Cicero to Lepta. Ep. 19.

HAuing seene, what you wrote in one of yours, that I r•ceiued from your Seleucus, I presently sent a note to Balbus, that hee would let mee know what the Law was [•n that poynt.] He answered mee, that it forbad, that any one, which was at that present Praeco, sh•uld be made Decurio: bu• not one that had beene so in former times. So tha•, let •hese our friends bee of good comfort. For indeed, it were too hard a case; That whereas in R•m•, the Sena∣torian dignitie, was conferred euen vp∣on •he Ha•uspices: one might not in a free incorpora•ion, be a D•curio, that in former times had borne office of Praeco: There is no newes out of Spaine, but take this for certaine, that Pompeius hath a great armie. For Caesar himselfe sent me a copie of a letter, of Pat•etu•, which relates, •hat he hath ele∣uen Page  301 Legions. Besides this, M•ssalla wrote to Quintus Salassus, how Pom∣peius put to death, in the sight of the Armie, Quintus C•rtius, his brother, be∣cause he had accorded with some Spa∣niards, if Pomp•ius went to a certaine towne, whither hee resolued to goe, a∣bout the prouision of corne; to carrie h•m prisoner to Caesar• Whereas, you write vnto me, of the securitie you put in for Pompeius: if Balbus, who promi∣sed in your companie, and is a man di∣ligent enough, in matter of his owne benefit, hee re•urned out of the Coun∣trey, I will not cease to speake to him the•eof, to bring the matter to an end: whereof hee seemed to conc•iue great hope. I am exceeding glad, that my booke of The perfect Orat•r, so pleaseth you. Certainely, I perswade my selfe, that I haue employ•d therein, all the iudgement I haue, about the Art of an Orator. And if it be such, as you write it seemes vnto you, there is some mat∣ter in mee also: if otherwise, I deny not, but so much may bee taken from the opinion of my iudgement, as is in that booke defectiue. I would haue our Lep•a begin to bee delighted, with such like compositions. For, although he hath not yet that iudgement, which yee•es will bring vpon him; yet will it not be without great benefit, if he inure His eares to such like accents. I am not Page  302 yet gone out of Rome, b•cause my daughter lay in. Now, though she be, as I hope, in good state, yet will I not depart, till I haue receiued of Dolobella, the first pension. And to confesse vnto you the truth, I delight no more to goe abroad, as I was wont; I tooke plea∣sure to visit my Farmes, and to separate my selfe from occupations: now, I haue a house in Rome, which in beautie, is in∣feriour to none of my country buil∣dings; and I am as free from employ∣ments, as if I were in the most solitarie place of this world: and I may studie as much as I will, for no man hinders me: therefore I thinke to see you soo∣ner here, then you mee there. Procure that our [young] Lepta, may get Hesio∣dus without booke, and let him haue e∣uer in his mouth.