Cicero adds afterwards Sed haec aut sanabuntur cum veneris aut ei molesta erunt in utro culpa erit ibid. continues he will more surprise you But concludes he either you will compose these matters when you arrive here or which ever of you both are in the wrong it will fare the worse with him This Discourse which seems so unreasonable was the very Truth it self The Reputation of Atticus's Wisdom and Probity was so well setled that no body in Rome would scarce have question'd it although his proceedings at all times were not the fairest He was one of those kind of Sparks that was neither Eminent by Birth nor by Office nor by any extraordinary Parts but made himself be talkt of by an affected way of Living and of being admitted into Great mens company who for the most part are not the hardest to be deceiv'd For which purpose it is enough to have store of Wealth and a great deal of Wit to be born with a temper incapable of violent Passions neither good nor bad and with a great stock of indifferency for Truth and Justice that can see these divine Virtues violated and be able to violate them when 't is for ones Interest It is requisit to be naturally neither a Deceiver nor Unjust that one should in most occasions practise these Virtues in shew and seemingly because in a great measure it is more useful to be Just and Sincere than to be otherwise Also it is requisit to appear a Friend equally alike to all sorts of persons and not to be so truly to any body Not much to frequent ones Equals and neither to despise them With these qualities it is an easie matter to insinuate into great Mens company especially if ones behaviour be not Offensive If such a person as this will also force himself to flatter great Persons in their follies wherewith they are most pleas'd praise them for qualities which they really have and for which every body blames them and for those they think they have and that every body knows they have not how do they delight in such a Person and how do they cry him up But especially if he holds in favour with those that are at enmity amongst themselves then he becomes alike useful to both party's they both vie in his commendation and others seeing Persons so divided agree in admiring him it 's presently beleiv'd it can only be pure Merit that can so unite them and so conceive a good opinion of him which Si liberius ut consuesti agendum putatis ep 12. l. 5. ad fam Sanctissimi hominis atque integerrimi illahumanitate illis studiis artibus doctrina diffusing abroad do's insensibly create this shadow of Reputation wherewith those are deluded that do really want it themselves Such a kind of Person was Atticus but his Antagonist was a Man of another Temper and of a make altogeather as Solid and Sincere as that of Atticus was Forc'd and Artificial He was call'd Lucius Lucceius and was of a very good Family He wrote the History of his times with much Honour and Eloquence as may be judg'd by Cicero's desiring him to write that of his Consulship apart and with that Freedom and Sincerity which was so Natural to him Pro Caelio The same Cicero in a publick Act applauds The integrity of his life his virtue Mehercule vir optimus mihi amicissimus ad Att. l. 1. Ep. 17. goodness and learning with a greatness that cannot be the least question'd especially considering that writing to Atticus himself about their difference he cannot forbear to call the same Lucceius a very honest Man and his very good Friend He was afterwards Competitor with Caesar and Bibulus for the Consulship Sueto c. 19. ad Att l. 4. Ep. 16. Optimates viri boni ad Att. passim and was refus'd it for no other reason but for Corresponding with Caesar against Bibulus For this Familiarity made him be suspected by the great Men which were call'd the Honest Party and declar'd Enemies to Caesar But as they could not exclude this great Man and that 't was of great Moment to the Common-Wealth that he should not have the Colleague he desir'd they us'd such extraordinary means to frustrate Lucceius that at last they effected their desires and and chose Bibulus in his stead It appears that failing in this design he quitted all farther pretensions doubting the success by reason of his many great and powerful Enemies and in all likelihood the very great sincerity of Life that he profess'd and practis'd made him give over the Correspondence he had maintain'd with Caesar for which reason he imploy'd him not in the Civil Wars as he did all his other friends and kept himself all that time in the Country or privately in Rome at his Study or other Domestick Affairs But if you desire to know him more particularly than by what I have already said you may be pleas'd to read a Letter which he wrote to Cicero upon the death of his dear Daughter Tullia Methinks it shews so