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LETTER CLXI.

To Plancus.

[A. U. 710.]

THE duplicate you fent me of your let ter, was an inftance of your obliging care left I fhould be difappointed of what I fo impatiently wished to receive. The contents afforded me a double fatiffaction; and I am at a lofs to determine, whether the friendship you profefs for myfelf, or the zeal you difcover for the republic, rendered it most truly accept able. To fpeak my own opinion, indeed, the public affections are altogether noble and fublime; but furely there is fomething more amiably fweet in thofe of the private kind. Accordingly that part of your letter where you remind me of the intimacy in which I lived with your father, of the early difpofition you found in yourfelf to love me, together with other pafiages to the fame friendly purpofe, filled my heart with the mot exquifite pleafure; as the fentiments you profefs with regard to the commonwealth tailed in me the highest fatisfaction; and to fay truth, I was fo much the more pleafed with the latter, as they were accompanied at the fame time with the former.

To repeat what I faid in the letter to which you have returned fo obliging an anfwer, let me not only exhort, but intreat you, my dear Plancus, to exert your utmolt powers in the fervice of the commonwealth. There is nothing that can more contribute to the advancement of your glory; for amongst all human honours, none most certainly is fuperior to that of deferving well of one's country. Your great good fenfe and good nature will futter me, I know, to speak my fentiments to you with the fame freedom that I have hitherto ufed. Let me again cbferve then, that the honours you have already acquired, though you could not indeed have attained to them without merit, yet they have principally been owing to fortune, in conjunction with the particular circumstances of the times. But whatever fervices you fhall perform for the republic in this very critical conjunéture, will reflect a lufire upon your character that will derive all its splendour from yourself alone. It is incredible how

• The foregoing.

odious Antony is become to all forts o people, except thofe only of the fame difhonelt views with himfeif: but the great hopes and expectations of the republic are fixed upon you and the army you command. Let me conjure you then in the moft folemn manner, not to lofe fo important an opportunity of establishing yourfelf in the efleem and favour of your fellow-citizens, or in other words, of gathering immortal praile. Believe me, it is with all the tendernefs of a father that I thus admonith you; that I enter into your interefls with as much warmth as it they were my own; and that my exhortations proceed from the zeal I bear for the glory of my friend, and for the welAdieu. fare of my country.

LETTER CLXII. To Lucius Papirius Patus.

[A. U. 710.]

I HAVE received a fecond letter from

you, concerning your friend Rufus: and fince you intereit yourself thus warmly in his behalf, you might depend upon my utmolt afliitance, even if he had done me an injury. But I am perfectly fenfible from thofe letters of his which you communicated to me, as well as from your own, how much my welfare has been his concern. I cannot therefore refufe him

my friendly offices, not only in regard to your recommendation, which has all the weight with me it ought, but in compliance alfo with my own inclinations. I mult acknowledge that it was his and your letters, my dear Patus, which firft put me upon my guard against the defigns that were formed to destroy me. I afterwards indeed received intelligence from feveral other hands to the fame effect, and particularly of the confultations that were held concerning me both at Aquinium and Fabrateria +; of which meetings I nd you were likewife apprifed. One would imagine that this party had forefeen how much I fhould embarrass their fchemes, by the industry they employed in order to compaís my deftruction; and as I had not the leaft fufpicion of their purposes, I might in

Thefe towns were fituated in Latium, er what is now called the Campagna di Roma. They fill fubfift under the names of Aquino and Fabia

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candy have fallen into their fnares, if it and not been for the admonitions you fete in confequence of the information had received from Rufus. Your trend, therefore, wants no advocate with or my good offices; and I with the ic may be in fo happy a fituation, afford me an opportunity of giving the moft fubftantial proofs of my tude.

