conferred upon him. But as Pompey, I find, defers fetting out upon his cominiflion longer than I imagined; and I am apprehenfive likewife that the doubts you know I entertain in regard to my attending him, may poffibly prevent, as they will certainly at leaft delay, my journey; I take the liberty to refer Trebatius to your good offices, for those benefits he expected to have received from mine. I have ventured indeed to promife, that he will find you full as well difpofed to advance his intereft, as I have always affured him he would find me: and a very extraordinary circumstance occurred, which feemed to confirm this opinion I entertained of your generofity. For in the very inftant I was talking with Balbus upon this fubject, your letter was delivered to me in the clofe of which you pleafantly tell me, that "in compliance with my request, you will make "Orfius king of Gaul, or affign him over to Lepta, and advance any other per"fon whom I fhould be inclined to re"commend." This had fo remarkable a coincidence with our difcourfe, that it ftruck both Balbus and myfelf, as a fort of a happy omen that had fomething in it more than accidental. As it was my intention, therefore, before I received your letter, to have tranfmitted Trebatius to you; fo I now confign him to your patronage as upon your own invitation. Receive him then, my dear Cæfar, with your ufual generofity; and diftinguish him with every honour that my folicitations can induce you to confer. I do not recommend him in the manner you fo juftly rallied, when I wrote to you in favour of Orfius but I will take upon me to affure you, in true Roman fincerity, that there lives not a man of greater modesty and merit. I must not forget to mention alfo (what indeed is his diftinguishing qualification), that he is eminently fkilled in the laws of his country, and happy in an uncommon ftrength of memory. I will not point out any particular piece of preferment, which I wish you to bestow upon him I will only in general intreat you to admit him into a fhare of your friendfhip. Nevertheless, if you thould think proper to distinguish him with the tribunate or præfecture, or any other little honours of that nature; I shall have no

The military tribunes were next in rank to the lieutenants or commanders in chief under the

[A. U. 699.]

I NEVER write to Calar or Balbus, without taking occafion to mention you in the advantageous terms you de ferve: and this in a style that evidently diftinguishes me for your fincere well-wither. I hope, therefore, you will check this idle paffion for the elegancies of Rome, and refolutely perfevere in the purpose of your journey, till your merit and affiduity thall have obtained the defired effect. In the mean time, your friends here will excufe your abfence, no less than the ladies of Corinth did that of Medea in the play 1, when the artfully perfuades them not to impute it

general; as the præfectus legionis was the most honourable poft in the Roman armies after that of the military tribunes. The bufinefs of the former was, among other articles, to decide all controverfies that arofe among the foldiers; and that of the latter was to carry the chief ftandard of the legion.

This is the fame perfon in whofe behalf the feems to have had fo good an effect, that we find foregoing letter to Cæfar is written, and which him mentioned by Suetonius as in the number of Cæfar's particular favourites. He appears in this earlier part of his life to have been of a more gay and indolent difpofition than is confiftent with making a figure in business; but he afterwards, of the most agreeable fatires of Horace is addrefied

however, became a very celebrated lawyer: and one

If the

to him under that honourable character. English reader is defirous of being acquainted with the fpirit of that performance, he will find it preferved, and even improved, ainong Mr. Pope's excellent imitations of Horace. Suet. in vit. Jul. Cafar. Hor. Sat. ii. 1. Pope's poems, vol. ii.

p. 109.

Medea, being enamoured of Jafon, affifted him in obtaining the golden fleece, and then flei with him from her father's court. He afterwards however deferted her for Creufa the daughter of Creon king of Corinth, whom Medea destroyed by certain magical arts. Ennius, a Roman poet who flourished about a century before the date of this letter, formed a play upon this ftory: from which performance the following lines are quoted,

to

1

to her as a crime, that fhe had forfaken her country: for, as the tells them,

There are who diftant from their native foil,
for their own and country's glory toil:
While home, falt-rooted to their parent-fpot,
Labeae ufclefs, and in death forgot.

In this at inglorious clafs you would moft cely have been numbered, had not your friends all confpired in forcing you fron Rome. But more of this another e: in the mean while let me advife you, who know fo well how to manage rities for others, to fecure yourfelf from the British charioteers. And fince I have been playing the Medea, let me ke my exit with the following lines of the fame tragedy, which are well worth condant remembrance :

sidom, fire, on folly's confines lies, W, wile for others, for himself's unwife. Farewel.

LETTER XVÍ.

To the fame.

[A. U. 699.] ITAKE all opportunities of writing in your favour and I thall be glad you would let me know with what fuccefs. My Cf reliance is on Balbus: in my letters to whom I frequently and warmly recomhead your intereft. But why do you not me hear from you every time my brother difpatches a courier ?

I am informed there is neither gold nor Eher in all Britain. If that should be

The armies of the ancient Britons were partly composed of troops who fought in open chariots; to The arke-trees of which were fixed a kind of fhert five. Caf. de bell. Gall. iv. 20. Sir William Tump's introdution to the Hift. of England.

