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
in my house with Diodoâ—â—s the Stoick a person in my iudgement very learned Now set on fire with the affection which he beares to your worthie acts he desires to write them in Greeke and I think he can performe it He hath wit and experience in humainâ— actions hee hath beene long time exercis'd in these manner of studies and learning and he desires to giue life and perpetuitie to your prayses This is the testiâ—onie of my opinion But you that are most wise may giue a sounder iudgement hereof And though I said I would not yet I recommend him and whatsoeuer fauour you shew him it shall vnto my selfe be aboue measure acceptable Farewell Cicero to Sâ—ruius Sulpitius Epist. 17. I Loue Manius Curius who negotiates at Patrae vpon many and worthie occasions For I haue both had auncient friendship with him enâ—ertein'd at his first calling to the barre and being sometime to goe to Patrae as well before that miserable war as in the time thereof he freely alwayes offred mee his house Which if I had beene anie wayes vrged thereunto I would haue vs'd as mine owne And there is further a more religious tye as it were betwixt vs in that he is most familiar with our Atticus and loues and honours him aboue all others If peraduenture you haue knowne him heretofore I thinke the office I do him will come too late for he is so noble and worthie that I iudge he hath alreadie beene commended vnto you by his owne demeanour Which though it be so yet I earnestly sollicite you that if before the receipt of these you had any enclination to do him goodâ— now in respect of this my further recommendation you wiâ—l heape vpon him your most enâ—ire affection But bâ—ing of a very modest naâ—ure if he came not to doâ— you â—euerence or if yet you hâ—ue no gâ—eat knowledge oâ— him or that for some occasion he hath need of further recommendation I commend him after suâ—h a manner as I am not able with greater affâ—ction or vppon more iust respects to commend any liuing man vnto you And I will do that which they ought to performe who religiously without ostentation recoÌ„mend I will promise nay I doe promise you and vpon my reputation secure you that the customes of Manius Curius are such his bountie and gentilitie of that qualitie as when you know him you will acknowledg him worthy of your friendship and this my earnest commendation Questionlesse you shall doe me a singular fauour if I vnderstand that these letters tooke such effect with you as to my selfe in writing them I promised Farewell Cicero to Seruius Sulpitius Epist. 18. I saw our friend Atticâ—â— become proud with ioy vpon the receipt of courteous and delightful letters which you wrote vnto him Which notwithstanding I will not yeeld to haue bin more acceptable to him then to my selfe For though they were equally welcome to vs both yet I wondred that you wrote and made such vnexpected offers to him as if he had intreated and sought vnto you you could not more coâ—rteously haue answer'd him which notwithstanding we are assured in such a case you would not haue omitted About which I ought not onely not to entreat you that you would performe it also more carefully for my respect for more cannot â—ee done then of your selfe you haue promised but not so much as to giue you thankes becaâ—se you haue done it for his owne sake and out of your owne free disposition I must confesse notwithstanding that what you haue done hath giuen me singular satisfaction in that I cannot but take full contentment that you should haue such an opinion of him whom I so highly estimate And being so it cannot but bee acceptable of necessitie But for all this seeing by our domesticall amitie it is permitted me that I may also commit a sinne in writing both those offices which I haue hitherto denyed shall bee now performed I desire therefore that to the sâ—me demonstration of courtesie whicâ— you made for the sake of Aâ—ticus you will adde as much more as by our loue towardes him may be procured And whereas before I durst not be so bold as to giue you thankes now I render them heartily and desire that you would assure your selfe that for what câ—urtesie soeuer in the businesses of Epirâ—â— or in any other respect you oblige Atticâ—â—â— for the same in like manner will I esteeme my selfe to be oblieged Farewell Cicero to Seruius Sulpitius Epist. 19. LYso at Patrae and I here haue long time lodged one another which domesticall friendship in my opinion ought to be respected as a sacred matâ—er But though I bee tied with many â—thers in this bond of hospitalitie â—here is none that hath in me so famiâ—iar an interest Which for many pleasures he hath done me and by continuall conuersation is so augmenâ—ed that there is nothing more intrinsicall then our familiaritie This man remaining about a yeere in Rome and leading his life so as he liued with me though wee were in great hope that by my letters written in recommendation of his goods and substance you would himselfe not being there take them as you did to your protection yet all things remaining in one mans power and Lyso taking part with vs and arming himselfe in our assistance we daily feared his occasions Neuertheleâ—se in that he is a man of quality because I fauored him together with some other of his friends we obtain'd of Caesar what he desired which you shall haue notice of by Caesars letters Now though wee had our purpose yet we doe not onely not forbeare to commend him to youâ— as if wee had obtained all that was requisite but further with great efficacy wee importune you to take Lyso into your loue and protection This mans doubtfull fortunes we did the more respectiuely commend vnto you fearing lest some such accident might fall ouâ— that neither you could haue preuented But now that we are secure of his safetie with speciall care I entreat you to doe him all the fauours you are able Amongst which not to recount them onâ— by one I recommend vnto you in generall his whole Familie And because Caius Meâ—mius Gâ—mellus my Clyent being made a Citizen of Patrae did in the calamitie of his banishment adopt the son of Lyso according to the Lawes of Patrae I request you to vndertake the protection of this young man also and to defend his cause and the right of his inheritance The maine is this that you affect Lyso whom I haue found to bee an honest man and very thankfull for good turnes receiued In doing this I am assured that in louing and recommending him hereafter to any other your selfe will bee of my iudgement and disposition I now vse this feruencie in his recommendation not only because I desire beyond measure that the matter may bee effected but because I doubt that if you doe not entirely fauour him therein he may suppose I
