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LETTER XXXII.

To Caius Curio.

[A. U. 700.] You must not impute it to any neglect in Rupa, that he has not executed your commiflion; as he omitted it merely in compliance with the opinion of myfelf and the rest of your friends. We thought it mot prudent that no fteps fhould be taken during your abfence, which might preclude you from a change of meafutes after your return and therefore, that it would be beft he fhould not fignify your intentions of entertaining the people with public games. I may perhaps in fome future letter give you my reafons at large, against your executing that defign: or rather, that you may not come prepared to answer my objections, I believe it will be the wifeft way to referve them till we meet. If I should not bring you over to my fentiments, I fhall have the fatisfaction, at least, of difcharging the part of a friend and should it happen (which I hope however it will not), that you fhould hereafter have occafion to repent of your scheme; you may then remember, that I endeavoured to diffunde you from it. But this much I will now fay, that thofe advantages which fortune, in conjunction with your own induftry and natural endowments, have put into your poffeffion, fupply a far furer method of opening your way to the higheft dignities, than any oftentatious difplay of the moft fplendid fpectacles. The truth of it is, exhibitions of this kind, as they are inftances of wealth only, not of merit, are by no means confidered as reflecting any honour on the authors of them: not to mention, that the public is quite fatiated with their frequent returns. But I am failen unawares into what I defigned to have avoided, and pointing out my particular reafons against your fcheme. I will wave all farther difcuffion therefore of this matter till we meet; and in the mean tire inform you, that the world enter, tains the highest opinion of your virtues. Whatever advantages may be hoped from the most exalted patriotiim united with the greateft abilities, the public, believe me, expects from you. And fhould you come prepared (as I am fure you ought, and I truft you will) to act up to thefe its glorious expectations; then, indeed, you

will exhibit to your friends, and to the commonwealth in general, a fpectacle of the nobleft and most affecting kind. In the mean while be affured, no man has a greater fhare of my affection and efteem than yourself. Farewel.

LETTER XXXIII.

To Trebatius.

April the Sth. [A. U. 700.]

TWO or three of your letters which

lately came to my hands at the fame time, though of different dates, have afforded me great pleafure: as they were proofs that you have reconciled yourself, with much fpirit and refolution, to the inconveniencies of a military life. I had fome little fufpicion, I confefs, of the contrary: not that I queflioned your courage, but as imputing your uncafinefs to the regret of our feparation. Let me intreat you then to perfevere in your prefent temper of mind: and believe me, you will derive many and confiderable advantages from the fervice in which you are engaged. In the mean while, I fhall not fail to renew my folicitations to Cæfar in your favour upon all proper occafions; and have herewith fent you a Greek letter to deliver to him for that purpose: for, in truth, you can

not be more anxious than I am that this

expedition may prove to your benefit. In return, 1 defire you would fend me a full relation of the Gallic war: for you must know, I always depend most upon the accounts of thofe who are least engaged in the action.

As I do not imagine you are altogether fo confiderable a perfon as to retain a fecretary in your fervice, I could not but wonder you should trouble yourself with the precaution of fending me feveral copies of the fame letter. Your parfimony, however, deferves to be applauded; as one of them, I obferved, was written upon a tablet that had been ufed before. I cannot conceive what unhappy compc

* Curio was not of a difpofition to liften to this prudent counfel of his friend: but in oppofition to all the grave advice of Cicero, he perfevered in his refolution, and executed it with great magnificence.

The confequence was, juft what Cicero forefaw

and dreaded he contracted debts which he was in

capable of difcharging, and then fold himself to Cæfir in order to fatisfy the clamours of his creditors.

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fat could be fo very miferable as to deferve to give place upon this occafion: it were one of your own conveyaces. I flatter myfelf, at leaft, it was any (pritely epiftle of mine that you thdgraced, in order to fcribble over adall one of your own. Or was it your intention to intimate affairs go fo W YOU, that you could not afford better materials? If that fhould be your cafe, you must even thank yourself fur sot leaving your modefty behind you. I fall recommend you in very strong terms to Balbus, when he returns into Gral. But you must not be furprised, if you should not hear from me again fo foon as ufual; as I fhall be abfent from Rome during all this month. I write this from Pomptinus, at the villa of Metus Philemon, where I am placed thin hearing of thofe croaking clients What you recommended to my protecLo for a prodigious number, it seems, f your Ulubrean frogs are affembled, in order to compliment my arrival among

them. Farewel.