much tenderness wisdom and discretion that I was much pleas'd in Translating it At these words Caesarion opening a little Manuscript full of Translations made by him which I since copy'd out I there read this which follows LVCCEIVS his Letter to CICERO IF you are in Health I am glad of it for my part I am much after one rate or rather something worse than I use to be I went to visit you but was surpris'd to hear you were gone out of Rome as soon as you had left me and am still so not imagining what should oblige you thereto If you are best pleas'd with privacy and retirement to write and study after your usual manner I rejoyce at it and am very far from blaming you for one can neither be better employ'd in these sad times wherein we live nor in more flourishing and happy days especially such a rare Genius as yours which seeks a little respite from the trouble of your great Imployments and that always produceth something delightful unto others and glorious for your self But if it be wholy to give your self up to grief as you did here that you are retir'd then am I sensibly concern'd for you because you suffer But if you suffer me to speak my mind I cannot approve your conduct For can it be that you whose judgement penetrates the most hidden things don't perceive that your continual sorrowing do's you no good at all and that you only increase your affliction which your discretion should rather mitigate But if I cannot prevail with you by my perswasions I beg it of you in kindness and by all the respect you have for me I conjure you to give off this doleful kind of living and return to the enjoyment of your friends or if you desire to live solitary in living at least with your self as you were wont to do before your misfortune do
Charge of 8000 Horse in the Wars of Judea Having therefore represented unto the Senate the Rebellion of his Subjects he desired they might be reduc'd under his Obedience as their Allyance obliged the Romans to do Dion 39 ad Fam. l. 1 Ep. 1. in Pisonem pro Rabirio in which affair Pompey's Faction prevail'd and it was resolv'd accordingly Upon the Proposition made by the Consul Publius Cornelius Lentulus it was agre'd that he should draw Lots with his Collegue in what Provinces they should go to command as Proconsuls when they had finish'd their Year and because Cilicia was one of those nominated for them and that it was only separated from Egypt by the Coast of Syria it was agre'd that unto either of them to whose Lot it should fall he should be charged with the Kings Re-establishment It fell to Lentulus his Lot to undertake this Business but before his Consul-ship was ended the Egyptians hearing their King was not dead as they supposed and that he was at Rome dispatched away a Solemn Embassy to represent and justify their Revolt and Proceedings to the Senate this Embassy was compos'd of a hundred Persons of good Note the cheif of which was a famous Philosopher Pro Caelio de Harusp resp Strabo Dion ibid. called Dion who had many and great Friends Ptolomy having notice hereof used Means by Murder and Poison to destroy the greatest Part of these Ambassadours and so terrified those whom he could not corrupt nor make away that they dared not execute their Commission nor demand Justice for so many Murders and Violences But the heynousness of his Crimes being known by every body it was no less hurtful unto him than if they had been prosecuted in the due course of Justice it in the end rendr'd the King as odious as he was despicable and the vast Sums of Money which he employ'd in gaining and corrupting the meanest and most covetous Persons in the Senate became so publickly known that it was the general and common Town-talk There had not to that time been seen so much Corruption and Violence used at once about any business whatsoever and when there was occasion offer'd to speak in publick of this Kings Affairs his coming to Rome was always esteem'd one of the greatest Mischiefs that ever hapn'd to the Common-wealth having absolutely completed the Debauchery and Corruption of good Manners by his ill Practices and Example Several other Ambassadours of Allies being sent to Rome Pro Caelio de Harusp reso to complain of their Magistrates were abused after the same manner as those of Egypt were but these last having fill'd up the Measure all honest Men in the Senate shew'd themselves on this occasion Marcus Favorinus amongst others a Philosopher of the Sect of the Stoicks was the first that declar'd himself against Ptolomy he caus'd to be resolv'd that the Academist Dion Chief of the Embassy should be sent to the Senate House to declare the Truth of things but 't was to little effect the Faction of the King joyned with that of Pompey and Lentulus of those whom he had gained with Money and of those