power to â—ssist him And therefoâ—e I speciallie recommend him vnto you and request you to worke so that hee may perceiue that he was greatly furâ—hered by my recommendation And I shall receiue it as a great courtesieâ— Farewell Cicero to Quintus Ancharius vice-Consull sonne to Quintus Epist. 40. I Very familiaâ—ly conuerse with Lucius and Caius Aurelius as likewise with Lucius their father a man of rare integritie These young men therefore adoâ—n'd with all commendable vertues my deaâ—e friens and worâ—hie of your amitie I most heartily recommend vnto you If euer any recommendation of mine pâ—â—uailed with you and I know many haue greatly preuaild I pray let this take place And if you entreat them honorablie and courteouslie first you shall oblige vnto you two most gratefull and verâ—uous young men and besides you shall heâ—rein doe me a priâ—cipall pleasure Farewell Cicero to Lucius Culleolus Epist. 41. THe kinde offices you haue performâ—d to the benefit of Luâ—ius Luâ—câ—â—us haue beene assuredly conferrâ—d vpon a very gratefull person and yâ—u haue not onely pleasured him but also Pompeius who whensoeuer he sees me and hee sees me very often hee reâ—urnes such â—hankes as more affectionate cannot be giuen I will also tell you this that I am certaine you shall receiue great contentment for I â—inde an inestimable satisfaction in your loue and kindnes shewed to Lucceius Now though I doubt not but that you hauing heeretofore vsed so great humanitie towards him for our respect will not to be held vnconstant still continue it Neuerthelesse I requâ—st it at your hands as â— speciall fâ—uour that what you promis'd from the beginningâ— and peâ—formed in effect you would be pleas'd to augment from good to better and to bring it to a full perfection I affirme and assure you that you shall heerein doe a greaâ— pleasure to Lucceius and â—â—mpeius and you shall receiue both â—rom th' one and th' other worthie recompence A few daies since I wrot careâ—ully vnto you about the state of the Common-wealth of matters heere and of our resolution and I deliuerd the letters to your seruants Farewell Cicero to Lucius Culleolus vice-Consull Epist. 42. LVcius Lucceius my friend a man beyond all others gratefull talking with me highly commended you declaring to me how freely and liberallie you offered your selfe to his Sollicitors If your courteous words were so acceptable to him what suppose you will effects be when you hold promise with him as I hope you will It is true that thâ— Bylliones haue said they would satisâ—iâ— Lucceius in what manner soeuer should bee pleasing to Pompeius but that this busines may sort to a good end it is verie requisite that yoâ— should intâ—rpose your pleasure authoriâ—ieâ— and command Which I earnâ—stly intreat you And I am wonderfully pleas'd that th'Agents of Lucâ—eius perceiue and that Luccâ—ius himselfe by your letters written to him hath vnderstood that no mans authoritie or fauour can doe more with you then mine owne And that hee may haue tryâ—ll thereof let me once more and often request you Farewell Cicero to Quintus Gallius Epist. 43. ALthough I hope that in many things you will câ—use me to percâ—iue as long siâ—ce I haue seene that I am beloued â—f you â—euerthâ—les an occasioâ— noâ— prâ—â—â—nâ— it sâ—lâ—e thâ—t you may easilie â—â—forme mee of thâ— loue you beare me Oppiusâ—onne â—onne to Marcus neâ—otiatâ—s in â—hiloâ—elâ—â—◠〈◊〉 is my famâ—liar acquaintance And I recommenâ— him â—o you with all â—fficacie and so much the more in that besides the affâ—ction I beare to hâ—mselfe he sollicites the busines of Lucius Egnatius Râ—â—us with whom I conuâ—râ—â— more domestically thâ—n with any other Râ—mane Caualliâ—re and is neere vnto me as well by reason of our continuall conuersation as our mutuâ—ll exchange of many and grâ—at ofâ—ices I entreat you theâ—fore that you will so loue Oppius present and take the affaires of Egnatius absent into your proâ—ection as if they were mine owne occasions I would hâ—ue you â—o make a memoriall and commit it to some one of your followers who when you arriue in your Prouince may redeliuer it you But write it in such sort that in reading it you may readily call to minde how precisely I made you this recommendation This of all loue I request you Farewell Cicero to Quintus Gallius Epist. 44. THough both by your own letters and those of Lucius Oppius my familiar friend I vnderstood that you haue bâ—ene mindeâ—ull of my râ—commendation whereat I wondred not considering your infinite loue towards â—e and the great friendship that passâ—th betwixt vs. Yet once againe with all care I recommend vnto you Lucius Oppius present and the affaires of my most familiar friend Lucius Egnatius being absent The friendship and familiaritie I hold with him is so great that if mine owne Interests were handled I could not bee any waies more careâ—ull You shall therefore doe me a speciall fauour if you so effect that he may perceiue that I am so much beloued of you as I seeme to perswade my selfe to be You can not doe me a greater pleasure and I earnestly request it Farâ—well Cicero to Apulâ—ius vice-Quaestor Epist. 45. I So familiarly conuerse with Lucius Egnatius a Romanâ— Knight as there is none of his qualitie that is so inward with me I commend vnâ—o you Anchialus his seruant and the businesses he hath in Asia as if I commended vnto you any affaires of mine owne And I would haue you vnderstand that wee doe not onely daily and dâ—mestically conuerse togeather but furâ—her great fauours haue passed from one of vs to the other Wherfore I earnestly request you so to procure that he may vndâ—rstand that I wrote vnto you very effectually Of your good disposition towards me he made no question and I heartily intreate you for performance Farewell Cicero to Apâ—leius vice Quaestor Epist. 46. LVcius Nostius Zoilus is â—o-heire as I am to his master To this effect I haue written both to giue you noâ—â—â— that I haue some cause to be his friend and that you might esteeme him for an honest man seeing his master so râ—puted him I recommend him therefore vnto you as one of our familie And I shal be very glad that you would giue him occasion to know that this my recommendation turned to his helpe and furtherance Farewell Cicero to Silius Epist. 47. TO what end should I recommend a man vnâ—o you whom you fauour Neuertheles that you may perceiue that he is not only liked but beloued of me I haue written these vnto you Of all the pleasures you euer did me which to say the truth are many and very important it would bee most acceptable to me if you would so vse Egnatius that he may pâ—rceiue that hee 's of mee and I of you beloued This I request of you with the greatest desire possible There is not now that former estate of the Common-wealth which gaue such contenâ—ment Let them be comforted therefore in saying as the vulgar do
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
time of my gouernment be not prolonged And entreat Hortensâ—us our Colleague and familiâ—r friend that if euer he did or intended to doe me a pleasure hee will not now perseuer in his opinion of the gouernment for two yeeres for nothing can more molest or discontent me Wheras you would know in what state I stand I departed from Tarsus the seuenth of October and the day following I wrote these in the Countie of Mopsuhesâ—ia where I was with the Armie If I atchâ—ue any thing you shall bee aduertis'd thereof and I 'le neuer write home but you shall bee written to Concerning the Parthians I take it for a fable Those Araebians that came into my Prouince in Parthian habit are gone away as it 's reported and there is no feare of any warre in Syria I would willingly haue you write often of your affaires of mine and of the whole state of the Common-wealth at which I am much troubled so much the rather in that you write our friend Pompeius is to go into Spaine Farewell Ciâ—ero Imperator to Appius Pulcher. Epist. 