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agreeable to me: as they will at the fame time for ever attach to your interest a perfon of a moft obliging and friendly difpofition. Farewel.

LETTER XXXV.

To Caius Curio.

[A. U. 700.]

PUBLIC affairs are fo circumftanced, that I dare not communicate my fentiments of them in a letter. This, however, I will venture in general to say, that I have reafon to congratulate you on your removal from the fcene in which we are engaged. But I must add, that in whatever part of the world you might be placed, you would fill (as I told you in my laft) be embarked in the fame I have another reafon likewife for recommon bottom with your friends here. joicing in your abfence, as it has placed your merit in full view of fo confiderable

Cicero ludicrously gives the inhabitants of Ubre this appellation, in allufion to the low and

may fituation of their town.

a number of the most illuftrious citizens, and allies of Rome: and indeed the re

putation you have acquired is univerfally, and without the least exception, confirmed to us on all hands. But there is one circumftance attending you, upon which I know not whether I ought to fend you my congratulations or not: I mean with refpect to thofe high and fingular advantages which the commonwealth promifes itself from your return amongst us. Not that I fufpect your proving unequal to the opinion which the world entertains of your virtues; but as fearing that whatever is moft worthy of your care, will be irrecoverably loft ere your arrival to prevent it: fuch, alas, is the weak and well-nigh expiring condition of our unhappy republic! But prudence, perhaps, will fcarce juftify me in trufting even this to a letter for the reft therefore I muft

refer you to others. In the mean while, whatever your fears or your hopes of inceffantly think on thofe virtues which public affairs may be; think, my friend, that generous patriot muft poffefs, who in these evil times, and amidit fuch a general depravation of manners, gloriously purpofes to vindicate the ancient dignity and liberties of his oppreffed country. Farewel.

LETTER XXXVI.

To Trebatius.

[A. U. 700.]

my

Fit were not for the compliments you fent me by Chryfippus the freedman of Cyrus the architect, I fhould have imagined I no longer poffeffed a place in your thoughts. But furely you are become a most intolerable fine gentleman, that you could not bear the fatigue of writing to me; when you had the opportunity of doing fo by a man whom, you know, I look upon as one almost of own family. Perhaps, however, you may have forgotten the use of your pen, and fo much the better, let me tell you, for your clients; as they will lofe no more caufes by its blunders. But if it is myfelf only that has efcaped your remembrance; 1 muit endeavour to refresh it by a vifit, before I am worn out of your mind beyond all power of recollection. After all, is it not the apprehenfions of the next fummer's carpaign, that has rendered your hand too uniteady to perform its office? If to, you mut e'en play over again the fame gallant trata gem you practifed last year in relation to your British expedition, and frame fome heroic excufe for your abfence. However, I was extremely glad to hear by Chryfippus, that you are much in Cæfar's good graces. But it would be more like a man of eq: ity, methinks, as well as more agrecable to my inclinations, if you were to give me frequent notice of what concerns you, by your own hand: a fatif faction I fhould undoubtedly enjoy, if you had chofen to ftudy the laws of good fellowship, rather than thofe of contention. You fee I rally you, as ufual, in your own way, not to fay a little in mine. But to end feriously; be affured, as I greatly love you, I am no lefs confident than defirous of your affection in return. Farewel.

LETTER XXXVII.

To Publius Sextius.

[A. U. 700.] I HOPE you will not imagine by my long filence, that I have been unmindful of our friendship, or that I had any intention of dropping my ufual correfpondence with you. The fincere truth is, I was prevented from writing during the former

part of our feparation, by thofe calamities in which the general confusion of the times had involved me: as I afterwards delayed it, from an unwillingness to break in upon you, whilit your own fevere and unmerited injuries were yet freth upon your mind.