that had supply'd him Money to corrupt others acted so publickly in his favour that Dion dared not appear and Ptolomy causing him to be slain soon after although the Homicide was lawfully accused Pro Caelio yet he was acquitted for saying he had just reason for what he had done Whether this Prince thought he had no more to do at Rome that required his Presence there or that being generally hated as he was he might receive some Affront should he stay there any longer he soon after withdrew himself to Ephesus into the Temple of Diana until he saw what Course his Destiny would take Things were in this state towards the end of the Year DCXCVI of the Cities Foundation at which time the new Tribunes of the People enter'd their Office according to Custom the 13 of December one of which called Cajus Cato a bold resolute Young Man who wanted no Eloquence declar'd himself in frequent Speeches against Lentulus and Ptolomy with a general Approbation In the beginning of the following Year DCXCVII an Image of Jupiter being overthrown by Lightning in Mount Alban according to the ancient Custom the Books of the Sybils were consulted to know what this Prodigy portended and in them these Words were found If a King of Egypt has need of help and addresses himself unto you do not refuse him your Friendship nevertheless grant him not Succours for by so doing you will suffer much Damage The usual Manner was to communicate these kind of Oracles first to the Senate to examine if it were lawful to divulge them But Cajus Cato fearing the Kings Faction might resolve to suppress this it being so much to this Prince's prejudice without farther Ceremony presented the Priests which kept these sacred Records unto the People and by Virtue of the Power his Tribune-ship gave him obliged them to expose unto the Publick what they had therein found without consulting the Senate in the matter This unexpected proceeding was as 't were another Thunder-clap to Ptolomy and Lentulus The words of the Sybil were too precise and exactly calculated to the present Conjuncture not to imprint in the People the Impressions the Kings Enemies desired and Lentulus whose Consulship was expired not willing to receive in Person the disgrace of revoking the Senat 's Decree which had appointed him to restore Ptolomy went away immediatly into his Province In fine a few days after one of the new Consuls called Marcellinus an open Enemy unto Pompey having represented the Sense of the Oracle to the Senate it was resolved Obedience should be given unto it and that it was not safe for the Common-Wealth Ad Fam. l. 1. Ep. 1. ad Q. F. l. 2. Ep. 2. Ap. in Sir Parth. c. to re-establish the King of Egypt by force of Armes Caesarion stopping at these words as 't were to recollect what he had else to say I could not hide my admiration from him that in so learned an Age the most Illustrious Assembly in the World should give credit to so unlikely a Superstition You must not wonder at it saith he unto me A whole Assembly may have some difference upon a Religious score which it may be not one of those Persons would doe whereof it 's compos'd were they alone and Men are very different when they are together Ad Fam. l. 1. Ep. 1. of what they be when they are single and apart No body doubts but this suppos'd Oracle was contriv'd on purpose in hatred of Pompey Ad Fam. l. 1. Ep. 1. who espous'd the Kings Interests and whose ambitious dealings were alike suspected and known Besides it is most certain that the generality of good Men at that time made no esteem of the Books of the Sybils They were much admir'd indeed at the first beginning of the Common-Wealth when the Roman
Ignorance was as great as their Vertue but since Learning had passed out of Greece into Italy those kind of Prophesies were not regarded and the three Books sold by the Sybil of Cuma at so great a price unto the first of the Tarquin's having been burnt in the Capitol in the dayes of Sylla it not being permitted to have Copies of them other nice kind of Books that had been gather'd throughout the Empire to supply their place when the Capitol was rebuilt not being of the same Authority little heed was given to them but let us re-assume the Course of our History Ptolomy having observ'd during his stay at Rome that the Correspondence betwixt him and Lentulus tended but little to his advantage because this Proconsul had many Enemyes at his departure from thence he left one Ammonius an Egyptian his Ambassador there in his stead and charged him not to insist upon the order of Senat that had appointed Lentulus to act in his Re-establishment moreover judging it necessary this Commission should be put in the hands of some Person of Authority and extraordinary Interest and Reputation seeing it could not be executed by Force