But to difmifs this fubject: I am forry longer frequent the feftive tables vour friends; as you cannot renounce Late parties of good cheer, without deng yourself of a very exquifite graDetation. And to tell you the truth, I lorry likewife upon another account; as I am afraid you will lofe the little owledge you had acquired in the art of cookery, and be abfolutely at a lofs w to fet forth a tolerable fupper. For as you made no very confiderable improvements in this fashionable science, ven when you had many curious models your imitation; what strange awkward ngs must your entertainments prove , that you enjoy no longer the fame advantages? When I informed Spurinna this wonderful revolution in the fyftem of your affairs, he shook his prophetic ad, and declared that it portended fome mble difalter to the commonwealth; aicis, faid he, this extraordinary phaenon be occafioned by the prefent Cold weather, and your friend fhould re tar with the zephyrs to his accustomed an of life. But without a joke, my dear Pætus, I would advise you to spend

A celebrated diviner, who is faid to have framed Cafar of the ides of March. Suet. in j

your time in the cheerful fociety of a set of worthy and agreeable friends; as there is nothing, in my eftimation, that more effectually contributes to the happiness of human life. When I fay this, I do not mean with refpect to the fenfual gratifications of the palate, but with regard to that pleafing relaxation of the mind which is best produced by the freedom of focial converse, and which is always moft agreeable at the hour of meals. For this reafon the Latin language is much happier, I think, than the Greek, in the term it employs to exprefs affemblies of this fort. In the latter they are called by a word which fignifies compotations; whereas in ours they are more emphatically styled convivial meetings; intimating that it is in a communication of this nature that life is most truly enjoyed. You fee I am endeavouring to bring philofophy to my affittance in recalling you to the tables of your friends; and indeed I prescribe them as the best recipe for the re-eftablishment of your health.

Do not imagine, my friend, from my writing in this ftrain of pleasantry, that I have renounced my cares for the republic. Be affured, on the contrary, that it is the fole and unintermitted business of my life to fecure to my fellow-citizens the full poffeffion of their liberties; to which end my admonitions, my labours, and the utmoft powers of my mind, are upon all occafions unweariedly employed. In a word, it is my firm perfuafion, that if I fhould die a martyr to thefe patriot-endeavours, I fhall finish my days in the moft glorious manner. Again and again I bid you farewel.

BOOK THE FIRST.

ANCIENT

LETTERS.

SECTION

II.

From the Letters of PLINY the CONSUL*, to feveral of his Friends, as tranflated by WILLIAM MELMOTH, Efq.

LETTER I.

To Caninius Refus.

OW ftands Comum f, that fa

along its flowery banks, together with the charming Lake į below, that ferves at once the purposes of use and beauty? What have you to tell me of the firm yet foft Geitatio §, the funny Bath, the

Hvourite feene of yours and mine? public Saloon, the private Dining-room.

What becomes of the pleafant Villa, the vernal Portico, the fhady Planetree-walk, the cryftal Canal fo agreeably winding

* Pliny was born in the reign of Nero, about the eight hundred and fifteenth year of Rome, and the fixty-fecond of the Christian era. As to the time of his death, antiquity has given u, no information: but it is conjectured that he died either a little before, or foon after that excellent Prince, his admired Trajan, that is, about the year of

Christ one hundred and fixte.n.

The elegance of this author's manner adds

force to the most interefting, at the fame time

that it enlivens the most common fubjects. But the polite and fpirited turn of there latters, is by no means their principal recommendation: they receive a much higher value, as they exhibit one of Le mot amiable and animating characters in all antiquity. Pliny's whole life frems to have been employed in the exercife of every generous and fo cial affection. To forward modelt merit, to encourage ingenious talents, to vindicate optrifled innocence, are fome of the glorious purports to which he devoted his power, his fortune, and his

abilities. But how does he rife in our esteem and admation, when we fee him exerciting (with a grace that difcovers his humanity as well as his politeness) the nobleft acts both of public and private munificence, not fo much from the abundance of his wealth, as the wildom of his economy!

