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

Cicero to Marcus Fabius Gallus. Epist. 23.

I Had not beene long come from ••r∣pi••as, when your letters were deliue∣red me: and by the same messenger, I receiu'd one from Anianus: wherin ••e courteously promis••d mee, that at his comming, I should become his deb∣tor, for what time I would. Imagine a little, that you are my selfe. Do•• you thi••ke it stands, ei••her with your mo∣destie, or mine; first, that I demand a day of paimen••; and ••••at afterwards, I should requ••re it for aboue a yeere•• but all had be••ne ••ell, if you had brought those things, which I desir'd, and ••or such a sum as I would. And neuerthe∣l••s••e; with that, you write you h••ue bought, I shall not only be content, but take also great pleasure therin; knowing euidently, that you haue vs'd not only diligence about it, but also loue: and that you haue not bought a thing, which you thought not fit for me. But haue first satisfied your owne iudge∣ment, the which in euerie thing I haue alwaies reputed excell••nt. Yet I would

not haue D••masippus change his minde: Be••ause you haue not bought a thing ••o my liking. You haue, not knowing my mann••r, bought these foure, or fiue statues, at so great a price, as I would not giue it for all the sta••ues that can be found. Besides, you paralell these sta∣tues, with the Mus••s of M••tellus. What comparison is there? First, I would ne∣uer haue so high priz'd the Muses them∣selues: and all the Mus••s would haue beene contented with this my iudge∣ment. Neuerthelesse, they would haue well beseem'd my Librarie, as a conue∣nient ornament for our studies. But the statua's of Bacchus, how they like me! Oh they are faire! I know it too well: and I haue se••ne them often; but if they had pleas'd me, I would haue gi∣uen you speciall commission [to buy them:] For, I vse to buy those statues, the which after the manner, as is accu∣stomed in schooles; may adorne my roome, in the Palaestra. But the statua of Mars, how can that fit me, who euer procur'd, and perswaded peace? I am glad there was neuer a statua of Satur∣nus. For it, and that of Mars, I should haue thought, would haue indebted me. I ra••her would, that there had been one of Mercurius: b••cause I thinke, Auianus would haue come to a more reasonable price. Whereas you write, that you would haue that Tr••pesophorus,

or Statua, which supports the table; if you like it, I'le giue it you: but if you be chang'd, I'le keepe it my selfe. With the money, certainely, which you haue spent vpon these statues, I could farre more willingly haue bought a lodging at Tarracina, not to bee alwaies trou∣bling my friends, by lying in their hou∣ses. But I see the fault is in my free-man, to whom I specified the things I would haue: and likewi••e in Iunius; who, as I suppose you know, is absolutely for Amanu••. I haue begun in a gallerie of my Tusculan••m, certaine ••••••ting rooms, the which I would adorne wi••h faire pictures. For, if any s••ch like things de∣light me, picture pleaseth me. But yet if these statues must lye vpon my hands, certefie mee where they are, when I mu••t send for them; and how to con∣uey them along. For, if Damasippus will not haue them, wee sh••ll finde some o∣ther Damasippus, though I should lose somewhat therein. As for the house, when I receiued your other letters, I was vpon my departure: and therfore I left the care to my daughter; and spake also thereof to your Nicia, who, as you know, is a friend to Cassius. But when I was returned, be••ore I could read these your last; I demanded of my daughter, if she had done nothing in it•• shee an∣swered me, that she had spoken therof to Licinia, Cassius sister, with whom I

suppose, he conue••seth not much. And shee said•• that shee durst not part with that house, without Decius her hus∣bands knowledge, who is gone into Spaine. It l••kes me well to see, that you make so g••eat account of conuersing, & liuing with me; first that you would take that house, wherein you sh••ll not onely dwell neere me, but as it were with me; besides, because you haue so great a desire to come to it; vvhich notwithstanding, let me not liue, i•• it be greater then mine. Wherefore I will vse all ••he mean••s I can therein, perceiuing how much it imports both th•• one, and other of vs. If I can do any thing you shall vnderstand of it. Write backe to ••e of euery thing: and certifie me if you please, when you will come. Farewell.