for 2nd dignities have rifen much higher than could have been expected from one of the tender fex. Being then, as I most ily ought, entirely devoted to your f; let me earneftly intreat your fhip and protection in my abfence. Farewel. LETTER XLII. [A. U. 702.] THE advancement of your fon to the confular dignity, and your enjoying a pleasure you to much wished to obtain, are circumftances which afford me a very common fatisfaction. They do fo not elepon his account, but yours, whom letem as highly deferving of every ad age that fortune can bellow. Let me 4wledge at the fame time, that I have experienced your fingular good-will towards me, both in the adverfe and procafeafons of my life: and indeed, welfare and honours have been the cus concern of your whole family. I tal be extremely obliged to you theretore for making my fincere and particular Gagratulations upon this occafion to that cellent woman your wife. To which requent I will only add, that I intreat the Continuance of your friendship and protection in my abfence. Farewel. LETTER XLIII. To Lucius Paulus, Conful elect. [A. U. 702.] THOUGH I never once doubted, that in confideration of your moft illuftrious family, and of thofe important fervices you Have yourfelf likewife rendered to the commonwealth, you would be unanimoufly dicted conful; yet the confirmation of this defirable news afforded me an inexPreble fatisfaction. It is my fincere with, that the gods may give fuccefs to your administration, and that you may Father of Caius Marcellus, to whom the foregoing letter is written. He was collegue with Caius Marcellus, men ci in the last note. tation, it was He fet out in his admi thought, with principles agreeable te the of his affociate. But Cæfar perfectly well how to make him change his fentiments: proper applications to his avarice and profu, he added him to the number of his fupple naries. Plut, in vit. Pomp. acquit yourself of this honourable and important truft, as becomes your own character and that of your diftinguished family. I fhould have thought myself extremely happy to have been prefent at your election, and to have contributed thofe fervices which your extraordinary favours to me require. But as the unexpected government of this province has deprived me of that pleasure; I hope I fhall have the fatisfaction of feeing you at least, in the worthy exercife of your confular office. For this purpose I most be injuriously continued in this province earneftly intreat you not to suffer me to beyond the expiration of my year: a favour which I fhall efteem as a very confiderable addition to thofe instances of friendship I have already received at your hands. Farewel. LETTER XLIV. [A. U. 702.] LUCIUS Genucilius Curvus has been timate friends and indeed no man poflong in the number of my most inI recommend him, therefore, moft warmly feffes a worthier or more grateful heart. and entirely to your protection; beseech- · ing you to affift him upon every occafion that fhall not be inconfiftent with your honour and dignity. This is a reftriction, however, which I might well have fpared as I am fure he will never make you a request unworthy either of your character, or his own. But I must particularly intreat your favour in relation to his affairs in Hellefpontus. In the first place then, I beg you would confirm the grant of certain lands which was made he has hitherto enjoyed without moleftato him by the city of Parion §, and which bitant of Hellefpontus fhould controvert tion in the next place, that if any inhahis rights of this kind, you would direct the caufe to be heard in that district. But after having already affigned him Quintus Minucius Thermus was prætor in the year of Rome 701. At the expiration of his office he was appointed proprætor or governor of that part of the Afiatic continent, ftyled Afia proper: which included Lydia, Ionia, Caria, Myfia, and part of Phrygia. Cicero fpeaks of him in a letter to Atticus, as exercifing his administration with great integrity. Ad Att. vi. 1. § A city in Hellefpont. wholly וד wholly to your patronage, it is unnecef- LETTER XLV. To Marcus Calius, Curule-Edile elect. [A. U. 702.] Far lefs, my good friend, I rejoice at your deed, And for this, "By my troth 'tis amazing," Upon which I broke out into a most immoderate fit of laughter: and when fome of my friends reproved my mirth, as deviating almoft into downright folly; Lexcufed myself by the old verfe, Exceflive joy is not exceeding wife. In fhort, whilft I ridiculed this noble friend of ours, I became almoît as ridiculous as himself. But you fhall hear farther upon this fubject another opportunity for in truth I have many things to