But when I reflect that a fufficient time has elapfed, to wear off the fir impreflions of your misfortunes; and confider likewife the virtues and magnanimity of your heart; I think I may now write to you confiftently with my general caution of avoiding an unfeafonable offi

cioufnefs.

for

You are fenfible, my dear Sextius, that I warmly flood forth your advocate, when a profecution was formerly commenced against you in your abfence: as afterwards, when you was involved in that accufation which was brought against your friend, I exerted every means in my defence. your power Thus likewise upon my return into Italy *, though I found your affairs had been managed in a very different manner than I fhould have advifed; yet I omitted no opportunity of rendering you my utmost fervices. And upon this occafion, when the clamour that was raifed against you on account of the corn †, by thote that were the enemies, not only of yourfelf, but of all who endeavoured to ait you; when the general corruption of the judges, and in hort, when many other public iniquities, had prevailed to your condemnation againit all truth and juftice; I was not wanting in my beft good offices of every kind towards your fon. Having therefore thus faithfully performed every other facred duty of friendship, I would not omit this likewife of intreating and exherting you to bear your afflictions as becomes a man of your diftinguished spirit and fortitude. In other words; let me conjure you to fupport with refolution thofe common viciffitudes of fortune, which no prudence can prevent, and for which no mortal is anfwerable; remembering, that in all popular governments, as well as in our own, it has been the fate of many of the best and greatest men to fall a facrifice to the injuftice of their

* Probably, when he returned from exile: in the year 696.

It was the bufinefs of the Ediles, amongst other parts of their duty, to fuperintend the markets and public magazines of corn. It feems probable therefore from this page, that Sextius was blnished for fome rear, or pretended, misconduct in

the administration of that office.

country.

trentry. I will add (and I wish I could with truth be contradicted), that the injufentence you lament, has only baed you from a commonwealth in which rational mind can receive the least safiction.

If i were to fay nothing of your fon, it look as if I were inattentive to that gal applaufe which his virtues fo jay receive: on the other hand, were I to tell you all that I hear and think of n, I am afraid I fhould only renew year grief for being thus feparated from company. However, you fhould wly confider his uncommon virtues as a poffeffion which infeparably attends you, in whatever part of the world you may be placed. For furely the objects of the mind are not lefs intimately prelet with us, than thofe of the eye. The rfection, therefore, on his fingular merit and filial piety; the fidelity of myfelf and the rest of thofe friends whom you have frand, and will ever find, to be the folers, not of your fortune, but of your vie; and above all, the confcioufhefs of tot having deferved your fufferings; are circumitances which ought to admiter the highest confolation to you. And they will more effectually do fo, if confider, that it is guilt, and not miffortune, one's own crimes, and not the irjatice of others, which ought to disturb the ferenity of a well-regulated mind. In the mean time be affured, that, in Compliance with the dictates of that fredthip I have long entertained for you, and of that efteem which I bear for your I hall neglect no opportunity both of alleviating your afflictions, and of contributing all I can to fupport you under tem. In a word, if upon any occafion you should think it neceffary to write to me, you shall find that your application was not made in vain. Farewel.

LETTER XXXVII.
To Titus Fadius.

[A. U. 700.] Know not any event which has lately happened, that more fenfibly affects me than your difgrace. Far therefore from being capable of giving you the confolation I with; I greatly ftand in need of the fame good office myfelf. Nevertheless, I cannot forbear, not only to exbort, but to conjure you likewife by our

friendship, to collect your whole frength of reafon, in order to oppofe your afflictions with a firm and manly fortitude. Remember, my friend, that calamities are incident to all mankind, but particularly to us who live in these miserable and distracted times. Let it be your confolation, however, to reflect, that you have loft far lefs by fortune, than you have acquired by merit: as there are few under the circumstances of your birth, who ever raised themfelves to the fame dignities; though there are numbers of the highest quality who have funk into the fame difgrace. To fay truth; fo wretched is the fate which threatens our laws, our liberties, and our conftitution in general, that well may he esteem himself happily dealt with, who is difmiffed from fuch a diftempered government upon the leaft injurious terms. As to your own cafe in particular, when you reflect that you are ftill undeprived of your eftate; that you are happy in the affections of your children, your family, and your friends; and that in all probability you are only feparated from them for a fhort interval: when you reflect, that among the great number of impeachments which have lately been carried on, yours is the only one that was confidered as entirely groundless; that you were condemned by a majority only of one fingle vote; and that too univer. fally fuppofed to have been given in com. pliance with fome powerful influence.Thefe, undoubtedly, are confiderations. which ought greatly to alleviate the weight of your misfortune. I will only add, that you may always depend upon finding in me that difpofition both towards yourfelf and your family, which is agreeable to your wishes, as well as to what you have a right to expect. Farewel.

