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nefs I feel from your abfence, to be as frequent a correfpondent on your part, as you fhall certainly find me on mine. There are two reafons indeed, why you ought to be more fo: the firit is, that as the republic can now no longer be confidered as in Rome, but removed with its glorious defenders; we who remain here mut expect to receive from our provincial friends, what we used to tranfmit to them; an account, I mean, of the commonwealth. The next reafon is, becaufe I have many other opportunities in your abfence, befides that of writing, to give you proofs of my friendship: whereas you have none, I think, of teftifying yours, but by the frequency of your ictters. As to all other articles, I can wait; but my first and most impatient defire is, to know what fort of journey you have had; where you met Brutus; and how long you continued together. When you are advanced farther towards your province, you will acquaint me, I hope, with your military preparations, and with whatever elie relates to Our public affairs that I may be able to form fome judgment of our fituation. I am fure at leaft I fhall give no credit to any intelligence, but what I receive from your hands. In the mean time, take care of your health, and continue to allow me the fame fingular thare of your affection which I have always enjoyed. Farewel.

LETTER CXLVIII.

Trebonius to Cicero.

Athens, May the 25th [A. U. 7oo.] I ARRIVED at Athens on the 22d of this month: where, agreeably to my withes, I had the fatisfaction of finding your fon in the pursuit of the noblett improvements, and in the highest eflcem for his modeft and ingenuous behaviour. As you perfectly well know the place you poffefs in my heart, you will judge, without my telling you, how much pleafure this circumitance afforded me. In conformity indeed to the unfeigned friendthip which has fo long been cemented between us, I rejoice in every advantage that can attend you, be it ever fo incon

*This letter fom to have been wiltten before the piece ng pittle had reached the hands of The bends.

fiderable; much more therefore in fo important to your happinefs. Beli me, my dear Cicero, I do not fla you when I fay, there is not a yout all this feminary of learning more dently devoted to thofe refined and vated arts which are fo peculiarly y paflion, or who in every view of his c ratter is more truly amiable, than young man. I call him ours; for, anured, I cannot feparate myself fi any thing with which you are connec It is with great pleasure therefore, well as with trict justice, I congratul both you and myself, that a youth whom we ought to have fome affect whatever his difpofition might be, is a character to deferve our highest. he intimated a defire of feeing Afia not only invited, but preffed him to t the opportunity of vifiting that provi whilst I prefided there and you will doubt of my fupplying your place in ev tender office of paternal care. But t you may not be apprehenfive this sche will prove an interruption of those dies, to which, I know, he is continu animated by your exhortations; Cra pus fhall be of our party. Nor your fon want my earnest incitement advance daily in thofe fciences, which he has already made fo fuccef

an entrance.

I am wholly ignorant of what is go forward at Rome; only I hear fome certain rumours of commotions amor you. But I hope there is no founda for this report; that we may one fit down in the peaceful poffeifion of liberties, retired from the noife and bu of the world: a privilege which hithe it has not been my fortune to enj However, having had a fhort relaxa from butinefs during my voyage to place, I amufed myfelf with putting to ther a few thoughts, which I always figned as a prefent to you. In this p formance I have inferted that lively fervation which you formerly made much to my honour, and have poin out by a note at the bottom, to whor am indebted for the compliment. If fome partages of this piece I fhould: pear to have taken great liberties, I f be justified, I perfuade myself, by character of the man at whom my inv tive is aimed t: and you will undoubte Probably at Antony.

excufe the juft indignation I have expred against a person of fuch infamous principles. Why, indeed, may I not be nduged in the fame unbounded licence a was allowed to honeft Lucilius? He could not be animated with greater abhorrence of the vices which he has fo y attacked; and certainly they were more worthy of fatire than thofe gn which I have inveighed.

I hope you will remember your pro, and take the firft opportunity of inducing me as a party in fome of your ure dialogues. I doubt not if you cd write any thing upon the subject of Criar's death, that you will give an ince of your friendship and your juftice, fcribing to me no inconfiderable fhare that glorious transaction.

i recommend my mother and family your good offices, and bid you fare

LETTER CXLIX.

To Matius.

