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

Marcus Caelius, to Cicero. Epist. 16.

I Felt my life leaue mee, in reading your letters: by which I vnderstood, that none but melancholly thoughts possest your minde. And though you haue not cleerely layd open your mea∣ning; neuerthelesse, you haue made manifest, what your disposition was. I presently wrote these letters vnto you. I pray you, my Cicero; I coniure you; by the care you haue of your own state, by the loue that you beare to your chil∣dren, that no resolution come into your minde, by which your own safety, or that you possesse, may incurre any danger. For, I call Gods to witnesse, I call men, and our entire amitie; that I neuer foretold, or put you in minde of any thing, which proceeded not from deliberate counsell: but since I spake with Caesar, and by him vnde••stood, what his determination was, after vi∣ctorie obtained: I gaue you therof ad∣uertisement. If you suppose, that what

Caesar was in the prosecution of his courses, the same he will bee in pardo∣ning his aduersaries; your conceit de∣ceiues you. Euery thought of his, is cruell and rigorous, and also euery word. Hee departed angry with the Senate. These oppositions of the Tri∣bunes of the people, vext him verie much. I assure you, hee will open his eare to no humiliations. Wherefore, if any affection towards your selfe, or to the onely son you haue; if of your fa∣mily, or any other thing within your hopes moue you; if you haue any re∣spect to vs, or your son in law, so honest a man; you should not disturbe their fortunes, by imposing a necessitie vpon vs, of hating or abandoning that part, on whose victorie our saftie depends; or, by being an occasion, that against your preseruation, we beare wicked re∣solutions. Finally, you must consider, that what displeasure soeuer you could shew to Pompeius, you haue absolutely done it him, in this your delay. Now, if you thinke to stir against the Con∣querour; whom, while euents were doubtfull, you neuer went about to of∣fend; and to accompanie them that are now put to flight, whom you would not follow in time, when they made resistance: 'tis the greatest folly of the world. Take heed, whilest you count it shame, with little care to prosecute

the office of a good Citizen, lest you be carelesse of your owne good. But if I cannot absolutely perswade you to what I would; at least attend, till aduer∣tisements come, of the successe in Spain: the which I can tel you, at Caesars arriual will be ours. Wheron their hopes will depend, when Spain is lost, I cānot per∣ceiue. And being so; what reasō should perswade you, to ioyne with desperate people, I cannot with my selfe imagine. This your intention, which, without telling it, you intimated to mee, was now come to Caesars eare: and as soon, as hee had saluted mee; what hee had heard of you, he presently told me. I said, I knew nothing. Yet I entreated him, that he would be pleased to write vnto you a letter, which might per∣swade you not to leaue Italie. He takes me along with him into Spaine. For if this were not, before I went to Rome, I would come poasting to you where∣soeuer; and being present with you, I would feruently haue discharged such an office; and with all my power r••tai∣ned you. Be verie warie, my good Cic••∣ro, that you be not an occasion of vtter ruine, to your selfe, and all yours•• and that you put not your selfe wittingly into that danger, out of which you see there is no hope for you any way to e∣scape. And if the cries of Cit••izens reputed honest, doe moue you; or that

you cannot ••toope to support the pride and insolencie of some particulars: me thinkes you should do well to make choyce of some towne farre from the tumult of armes, while these things are dispatch'd, of which the finall effect is expected. If you thus dispose of your selfe, I shall iudge that you haue done wisely, and you shall not herein offend Caesar. Farewell.