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

Cicero to Aulus Caecina. Epist. 6.

I Know not how you remaine satisfi∣ed at my hands; in that I haue not written vnto you, as I stood bound; ••••∣well by our friendship, and many inter∣changeable offices; as ••ecause we were both of one, and the same Faction.

Questionlesse, both long since, and many times, I would haue written to you, but that expecting dailie better e∣uents, I desired rather to reioyce with you, then comfort you. Euen as short∣ly I hope to doe; which will minister me occasion to write againe vnto you. Now, though I am inform'd and hope, that you contest with Fortune, out of a resolute minde: yet I'le see, whether with these letters, I can adde vnto your forces. I know I am not fit to doe it: but that Authoritie which deriues from great loue, ought to operate very much. Neither will I attempt to com∣fort you, as one afflicted, and depriued of all hopes of safetie: but as a person, of whose safetie, I promise my selfe nei∣ther more nor lesse, then you heereto∣fore were wont to promise your selfe of mine. I remember when I was expel∣led by them, who thought they could not ••uine the Common-wealth, except I; were first supprest, that manie of my friends, who came out of Asia, where you were to see mee, told mee, how you affirmed, that I should be pre∣sently, restor'd, and with infinite ho∣nor. If you, through a certaine know∣ledge of Tuscan discipline, which you had learned from your Father, who was a noble, and honest Gentleman, tooke not your markes amisse: No more should my prognostication bee

false, being grounded vpon that, which many wise men haue written, and I haue read, as your selfe knowes, with exact diligence. Besides the apprehen∣sion I may haue therein, through my great experience in publike affaires, and for that which I haue obserued in my selfe; to which kinde of prognosticati∣on I giue so much the greater credit, because in present things, so obscure, and troublesome, it neuer deceiu'd me. I would speake of those things which I haue presaged, but that I will not seeme to haue now ••eyned that which is come to passe. Yet many can testifie, how in the beginning I aduised Pompeius, not to ioyne with Caesar: and afterwards that hee should not separate himselfe from him. perceiuing very cleerely, that ioyning with him, the authoritie of the Senate was much impaired; and being separated, a ciuill warre would grow. I was a great friend to Caesar, and I loued and honoured Pompeius: but a•• my counsell was loyall to Pom∣peius, so both to one, and other it was profitable. Many other things passed, which I foresawe. Because I would not that Caesar, to whom I was much bound, should know, that if Pompeius had obserued my directions, he should haue beene in high state, and honoured of all the Cittizens; but yet hee should not haue had such a power, as now he

hath. I perswaded Pompeius to goe in∣to Spaine. If he had gone thither, the ciuill warre had not ensued. I sought not to obtaine, that Caesar being out of Rome, might stand for the Consulship: but when the people (Pompeius the Consull hims••lfe, vrging it with great importunitie) had granted it him: I said 'twas good to satisfie him therein. And discerning that this was the seede of ciuill discords, with many reasons, I laboured to extinguish it; reprehen∣ding them which affected not peace: the which, though it were accompani∣ed with vnequall conditions, yet I pre∣ferred it before warre, which on our behalfe was most i••st. Pompeius knew I spake truth: but there were some so blinde, that to enrich themselues, and effect their desires, holding victorie se∣cure in that Pompeius was their Cap∣taine, they saw not the benefit of my Councell. They came to armes: I stirred not: they went out of Italy, I staid as long as I could. In briefe, the care of my honor, wrought more in me, then the feare of life. I would not leaue Pompeius, because he had not for∣saken mee in my necessities: therefore to shunne infamie, like that Amphia∣r••us in the Fables, I expos'd my selfe, to manifest ruine. In which warre no aduersitie fell out, which I had not for∣merly denounced. Seeing therefore