[A. U. 709.] ENOW not whether it is with greater pain or pleafure, that I reflect on the which I lately received from our good friend, the well-natured TreHe called upon me the next ring after my arrival at Tufculum: as he was by no means fufficiently vered from his late indifpofition, I id not forbear reproving him for thus arding his health. He interrupted with faying, that nothing was of more portance to him than the bufinefs ach brought him to my houfe: and upon quiry if any thing new had occurhe immediately entered into an acof your complaints againft me. But fre I give them a particular anfwer, me begin with a few previous reflec

Amongst all my acquaintance, I canrecollect any man with whom I have ger enjoyed a friendship, than with elf: and although there are several whom my affection commenced as dy, there are few for whom it has rifen high. The truth of it is, I conceived neteem for you from the first moment I faw you and I had reafon to believe, that you thought of me in the fame faarable manner. But your long abfence

from Rome, which immediately fucceeded our first acquaintance, together with that active courfe of life wherein I was engaged, and which was fo entirely different from yours, did not at that time admit of our improving this mutual difpofition by a more frequent intercourse. Nevertheless, even fo long ago as when Cæfar was in Gaul, and many years before the commencement of the civil war, I experienced your friendly inclinations towards me. For as you imagined that my union with Cæfar would be greatly advantageous on my fide, and not altogether unferviceable on his; you generoufly recommended me to his favour, and was the cause of his cultivating my friendship. I forbear to mention several inftances which occurred at that period, of the unreserved manner in which we both converfed and correfponded together; as they were followed by others of a more important nature. At the opening of the civil war, when you were going to meet Cæfar at Brundifium, you paid me a vifit in my Formian villa. This fingle favour, had it been attended with no other, was, at fuch a critical juncture, an ample teftimony of your affection. But can I ever forget the generous advice you fo kindly gave me at the fame time; and of which Trebatius, I remember, was himself a witness? Can I ever forget the letter you afterwards wrote to me, when you went to join Cæfar in the district, if I mistake not, of Trebula? It was foon after this, that either by gratitude, by honour, or perhaps by fate, I was determined to follow Pompey into Greece: and was there any inftance of an obliging zeal, which you did not exert in my abfence both for me and for my family? was there any one, in fhort, whom either they or I had more reason to esteem our friend? But I returned to Brundifium and can I forget (let me afk once more) with what an obliging expedition you haftened, as foon as you heard of my arrival, to meet me at Tarentum? How friendly were your vifits; how kind your endeavours to reafon me out of that dejection, into which the dread of our general calamities had funk me! At length, however, I returned to Rome; where every proof of the greateft intimacy, and upon occafions too of the most important kind, mutually paffed between us. It was by

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directions and advice, that I learned to regulate my conduct with respect to Cæfar and as to other inftances of your friendship; where was the man, except Cæfar himself, at whofe houfe you more frequently vifited, or upon whom you bestowed fo many agreeable hours of your converfation? in fome of which, you may remember, it was that you encouraged me to engage in my philofophical writings. When Cæfar afterwards returned from completing his victories, it was your firit and principal endeavour to establish me again in his friendship: and it was an endeavour in which you perfectly well fucceeded. But to what purpose, you will afk, perhaps, this long detail? Longer indeed I mult acknowledge it is, than I was myfelf aware: however, the ufe I would make of thefe feveral circumstances is, to fhew you how much reason I have to be furprifed, that you, who well know the truth of them, fhould believe me capable of having acted inconfiftently with fuch powerful ties. But befides these motives of my attachment to you, motives known and visible to the whole world, there are others of a far lefs confpicuous kind; and which I am at a lofs to reprefent in the terms they deferve. Every part indeed of your character I admire; but when I confider you as the wife, the firm, and the faithful friend; as the polite, the witty, and the learned companion; thefe, I confefs, are the ftriking points amidit your many other illuftrious qualifications, with which I am particularly charmed. But it is But it is time to return to the complaints you have alleged against me. Be affured then, I never once credited the report of your having voted for the law you mentioned to Trebatius and indeed if I had, I should have been well perfuaded that you were induced to concur in promoting it, upon fome very juft and rational motive. But as the dignity of your character draws upon you the obfervation of all the world; the malevolence of mankind will fometimes give feverer conftructions to your actions than moft certainly they merit. If no inftances of this kind have ever

reached your knowledge, I know not in what manner to proceed in my justification. Believe me, however, I have always defended you upon thefe occafions with the fame warmth and fpirit with which I am fenfible you are wont to op13