The city where Pliny was born: it still fubfits, and is now called Como, fituated upon the lake Larius, or Lago di Como, in the dutchy of Nillan.

and all the elegant apartments for repole both at noon and night? Do thefe enjoy my friend, and divide his time with pleafing viciffitude? Or do the affairs of the world, as ufual, call you frequently out from this agreeable retreat? If the fcene of your enjoyments lies wholly there, you are happy; if not, you are under the common error of mankind. But leave, my friend (for certainly it is high time), the fordid purfuits of life to others, and devote yourfelf, in this calm and undisturbed recefs, entirely to pleafures of the ftudious kind. Let thefe employ your idle as well as ferious hours; let them be at once your business and your amufement, the fubjects of your waking and even fleeping thoughts: produce fomething that thall be really and for ever your own. All your other poffeffions will pafs on from one mafter to another: this alone, when once it is

The lake Larius, upon the banks of which this villa was ficuated.

A piece of ground fet apart for the purpofe of exercife, either on horfeback, or in their vehicles; it was generally contiguous to their gardens, and laid out in the form of a Circus.

It was cuftomary among the Romans to fleep in the middle of the day, and they had apartments for that purple distinct from their bedchambers. yours

yours, will for ever be fo. As I well ka the temper and genius of him to woon I am addreffing myself, I must exhart you to think as well of your abilithey deferve: do juftice to thofe rent talents you poffefs, and the , believe me, will certainly do fo Farewel,

LETTER II, To Pompeia Celerina. YOU might perceive by my laft fhort YOU might perceive by my laft fhort letter, I had no occafion of yours to arm me of the various conveniencies enjoy at your feveral villas. The egant accommodations which are to be ad at Narnia, Ocriculum +, Car, Perufia §, particularly the pretty that Narnia, I am extremely well acted with. The truth is, I have a perty in every thing which belongs to ; and I know of no other difference be your houfe and my own, than

I am more carefully attended in the er than the latter. You may, per- have occafion to make the fame Crvation in your turn, whenever you give me your company here; which for, not only that you may partae of mine with the fame eafe and freethat I do of yours, but to awaken induftry of my domeftics, who are van fomething careless in their attendA long courfe of mild Patment is apt to wear out the imprefof awe in fervants; whereas new quicken their diligence, as they generally more inclined to please their der by attention to his guest, than to Latif. Farewel,

Supon me.

LETTER III.

To Cornelius Tacitus.

CERTAINLY you will laugh (and Laugh you may) when I tell you that r old acquaintance is turned fportfand has taken three noble boars. What! (methinks I hear you fay with dament) Pliny!-Even be. Hower, I indulged at the fame time my be

Now called Narni, a city in Ombria, in the
hy of Sporto.

Unici, in the fame dutchy.
Cafla, in the fame dutchy,
Perugia, in Tuscany.

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To Minutius Fundanus.

WHEN one confiders how the time

paffes at Rome, one cannot but be furprifed, that take any fingle day, and it either is, or at least seems to be, spent reafonably enough; and yet upon cafting up the whole fum the amount will appear quite otherwife. Afk any one how he has been employed to-day? he will tell you, perhaps, " I have been at the ceremony "of taking up the manly robe ||; this "friend invited me to a wedding; that "defired me to attend the hearing of "his caufe; one begged me to be wit"nefs to his will; another called me to a confultation." Thefe are offices which feem, while one is engaged in them,

By the circumftance of filence here mentioned, as well as by the whole air of this letter, it is plain the hunting here recommended was of a very different kind from what is practifed amongst us. It

probable the wild boars were allured into their

nets by fome kind of prey, with which they were baited, while the fportíman watched at a distance in filence and concealment. Something at least

of this manner is here plainly implied, and is neceffary to be hinted to the English reader, in order to his conceiving the propriety of Pliny's fentiment, which otherwife muft feem abfurd.

