so much for feare of dâ—nger as for â—he many defects I found there whither I was gone First the Armie was but little and weake then except the Captaine and some few others I speake oâ— the chiefest the rest were in the warre it selfe so rauenous and in woâ—ds so contâ—melious that the victorie it selfe astonishâ—t mee I may further adde that the honourablest Cittizens of our parts were much charged with debt What should I say more Theâ—e was nothing else good but the occasion of the enterprise Which hauing obsâ—rued I dispairing of victorie first began to counsell â— peace as alwaies my custome was Then Pompeius being veâ—y farre from this opinion I began to aâ—â—â—â—e him to draw the warre out at length Whereunto sometimes hee consentâ—d and said he would doe it and woâ—ld peraduenture haue so done if after a certaine encounter he had not growen too confident in the force of his souldiers neither afterwards did that man so highly euer esteemed any thing beseeming a good Captaine With a new Armie raised in diuerse places hee ioyned battaile with tough and lustie souldiers Whereupon remaining vanquished and hauing lost euen his lodging Tents alone reproachfully hee betooke himselfe to flight And this was my end of the warre it appearing vnlikely to mee that being so broken wee could rest victors in â—hat wee were not equall when we were most entire I departed from that warre wherein it was necessarie either by fighting to die or to light vpon some trecheries or fall into the hands of the vanquisher or haue recourse to King Iuba or to bee retir'd into voluntarie banishment or else make choice to kill my selfe Certainely nothing else could thereon ensue being neither willing nor daring to put thy selfe into the Conquerours hands But of all the foresaid discommodities there was none more tollerable then exile especiallie to him that is innocent when no further infamie concurr'd therein and when you are depriu'd of that Cittie where you can behold nothing without griefe I made choice to liue amongst my friends if one may say that any man hath now right in any thing yet I was pleas'd to be with my friends I prognosticated what did afterwards ensue I came home not with hope to remaine there very contented but so there were any forme of a Common-wealth to be resident as it were in my countrie if there were not to liue as it were in banishment Me thought I had no occasion to offer my selfe death yet many to desire it For we commonlâ— say that a man should no longer esteeme his life when hee is no more the same man hâ—e was But notwithstanding to be guiltlesse is a great â—xâ—â—nuation of affliction â—speciâ—lly hauing two things for my sustentation the knowledge of the most commendâ—d arts and the glorie atchiued by my worth tâ—e one of which cannot be taken away from mee in life nor the oâ—her after death I haue beene troubleâ—ome to you with this so tedious a discourse bâ—t knowing you to be most louing to me and the Commonwealth I meant absolutely to lay open my minde vnto you first to shew you how I neuer would condiscend that the power of one Cittizen should be greaterâ— then of the whole Commonwealâ—h But after that through some mans fault the forces of one particular man so encreased that there was no meanes to resist him I affected peace and the Armie being lost and that Captaine in whom our hopes did liue my desiâ—e was that all the rest should haue giuen ouer the warre but not obtaining this my selfe alone leâ—t it and now if this be a Citie I make account to be a cittizen if it bee not I suppose my selfe to bee an exile in a place where I remaine in no worse condition then if I were in Rhodes or Mitylene I desir'd rather to haue discoursed of these things with you face to face but because I saw I should not so soone finde opportunitie I thought good now to write them to the end that if you chance to bee in any place where any speake sinisterly of me you
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
in his sales But how much this point imports let your wisedome consider I request you and request you after such a manner that with greater affection iuster cause and hartier desire I cannot request you that you would haue respect vnto Albinus and not meddle with those Farmes once in possession of Laberius For it will not bee onely a ioy vnto mee but after a sort a glorie also if Publius Sextius to whom I am so deepely engaged can by my meanes giue to so neere a â—riend and kinsman satisfaction This therefore I double intreate you to effect for you cannot doe me a greater pleasure and you shall finde it to be vnto me most acceptable Farewell Cicero to Craâ—sipes Epist. 