you may perceiue the truth of my rea∣sons, you are bound to beleeue mee, as men vse to beleeue Augures, and Astro∣logers, when they haue once spoken truth. Neither, doe I now goe after dreames, as the Augures are wont to doe, nor doe I marke how the birds flie, nor hearken I how they sing, nor minde how they eate: but I obserue o∣ther signes: which if they be not more certaine then those, yet they are more easie to comprehend, and consequent∣ly, not so fallible. And my Progno∣stication is grounded vpon two rea∣sons. On the one side I consider Cae∣sars nature: on the other, that of the ciuill warres. Caesar is benigne and clement, iust as he is disciphered in that booke, where you complaine of him. Besides, he loues noble spirits, such as yours is: and finally, ••e will be ouer∣come, with many mens entreaties: see∣ing, that they are not mou'd out of vaine ambition, but out of office, and charitie. The which all Tuscanie doing, 'tis to be thought, shee will be heard. Now, what's the reason, that hitherto, these things haue done little good? For he thinkes, that granting your returne, with whom, it seemes, he hath some cause to be angry; he could not after∣wards deny it many others. Oh, you'le say, what may I hope for then? if he be angry with me? he conceiues, that he

may extract his praises from the same fountaine, by whose drops, hee was formerly made wet, or dashed. Finally, he is a man of great wit, and prudent discourse. He see'th plainely, that he cannot long keepe you out of your Countrie, you being in Tuscanie, which is no base part of I••alie, but amongst o∣thers, the most noble: and equall to a∣ny in Rome, of the more honourable sort of cittizens of your age, for wit, fauour, and iudgement. He will not that here∣after you should acknowledge this be∣nefit rather from the time, then now from him. I haue spoken of Caesar: Now I'le speake of the nature of the ciuill warres. There is no man such an enemy to that enterprise, which Pomp••ius, with great courage, but small preparations vndertooke, that can say, that we haue eyther beene bad cittizens, or bad men. Wherein I am wont to admire the gra∣uitie, iustice, and wisedome of Caesar: He neuer speakes but honorably of Pompeius: Oh, but he hath perform'd against him, many terribly actions. The blame is not Caesars, but of armes, and of the victory. Doe but marke vs: how hath he embraced vs? He made Cassius his Legate; He hath giuen the gouern∣ment of Fraun••e to Brutus, and to Sulpi∣cius that of Gracia: he restor'd Marcellus, against whom, he was wonderfully in∣censt, with as great honor, as could be

wisht. What can I therefore inferre? Take the world what forme it will, the nature of things, and of ciuill warres, will neuer permit, but that in one, and the selfe same cause, all may haue the same condition: and that good men, and good cittizens, that are innocent, may returne into that Cittie, where∣into so many guiltie banished men are returned. This is my prognostication: of which if I made any doubt, I would rather vse that consolation, with which you being a valiant man, as you are, I might easily suppose to comfort you: That if you had taken vp armes, for the Common-wealth, (for so you then thought) with certaine hope of victo∣rie, you should not haue beene much to be commended; but had you imagined, it might so come to passe, that we should be vanquish't, the end of warre being vncertaine: it would haue beene a thing most vnbeseeming you, not to haue beene constant in aduerse for∣tune; as you would haue beene discreet, and moderate in prosperous. I would discourse yet farther; how much it would refresh you, to call to mind, that your deeds tended to a good end; And how delight••ull your studies would be vnto you in aduersities. I could rip vp vnto you, the fearefull accidents, not onely of auncient, but also of moderne Captaines, that haue beene in this war,

with you. For other mens examples, reducing that law to memorie, where∣unto all men, are constrained to obey, extenuate our griefe. Besides this, I would aduertise you, in how great an hauak and confussion of things we liue: in that we should lesse grieue to be de∣priu'd of our countrie, when it is in ill state, then when it is well: but I would not haue you thinke of this reason. For out of hand, as I hope, nay, rather as I plainely discerne, we shall see you, in honor, and safetie. In the meane while, although I haue at many other times performed this office: neuerthelesse, be∣cause Caesar, and his friends do shew me euery day better countenance, I more confidently promise you, my paines, my endeuour, my loue, and my labour. And be assured, that what authoritie or fa∣uour soeuer I doe obtaine, I'le employ it all for your benefit: as formerly I of∣fer'd to your sonne, the true image, no l••sse of your minde then of your body, a very well demean'd young man, and exceeding constant in your aduersitie. Looke to maintaine your selfe, not onely with fortitude of minde, but also with hope, which you may haue aboun∣dantly. Farewell.