by reason of the Oracles Prohibition he Order'd his Ambassadours to demand it should be committed into the hands of Pompey attended only with two Bayliffs Two Bayliffs said I to reduce a whole Kingdom to Obedience reply'd Caesarion the Majesty and Respect at that time born unto the Roman Name throughout the World may be demonstrated from as improbable things as that did you never hear said he of that great Ambassadour sent by the Senate the Age before that we speak of unto Antiochus the famous King of Syria This Prince having almost subdued the whole Kingdom of Egypt was going to beseige Alexandria in which place the Royal Family had taken Sanctuary being destitute of any other help but the protection of the Romans Cajus Popilius was the Name of this Ambassadour who meeting this proud King being an Ally of Rome four miles from this flourishing City having saluted him presented him his Hand in token of Friendship Popilius made no other answer to his Civility but presenting him the Senates Letters bid him read them Antiochus having read them said he would advise with his Friends in the Case but Popilius drawing a Circle about the King with a Rod he had in his Hand before said he you pass the Limits of this Circle give the Senate your Answer The King being surpris'd with so resolute a demand paused a little and then promis'd to do what the Senate commanded whereupon Popilius stretched out his hand and declared the King a Friend and Ally of Rome and Antiochus quitting all he had conquer'd soon after departed out of Egypt by the time prefixt I confess said I the two Bayliffs are not so strange as this Adventure and it had been necessary in this juncture that this King had resembled one of our Kings that boasted his Horse carry'd all his Council but if you please let us return unto Pompey The Hopes replied Caesarion which Ptolomy had in him was the more just because this Illustrious Roman was at that time in the highest pitch of his Glory by reason of the good success in conquering Mithridates Rex post Alex. Max. Cic. Luc. the greatest King that Asia enjoy'd ever since the days of Alexander Two Tribunes of the People one called Lupus the other Caninius being both devoted unto Pompey having in publick read Letters from Ptolomy whereby this Prince desired of the Senate Plut. in Pompe that Pompey might be entrusted with the power of restoring him to his Kingdom thereupon grew up amongst the Senators sundry different Opinions Publius Servilius Isauricus was of opinion not to give him any Assistance at all and it had been so carried by Plurality of Voices had not Caninius opposed himself thereto as his Office of Tribune qualified him Hortensius Marcus Lucullus and Cicero maintain'd that the former Decree of the Senate ought to be observ'd in behalf of Lentulus and that seeing the Oracle permitted him not to re-establish the King by force of Arms it behoved him to find out some other convenient way of restoring him Crassus was of opinion that Commission should be given to three Ambassadors which should be indifferently chose out of the Senate Bibulus a declar'd Enemy of Caesar and by consequence of Pompey his Son in Law concurr'd also in the same Opinion of sending three Ambassadors with Crassus but excepting all such of the Senate which bore any other Office as Pompey and Lentulus did This Opinion was liked by the new Consuls Marcellus and Philip and generally by all those that had been Consuls except Volcatius an intimate friend of Pompey's and Afranius who had been his Lieutenant against Sertorius and against Mithridates About this time his Geatness became suspected unto most of the Senat especially by reason of his Alliance and Intimacy with Caesar It was observ'd a good while that he always ambition'd the greatest Commands and that as soon as ever one Office was expir'd he presently grasped after some other at any rate so that having put an end to the Civil Wars in Italy which took beginning presently after the death of Sylla he procured to be sent into Spain against Sertorius then soon after against the Pirates afterwards by his Factions he caused Lucius Lucullus to be recall'd in the midst of his successes against Mithridates and to be sent himself in his stead to command the Legions in the East To conclude after the Death of this Prince there being no considerable Wars stirring he obtein'd a new Commission to provide Corn for the speedy releif of the necessities that Italy was then reduc'd unto The Romans thought it no less glorious to supply the wants of their Country than it was to expel their Enemies wherefore this latter Commission stirr'd up all the Envy imaginable against him even those that seem'd to be his Friends before upon this occasion refused to favour his Designe in re-establishing the King of