lay both you and to you, whenever I fhail find more leifure for that purpofe. In the mean time be affured, my dear Cœlius, that I fincerely love you. I confider you indeed as one whom fortune has railed up to advance my glory, and avenge my wrongs: and I doubt not, you will give both thofe who hate and thofe who envy me, fufficient reafon to repent of their folly and their injustice. Farewel. furnished me (as you termed it in one The Edileship. LETTER XLVI. To Publius Silius, Proprætor. [A. U. 702.] DID not imagine 1 thould ever have found myfelf at a lofs for expreffions: yet at a lofs, believe me, I am, to recommend Marcus Lenius to you in the terms he deferves. I mutt content myself therefore with explaining the bufinefs of this letter in few words: but in fuch however as may render you futficiently fentible of my inclinations. It is incredible how great an esteem both my dearest brother and myself entertain for Lænius: an † A mere modern reader, who judges of past efteem, which is founded, not only on the ages by the modes that prevail in his own, muit Romans, as it is with us, a talent becoming only a many good offices he has conferred upon us, but on the exalted integrity of his heart, and the fingular modeity with which all his virtues are accompanied. It was with the utmoft regret therefore, that I confented to part with him; as I receive much advantage from his counfels as well as great entertainment from his farther in his praife, will you not think company. But if I fhould expatiate any that, far from wanting words as I juft BOW new complained, I have employed more that are neceffary? To be fhort then; I recommend Lænius to your protection with all that warmth which you must be fenible I ought, after what I have here fad. Let me earnestly entreat you to pedite the bufinefs which has called him into your province, and to favour him likewife with your advice in the conduct of it. You will find him, be affured, a man of a most generous and well-natured difpofition; for which reafon I beg you would fend him back to us with the fatisfaction of having finished his affairs by your means as foon as poffible. Your compliance with this requeft will extremely oblige both my brother and my f. Farewel. LETTER XLVII. To Thermus, Proprætor. [A. U. 702.] I FOUND you perfectly well inclined to employ every good office in your power for my lieutenant Marcus Anneius, when I mentioned his affair to you at Ephefus. However, as my affection will rot fuffer me to omit any circumstance which may tend to his advantage; I write to you in the belief that this letter will confiderably add to the favourable difpofition in which you already stand towards him. He has long enjoyed a fhare in my friendship as indeed I have fufficiently fhewn the good opinion I entertain of him, by having appointed him my lieutenant, in preference to fo many others who folicited for that office. The war in which I was soon afterwards engaged, gave me occafion of experiencing his military abilities: and the prudence, the courage, and the fidelity with which he executed his commiffion, together with the extraordinary marks he gave me of his affection, have raifed him to the higheft poffible degree of my esteem. I aformed you at Ephefus, that there were fome points in controverfy between him and the city of Sardis *; the particulars of which you will beft learn when the cause shall come before you. And, here, I must confefs, I have been long debating with myfelf what I fhould farther lay to you. The world univerfally acknowledges and admires your impartial In Lydia. administration of juftice: and my friend's claim is fo well-founded as to require no other protection than that of your usual equity. However, as I am fenfible of the great authority which naturally attends the Prætorian office, especially where it is exercised with so much honour, lenity, and wifdom, as are well known to distinguish your administration; I intreat you to exert that influence in fuch a manner upon this occafion, as may convince Anneius that you are his friend. He is already indeed perfuaded that you are fo; and has often mentioned you to me in that character. Nevertheless, I cannot forbear conjuring you, by those reciprocal good offices which have equally paffed between us, to let him fee that this letter has rendered you ftill more inclined to ferve him. Be aflured, the whole extent of your provincial power cannot fupply you with an opportunity of more effectually obliging me. It is unneceffary I fhould add, that you cannot better difpofe of your favours, than by conferring them on Anneius: and I am perfuaded you have too high an opinion of his merit