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BEcause familiarlie, as you should, you haue written vnto me, without your forename: first, I was in doubt, whether the Senator Volumnius with whom I entertaine great friendship, wrote vnto me; Afterwards, the wittie conceits of the letter made me thinke that it was yours. In which letter eue∣rie thing gaue me great contentment••
but this; ••hat you doe with little dili∣gence defend the possession of my essaies: writing to mee, that after my departure all the sayings, euen to those of Sextius, are attributed to me. Doe you then suffer it? doe not you defend me? I thought I had left my mottoes so sign'd, ••hat they might haue beene discern'd from others. But seeing in Ro••e is such ignorance, ••hat no saying is so vnproper, that appeares not wit••y vnto some man: I entreat you, by the loue you beare me, if there bee not some pregnan•• conceit in those, which Iulius in my second booke of the O••a∣tor, produceth, that you will affirme all the rest not to bee none of mine, offering to wager against him, that will not beleeue it. Whereas you complaine of the Iudgements, I care much lesse, let the worst en••ue that may of all de∣fendants. Let Selius also bee so ••lo∣quent, that he can make men beleeue that he is Free borne, I care not much. But I pray, let vs defend with all ou•• power, the possession of gracefull wi••tie passages. Wherein I onely preferre you [and] contemne all others. You thinke that I ••est with you? Now I see you haue wit. But speaking in good earnest, your letters appeared to mee very elegant. And though they should be, as they were ridiculous. Yet did not I laugh: Because I would, that our
••riend should gouerne himselfe, with all wisdom, both for his own respect; (for I loue him well, as you know) as also for the Cōmon-wealth; which though she be ingrate towards me, neuerthe∣les, I cannot forbeare to loue her. Now my Volumnius, seeing you haue begun; and that you finde you are deere vnto me, write vnto me often of the affaires of Rome, and of the Common-wealth. I take great pleasure to read your let∣ters. Besides this, though Dolob••••••a bee verie desirous to doe mee any pleasure, and beares me entire affection; yet ex∣hort him to perseuere in his good will; & work so, that he may be wholly mine. I vse vnto you al importunity herein, & yet am not satisfied. Neither doth this grow, because I doubt; but because I desire it beyond measure. Farewell.