9. WIth much a doe I haue at last read a letter well beseeming Appius Clodius full of humanity courtesie and friendly care Out of question the very sight of Râ—me hath returned you your former sweet proceeding For when you wrote vnto me on the way while you were yet in Asia about the matter of the Legates whose comming to Rome I prohibited and when you complain'd that I hindred the Appian edifications it gaue mee no small distaste mine own conscience witnessing that I had beene euer constant in louing you I returned an answer halfe in choller yet after I read the letters deliuered to Philotimus my Free-man I perceiued there were many in the Prouince which affected our falling out But after you came to Rome or at least as soone as you had seene your friends you vnderstood of them my perpetuall loue and affection towards you manifesting it selfe vpon all occurrents while you stay'd in your Prouince wherefore imagine how neere my heart those words went you wrote vnto meâ— If any thing fall out for my aduancement and dignity though it be vnpossible yet render me equall kindnesse This you may easily doe for what is there in this world which endeauour will not compasse Neither can any attempt be so difficult but a true affection may ouercome it I euer thought so my friends write that you should obtaine a Triumph but yet I am exceedingly satisfied in the certainty you giue me thereof and not becâ—use I hope my selfe as easily to get it for this were but an Epicurean part but in that your honour and dignity is of it selfe most deere vnto me Seeing therefore you haue greater conueniencie of messengers then any other for none would come hither without giuing you notice when my suit hath gotten that successe which you expect and I desire I should bee very glad to be therof aduertised If through those long Sessions of the Senate as our friend Pompeius was wont to terme them you are delayed a day or two for there is no likely-hood it shall bee longer your dignity will no wayes be impeach't by this deferring But for the loue you beare mee and for that that you expect from mee Vouchsafe to cheere me vp with this acceptable information and â—emember to keep promise with me about the present which you promised to make mee For besides that I am desirous of the Science of Auguration any gifts of yours infinitely please me they being an apparant testimony of the loue you beare me And because you demand some equall remuneration I must ruminate well vpon it that I may make you the like requitall For if I should not take the paines in this that vsually I doe in my other compositions which you are wont to thinke worthy of admiration You might haue iust cause to repute me not onely negligent but vnthankfull And of these matters enough Further now my desire is that you bring to effect the offer which you made me my meaning is that you labor by all means possible to compasse me my suites vsing therein your wonted diligence that the Senate may pleasure mee and out of hand with the honourablest demonstrations that may be You promis'd it me see you doe not faile and doe it likewise for the sake of our ancient amâ—tie I doubt I haue ouer-long deferred my writing thereof to the Senate and that my lettersâ— through difficult passage by sea came in time of the vacations But herein I followed your example and I thinke I did well in not writing so suddenly after my being called Imperator but after the end of many enterprizes brought to passe in all this summer Be therefore carefull of this according to your promise and so in all other occasions vouchsafe to take my affaires my selfe and all mine into your friendly protection Farewell Cicero Imperator to Appius Pulchâ—r Epist. 10. VVHen I heard of their presumptuous boldnesse that molested you though at the first hearing I was astonished becausâ— nothing could haue hapned further beyond my expectation yet when I more aduisedly considered thereof I tooke heart at grasse putting great hope in your selfe but greatest in your friends And many reasons perswaded me to think that this trouble would rather augment then extenuate your honor It vext me much that enuious men had found out a meanes to depriue you of the glory of your Triumph which questionlesse you should haue obtained conformable to your deserts Of which losse if you make the same reckoning that I euer esteemed should be made you shall do wisely triumph at last in the sorrow of your enemies For I know you to be so strong in friends and so prudent that vndoubtedly it will greatly grieue them that euer they run into such a leuity For mine own part I assure promise you calling all the gods to witnesse of my heart that for your dignitie for so I will rather terme iâ— then safetie in this Prouince which you gouerned I will haue more then ordinarie care entreating for you affectionately endeauouring my selfe no otherwise then if you were my kinsman vsing what authoritie and power one may haue that is deare as I hope to be vnto the Cities and hath the title of Imperator Command mee and expect at my hand all good offices for my endeuours shall surmount your imagination Quintus Seruilius deluer'd me a briefe letter of yours which notstanding I thought too long for your intâ—eating me made me take it for an iniurie I am sorrie the time is come wherein you shall haue cause to know what esteeme I make both of you and of Pompeius whom I must regard aboue all others and what loue I beare to Brutus Although you should haue discern'd it by some other way as no doubt but you shall But seeing such an occasion is offered if euer I faile in any thing let me be reputed a dishonourable and very bad man Pontinius
I thinke may stand with your safetie and dignitie as you vvith singular industrie and loue euer proseqâ—uted my occasions And this my good will I haue manifested to your most louing mother a woman of great bountie and goodnesse If you commit any thing to â—e I will doe whatsoeuer I may imagine stands to your liking And also if you write not vnto me I vvill notwithstanding with all care and diligence doe what-soeuâ—r I see may redound to your benefit Farewell THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE FAMILIAR EPISTLES OF M. T. CICERO Cicero to Marcus Marius Epist. 1. IF any bodily griefe or your vsuall indisposition hath detain'd you from comming to the publike sports I ascribe it rather to Fortune then to your wisedome But if you reputed these things vaine vvhich by others haue beene admired and being â—ble yet vvould not come the one and other please me well both that you are healthfull of bodie and that you had so prudent a minde in contemning those things which others admire vvithout cause so that you haue reaped the fruit of your vacancie vvhich you might wonderfully enioâ— remaining as it were alone in that Paradise Neither doe I therefore doubt but you spend all the morning in reading and studying in that roome of yours from whence you may disceâ—â—e Stabiâ—num Seiâ—num At which time they that left you there being drovvsâ—e beheld amongst the multitude those vvhich represented Comedies The other houres of the day you after spent in those pleasures that for your recreation you made choice of vvheras vve vvere vr'gd to heare the Comedies vvhich Publius Maecius forsooâ—h approued of In truth if you desire I should tell you I must needs say the sports vvere as honourablâ—e set forth as might be but not to your likingâ— vvhereof I iudge according to mine ovvne inclination First for greater honour to the Festiuitie they return'd to the Stage who I thought for their reputations sake had left it Then our Aesope who so much delights you bare him selfe so ill as he should haue done euery man a fauour not to haue gone forward in his part for hauing begunne to sweare his voyce fail'd him in that very place If I commit any decâ—it wittingly I need not describe the rest vnto you you knowing how the other playes are Neither need I to tell