and gratitude to entertain the least doubt upon that article. Farewel. MY [A. U. 703.] own inclinations have anticipated your recommendation: I have long fince received Marcus Fabius into the number of my friends. He has extremely endeared himself to me indeed, by his great politenefs and elegance of manners; but particularly by the fingular affection I have obferved he bears towards you. Accordingly, though your letter in his behalf was not without effect, yet my own knowledge of the regard he entertains for you had fomewhat more: you may be affured, therefore, I fhall very faithfully confer upon him the good offices you request. Many reafons concurred to make me wish you could have given me an inter He attended Craffus into Syria, as his quæftor: who being killed in an engagement against the Parthians, the administration devolved upon Caffius. He feems when this letter was written to have been fetting out, if not actually upon the road, from that province. view, D view. In the first place, I was defirous, after so tedious a feparation, to fee a friend whom I have long efteemed. In the next place, I fhould have been glad to have expreffed thofe congratulations in perfon, which I have already paid you in a letter. I wanted likewife an opportunity of conferring with you upon our mutual affairs, as well as of confirming a friendship founded on many reciprocal good offices, though interrupted indeed by a long abfence. But fince I could not obtain the pleasure of a nearer conference, let me take the advantage at leaft of this more diftant communication; and which in most respects will anfwer the fame purpofe. There is one or two, however, I muft except as it can neither afford me a fatisfaction equal to that of feeing you, nor a mean of rendering you fo fenfible of the joy I feel in your late fuccefs. But though I have already expreffed my congratulations in a former letter, I will here again affure you, that I very fincerely rejoice, not only in the illuftrious actions you have performed, but at your very opportune departure amid the general efteem and applaufes of the whole province. : : And now, what I had farther to say if we had met, related to our mutual affairs a point, however, which may full as well be difcuffed in this manner. With regard to your own; when I confider your intereft in general, I cannot but advife you to haften to Rome. When I left the city, there was not the least appearance of any defigns to your prejudice and I am perfuaded your returning thither, while the fuccefs of your arms is fresh upon the minds of the people, will infure you a reception greatly to your honour. The reafon for hatening your journey will hold fill ftronger, if you are convinced that you fhall be able to defeat thofe profecutions which you are apprehenfive, it feems, may be brought against fome of your officers: as nothing will place your character in a more advantageous light, than a victory Cafitus, after the death of Craffus, and the total defeat of his army, conducted back the remains of the Roman troops into Syria, and thut himfelf up in Antiochia. But upon the approach of the Parthians towards that city, he fallied out; and by his bravery and conduct having repulfed the enemy, he continued herafling their retreat till he drove them entirely out of Syria. of this kind. But, if you imagine the charge can be made good against them, it merits your confideration, whether your arrival in Rome will not happen in a conjuncture very unfavourable for fuch a circumftance. Upon the whole, you yourfelf are most capable of determining this question; as you are the best judge of your own ftrength. If you think you fhall triumph over your adversaries, it is a circumftance undoubtedly that will raise your general credit; but if you are clear that the reverfe will prove the cafe, you will certainly be lefs mortified by the diftant reflections of the world, than if you were placed within the hearing of their malicious cenfures. As to my own affairs; I muft repeat the request of my last, and intreat you to exert your utmolt endeavours, that my continuance here may not be extended beyond the period limited by the fenate and the people. I urge this requeft, as one upon which all my hopes depend; and intreat you to act in it with a proportionablę zeal. You will find Paulus + extremely well difpofed to co-operate with you upon this occafion; as alfo both Curio and Furnius 1. I have only to add the laft article I mentioned, as an inducement for defiring an interview; I mean, in order to renew and confirm the pledges of our mutual friendship. I perfuade myself it will not be neceffary to employ many words for