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you to fubdue? But if arguments cannot prevail, intreaties perhaps may. Let me conjure you then by all the regard you bear me, to difpel this gloom that hangs upon your heart; to return to that fociety and to thofe occupations which were either common to us both, or peculiar to yourfelf. But though I would fain diffuade you from continuing your prefent way of life, yet I would by no means fuffer my zeal to be troublesome. In the difficulty therefore of fteering between these two inclinations, I will only add my requeft, that you would either comply with my advice, or excufe me for offering it.

Farewel.

LETTER CXXXI.
To Lucius Lucceius.

[A. U. 708.]

EVERY part of your last letter glowed with that warmth of friendship, which, though it was by no means new to me, I could not but obferve with peculiar fatiffaction; I would fay pleature, if that were not a word to which I have now for ever bidden adieu: not merely, however, for the caufe you fufpect, and for which, under the gentleist and most affectionate terms, you in fact very feverely reproach me: but becaufe all that ought in reafon to affuage the anguish of fo deep a wound, is abfolutely no more. For whither thall

I fly for confolation? Is it to the bofom of my friends? But tell me (for we have generally fhared the fame common amities together) how few of that number are remaining? how few that have not perished by the fword, or that are not become strangely infenfible? You will fay, perhaps, that I might feek my relief in your fociety: and there indeed I would willingly feek it. The fame habitades and studies, a long intercourie of fiendship-in thort, is there any fort of bond, any fingle circum.tance of connection wanting to unite us together? Why then are we fuch ftrangers to one another? For my own part, I know not: but this I know, that we have hitherto feldom met, I do not fay in Rome, where the Forum ufually brings every body together, but when we were near neighbours at Tufculum and Puteolæ.

• The Forum was a place of general refort for the whole city. It was here that the lawyers pleaded their caufes, that the poets recited their Purks, and that funeral orations were ipoken in

I know not by what ill fate it has happened, that at an age when I might expect to flourish in the greatest credit and dignity, I should find myself in fo wretched a fituation as to be ashamed that I am fill in being. Defpoiled indeed of every honour and every comfort that adorned my public life, or fmoothed my private; what is it that can now afford me any refuge? My books, I imagine you will tell me; and to these indeed I very affiduously apply. For to what elfe can I poffibly have recourfe? Yet even thefe feem to exclude me from that peaceful port which I fain would reach, and reproach me, as it were, for prolonging that life which only increases my forrows with my years. Can you wonder then

that I abfent myself from Rome, where there is nothing under my own roof to af

ford me any fatisfaction, and where I abhor both public men and public meafures, both the forum and the fenate? For this reafon it is that I wear away my days in a total application to literary pur fuits: not indeed as entertaining fo vain a hope, that I may find in them a complete cure for my misfortunes, but in order to obtain at least fome little refpite from their bitter remembrance.

If thofe dangers with which we were daily menaced, had not formerly prevented both you and myfelf from reflecting with that coolnefs we ought, we fhould never have been thus feparated. Had that proved to have been the cafe, we should both of us have fpared ourfelves much uneafinefs: as I should not have indulged fo many groundless fears for your health, nor you for the confequences of my grief. Let us repair then this unlucky mistake as well as we may and as nothing can be more fuitable to both of us, than the company of each other, I purpose to be with you in a few days. Farewel.

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which you have hitherto obfrved, you will foon, I trust, be well. As to my library; I beg you would put the books in order, and take a catalogue them, when your phyfician fhall give jeu his confent: for it is by his direcons you must now be governed. With repet to the gardener; I leave you to dj matters as you fhall judge proper. I think you might come to Rome on the firt of next month, in order to fee the giadiatorial combats, and return the flowing day but let this be entirely is mot agreeable to your own inclinations. In the mean time, if you have any affection for me, take care of your bealth. Farewel.

obftruct the honours I am foliciting; I conjure you to exert your generous offices, as ufual, in defence of your abfent friend. In the mean time, you will find at the bottom of this letter a copy of the difpatches I fend by this exprefs to the fenate, concerning the fuccefs of my arms.