you that they had not the pleasing or gratefull speâ—ches of ordinary playes For the pomp tooke away the pleasure and I am most sure you wil be very glad you saw it not For to see 600. Mules in the Tragedie of Clytemneâ—â—ra or three thousand standing cups in a Troiâ—ne horse or sundrie armed showes of horse and foot in a battaile what delight yeelds it the vulgar admire these things but they would no vvaies haue contented you If in those dâ—ies you made your Protogeâ—es read vnto you so he read not my Orations vndoubtedly you found â—aâ—re sweeter recreation then any of vs. Fâ—r as for the Graecian or Oscian sports I thinke you neuer desir'd to see them in that you may see the Oscian in our Senate and the Graeâ—ian you so detest that you accustome not to goe to your countrie Farme by the Greeke way And why should I imagine that you desire to see the Champions when you would neuer see the Fencers wherein Pompeius himselfe confesseth that he hath meerely lost his time and charge in exercising them Besides this For â—iue whole dayes I denie not but there weâ—e euery day two magnificent baytings but what pleasure can an vnderstanding man take when by a forcible and strong beast a weake man is torne in peeces or when a goodlie beast is with a speare goared through from one side to the other These things if they were worthie of sight thou hast seene them more then once and we that haue beâ—ne there befoâ—e saw nothing new or strange The last day was of the Elephants who stroke the people into great wonder but gaue no delight rather a compassion and men in some sort thought that that kinde beast did participate of humane nature But because you may not imagine but that in those dayes I was not onely happie but free I will not forget to aduertise you how at the same â—ime when the Comedies were represented I was like to breake with the paines I tooke in deâ—ending the cause of Gallus Caninius your familiar friend And if the people fauour'd me as highly as they did Aesope before God I vvould leaue the art willingly and liue with you and our equals For if this kind of life did not please me then vvhen both my yeares and ambition excited mâ— to follow it and when I was not bound to defend any but such as I thought well of neither was I bound to defend whom I would not now I am so weary of it that I can follow it no more For I expect no fruit of my labours and sometimes I am enforced to defend such an one as hath done me an iniurie at their entreatiâ—s that haue benefitted me Wherefore I daily cast about how I may one day liue after mine owne humour and I cannot expresse vnto you how praise vvorthie I hold your resolution and how I am satisfied to see you liue so retired And I grieue the lesse for your comming so seldome to see vs for if you vvere at Rome neither could I enioy your sweete conuersatioÌ„ nor you make vse of mine be it what it will be by reason of my troublesome negotiations from which if I can but ease my selfe for I seeke not to be altogether free'd I haue a mind not onely to teach others but your selfe also vvho for so many years haue studied nothing else what that life is which may truely be call'd a life Attend you as you doe to maintaine and preserue your selfe in this your weake constitution to the end that we may visite our countrie houses together and at ease range vp and downe here and there in our Litters I haue beene longer then I vse to be not through the aboundance of my time but out of loue you hauing halfe inuited me in a certaine Epistle to write somewhat which might make you not repent that you were not at the sports Wherein if I haue giuen you satisfaction I am glad if not I will be of good hope that an other time you will come to see thâ—m and visite vs not expecting that my letters should herein giue you full contentment Farewell Cicero to Marcus Marius Epist. 2. I Will diligently performe what you enioyne me but certainely you were verie circumspect to commit the enterprise to one who for his owne interâ—st desires that the thiâ—g may be sold very deare but you shew'd wit in limitting me the price for which I was to buy it For if you had referr'd your selfe to me as my loue is towaâ—ds you I would haue enioyn'd my coheires to haue giuen you satisfaction therein But now I know what you will spend I will vndeâ—hand send a person
then those who being vanquisht and defeated would not returne home But aboue all things it grieues me to see our selues so bitterly checkt by them that neuer went out of Rome and howsoeuer the matter be I more esteeme those that were slaine in the warre then these men who repine that we suruiue If I haue any time to come to Tusculanum before the prefixed day I will see you there if not I will finde you out in Cumanum and I will send you word thereof before that the Bathe may be readie at my comming Farewell Cicero to Varro Epist. 6. OVr Caninius told me in your behalfe that if there were any thing vvhich I thought imported you to vnderstand that I should not faile to aduertise you thereof You shall therefore vnderstand that Caesar is expected though I perswade my seâ—fe you know it But notwithstanding he hauing written that he would come as I remember into the Alsian territory his friends wrote backe againe to him that he should not come For many would disturbe him and he many and that it were better for him to arriue at Pontinum I knew not wherefore it imported him more to arriue at Pontinum then about Alsia but Hirtius told me he had vvritten of it to him and that Balbuâ— and Oppiuâ— had done the like all which three I knew to be well affected to you I meant to aduertise you of his comming to the end you might know in what place or rather in which of these two places you should prouide you of a lodging for it is not certainly knovvne where he will arriue And I did it also to informe you that I am familiar with these men and that they make me partaker of their counsels Which I cannot perceiue why it should not like me Although I support what is necessarie to be supported yet it followes not that I should commend that which is not praise worthie Though I know not what I may not commend besides the first occasions For what afterwards ensued fâ—ll out through our errour I savv for then you were not there that our friends affected warre and that Caesar desired it not so much as he feared it not The warre therefore grew through our defect what after hapned could not fall out otherwise it being of necessitie that one part must vanquish I knovv your griefe was equall with mine perceiuing thaâ— a slaughter of innumerable Cittizens must ensue with the death of the one or other Generall and besides this knowing that there could not be a worser inconuenience then victorie of ciuill warres the which I expected not from our enemies onely but also from our friends Who terribly threatnâ—d â—uch as had not followed their 〈◊〉 and haâ—ed both of vs you becauâ—e you desired peace and me in that I openly approued it And if they had subdued their victorie would haue bin cruell and immoderate For thâ—y beare an incensed minde towardes vs as if we had taken a course that would not be as beneficiall to them as to our selues if they would haue followed it or as if it had beene better to haue gone into Africa hoping to ouercome by meanes of the Elephants then either to die or liue with any better Fortune Oh we liue in a turmoyled Common-wealth I cannot denie it but let them take care that haue not prouided for any kind of life And to come to this point I haue extended my selfe further