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ftrong terms upon the fame fubject; yet he imagines I cannot too often apply to you in his behalf. I hope therefore you will excufe me, if in thus yielding to his inclinations, I fhould feem to forget that you are incapable of receding from your word; and again intreat you to allow him a convenient port and fufficient time for the exportation of his corn. Both thefe favours I obtained for him when Pompey had the commiffion in which you are now employed: and the term he granted him was three years. To fay all in one word, you will very fenfibly obige me by convincing Avianus, that I enjoy the fame fhare in your affection, which he juftiy imagines he poffeffes of mine. Farewel.

LETTER XL.
To Marcus Calius.

July the 6th. [A. U. 702.] COULD you terioully then imagine, my friend, that I commisioned you to fend me the idle news of the town; matches of gladiators, adjournments of caufes, robberies, and the rest of thole uninterefting occurrences, which no one ventures to mention to me, even when I am in the midst of them at Rome? Far other are the accounts which I expect from your hand as I know not any man whofe judgment in politics I have more reafon to value. I fhould eitcem it a mifemployment of your talents, even were you to tranfmit to me thofe more important tranfactions that daily arife in the republic; unless they fhould happen to relate immediately to myfelf. There are other lefs penetrating politicians, who will fend me intelligence of this fort: and I fhall be abundantly fupplied with it likewife by common fame. In short, it is not an account either of what has lately been tranfacted, or is in prefent agitation, that I require in your letters: I expect, as from one whofe difcernment is capable of looking far into futurity, your opinion of what is likely to happen. Thus, by fecing a plan, as it were of the republic, I fhall be enabled to judge what kind of ftructure will probably arife. Hitherto, however, I have no reafon to charge you with having been negligent in communicating to me your prophetic conjectures. For the events which have lately happened in the commonwealth, were much

beyond any man's penetration: I an fure at least they were beyond mine.

I paffed feveral days with Pompey, in converfation upon public affairs: but i is neither prudent, nor poffible, to give you the particulars in a letter. In ge neral, however, I will affure you, that h is animated with the moit patriotic fenti ments, and is prudently prepared, as wel as refolutely determined, to act as the in tereft of the republic fhall require. would advife you therefore wholly to at tach yourself to him: and believe me, h will rejoice to embrace you as his friend He now indeed entertains the fame opi nion both with you and myself, of the good and ill intentions of the different parties in the republic.

I have spent thefe laft ten days at Athens: from whence I am this moment fetting out. During my continuance in this city, I have frequently enjoyed the company of our friend Gallus Caninius.

I recommend all my affairs to your care and protection, but particularly (what indeed is my principal concern) that my refidence in the province may not be prolonged. I will not prefcribe the methods you fhould employ for that purpofe; as you are the most competent judge by what means, and by whofe intervention, it may be bet effected. Farewel.

LETTER XLI.
To Caius Marcellus, Conful clea.
[A. U. 702.]

I Received great pleafure in hearing of

your advancement to the confulate. May the gods give you fuccefs in the enjoyment of this honour; and may you difcharge its important duties in a manner worthy of your own illuftrious character and that of your excellent father! You have my beft withes indeed upon this occafion, not only from affection, but gratitude, and in return to thofe warmeft intances of your friendship which I have ever experienced in all the various incidents of my life. Many and im portant are the obligations likewife which I have received from your father, both as my protector in adverfity, and as having contributed to adorn my profperity. I must add alfo to this family-lift of my benefactors, your worthy mother: whole zealous fervices in behalf both of my per

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