Egypt Plut. in Pom. because he had the Commission of providing Corn for five Years whereas it was against the Laws that any should Execute two Offices at once Notwithstanding all these oppositions Ad Fam. l. 1. Ep. 1. Lucius Libo whose Daughter afterwards Marryed Pompey's youngest Son a Tribune named Plautius Hipsaeus who had been his Quaestor against Mithridates and generally all his Friends so highly declared for him in this Matter that no body made any doubt but that he earnestly desired this Imployment although he declared it not openly himself He had receiv'd too many and publick favours from Lentulus to have dar'd to oppose him openly It was Lentulus that procur'd for him the Power of the Corn business but this important Service which had incurr'd to this Pro-consul the hatred of all those which pretended to this Office did never a whit the more assure him of the Friendship of Pompey for no
thing indeed could assure it Cicero who knew him better than any Man and who had the greatest Obligation unto the same Proconsul for his being releas'd from Banishment ceased not to importune Pompey in favour of their common Benefactor and as this Oraror in this Rancounter perform'd the part of a grateful friend Pompey on his part thought best to dissemble his Ingratitude so far as to make a Speech in the Senat-House Pompeius fremit queritur sed utrum fronte an mente dubitatur l. 1. Ep. 14. Ad Att. with all the Vigour and seeming Kindness could be in behalf of Lentulus But there was very little credit given to it he was observ'd to compass his Ends by such oblique Courses that there was no trust given * to any thing he either did or said You give there said I interrupting him at these words a strange Character of the great Pompey and I could never have thought it by his Surname and great Reputation You meane answer'd Caesarion the Pharsalia but you shall find afterwards that Lucan has represented him quite different from what he was and that many times there is no good ground for the greatest Reputations I confess answer'd I at my turn if things were as you say Lentulus deserves to be pity'd for there can nothing be more cruel than to be abus'd by a Person that one has serv'd and to be expos'd to the Malice of Enemies that one has got by serving his Friend But I expected however that Pompey's Enemies would forbeare persecuting Lentulus when they saw he was betray'd by him You are much deceiv'd answered Caesarion this Treason repair'd not the micheif don them by Lentulus in preferring Pompey before them and their hatred was no way mitigated on the contrary they us'd all means possible in protracting the business because it could not be terminated but in favour of the Pro-Consul for not agreeing to employ Pompey in the business nor any one else to his prejudice should a final resolution be taken they could not avoid confirming the former Act of the Senat which had nominated Lentulus on the termes the Oracle had prescrib'd of setling the King of Egypt otherwise than by force of Armes In effect the Opinion of Bibulus of granting a Commission about the the matter in agitation to three Ambassadours excluding amongst others Pompey and Lentulus out of the number because they were possess'd of other Offices was not insisted upon next day as it had been till then and there was only deliberated about those which confirm'd Lentulus and those which propos'd Pompey The usual form was that they should first confider that which confirm'd Lentulus because it had been propos'd by Consulary Persons whereas the other had only been propos'd by the Tribunes But Lupus one of those Tribunes seeing which way the Senat was inclin'd fear'd that if they should begin to deliberate upon Lentulus that he he would be confirm'd in spight of his Enemies to prevent this Danger and to use his last endeavour in in his friends behalf it came into his minde to propose that it was most expedient to deliberate of Pompey first Most of the Senatours highly rejected this Innovation but the Consuls did not so they were ever of the Judgment of Bibulus equally contrary both unto Lentulus and Pompey But seeing the cause almost deserted they sided with those that favour'd Pompey not with intent to confirm him but with a Design to hinder Lentulus's friends from confirming him in spending all the Session as the former had been in frivolous Disputes To this purpose they declar'd not as the others did against the Tribunes unaccustom'd proceeding neither did they much regard it and keeping up the Feud amongst the several Factions by this dubious proceedings instead of composing differences which they might easily have don by their Authority they did what they desir'd which was that nothing at all should be don and so they parted the third time without coming to any Conclusion The Enemies of Lentulus for to frustrate his Pretensions only needed to stave it off to the Sitting following which was to be the * Ad. Fam. l. 1. Ep. 4. 