that purpose. You difcovered indeed an early difpofition to be thus united with me; as on my part, I always confidered it as my particular honour. I found it too my great fupport in the feafon of my misfortunes. Let me add, in farther claim to its continuance, that I have contracted, fince your abfence, a great intimacy with your relation Brutus . I promife my felf much fatisfaction from the fociety of two fuch ingenious friends, as well as very high advantages from your united fervices: fuffer me not, I conjure you, to conceive this hope in vain. In the mean time, I beg to hear from you immediately as I defire likewife you would write to me very frequently when you return to Rome. Farewel.. He [A. U. 703.] THE very worthy and learned Marcus Fabius is a person with whom I tm moft intimately connected. frongly indeed engages my affection, not only by his fuperior genius and erudition, but by that uncommon modefty which adorns them. I intreat you therefore to undertake his caufe with the fame warmth as if it were my own. I know you fine orators are so much employed, that a man muft have committed murder at leaft, ere he can hope that his affairs are of fignificancy enough to claim your aftance. In the prefent inftance how ever, I will take no excufe: and if I have any fhare in your regard, you will give up all other bufinefs, when Fabius requires your fervices. The feverity of the winter has prevented my receiving any dispatches from Rome, a confiderable time. I am extremely impatient therefore to hear what is going forward amongst you and particularly what my friend Caelius is doing. Farewel. LETTER L. To Curtius Peducæanus, Prætor †. [A. U. 703.] HAVE long enjoyed an intimacy with Marcus Fabius, for whom I fincerely profefs the most tender regard. I do not, however, defire to influence your judgment in the fuit which he has depending before you as I am fure you will not depart from thofe rules of equity, which your honour obliges you to oblerve, and which you prefcribed to yourself when you first entered upon your office 1. My only request is (and it is a request I This feems to be the perfon mentioned in the foregoing letter: in whofe behalf Caffius had written to Cicero. The following epiftle is likewife in favour of the fame friend, and upon the fame oc cafion. †The prætors were next in rank and power to the confuls: and their office fomewhat refembled that of our chief juftices. 1 The feveral prætors, before they entered upon their office, drew up and published a fort of formuary, which they intended to obferve in their reSpective administrations of juftice. Refin. Antiq. Rom. vii. 700. moft earnestly make), that you would allow him to wait upon you, and would favour his claim fo far as justice is on his fide. In a word, let me intreat you to fhew him, that my friendship can avail him even at this distance. Farewel, LETTER LI. To Appius Pulcher. [A. U. 703.] I HAVE at laft received a letter from you, written in a spirit worthy of yourfelf: as it is conceived in terms full of a generous and candid friendship. It should feem indeed, that the very view of Rome had an immediate effect upon your temper, and restored you to the agreeable poffeffion of your ufual good humour and politenefs. I am fure at least, that the two complaining letters you wrote to me on your journey, ere you had left Afia, were fuch as I could not read without reluctance. I will own too, that confcious of the inviolable attachment which I have ever preferved to your interefts, I could not forbear answering them with fome warmth. The letter indeed which you delivered to my freed-man Philotimus, left me room to doubt that there were fome perfons in this province, who were no well-wishers to our union. But I have the fatisfaction to find, that as foon as you came to Rome, or rather as foon as you were met by your friends and family, you were convinced of that warm and conftant teflimony I gave of my friendship and eftecm for you upon all occafions during your abfence. You will eafily imagine then, with how much pleafure I read your affurances, that if any incident fhould arife wherein putation may be concerned, you will endeavour to make me an equal return. And though you doubt, whether you fhall be able effectually to do fo; most certainly there is no reafon to question it: for there is nothing, my friend, which a fincere and zealous affection is not capable of performing. my re in my own judgment, and had received Notwithstanding I was well perfuaded frequent affurances likewife by the letters of my friends, that you would undoubtedly be honoured with a triumph; yet it afforded me a fingular pleafure to be D 2 con |