then I would For hauing euer reputed you for a man of great worth I now value you much more For in this so generall a storme almost you onely haue had the vnderstanding to retyre you into a Port where reaâ—ing wonderfull fruits of your knowledge you intellectuallie discourse of things of such a qualitie as are much more estimable then any profit or pleasurâ— of these Conquerours What sweete daies doe you enioy now in Tusculanum This may truely bee termed a life I vvould I might liue so free from greater disturbances For I could vvillingly resigne ouer vnto others all the riches of the world But I doe what I can to imitate you and with singular contentment I liue in the repose of studies And why should not euery man graunt vs now the Common-wealth neither can nor will employ vs that we may retire to letters The which I know by many learned men vvith what reason I cannot tell were preferred before the Common-wealth If therefore in the iudgement of famous men we may rather applie our mindes to these studies then to the gouernment of publicke affaires how much more now when the common-wealth her selfe is content therevvith may vve follow them hourly But I doe more then Caniniuâ— imposed vpon me he vvisht me to aduertise you of matters you knevv not and these that I now write vnto you you know better then my selfe Hereafter therefore I 'le be ruled by Caniniuâ— direction I 'le informe you onely of that which belongs to the quality of the present times and that which I shall vnderstand to import you Farewell Cicero to Varro Epist. 7. I Was at supper with Sâ—ius when your letters were brought vs. I am of your opinion that 't is now time to depart from hence And in that hitheâ—to I haue calumniated you I 'le tell you with what craft I did it My minde was that you should hâ—ue entertained the time in some place neere hand if happily we could obtaine the fauour of Câ—sar when we went both together to meete him Now that euery thing is dispatch't without any doubt or delay we must be gone For as soone as I heard of the death of Lucius Caesar the sonne I â—ayd vnto my selfe what will he doe to me whereupon I sup often with these men which haue a kinde of dominion ouer vs. What should I doe We must obserue the times But let vs leaue â—esting for 't is now time to be in earnest Aâ—rica is vp in armes and trembles fearefully There is no disaster which I feare not But whereas you demaund of me at what time he wil come in what part or into what place Hitherto we know nothing They say 't is true that he will disimbaâ—ke at Baiae Some thinke that he may come by Sardinia For the farme which he there hath he neuer yet saw neither hath he a worser but yet he accounts of it I rather beleeue that he 'le come by Sicilia but we shall presently know it For it cannot be but Dolabella will arriue I thinkâ— he shall be our Master How many schollers are more sufficient then their Masters Howsoeuer if I may vnderstand what course you will tâ—kâ— my resolutâ—on shall be conformâ—ble to yoursâ— and therefore I will attend your letters Farewell Cicero to Varro Epist. 8. ALthough it be not the manner no not of the common people except they be vrged to be importunate in demâ—nding a present whereof there was formerly an intention and promise made neueâ—thelesse the expectation that I haue of your promise mooues me not to
disliked me to remaine long time farre of from the custodie of the Common-wealth For we sate in the sterne and gouerned the Rudder but now we haue scarcely any place about the pumpe Do you thinke now though I shall bee at Naples that for this cause they will forbeare to passe decrees in the Senate when being at Rome attending to publicke affaires the decrees of the Senate are registred in a friends house of thine my familiar and when they please they subscribe my name thereto as if I had beene present And I sooner heare of some decree transported into Armenia and Syria which seemes to be passed according to my minde then word is deliuered to me thereof And thinke not that I speake this in â—east Because you must note that letters are alreadie brought mee from the farthest distant Kings that are wherein they thanke me for giuing them in the Senate the title of Kings the which I had not onlie not done but scarcely knew there were any such in the world What must be done then So long as this our master of ceremonies remains heere I will neuerthelesse doe as you counsell me when he is gone I 'le come to your Mushromes If I shall haue an house the charge which the law limiteth vs for one day I 'le distribute into ten but if I cannot meet with a scare that contents me I am determined to lie with you For I know I cannot better gratifie you About Silla's house I had now almost lost all hope as I last wrote vnto you but yet I haue not altogether lost it I should be glad that you as you write had viewed it in the companie of some Masons for if there be no fault in the walles or the roofe the rest will like me well enough Farewell Cicero to Papirius Paeto Epist. 16. YOur letters pleased me and first I was glad to vnderstand that the affection you beare me induced you to write vnto me doubting lest Silius with the newes he brought mâ—e might haue put mee to some trouble of minde About which thing you wrote before vnto me twice after one manner so that I easily conceiued your dislike and I had diligently returned answer thereunto to the end that so well as in such an occasion and time I was able I might at the least in part if not altogether dispossesse you of your sorrow But seeing in these last letters also you shew what a care you haue of it be assured of this my Paeto that whatsoeuer could bee done with Art for now councell sâ—rues not the turne some new policie must bee inuented I say what by Art may bee attempted or inuented to purchase the loue of these Caesarians that hâ—ue I labouâ—ed and procured with all diligence possible and in my opinion very successefully For I am so honoured and reuerenced by them to whom Caesar wisheth well that I beleeue I am beloued of them For though I could hardly discerne true loue from fained except vpon some occasion wherein as gold by the fire so true loue may bee tried and knowne by some danger for other are but common signes neuerthelesse I build vpon this rather then any other thing to thinke that I am heartily and â—ruely beloued that both my fortune and theirs is such as there is no cause to dissemble Then as for him who is Lord of all I see not why I should feare except in that there is no security where reason hath no authority Neither can one promise any thing certaine to himselfe where on others will not to terme them appetites euery thing dependeth Notwithstanding I haue not offended his minde in any thing and therein I haue carefully vsed all my dexterity and prudence For as other whiles I thought that it rather appertain'd to mee then any other to speake freely as to him that had beene a preseruer of the common liberty so now seeing it is lost I thinke it not fit for me to speak any thing which may offend either Caesars minde or his friends But if I should omit the occasion of some excellent saying I should lose the opinion conceiued of my wit the which if I could I would not refuse to doe But yet Caesar himselfe hath a very good iudgement And euen as your brother Seruius whom I take to haue beene very learned would readily say this verse is not of Plâ—â—tus this is because he was accustomed to read Poets and to note their passages so I vnderstand that Caesar hauing of himselfe made volumes