pofe, on your part, the calumnies that are thrown out upon myfelf. Thus with regard to the law I just now mentioned, I have always peremptorily denied the truth of the charge: and as to your having been one of the managers of the late games, I have conftantly infifted, that you acted agreeably to thofe pious offices that are due to the memory of a departed friend. In refpect to the latter. however, you cannot be ignorant, that in Cæfar was really a tyrant (as I think he was), your zeal may be confidered in two very different views. It may be faid (and it is an argument which I never fail to urge in your favour), that you fhewed a very commendable fidelity, in thus dif playing your affection to a departed friend. On the other hand, it may be alleged (and in fact it is alleged), that the liberties of our country ought to be far preferable even to the life itself of thofe whom we hold moft dear. I wish you had been informed of the part I have always taken whenever this question has been started. But there are two circumftances that reflect the brighteft luftre upon your character, and which none of your friends more frequently or more warmly commemorate than myfelf; I mean your having always moft ftrongly recommended pacific meafures to Calar, and conftantly advifed him to ufe his victory with moderation; in both which the whole world is agreed with me in acknowledging your merit.

I think myself much obliged to our friend Trebatius, for having given me this occafion of juftifying myself before you. And you will credit the profeflions I have here made, unless you imagine me void of every fpark both of gratitude and generolity; an opinion than which nothing can be more injurious to my fentiments, or more unworthy of yours. Farewel.

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folicitous of preferving it without the Thus defirous that all my fellow-citizens leaf blemish. Confcious, however, that might enjoy their lives in full fecurity, I had never given just offence to any can- can I reprefs the indignation of my heart el and honeft mind, I was the lefs dif- against the affaffins of that man, from ed to believe that you, whofe fenti- whofe generofity this privilege was obsare exalted by the cultivation of tained; efpecially, as the fame hands were ery generous arts, could haftily cre- lifted up to his destruction, which had first cray reports to my difadvantage; efpe- drawn upon him all the odium and envy as you were one for whom I had of his administration? Yet I am threatentimes difcovered much fincere good ed, it feems, with their vengeance, for But as I have the pleafare to find daring to condemn the deed. Unexyou think of me agreeably to my ampled infolence! that fome fhould glory , I will drop this fubject, in order in the perpetration of thofe crimes, which dicate myself from thofe calumnies others thould not be permitted even to you have fo often, and with fuch deplore! The meanest flave has ever r generofity, oppofed. I am per- been allowed to indulge, without control, wly well apprifed of the reflections that the fears, the forrows, or the joys of his se been cait upon me fince Cafar's heart; but these our affertors of liberty, ath. It has been imputed to me, I as they call themselves, endeavour to exww, that I lament the lofs of my friend, tort from me, by their menaces, this think with indignation on the mur- common privilege of every creature. ers of the man I loved. "The wel- Vain and impotent endeavours! no danfre of our country," fay my accufers gers thall intimidate me from acting up sif they had already made it appear, to the generous duties of friendship and that the deftruction of Cæfar was for the humanity; perfuaded as I have ever been, ent of the commonwealth), "the wel- that death in an honest cause ought never are of our country is to be preferred to be fhunned, and frequently to be all confiderations of amity." It courted. Yet why does it thus move be fo: but I will honeftly confefs, their difpleafure, if I only with that they at I am by no means arrived at this may repent of what they have perpeted train of patriotifm. Neverthe- trated? for wifh, I will acknowledge I I took no part with Cæfar in our do, that both they and all the world may diffenfions; but neither did I defert regret the death of Cæfar. "But as a friend, becaufe I disliked his mea- "member," say they, " of the commonze. The truth is, I was so far from "wealth, you ought above all things to roving the civil war, that I always defire its prefervation." Now that I ght it unjustifiable; and exerted my fincerely do fo, if the whole tenour of my tendeavours to extinguish thofe pait conduct, and all the hopes I can reaks by which it was kindled. In con- fonably be fuppofed to entertain, will not mity to these fentiments, I did not fufficiently evince; I fhall not attempt to ke ufe of my friend's victory to the prove it by my profeffions. I conjure pratification of any lucrative or ambitious you then to judge of me, not by what ples of my own, as fome others moit others may fay, but by the plain tendency fully did, whofe intereft with Cæfar of my actions; and if you believe I have much inferior to mine. Far, in any intereft in the tranquillity of the reth, from being a gainer by his fuc- public, be affured that I will have no es, I futtered greatly in my fortunes by communication with those who would imvery law which faved many of thofe piously disturb its peace. Shall I re10 now exult in his death, froin the dif- nounce indeed thofe patriot principles I grace of being obliged to fly their coun- fteadily pursued in my youth, when ty. Let me add, that I recommended warmth and inexperience might have vanquished party to his clemency, pleaded fome excufe for errors? Shall I, with the fame warmth and zeal as if my in the fober feafon of declining age, wanCon prefervation had been concerned. tonly unravel at once the whole fair contexture of my better days? Moft affuredly not: nor fhall I ever give any other offence than in bewailing the fevere cataftrophe of a most intimate and illuftrious H