15 of January because the Senate could not meet all the rest of the Month for sundry reasons that time being appointed for giving Audience to Ambassadors so that no other business was to be heard until they were dispatch'd The last day therefore of this Session Curion the Father who had not hitherto appear'd in the Matter spake smartly both against Pompey and against Lentulus And although Bibulus had almost declin'd the Opinion which he at first gave of joyning with the friends of Lentulüs against Pompey Pompey's party grew so insolent and took such Liberty in speaking that every one spake and concluded what they listed so that this Sitting also was as fruitlesly spent as the others had been before Yet although the pretensions of Lentulus were still delay'd by these Artifices the Tribune Cato fearing yet that it might succeed propos'd to the People about the beginning of February to discharge him of his Government of Cilicia His Son as the manner was in the like cases went into mourning to solicit for his Father and his friends used all manner of Endeavours in his behalf It was strictly prohibited to treat with the People about any business whatsoever on the Days wherein the flight of Birds was observed and all Magistrats having the priviledg to observe them when they pleas'd Lentulus's friends made use of this Artifice to hinder the People from deliberating of Cato's Proposition against him A little while after another Tribune called Lucius Racilius who was his Friend removed this obstacle by interposing his Authority after the usual form according to the priviledg of his Office For when a Tribune oppos'd himself unto what the rest had propos'd they could not proceed any farther without the concurrence of the People which was difficult and rare to be seen During these Transactions Pompey making a Speech to the People about another business instead of receaving thanks and commendations he was scoff'd and revil'd amongst other things he was tax'd for starving the People for want of Corn their indignation proceeded so farr that they accus'd him of the most horrible Crimes but especially they jeer'd him publickly at his design of restoring the King of Egypt The Tribune Cato some time after in the Senat pressed him so hard and was so favourably heard by the whole Assembly that Pompey how close soever he carri'd it could not at least conceale his trouble and grief These two misfortunes having plainly discover'd unto him the Envy which all the World bore him made him wholly lay aside all farther thoughts of the business of Egypt And some time after Lentulus writing to him in such a way as if he believ'd he never had thoughts of seeking after it he was so pleas'd with the Letter that he forthwith imbrac'd Cicero's opinion of the thing in wishing it to their
by Tiberius Nero Father of the Emperour of that name and by Cajus and Lucius Brothers to the same Antonius that was afterwards Tryumvir and that commanded his Cavalry The great Cato who I told you had the intervew with Ptolomey at Rhodes presided in this Judgment in quallity of Praetor He had been indispos'd and for that reason Judgment was deferr'd the Judges were also chang'd but Gabinius thought himself so fully accquitted that he took not the paines nor trouble to gaine them Pompey having still the charge of the Corn business was absent from Rome repairing the dammages made by the Inundation of the River which had ravadged destroy'd and spoil'd vast quanteties of Grain and the most fertile Feilds of all Italy But receiving advice of the danger Gabinius was in he came as near the City as he could to try to save him once more and his Office not permitting him to enter into the City he assembled the People without the Walls and harrangu'd them to that effect He publickly read Letters from Caesar wherein he recommended Gabinius unto him with all the affection that could be and for the last Remedy he prevail'd with Cicero Dion 39 Valer. Max. l. 4. c. 2. to plead for him for which this Orator was surnamed Turn-coate to reproach either his weakness or inconstancy I perceive then said I at these words Pompey was as zealous a Friend as Cisero was a weak Enemy Pompey reply'd Cesarion had as all ambitious Men have the vulgar Maxim which almost comprehends the skill of rhe Pollititians of these times to be a good Friend and a cruel Enemy without any Judgment in choosing Friends or Enemies But neither he nor they need be oblidg'd to venture so far for their Friends if there were none but good Men. It 's only for bad Men that these extraordinary endeavours of Credit and Authority need be used and how