of worthy sayings if any thing bee presented him for mine which is not he vseth to reiect it and he doth it now much more because his most familiar friends leade their whole life almost with me Now many things fall in sundry discâ—ursâ—s which peraduenture after I haue vttered them yeeld some sauour of learning and vnderstanding these are ofâ—ered to him together with other conceipts which daily are inuented For so hee hath commanded From hence it proceeds that if afterwards hee heare any thing of me hee thinkes it not worthy to bee giuen eare vnto For which cause I make no vse of your Eâ—omaus though by way of merriment you haue added thereâ—o the verses of Accius But what enuy is there or what thing is there in me for which I should be enuied But suppose that it is as you say I see that it so pleased the Philosophers that is those that seeme alone vnto me to vnderstand the force of vertue it pleased them I say that a wise man should not bee bound to render accompt of any thing but of offence from which I perceiue my selfe free two wayes First because I alwaies had an vpright mind next in that when I saw there was no meanes to defend our opinions my concâ—it was that we ought not to contend with the more mighty I cannot thâ—refore certainely bee blamed in the office of a good Citizen It remaines that I neither doe nor say any thing rashly or foolishly against them that gouerne the Common-wealth And this also I deeme to bee a poynt of a wise man For other things that which another sayes I haue spoken or how Caesar construes my sayings or with what fidelity they liue with me which daily court and honour mee of this I cannot be secure And thus I comâ—ort my selfe partly with the memoriall of my life past and partly by liuing now moderately and that similitude which the Poet Attius makes I attribute not onely to enuie but to fortune also the which as a weake thing should be vanquished and broken by euery valâ—ant minde no otherwise then as a waue is broken by a rocke And in truth the Greeke stories making mention how wise men haue alwayes supported the dominion of Tyrants either in Athens or Siracusa hauing beene in some sort free during the seruitude of their Ciâ—ies I 'le not imagine that I can so preserue my state that it neither offâ—nd the minde of some man nor diminish mine owne honour
giuing of your voyce some which I demonstrate that you haue out of zealous loue and tendernesse performed as in that about the charge of publicke sports But you who are most learned know well that if Caesar were a King as I suppose he was you may for the office you vndergoe be both praysed and blamed praised because your faith and humanitie is to be commended for louing your friend after death which reason I am wont to vse blamed because our Countries libertie should be preferred before the life of a friend vpon which your aduersaries ground themselues I much desire that the controuersies I haue had about these clamors might be related to you But amongst others there are two speciall particularities in your commendation which no man infeâ—s more willingly or oftner then my selfe which is that you perswaded more then any other that the ciuill warre might be withstood and the victorie moderated Wherein I neuer found any mâ—n that was not of my opinion Wherefore I thanke our Trebaâ—ius who was the cause that I wrote vnto you these letters To which if you giue no credite you must needs iudge me very discourteous and inhumaine which would woÌ„drously displease me and differ much from your owne disposition Farewell Caius Matius to Cicero Epist. 28. I Tooke great contentment in your letters because I vnderstood that you retaine that opinion of me which I hoped and wished you should haue Whereof though I no waies doubted yet in that I made greaâ— reckoning that it might be entirely preserued it did a little touch me 'T is true that I was priuie to my selfe that I had committed nothing that could offend the minde of any honest man And therefore I did the lesse beleeue that you being adorned with infinite and excellent sciences would be rashly perswaded to any thing especiâ—lly knowing well that I euer did and doe beare you singular affection Which hauing succeeded as I wisht I will â—nswer to the false oppositions against which you haue oftentimes defended me performing an office answerable to your most ingenuous condition and worthy of our amitie For I know what matters they obiected against me since the dâ—ath of Caesar. They accuse me because I lament the death of a great friend and that I am afflicted because a man is slaine whom I loued affâ—rming that my countrie should be 〈◊〉 before any friâ—ndship as if they had alreadie made triall that such a death was beneficiall to the Commonwealth But I will not argue subtiâ—lie I confesse thaâ— for mine owne part I cannot perceiue it and that I am not yet arriued to this height of wisedome Neither did I follow Caesar in ciuill discord but in that he was my friend though the course displeased me yet would I not abandon him Neither did I euer approue the ciuill warre much lesse the occasion thereof hauing in the very infancie oâ— it applied all my endeuour to extinguish it And therefore in his victorie though he was that great friend vnto me that he was I was neithâ—r delighted with honour or monie Of which rewards others were insatiable whose power was lesse with him then mine was And on the other side my goods by Caesars law were damagâ—d and by my fauour most of them that reioyce at Caesars death obtain'd that they might liue in their countrie That the cittizens who were vanquished might be pardoned I laboured no lesse thâ—n for mine owne safetie I therefore who laboured for eueâ—y mans preâ—eruation should I not greeue for his death from whom I purchas'd it especially being hated for their occasion who murdred him You shall therefore vndergoe the penaltie say they because you dare question that that we haue acted Oh pride neuer heard of that some may vaunt in their impietie and others cannot so much as mourne without their ouerthrow And yet in all ages seruants haue beene allowed to feare to reioyce and to grieue rather when they sawe good then any other The which libertie they now which make profession to haue giuen it vs for so they often report seeke violently to depriue me oâ— by threatnings But they labour in vaine There shall be no danger so terrible that shall make me halt in my dutie or humanitie For I haue alwaies held that an honorable death should neuer be auoided but rather oftentimes desired But why should they be angrie with me for desiring them to repent them of what they had committed I confesse I would haue euery man to be greeued for the death of Caesar. Oh But I am enioyned by the office of a good Cittizen to desire the safetie of the Commonwealth That this desire is in me if it be not knowne without my relating it both by those things which hâ—eretofore I haue effected and by those which heereafter I hope to performe I am content that in defendiug mine owne causes words may not auaile me Therfore I earnestly entreat you that you will conceiue better of my reasons â—hen I am able to vtter them and that you will thinke if you be of opinion that it is a good thing to doe well that I can hold no mâ—nner of commerce with bad men Were it peraduenture fit â—or me now that I am laden with yeares to goe out of that path wherein I haue led my youth which carryeth with it some excuse for error shall I againe nâ—w mould my selfe This error I will not commit nor will I doe