A notion had prevailed among the Romans, that Britain abounded in gold and filver mines : and this report, it is probable, first fuggefted to Czar the cetign of conquering our inland. It was fan dicovered, however, that these fources of th exited only in their own imaginations: and their hopes of plunder ended in the little advaner they could make by the fale of their prifoners. Cicero taking notice of this circumstance to Attia ridicules the poverty and ignorance of our fr th ancestors; which gives occafion to the inguy historian of his life to break out into the !dowing pertinent and useful observations: "From their railleries of this kind (fays Dr. Middleton) ne cannot help reflecting on the furprising fate and revolutions of kingdoms: how Rome, once "the mistress of the world, the feat of arts, empire, and glory, now lies funk in floth, ignorarte, and poverty; enslaved to the most cruel well as to the most contemptible of tyrants,

LETTER XVII. To the fame.

[A. U. 699.]

HAVE received a very obliging letter

from Cæfar, wherein he tells me, that though his numberless occupations have hitherto prevented him from feeing you fo often as he wishes, he will certainly find an opportunity of being better acquainted with you. I have affured him in return, how extremely acceptable his generous fervices to you would prove to myfelf. But furely you are much too precipitate in your determinations: and I could not but wonder that you should have refufed the advantages of a tribune's commiflion, efpecially as you might have been excused, it feems, from the functions of that post. If you continue to act thus indifcreetly, I shall certainly exhibit an information against you to your friends

fuperftition and religious impofture: while this "remote country, anciently the jeft and contempt "of the polite Romans, is become the happy feat "of liberty, plenty, and letters, flourishing in all "the arts and refinements of civil life; yet run"ning perhaps the fame courfe which Rome it"felf had run before it; from virtuous industry to

wealth; from wealth to luxury; from luxury to "an impatience of difcipline and corruption of "morals; till by a total degeneracy and lofs of "virtue, being grown ripe for deftruction, it falls

a prey at lait to fome hardy oppreffor, and, with "the lofs of liberty, lofing every thing elfe that is "valuable, finks gradually again into its original barbarifm." Ad Att. iv. Life of Cic. ii. 102. Vacerra

С

Vacerra and Manilius. I dare not venture, however, to lay the cafe before Cornelius for as you profefs to have learned all your wifdom from his intructions; to arraign the pupil of imprudence, would be a tacit reflection, you know, upon the tutor. But in good earnest, I conjure you not to lofe the fairest opportunity of making your fortune, that probably will ever fall again in your way.

I frequently recommend your interefts to Precianus, whom you mention; and he writes me word that he has done you fome good offices. Let me know of what kind they are. I expect a letter upon your arrival in Britain. Farewel.

LETTER
To the fame.

[A. U. 699.]

XVIII.

I HAVE made your acknowledgments to my brother, in purfuance of your requeft; and am glad to have an occafion of applauding you for being fixed at latt in fome fettled refolution. The ftyle of your former letters, I will own, gave me a good deal of uneafinefs. And allow me to fay, that in fome of them you difcovered an impatience to return to the polite refinements of Rome, which had the appearance of much levity: that in fome I regretted your indolence, and in others your timidity. They frequently likewife gave me occafion to think, that you were not altogether fo reafonable in your expectations, as is agreeable to your ufual modefty. One would have imagined, indeed, you had carried a bill of exchange upon Cafar, inftead of a letter of recommendation: for you feemed to think you had nothing more to do than to receive your money and haften home again. But money, my friend, is not fo eafily acquired and I could name fome of our acquaintance who have been obliged to travel as far as Alexandria in purfuit of it, without having yet been able to obtain even their juft demands *. If my inclinations were governed folely by my intereft, I fhould certainly choofe to have you here: as nothing affords me more pleafure than your company, or more advantage than your advice and affiftance. But as you fought my friend

This alludes to thofe who fupplied Ptolemy with money when he was foliciting his affairs in

Kome.

flip and patronage from your earliest youth, I always thought it incumbent upon me to act with a difinterested view to your welfare; and not only to give you my protection, but to advance, by every means in my power, both your fortunes and your dignities. In confequence of which I dare fay you have not forgotten thofe unfolicited offers I made you, when I had thoughts of being employed abroad. I no fooner gave up my intentions of this kind, and perceived that Cæfar treated me with great diftinction and friendship, than I recommended you in the ftrongeft and warmest terms to his favour; perfectly well knowing the fingular probity and benevolence of his heart. Accordingly he fhewed, not only by his letters to me, but by his conduct towards you, the great regard he paid to my recommendation. If you have any opinion, therefore, of my judgment, or imagine that I fincerely with you well, let me perfuade you to continue with him. And notwithstanding you should meet with fome things to difgult you, as bufinefs, perhaps, or other obstructions may render him lefs expeditious in gratifying your views than you had reafon to expect, ftill however perfevere; and truft me, you will find it prove in the end both for your intereft and your honour. To exhort you any farther, might look like impertinence: let me only remind you, that if you lofe this opportunity of improving your fortunes, you will never meet again with fo generous a patron, fo rich a province, or fo convenient a feafon for this purpofe. And (to exprefs myfelf in the ftyle of you lawyers) Cornelius has given his opinion to the fame effect.