bad a business soever befals an honest Man the regular forms are always sufficient to bring him off So that this resolvedness and great zeale which is shewn for defending and protecting vitious Persons is so far from being Praise-worthy that nothing is more odious and detestable seeing that in effect it hath only self-interest or Vanity for its Motive and Injustice for its Scope Beware of Digression answer'd I and pray let me know if Gabinius was condemn'd or accquitted this second time He was condemn'd said Caesarion to perpetual Bannishment and his goods confiscated notwithstanding the power of Pompey and Eloquence of Cicero But Caesar esteeming him one of the best Commanders in Rome making himself Master of the Republick six Years after he recal'd him out of Bannishment and gave him the Command of a little Army in Illyria Caesar de Bell. Allex. App. in Illiric where he was routed by the Barbarians of the Country and being forc'd to fly to Salonia he there ended his dayes not long after The End of the Second Day CAESARION The Third Day IF you did not know as well as I that Nature had endow'd your Friend with two of the most incomparable Talents in the World I mean a prodigious Memory and an excellent Judgment you would scarce beleive that he recited to me extempore the Histories that I have related to you Although I had heard much of his great Accomplishments yet I was not a little surpris'd for he look'd not past three or four times on his Books and Papers to make so long a Narration and he had all he said as ready in his mind as if he related to me his own particular concerns I was only desirous to be satisfi'd where 't was that he read and found so many considerable things as he mention'd to me and which I do not remember to have Read in the Greek nor Roman Historians which wrote of those Times His demeanour in all things were very modest and obliging meeting him the next day as I walked upon a Terrass that fronted his House towards the Valley I could not forbear asking him and he soon answer'd me puting a Book into my hand that he was Reading as if he should say that 't was from thence he collected all that I thought he had invented in his own Brain I open'd the Book very hastily but my curiosity was not much satisfi'd when I saw it was nothing but Cicero's Epistles As the Reading of those Epistles at the University made no great impression on my mind so I was the more surpris'd at what I saw he began to laugh at my astonishment and said unto me that I should not be troubl'd that it was not me he blam'd but my Tutors because it was their fault more than mine if I had not rellish'd the sweetness of the most pretious remains of Antiquity That he had often admired in himself how those Docters could pretend to know the nice and finest things in the World when they did not understand them and that I should be no less surpris'd if I would but Read over those Letters with him that had been so irksom to me heretofore You may well beleive I took him at his word Having therefore open'd the first Book of those to Atticus he Read out two or three of them which treated of the same Matter and as I intimated to him the great desire I had to heare him on this Subject he delay'd sattisfying me no longer but till such time as we retir'd into the Closet where he so pleasantly entertain'd me the Day before What delights me most of all said he of the practise of the Antients is the regularity of their Friendship it is the only thing wherein they most of all Excel us and wherein we least strive to equal them On the contrary should any one at this time practise this regularity he would be esteem'd Ridiculous the best of his friends would admire him for the infinite advantages of being belov'd after this manner whilest others would impudently deride it But all in general would look upon him as a friendly Tyrant if he expected they should be as regular towards him as he is punctual to them It was not so that Men liv'd in Greece in the days of Zenophon this Regularity so little practis'd amongst us was then lookt upon as an indispensable Duty All aspir'd unto it as a quality absolutely necessary for every body to have they boasted of it as of the most shining Vertues They Dyed said this Illustrious Athenian making the Elogy of the Greek Captains his companions that had been perfidiously Massacred by the Treacherous Persians Zen. Ret. of 10. m. l. 2. They dyed having liv'd without reproach either in War or Friendship Who in our times dare use the like comendations in the Funeral Solemnities of our Generals There seems to be as much Heat and Vigour in Friendship now a days as there was formerly but there is not so much Tenderness It has produc'd in our dayes Actions of as great Fidelity Liberality and Courage as ever but I