The familiar epistles of M.T. Cicero Englished and conferred with the: French Italian and other translations

Cicero to Ampius Balbus. Epist. 13.

I reioyce with you, my Balbus, and vp∣on iust occasion: neither am I so foo∣lish, to feede you with vaine hope: least mocked thereby, you dare hope no more, after better fortune. I pleaded your cause with greater freedome; then my state required. For being enflamed, with honest charitie, and moued by that loue, which was euer common be∣twixt vs, though my fauours were but weake, yet I haue compassed the end of our desire. Whatsoeuer concernes your returne, and safetie, all hath beene promised, confirmed, ratified, and esta∣blished: I haue seene the effect: I haue procured it: I haue personallie interpo∣sed my selfe therein. For all Caesars ••riends conuerse much with me, and so well they like of my amitie, that next to him, they hold none more deare. Wherein I haue beene carefull accor∣ding to the qualitie of the times pre∣••ent. Pa••sa, Hirtius, Balbus, Oppius, Matius, and Posthumius, wish mee all good. And if I had made this triall for my selfe, I should haue beene well ••ontented, that I had effected so much, ••n these times. Which came to passe ••ecau••e I proceeded not with respect,

as it seemes these present times require: And retaining old friendship with them, I haue preuailed for your good. But your good friend Pansa, desirous to doe me all kindenesse; being of no lesse authoritie, then fauour about Caesar; was he that fauoured me most aboue o∣thers. Tillius Cimber also bare himselfe as well, as I could haue wish'd. But that which most imports, is, That Cae∣sar willingly giues eare to them, that petition him, not through ambition, but for some iust, and due respect. And because Cimbers suites were of this na∣ture, they haue sped better for you then they would haue done for any bodie else. We haue not yet obtained the Patent, because some men are so malicious vnto vs, as they would swel•• with despight, that you, had obtaine•• leaue to returne, whom they tearm•• the Trumpet of the ciuill warre: min∣ding thereby, to make shew, that the•• tooke no pleasure, that a warre ensue•• Wherefore I thought good, to proce•••• secretly, and to keepe the matter bu••••ed. But by that time you shall re•••• these, I make no doubt but the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will be dispatched. And Pans••, wh•• is not a man of vaine words, hath pro∣mis'd me, giuing me his faith, that with in few daies he will giue me the Pate•• N••••er••••elesse, I thought good to wri•••• thus mu••h to you, that you might ha••••

some cause, to cheere vp your selfe: the words of A••pul••ia your wife, and the tears of Ampia your daughter, making me thinke, that you are not of so good comfort, as your letters demonstrate. And they beleeue, that themselues, not being with you, you will be much more assailed with pens••ue cogitations. And therefore, to rid you of all griefe, that might ceaze on your minde, I iudge no remedie could be better, then to giue you full notice of your deliuerie: which is most certaine. You know, that be∣fore, when I wrote vnto you, I onely comforted you, as an inuincible, and wise man, but I gaue you no certaine hope of returning into your countrie, till the heate of this warre were quen∣ched. Remember your letters, where∣in you shewed a great minde, & fi••me, and constant to endure all accidents. Which seem'd no wonder to me, when I call'd to minde, that from a youth, you did negotiate in the Common∣wealth; and it fell out that you had all your M••gistracies, in the greatest dan∣gers of the same•• and you entred into this warre, not onely with an intention to be happie, if you prou'd victor, but to bee wise, though you were van∣quish't. Besides, spending all your studies, in celebrating the worthie acts of valiant men: you must consider, that you ought to do nothing, in which

you should shew your selfe, vnlike to them. But these instructions were ra∣ther to bee vsed, if you were in those miseries, from which you are now free'd. But now, resolue onely to to∣lerate with vs these [inconueniences] which at this instant oppresse vs: to which if I found any medicine, I would also giue it vnto you. But there•• no o∣ther refuge, then learning and studies, wherein we haue alwaies exercis'd our selues: the which in prosperous For∣tunes yeelded vs onely contentment, but now, with contentment, they giue vs life also. But to returne to the be∣ginning, be assur'd, that your restituti∣on is obtained. Farewell.