I am glad for my fake, as well as yours, that you did not attend Cæfar into Britain: as it has not only faved you the fatigue of a very difagreeable expedition, but me likewife that of being the perpetual auditor of your wonderful exploits.- Let me know in what part of the world you are likely to take up your winter-quarters, and in what poft you are, or expect to be, employed. Farewel.

LETTER XIX.
To the fame.
[A. U. 699.]

IT is a confiderable time fince I have
heard any thing from you.
As for
myfelf, if I have not written these three
months,

which concern Covers Ment a- tJ

4 are that I interet mvielf 3 ren zeal as if they imp riled to myself. Accordingly, a. I am ex afraid you will

have

ep you warm in

have no emploizont your winter-qjarrtero, I would by all means advife you to lay in a fufis, quantity of Fudi. Both Macias ar 4 Mathar genau to the fine potrofes espally a var rei mentalt, they sit 4, will fcarce be ready foon enoug to future you again the approaching cell. We near, however, there has been hit work in your 1art of the world which Omewhat almed me for your fafety. But I comfuted myfelf with condering, that you are not al gather fo deferate a foldier, as you are a lawver. It a wonderful conBlation inducd to your friends to be affared that your paffions are not an overmatch for your prudence. Thus, as much as I know you love the water, you

* Muchus and Manilius, it must be fappofed, were two lawyer and particular fi'ends of Trebatius: as the humour of this witticifm evidently cfits in an all hon to that proffen.

In the original it is, tudi plinus kom: natardi, the ambiguity of which could not have ben profeved in a more literal tranfiation. The out of

1ximming was among the number of polite exercides in ancient Rome, and eftcemed a seculary qualiti cation for cery cent man. Thus we fine Cat theeder, haat ur, infructing his ton in this accomplishment: Augustus like vie performed the Time office in the education of his two grinatione, Cius and Lucius. I wa, inized one, the stintial arts in military difcipline, beth the fudiers and officers had rrequently no oder means gi parJu'ng or retreating from the enemy. Arco &ngly the Campus Muthus, a place where the Romin youth wire taught the clence of arms, was fituated on the bank, of the Tiber: and they contantly fin.hed their exercics of this kind, by throwing themfelves into the river. This fhews the woonderful propriety of thofe noble lines which Shakepeare puts into the mouth of Caffiu, in that aftedly fene, where he is enicavouring to found the fentiments, and fire the indignation of Elutu> towards Cæfar.

would not venture, I find, to cre it with Cufar: and tough nothing could keep you from the crust in Rome, you were much too wife, I perceive, to attend them in britain.

But pleufantry apart: you know without my telling you, with what zeal I have ded to Cafar; though

you may not be apprifed, that I live frequently, as well as warmly, written to him upon that subject. I had for fene tine, indeed, intermitted my folicitat on, as I would not feam to diftraft his friendship and generofity: however, I thought proper in my last to remind him once more of his promife. Ideire you would let me know what effect my letter has produced; and at the fame time give me à full account of every thing that concerns vou. For I am exceedingly anticus to be informed of the profpect and fruation of your affairs; as well as how long you imagine your abfence is likely to continue. Be perfuaded, that nothing could reconcile me to this feparation but the In any other view Ifhould not be so imhopes of its proving to your advantage. politic as not to infiit on your return: as you would be too prudent, I dare fay, to delay it. The truth is, one hour's gay or ferious converfation together, is of mere importance to us, than all the foes and all the friends that the whole nation of Gaul can produce. I intreat you, therefore, to fend me an immediate account in what pollure your affairs itand: and be affured, as honeft Chremes fays to his neighbour in the play 9,

Whater ir cars thy lab'ing Jefim grieve, My tongue fall fistke them, or my band relieve. Farewel.

I, as news, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchifes bear, fo from the waves of Tyber Did I the tired Cæfar: and this man Is now become a God, &c. Monfieur Dacier obferves, that this paffage of Ci cero difcovers the juftnefs of thofe veifes in Horace, where Trebatius is reprefented as advising the Roman fatirist to fwim crofs the Tyber, as an excel lent remedy against his poetical propenfity; fince, like other phyficians, he prefcribed a regimen, it feems, moft agreeable to his own tafte and practice. Plut. in quit. Cato. Confor. Suet. in vit. Argufti 64. Vigit. de re milit. i. 10. Dacier rem. fur la Sat. i.

games.

Alluding to his fondnefs of the gladiatorial

In Terence's play called The Self- tormentor.