The law alluded to, is probably that which Cet tafted for the relief of those who had contracted debts before the commencement of the

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friend!

friend! Were I difpofed to act otherwife, I should fcorn to deny it; nor should it be ever faid, that I covered my crimes by hypocrify, and feared to avow what I fcrupled not to commit.

LETTER CLI.
To Trebatius.

Rhegium, July the 28th. [A. U. 709.] YOU fee the influence you have over

Ac

But to proceed to the other articles of the charge against me: it is farther al- me: though indeed it is not greater leged, that I prefided at thofe games than what you are justly entitled to, from which the young Octavius exhibited in that equal return of friendflip you make honour of Cafar's victories. The charge, to mine. I could not therefore be eafy I confefs, is true but what connection in the reflection, I will not fay of having has an act of mere private duty with the abfolutely refused, but of not having comconcerns of the republic? It was an office plied however with the request you made not only due from me to the memory of ine, when we were lately together. my departed friend, but which I could cordingly, as foon as I fet fail from Velia, not refufe to that illuflrious youth, his I employed myfelf in drawing up the mot worthy heir. I am reproached alfo treatile you defired, upon the plan of with having been frequent in paying my Ariftotle's topics; as indeed I could not vifits of compliment to Antony: yet you look upon a city in which you are fo gewill find that the very men who impute nerally beloved without being reminded this as a mark of difaffection to my coun- of my friend. I now fend you the protry, appeared much more frequently at duce of my meditations; which I have his levee, either to folicit his favours, or endeavoured to exprefs with all the perto receive them. But after all, can there fpicuity that a fubject of this nature will be any thing, let me afk, more infuffer- admit. Nevertheless, if fome paffages ably arrogant than this accufation? Cæfar fhould appear dark; you must do me the never oppofed my affociating with whom juftice to remember, that no fcience can foever I thought proper, even though it be rendered perfectly intelligible, without were with perfons whom he himself dif- the affiftance of a mafter to explain and approved. And fhall the men who have apply its rules. To fend you no farther cruelly robbed me of one friend, attempt for an inftance, than to your own profeflikewife, by their malicious infinuations, fion; could a knowledge of the law be to alienate me from another? But the acquired merely from books? Undoubtmoderation of my conduct will, I doubtedly it could not; for although the treanot, difcredit all reports that may hereafter be raised to my difadvantage; and I am perfuaded that even thofe who hate me for my attachment to Cæfar, would rather choose a friend of my difpofition than of their own. In fine, if my affairs fhould permit me, it is my refolution to fpend the remainder of my days at Rhodes. But if any accident thould render it neceflary for me to continue at Rome, my actions fhall evince, that I am fincerely defirous of my country's welfare. In the mean time, I am much obliged to Trebatius for fupplying you with an occafion of fo freely laying open to me the amicable fentiments of your heart; as it affords me an additional reafon for cultivating a friendship with one whom I have ever been difpofed to eitcem. Farewel.

vet

tifes which have been written upon that
fubject are extremely numerous;
they are by no means of themfelves fuf-
ficient inftructors, without the help of
fome learned guide to enlighten their ob-
feuritics. However, with refpect to the
obfervations in the prefent performance;
if you give them a frequent and attentive
perufal, you will certainly be able to enter
into their meaning; but the ready appli-
cation of them can only be attained by
repeated excrcife. And in this exercise
I thall not fail to engage you, if I fhould
return fafe into Italy, and find the re-
public in a ftate of repose. Farewel.

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LETTER CLII.

To Plancus.

[A. U. 709.]

HAD left Rome, and was actually on my voyage to Greece, when I was re

A fea port upon the western point of Cala

bria, oppofite to Sicily; it is now called Regio.

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