Being informed that the flave whom you employ as your reader, had eloped from you into the country of the Vardæi §, I have caufed diligent fearch to be made after him, although I did not receive your commands for that purpose. I doubt not of recovering him, unless he should take refuge in Dalmatia ||; and even in that cafe, I do not entirely defpair. Farewel, and continue to love

me.

LETTER CXXXIII.
Vatinius to Cicero.

From the camp at Narona*, July the 11th.
[A. U. 708.1

If you have not renounced your ufual custom of defending the cause of your friends, an old client of yours defires to gage you as his advocate: and as you formerly protected him in his humiliat, I dare fay you will not now abande him in his glory. Whofe aid indeed I fo properly invoke upon the occaon of my victories, as that generous friend's, who first taught me how to vanCan I doubt, that he who had courage to withstand a combination of de moft powerful men in Rome, who had confpired my ruin, will not be able to beat down the envious and malignant torts of a little contemptible party, that my endeavour to oppofe my honours? If I ftill then retain the fhare I once eneyed of your friendship, take me, I inbeat you, wholly under your protection, 25 one whofe dignities it is incumbent upon you both to fupport and advance. You are fenfible that I have many enemies, whofe malevolence I have in no fort deferved: but what avails innocence againft fo unaccountable a fate? If thefe therefore should any of them attempt to

In Liburnia, now called Croatia, and which formed part of Vatinius's government.

When Cicero, much to his dishonour, defended Vatinius against the impeachment of Licinius Cal

Allading to his having, by the affiftance of Cicero's eloquence, vanquished his adverfaries in the profecution mentioned in the preceding note.

LETTER CXXXIV.

To Tiro.

[A. U. 708.]

You
are not mistaken in fuppofing me
defirous of your company: but in-
deed I am extremely apprehenfive of
your venturing upon fo long a journey.
The abftinence you
have been obliged to
obferve, the evacuations you have under-
gone, together with the violence of your
diffemper itself, have too much impaired
your strength for fo great a fatigue: and
any negligence after disorders fo fevere
as yours, is generally attended with con-
fequences of the most dangerous kind.
You cannot reach Cuma in less than two
days; and it will cost you five more to
complete your expedition. But I pur-
pofe to be with you at Formia towards
the end of this month: and I hope, my
dear Tiro, it will not be your fault if I
fhould not have the fatisfaction of finding
you perfectly recovered.

My ftudies languish for want of your
affiftance: however, the letter you fent
by Acaftus has fomewhat enlivened them.
Pompeius is now here, and presses me
much to read fome of my compofitions ;
but I jocofely, though at the fame time
truly, affure him, that all my mufes are
filent in your abfence. I hope there-
fore you
will
prepare to attend them with

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your ufual good offices. You may depend upon mine in the article and at the time I promifed: for as I taught you the etymology of the word fides, be affured I fhall act up to its full import. Take care, I charge you, to re-establish your health mine is perfectly well. Adieu.

LETTER CXXXV.

To Varro.

[A. U. 708.]

TO importune the execution of a promife is a fort of ill-manners, of which the populace themfelves, unlefs they are particularly infligated for that purpofe, are feldom guilty *. I cannot, however, forbear, I will not fay to demand, but to remind you of a favour, which you long fince gave me reafon to expect. To this end, I have fent you four admonitors + but admonitors, perhaps, whom you will not look upon as extremely modeft. They are certain philofophers, whom I have chofen from among the difciples of the later Academy 1: and confidence, you know, is the characteristic of this fect §. I am apprehenfive therefore that you may confider them as fo many importunate duns, when my meaning only is, that they fhould prefent themfelves before you as modeft petitioners. But to drop my metaphor; I have long denied myfelf the fatisfaction of addreffing to you fome of my works, in expectation of receiving a compliment of the fame kind from yourself. I waited therefore in order to make you a return as nearly as

This alludes to the promises of public fhews which were frequently made to the people, by the magiftrates and others, who affected popularity.

The were dialogues entitled "Madimica: which appear from hence to have originally confitted of four books, though there is only part of one now remaining.

The followers of the Academic philofophy were divided into two fect, called the and the #170. The founder of the former was Plato; of the latter Arcefilas. The principal difpute between them feems to have related to the degree of evidence upon which human knowledge is founded: the earlier Academics maintaining that fome propofitions were certain; the latter, that none were more than probable. Id. Acadom. 1. paffin.