9. THough with the greatest care I could and by word of mouth I commended vnto you the Taxeâ—â—asters of Bithynia and knew that both in respect of my commendation and also of your owne freewill you were desirous in all things that lay within the limits of your power to shew them fauor Neuertheles I was willing to write these vnto you because they whose interests are treaâ—ed of supposed that if I did also by letters declare vnto you how I stood addicted to them it would greatly further their occaâ—ions For I would haue you to conceiue that hauing euer willingly made demonstration that I generally bare no small affection to the Publicans and customers as I stood bound to doe by the great deserts of that Order I am in particular a friend to that company which receiues the customes of Bithynia Which companie both for the place they haue and for the qualitie of the persons therein employed comprehendeth the greater part of the Citie consisting of all the other companies and in it there are by chance many with whom I retaine great friendship and cheâ—fly with Publius Rupilius sonnâ— to Publius of the Tribe Aniensis head of that companie Whose honor is now especially treated of For which reasons I earnestly intreate you that all the courtesie and liberalitie you may aâ—ford you would shew it to Cneius Pupius who is employed by the said Companie And so procure as easilie you may that his companions may remaine very well satisfied in his endeuours and wherein the interests or benefit of those his associates shall occurre for I know what you may performe heerein being Quaestor vouchsafe to assist and defend them which doing besides the effecting a matter that will giue me singular contentment I promise you and because I haue heeretofore made experience I dare assure you that you shall perceiue that you haue beene beneficiall to men that are both mindefull and thankfull Farewell Cicero to Brutus Epist. 10. I Supposed that Marâ—us Vaerro your Quaestor comming to you should not stand in need of any recommendation beleeuing that he had beene sufficiently commended out of the very custome of our predecessors Who as you know esteemed of the Quaestors as of their owne children But he being perswaded that a letter of mine written effectually in his behalfe might greatly preuaile with you I thought good to doe that which a friend supposed might bee a â—urtherance vnto him But to the end you may conceiue that I am bound to do it I thinke good to tell you that Marcus Tâ—rentius Varro when hee first began to plead entred into friendshippe with mee afterwards when hee grew to riper yeares two respects occurred of encreasing my loue towards him one was because he followed those studies wherewith we are at this day much delighted he followed it as you know with vnderstanding and diligence And withall because he entred betimes into the societie of the Tole-masters which notwithstanding I liked not in that he suffered great losses Neuerthelesse he being one of that order whom I euer receiued to speciall protection our amity grew more coÌ„firmed Besides this he hauing beene an aduocate and Iudge with apparant fidelitie and good esteeme before this mutation of the Commonwealth hee applied himselfe to demand a Quaestorship supposing that this honorable degree would be a recompence of his trauailes And not long since I sent him from Brundusium to Caesar with letters of truâ—t wherein I euidently perceiued how much he loued me in taking willingly this charge vpon him and how faithfull a friend hee was in bringing the matter to effect I was determined hauing layd open the occasion of my loue towards him to informe you particularly of his honestie good conditions but hauing declar'd the reason thereof I thinke I haue sufficiently intimaâ—ed his vprightnesse Neuerthelesse I will not forbeare to promise and secure you that you will bee much satisfied in his friendship for the benefit which will accrew vnto you therby For you shall discerne him to be a man both prudent and farre from all auarice or ambition and besides of singular endeuour and industrie Neither should I intimate vnto you these thinges which you will obserue when you haue â—ad experience of them Notwithâ—tanding in all beginnings of friendship it greatly imports what the foundation is with what good fame we enter into an amitie To which effect I meant to write these present letters though it was needlesse the obligation of Quaestorshipâ— being a sufficient induction the which neuerthelesse may the more moue you annexing thereunto my letters Wherefore if you make that esteeme of mee which Varro beleeueâ— and I am verily perswadedâ— procure that I may vnderstand that hee receiued from this my commendation that furtherance which hee hoped and I doubted not Farewell Cicero to Brutus Ep. 11. IN that I alwayes knew you very desirous to be ignorant of nothing that concerned me I make no doubt but you conceiue not onely of what towne I am but also how zealously I was wont to assist the Arpinates my countreymen who are not able by any other reuenewes then those that they haue in Gallia to maintaine the charge which they are at about the worsâ—ip of the gods and reparation of Churches and publicke places Now to view the said reuenewes to recouer the money owing by the countrie-people and to receâ—ue full information of the matter and to follow it we haue sent as Commissioners Quintus Fuâ—idius sonne â—o Quintus Marcus Fâ—ucius sonne to Marcus and Quintus Mamurâ—us sonne to Quintus all Romaine knights I earnestly entreat you for our inward amities sake that you will be mindfull of that businesse and procure effectuallie that the câ—use of the said Towne may bee heard without any impediment and wâ—thall expedition be dispatched and that towardes the fore-mentioned knights you would vse all those ceremonies of honor and courtesie which your gentle disposition shall encline you to You shall herein purchase the friendship of honest men and oblige a very gratâ—fuâ—l Towne vnto your â—elfe by meanes of such a benâ—fit And to me also you shall hereby doe a gâ—â—atâ—r pleasure for besides that I â—m alwayes accustomed to helpe my couâ—try-men there is now somewhat moâ—e to bee considered for this yeare