The Roman youths at the age of feventeen changed their habit, and took up the Toga virilis, or Manly gown, upon which occafion they were conducted by the friends of the family with great ceremony either into the Forum or Capitol, and there invested with this new robe.

extremely

extremely neceffary; and yet when, in the quiet of fome retirement, we look back upon the many hours thus employed, we cannot but condemn them as folemn impertinences. At fuch a feafon one is apt to reflect, How much of my life has been loft in trifles! At least it is a reflection which frequently comes acrofs me at Laurentum, after I have been employing myself in my studies, or even in the neceflary care of the animal machine (for the body must be repaired and fupported, if we would preferve the mind in all its vigour). In that peaceful retreat, I neither hear nor peak any thing of which I have occation to repent. 1 fuffer n ne to repeat to me the whispers of malice; nor do I cenfure any man, unlefs myself, when I am dilatied with my compofitions. There I live undiflurbed by rumour, and free from the anxious folicitudes of hope or fear, converfing only with myself and my books. True and gemine life! pleating and honourable repole! More, perhaps, to be defired than the nobleft employ nients! Thon tolenin fet and folitary fhore, hat and most retired fcene for contemplation, with how many noble thoughts have you infpired me! Snatch then, my friend, as I have, the firt occafion of leaving the noify town with all its very empty purfuit, and devote your days to ftudy, or even refign them to cafe; for as my ingenious friend Attilius pleafantly faid, It is better to do nothing, than to be ng of nothing." Farewel.

LETTER V.
To Atrus Clomens.

ever polite literature flourifled at Rome, it certainly does now, of which I could give you many eminent initances: I will content myfelf however with naming only Euphrates the philofopher. I first made acquaintance with this excellent person in my youth, when I ferved in the army in Syria. I had an opportunity of convering with him familiarly, and took fome pains to gain his affection: though that indeed was nothing difficult, for he is exceedingly open to acces, and full of that humanity which he profentes. I fhould think myfelf extremely happy if I had as much antwered the expectations he at that time conceived of

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me, as he exceeds every thing tha had imagined of him. But perhap admire his excellencies more now, tha did then, because I underfland thern b ter; if I can with truth fay I understa them yet. For as none but thofe w are fkilled in painting, ftatuary, or t plaftic art, can form a right judgment any performance in thofe fciences; fo a m muft himself have made great advanc in learning, before he is capable forming a just notion of the learne However, as far as I am qualified to d termine, Euphrates is poffeffed of fo mar flining talents, that he cannot fail flrike the most injudicious obferver. rentons with much force, penetration, an elegance, and frequently launches o into all the fublime and luxuriant el quence of Plato. His ftyle is rich an flowing, and at the fame time fo wor derfully fweet, that with a pleafing vid lence he forces the attention of the mo unwilling hearer. His outward appear ance is agreeable to all the reft: he h a good thape, a comely afpect, long hai and a large white beard: circumstance which, though they may probably b thought trifling and accidental, contri bute however to gain him much reve rence. There is no affected negligenc in his habit; his countenance is grave but not auftere; and his approach com mands refpect without creating awe. Di tinguithed as he is by the fanctity of hi manners, he is no lefs fo by his polit and affable addrefs. He points his elo quence against the vices, not the perfon of mankind, and without chaitifing re claims the wanderer. His exhortation fo captivate your attention, that you han as it were upon his lips; and even afte the heart is convinced, the ear still withe to listen to the harmonious reafoner. Hi family confifts of three children (two o which are fons), whom he educates wit the utmost care. His father-in-law Pom peius Julianus, as he greatly diftinguithe himself in every other part of his life, f particularly in this, that though he wa himfelf of the highest rank in his pro vince, yet among many confiderabl competitors for his daughter, he pre ferred Euphrates, as first in merit, though not in dignity. But to dwell any longe upon the virtues of a man, whofe conver fation I am fo unfortunate as not to have leifure to enjoy, what would it avail bu

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