Alluding to their practice of questioning all opinions, and affenting to nens,

poffible of the fame nature. But as I am willing to impute your delaying this favour, to the defire of rendering it fo much the more perfect; I could no longer refrain from telling the world, in the best manner I was able, that we are united both in our affections and in our ftudies. With this view, I have drawn up a dialogue which I fuppofe to have paffed between you and myfelf in conjunction with Atticus; and have laid the fcene in your Cuman villa. The part I have affigned to you, is to defend (what if I miftake not you approve) the fentiments of Antiochus : as I have chofen myself to maintain the principles of Phifo. You will wonder to find, perhaps, in the perufal of this piece, that I have reprefented a converfation, which in truth we never had: but you must remember

the privilege which dialogue writers have always affumed.

And now, my dear Varro, let me hope that we fhall hereafter enjoy together many of thefe philofophical converfations. If we have too long neglected them, the public occupations in which we were engaged must be our apology: but the time is now arrived when we have no fuch excufe to plead. May we then exercife thefe fpeculations together, under a fixed and peaceable government at leaf, if not under one of the most eligible kind! Though indeed if that were to prove the cafe, far other employments would engage our honourable labours. But as affairs are at prefent fituated, what is there elfe that can render life de

firable?

For my own part, it is with difficulty I endure it, even with all the advantages of their powerful affistance: but without them, it would be utterly infupportable. But we fhall talk further and frequently upon this fubject, when we meet: in the mean time I give you joy of the new habitation you have purchafed, and highly approve of your removal, Farewel.

A philofopher at Athens, whofe lectures Varra had formerly attended. He maintained the doutrines of the old Academy. Cic. Academ. 1. 3.

A Gek philofophier, who profefled the feentical principles of the to Academy. Antioche had ben bied up under him, though he afterwarga became a convert to the oppolite fect.

LETTER CXXXVI.

To Tiro.

[A. U. 708.] WHY fhould you not direct your let ters to me with the familiar fuperfcription which one friend generally ufes to another? However, if you are unwilling to hazard the envy which this privilege may draw upon you, be it as you think proper: though for my own part, it is a maxim which I have generally purfued with refpect to myfelf, to treat envy with the utmost difregard.

you? Was it that you were employed in fome poetical compofition upon the inodel of your admired Sophocles? If fo, I hope you will foon oblige the world with your performance.

Ligurius, Cæfar's great favourite, is dead. He was a very worthy man, and much my friend. Let me know when I may expect you in the mean time be careful of your health. Farewel.

LETTER CXXXVII.
To Lepta.

[A. U. 708.]

I AM glad that Macula has acted agreeably to the good offices I have a right to expect from him, by offering me the use of his house. I always thought the man's Falernian † was well enough for he had fufficient room to receive my reroad-wine; and only doubted whether tinue: befides, there is fomething in the fituation of his villa that does not difpleafe me. However, I do not give up my defign upon Petrinum f. But it has occafional lodging: its beauties deferve too many charms to be used only as an a much longer stay.

I rejoice that you found so much benef: by your fudorific: and fhould the air of Tufculum be attended with the fame happy effect, how infinitely will it inCreate my fondness for that favourite fcene! If you love me then (and if you + do not, you are undoubtedly the moft fuccefsful of all diffemblers), confecrate your whole time to the care of your health; which hitherto indeed your affiduous attendance upon myself has but too much prevented. You well know the rules which it is neceffary you should obferve for this purpose; and I need not tell you at your diet fhould be light, and your exercises moderate; that you should keep your body open, and your mind amused. Be it your care, in fhort, to return to me perfectly recovered and I fhall ever afterwards not only love you, but Tufculum much the more ardently.

I wish you could prevail with your neighbour to take my garden; as it will be the most effectual means of vexing at rafcal Helico. This fellow, although be paid a thoufand felterces for the ret of a piece of cold barren ground, that had not fo much as a wall or a fhed upun it, or was fupplied with a fingle drop of water, has yet the affurance to laugh at the price 1 require for mine; otwithstanding all the money I have aid out upon improvements. But let it be your bufinefs to fpirit the man into cur terms; as it fhall be mine to make the fame artful attack upon Otho.