any thing that may displease Except I doe lament the vnhappie fortune of my dearest friend and so great a personage And if I were of an other minde I would neuer denie it least that besides my being reâ—puted wicked in offending I might be thought timerous and a false dissembler Tâ—ue it is that I had the chaâ—ge of the publike shewes which Caesar the little youth made in honor of Caesars victorie But this had reâ—pect to a particular office not to the state of the Common-wealth In which charge notwâ—thstanding both for the memoriall I reserue of so great a â—riend and for the desire I haue to honour him thus dead as he is I could not be deficient And the youâ—h of such great hopes and so worthie of Caesar requesting me therâ—unto I was constrained to accept of it I also went many times to the house of Antonius the Conâ—ullâ— to salute him to whom you shall finde that euen they which esteâ—me me little affected â—owards my countrey resorted daily only to craue of him or carry awâ—y something But what an arrogancie is this That Caesar did neuer forbid me to conuerse with whom I thought good and euen with persons whom he loued not and these men that haue bereâ—uâ—d mee of my friend by carping or reprehending me doe their worst to enforce me nor to loue them that I like well of But I know I haue hitherto liued so modestly that heereafter euill tongues shall be little able to defame me and that also they who loue me not because I still perseuer in louing
consultations could hee haue amiddest wine and brothels and therfore euerie one thought as before I wrote vnto you that after his accustomed manner hee would haue vomited and not declaimed Therefore wheâ—as you write that you trust that some good may be done by our authoritie and eloquence in truth some benefit in râ—spect of so many euils hath beene alreadie wrought For the people of Râ—me know that there are three consular persons who for hauing spoken freely what they thought behoouefull for the Common-wealth cannot securely goe into the Senate Neither must you expect any thing else For your greatest friend ioyes wholly in his new affinitie So that he cares no more for sports and he huâ—sts for enuie seeing the fauour which the people with cheerfull shouts â—â—â—ord your brother That other kinsmâ—n is also pacified by the â—ew Commentâ—â—iâ—s of Caesar. These things are tolerâ—blâ— But this is insuppoâ—table that there is one who perswâ—des himselfe thaâ— in your yeere his son should bee Consull and for this cause he seemes diligently to court this villaine Lucius Cotta my familiar friend through a certaine fatall desâ—aire as he saiâ—h comes not much into the Sâ—nate Lucius Caesar an excellent and valiant Citizen is hindred by sicknesse Seruius Sulpitius who is of great â—steeme and desirous of the generall good is not in Rome the oâ—hers exâ—ept those elected pardon mee if I terme them not Consulaâ—es you know who are the principall defenders of the Senate who if the Common-wealth were peaceable were but a fâ—w but fewer now when she is in molestaâ—ion Wherefore all hope lies in you â—he which notwithstanding â—â—es not in you neither if you remaine far off for your securitie but if you enâ—er iâ—to any enterprise worthie of â—our glorie I would it might be compâ—ssed witâ— our safetie If not yet this is most â—â—rtâ—ine that by your meanes the Commonwealth in shorâ— time shall be able to recouer her former beeing I â—â—iâ—her am noâ— will be wanting to yâ—ur friends wâ—oâ— wheâ—her they seeke mâ—e or not I wâ—ll discharge â—hose officeâ— â—or your sake which may beseeme the trust and loue I beare you Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 3. YOur friend doth euerie day more then other shew his mâ—dnesse â—nd bestialitie First in the Statua that hâ— erected in the Rostra he hath in grauen these words TO OVR BEST DESERVING PARENT So that men thinke thâ—t you haue not onely committed homicide but that you haue betrayed your Countrey Why doe I say you I should say wee for that furious fellow affirmes that I was the Ringâ—leader of that your notable seruice I would I had beene he should not now haue thus molested vs. But this concernâ—d you Which seeing it happened not I would to God I had counsell to giue you But yet I doe not see what I should doe my selfe and what can bee attempted against force without force And all their designe is this of Caesar. Whereupon he being by Canuâ—ius conducted to speake vnto the people the second day of October in veriâ— truth departed disgracefully But yet he vttered â—uch things of you who haue preserued your Countrey as should hâ—ue beene deliuered of one that had betrayed it Of my selfe hee spake this that hee was most assured that as you heretofore so now Canuâ—ius did all things by my directions The rest how it is iudge by this that they haue tâ—ken away the prouision â—rom your Legate which is vsually alâ—owed for his iourney What is their meaning thiâ—ke you in doing this Vnâ—oubtedly that he is the Legat not of a friend but of an enemie to the Common-wealth Oh wonderfull miserie We could not support the Master and now we serue our fellow-seâ—uant And yet for all this though I desire more then I can hope for there still remaines some hope in your valour But where are the men I conceale the rest and leaue it to your selfe to bee considered Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 4. I Would you had inuited mee to that supper on the xv of March not a dish of meat should haue remained Now your reliques disturbe mee more then anie man else We haue Consuls of singular valour but bad Consulars the Senate is verie resolute but those that are most resolute haue least auâ—horitie You can desire no more of the people they are most valiant and singularly well enclined and so is all Italy On the contrarie Philippus and Piso Ambassadours beare themselues after such a fashion as there was neuer any thing more brutish or impious For â—eing sent to Antonius to propound some things vnto him in the behalfe of the Senate and he not willing to perform any of them they without the Senates order accepted from him and brought vs intolerable demands And therefore euerie one hath recourse to me and at length in matteâ— of publique safetie I haue the loue and concourse of the people But from you I had no aduertisements neither what you did or intended to doe nor where you were The rumour was you were in Syria but there was no certaintie thereof Of Brutus not being so farre off the newes that come seeme truer Dolabella hath beene much blamed by men of vnderstanding because hee so suddenly sought for the gouernment oâ— Syria your Prouince you hauing not beene there full thirtie dayes Wherefore euerie man was of opinion that he should not be receiued by you there Great commendation is ascribed to you and Brutus because men iudge that you haue beyond all hope raised an Armie I would write more at large if I knew how things stood and in what estate you were And what I now write vnto you I write out of the opinion of men and according to fame I desirously expect your letters Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 5. I Suppose that hitherto the winter hath beene some hinderance that we could not heare certainely what you did and least of all where you were neuerthelesse euerie one affirmed out of their desire as I suppose that you were in Syria and had forces Which was the more easily beleeued in that it seemed probable Our Brutus hath made â—urchase of singular praise hauing performed such great maâ—ters and so far beyond the opinion of all men thaâ— besides their being acceptable of themselues they are for the expedition vsed therein much more welcome Wherefore if those places bee in your power which wee suppose the Common-wealth is fortified with great defences For euen from the first limits of Greece as far as Aegypt wee shall be assisted by excellent Citizens that gouerne those quarters and by their people Although in my opinion matters were at that passe that all the danger of the warre seemed to bee in Decimus Brutus and we hoped that hee would free himselfe from the asseige by which hee is inuironed and valiantly come out into the field which if it fall out the war will be thought ended Howsoeuer he was now at length beleaguered but by a few men For
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
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
recommendation was with you to his gâ—eat fuâ—therance Which I shall repute as a singular fauourâ— and I assure you that in him you shall find infinite goodneâ—â—e and a thankefull memorie for benefits receiued so that you will euer remaine saâ—isfied in his friendship Besides this I would earnestly entreat you for our frienships sake and for that loue you haue â—uer shew'd me that you will tâ—ke vpon you some trouble in the matter I shall acquaint you with Dionysius my seruant who had vnder his custodie a Library of mine of great value hauing filcht away many bookes and fearing to be punisht for it is fled away and he is within your Prouince Marcus â—ollanus my familiar friend and diuers others haue seene him in Naronâ— but he telling them that I had made him free they belefâ— him I cannot expreâ—se how thankâ—ull â— should be if you could sâ—nd me him backe againe The matter is of no great importance but the discontentment of my minde is muchâ— Bollanus will informe you where he is and what course is to be taken If by your meanes I can recouer him I â—hall thinke you haue confeâ—'d vppon me a great benefit Farewell Cicero to Caius Allienus Vice-Consull Epist. 78. DEmocritus Sicynius hath not onely kindly entertained me but is alâ—o my very familiar friend which happens not to many especially Graecians For in him there is naked integritie worthie valour noble courtesie and due obseruance towardes his ghests and mee he honors obserues aâ—d louâ—s aboue all others You shall perceiue that he is not onely the best amongst his owne Cittizens but also of all Achaia I onely open vnto him and make reâ—dâ—e his way to your knowledge Whâ—n you once know hâ—m of your sâ—lfe such is your dispositionâ— you will repute him worthâ—e of your â—riâ—ndâ—hiâ— and entertainement my desire therefore is thâ—t hauing read these letters you will tâ—ke him inâ—o your protectâ—on offer him the gâ—eaâ—est kiâ—dnesse you can for my sake Last oâ— all if as I hope you shall find him worthie of youâ— hospitalitie and fâ—iâ—ndshipâ— Lâ—t me request you to embrâ—ce and loue him and esteeme him in the number of your acquaintance Wherein you shall doe me a singular pleasure Farewell Cicero to Caiuâ— Allienus Vice-Consull Epist. 79. I Sâ—ppose you conceiue what accompt I made of Caius Auianus Flaccus and by him I vnderstood who is a man of tried sinceritie and mindfull of benefits what great fauour you haue shewed him His sonnes most wâ—rthie of such a Father and my good friends whom I singularly loue I recommend vnto you with that zeale as with greater I could not recommend any Caius Auianuâ— is in Sicilia Marcuâ— is here with vs. I pray vouchsafe to respect Caius who is present and haue a care of both their substances You cannot in this Prouince shew me a greater courtesie This is my petition which I beseech you graunt mee Farewell THE FOVRTEENTH BOOKE OF THE FAMILIAR EPISTLES OF M. T. CICERO Cicero to his wife Terentia and children Tulliola and Cicero Epist. 1. MAny write but euery man reports vnto me that you are vertuous and valerous beyond imagination that no labors either of minde or body are so great as they can weary you How wretched a man am I that you who are endued with so much vertue trust Integritie and courtesie should for my sake be brought into so great misery And that our daughter Tulliola should take such thought for a fathâ—r that was wont to be vnto her so delightfull But what shall I saie of my sonneâ— Cicero who no sooner began to tast of vnderstanding but was implunged in vnsufferable griefes and misfortunes Had I thought as you write that destinie had layd these crosses on me I could haue suffered them with greater patience but all proceeds from mine owne defect thinking I had been loued where I was enuied and neglecting those that sought my acquaintance But if I had trusted vnto my selfe and had not so much relyed on the words of foolish or dishonest friends wee had liued most happily yet at this present seeing our friends comfort vs with good hopes I will striue to free my selfe of passion least I for want of health bee not able to second your endeauours in recalling me I consider well how much power wee haue need of and how much more easie it had beene to haue staid at home when I was there thâ—n to râ—turne thither bâ—ing absent yetâ— if all the Tribunes of the people before vs aâ—d Lentuâ—us stiâ—ke as close as he makes show vnto vs and especially if Pompeius and Caesar doe ioyne wiâ—h vs we will be hopefull As for oâ—◠〈◊〉 shold we will doe as you enforme me and our friends counsell vs. Touching this place of my abode the plague is now at length certainely gone from it and while it was heere I hâ—d it not Plaâ—â—us a very kinde man desires me to stay with him and as yet will not let me goe I was desirous to haue beene in a place further out of the way in Epirus whereunto neither Hyspo could come nor the Souldiers But Plancus hitherto retaineth me hoping it may so fall out that we may returne togither into Italie If euer I liue to see that daie and that it bee lawfull for vs to embrace one another and mutually regaine our selues I shall thinke I haue receiued fruite sufficient of our interchanged affection Piso shewes so much humanitie vertue and louâ— towards all of vs that greater cannot bee shewed vs I wish he may take as much pleasure in it as I see he will haue honour by it What I haue written vnâ—o you concerning my brother Quintus was not done to reprehend you â—or any thing but my desire was and especially because you were so few that you should liue togither in as friendly manner as was possiblâ— I hâ—ue thanked whom you bid me and haue written that I had notice giuen mee by you of their fauours Touching that you write vnto me about the sale of our streete my deere Terenâ—ia tell me I pray you alas what will become of vs But if this aduersitie shall continue with vs what shall become of our miserable boy I must not write all tears do so abound least I should set thee also a weeping Yet thus much I will write if our friends be as they should be wee shall haue no want of money if not all the money thou canst make will bee too little If thou hast any care of our miserable fortunes looke that woes do not vtterly cast away our wretched son Let him not want while there is any thing left hee needes but some good qualitie and a moderate estate to raise himselfe to the rest of his fortunes Looke to your health and let me heare from you that I may know whâ—t is done and what you are now about I looke hourely for newes from you that cannot be long a comming Commend me to Tulliola and Cicero Fare ye all well From
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