Let me know what you have done with respect to the fountain: though poffibly s wet feafon may now have overfuppied it with water. If the weather hould prove fair, I will fend the dial, together with the books you defire. But Low happened it that you took none with

About 81. of our
money.

Balbus is confined with a very fevere fit of the gout, and does not admit any vifitors; fo that I have not been able to fee him fince you left Rome. However, I have talked with Oppius concerning your request to be appointed one of the managers of Cæfar's games §. But in my opinion it would be moft advisable not to undertake this trouble; as you will by no means find it fubfervient to the point you have in view. For Cæfar is furrounded with fuch a multitude of prelikely to leffen, than increase, the numtenders to his friendship, that he is more

ber;

higher fervice to recommend him, than efpecially where a man has no what arifes from little offices of this kind: a circumstance too, which Cæfar poffibly may never be acquainted with. But if he fhould, he would look upon himself ra

mans, which took its name from Falernus, a little This was a favourite wine among the Rohili in Campania where the grape was produced.

A town in Campania, where Lepta had a

villa.
exhibit in the feveral quarters of Rome upon his
Thefe were games which Cæfar purposed to
return from Spain, in honour of his victory over
the fons of Pompey. Suct. in vit. Jul.
G4
ther

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[A. U. 708.]

I REJOICE to find that Baie has changed its nature, and is become on a fudden fo wondrous falutary 1. But perhaps it is only in complaifance to my friend, that it thus fufpends its ufual effects, and will refume its wonted qualities the moment you depart. I fhall not be furprifed fhould this prove to be the cafe; nor wonder indeed if heaven and earth fhould alter their general tendencies, for the fake of a man who has fo much to recommend him to the favour of both.

I did not imagine that I had preferved among my papers, the trifling fpeech which I made in behalf of Deiotarus: however, I have found it, and fent it to you agreeably to your request. You will read it as a performance which was by no means of confequence enough to deferve much care in the compofition: and to fay truth, I was willing to make my old friend and hot a prefent of the fame indelicate kind with his own.

May you ever preferve a virtuous and a generous mind that the moderation and integrity of your conduct may prove a living reproach to the violence and in

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Narona, Dec. the 15th. [A. U. 708.]

I HAVE not been able to do any thing

to the purpofe, with regard to your librarian Dionyfius; and indeed my endeavours have hitherto proved fo much the lefs effectual, as the feverity of the weather, which obliged me to retreat out of Dalmatia, fill detains me here. However, I will not defit till I have gotten him into my cuftody. But furely I am always to find feme me difficulty or other in executing your commands: why elfe did you

write to me-1 know not what in favour of Catilius §? But avaunt, thou infidious tempter, with thy dangerous interceffions! And our friend Servilius too (for mine my heart prompts me to call him, as well as yours) is, it feems, a joint petitioner with you in this requeit. Is it ufual then, I fhould be glad to know, with you orators to be the advocates of fuch clients, and in fuch caufes? Is it ufual to plead in behalf of the moft cruel of the human race? in defence of a man who has mur

dered our fellow-citizens, plundered their houfes, ravished their wives, and laid whole regions in defolation? This worthlefs wretch had the infolence likewife to take up arms against myself and he is now, 'tis true, my prifoner. But tell me, my dear Cicero, in what manner can I act in this affair? I would not will

ingly refufe any thing to your request: and as far as my own private refentment is concerned, I will, in compliance with your defires, remit the punishment I intended. But what fhall I anfiver to thofe unhappy fufferers, who require fatisfaction for the lofs of their effects, and the deftruction of their fhips? who call for Vengeance on the murderer of their brothers, their children, and their parents? Believe me, if I had fucceeded to the impudence as well as to the office of Appius, I could not have the affurance to

This man was quæftor in the year 702; and during the civil war was intrufted with fome naval command: but it appears by the prefent letter that he had turned plate, and committed great cruelties and depredations upon the coafts of Illyricum. Pigh. Annal. ii. 421.

withstand

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