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

Marcus Coelius to Cicero. Epist. 8.

THough I haue to write vnto you, a∣bout the state of the Common-wealth: yet I am perswaded, there's nothing will like you better then this.

Vnderstand, that Caius Sempronius Ru∣fu••, and Rufus in effect, who was won•• to bee your Honie, and Darling; was conuinced with great scorne, for a false accuser, Will you know in what mat∣ter? After the Roman sports, he accused Marcus Tu••ius, his accuser, as a man ••hat had committed violence. And this he did out of malice; seeing, that he was constrained to defend himselfe, before the Iudges of this yeere, except some extraordinarie accident were enterposed. And hee knew verie well, what would ensue thereon. This pre∣sentation hee would not put vp against others, but onely against his accuser. And, although he had none, that would subscribe to the accusation, yet hee came before the Tribunall, and accu∣sed him. Which being heard, I pre∣sently ran, to present my selfe, in de∣fence of the accused•• not a••tending to be o••he••wise inuited thereunto. I came before them: I spake no••hing of ••he cause: I bent all my speech against S••m∣••ro••ius, wresting ••uen that fiction to my pu••pose, which hee, for the inuries he had done ••o ••estorius, had alledged: that, for you ••••k•• hee would bee con∣te••t, to be r••st••red. An••ther cause is in hearing, o•• no small moment. Mar∣cus Seruilius being absolutely brok••n; all his goods sold; and fallen into eue∣rie mans dises••eeme; repaired to mee

for defence. And I alledging against Pausania his Creditor, that hee might bee satisfied by them, who had bought his goods; Laterensis the Praetor, accep∣ted not of my defence: and Pilius, kinsman to your Atticus, hauing accu∣sed him, as a man that had imbezel'd monies in the Prouince, presently a great arguing grew, and a voice was spred, that hee should bee condemned. Afterwards comes Appius the younger, driuen, as it were, with a most violent winde of feare, lest Seruilius should bee left so bare, that hee could not pay him 24. thousand Crownes, which hee pre∣tends to be due vnto him by this right; that his father being accused by Serui∣lius, & comming to an agreement with him, gaue him the said summe; to the end, he should not proceed against him in worser matters. You wonder hee should bee so foolish. But you wou••d maruell mo••••, if you knew some oth••r, his notable sopperies; and how his fa∣ther confessed so infamous a crime to be true. He accepted of the same Iud∣ges, which gaue sentence against his Father. And the decrees being as many of the one part, as of ••he other, Lat••∣rensis, not knowing the Law, denoun∣ced that which each Bench had iudged, and at last, according to the custome, said, I will record the absolution. Ser∣uilius was gone; and euery man••

thought he had beene absolued: when the Praetor, taking the wri••ten Law in his hand, and hauing read the hundred and first head thereof, wherein were these formall words, Let the Praetor giue s••ntence, according to the opinion of the great••r part of the Iudges, hee record••d not the ab••olution; but wrote, that of three orders, the Senatorian, Equestri∣an, and Plebeian; two h••d absolued, and not condemned him. Af••er this, Appius againe impor••uning; hee con∣tracted with Lucius Lollius, and ••ayd, that hee would register the absolution. And thus Seruilius, neither absolued, nor condemned, but halfe defam••d, must answer to Pilius imputations. Ap∣pius also himselfe would haue accused him of such a misdemeanor: but ha∣uing sworne him false accuser of his fa∣ther, he durst not contend with Pilius, which of them two should plead against him. He was also accused by the Seruilij, as one that raked vp money in the Pro∣uince, by vnlawfull meanes: And be∣sides this, by a certaine friend of his, who was wont to be his instrument, in accusing of others, him••••lfe was accu∣sed of violence committed. They both hang well together. As for the state of the Common-wealth; the bu∣sinesse of the Ga••••iae, hath cros••ed other businesses for m••ny daies. But at last, after it had beene diuers times debated

of, and suspended, Pompeyes pleasure being knowne, that the next March to come, Caesar should giue ouer his go••uernment, the Senate passed a decree, which I send vnto you. Which was subscribed vnto, by the Senators, here∣vnder nominated. The last of Septem∣tember, in ••he Temple of Apollo, there were present, Lucius Domitius Aenobar∣bus, son to Cu••ius; Quinius Cicilius Me∣••ellus Pius Scipio, son to Quintus; Lu••ius Villius Annalis, son to Lucius, of the Tribe Potina; Caius Septi••••ius, son to Ti••us, of the Tribe Quirina; Caius Lu••∣ceius Hirrus, son to Caius, of the Tribe Pupinia; Caius Scribonius Curio, son to Caius, of the Tribe Popilia; L••cius At∣teus Capito, son to Lucius, of the Tribe Aniensis; Marcus Oppius, son to Mar∣cus, of the Tribe Terentina. Marcus Marcellus, Consull hauing propounded the nomination of the Consular Pro∣uinces, the Senate enacted thereupon this present decree: That Lucius Paul∣lus, and Caius Marcellus, Consuls for the future yeere; on the Calends of March, which will bee the first day of their Ma∣gistracie, should propound vnto the Senate, the affaires of the Consular Prouinces, and onely propound it, o∣mitting all other businesses: And that in this, they should not haue respect to the ordinary impediment of those daies, when the people are called to parlia∣ment:

to the end that the decree may passe howsoeuer: and when they doe this, they shall haue ample authoritie, to l••t none of those Senators enter into counsell, which are in the number of the three hundred Iudges: and in case it be needfull, to speake thereof, to the people, or Plebeians, that Seruiu•• Sul∣p••••ius, and Marcus Marc••llus, Consuls for the present yeere, or the Praetors, or Trib••nes of the people, whether of them, they thinke good, shall take care to discharge this office: and if the fore∣mentioned will not doe it, the Magi∣strates of the yeere ••ollowing, shall not faile to performe it. A note of the Se∣nators, which confirmed the decree. The last of September, in the Temple of Apollo, there were present, Lucius Domi∣tius Aenobarbus, son to Cneius; Quintus Cicili•••• Metellus Piu•• Scipio, son to Quin∣tus; Lucius Villius Annalis, son to Lu∣cius, of the Tribe Pon••ina; Caius Sep••i∣mius, son to Titus, of the Tribe Quirina; Caius Scribonius Curio, son to Caius, of the Tribe Pupinia; Lucius Atteius Capi∣to, son to Lucius, of the Tribe Aniensis; and Marcus Oppi••••, son to Marcus, of the Tribe Tere••tina. Marcus Marcell••••, Consull, hauing propounded the mo∣tion of the Prouinces; the Senate cen∣sured, that none of those, that haue power to hinder, or oppose, should put in any delay, that the Consuls might

not presently propound to the Senate, and the Senate forthwith deliberate of things appertaining to the Common-wealth. Whosoeuer shall oppose; the Senate iudgeth such an one, to haue at∣tempted against the Common-wealth. And if any resist the present decree; the Senate ordaines, that his opinion bee set downe in writing, and bee discussed of in the Senate, and in the present•• of the people. To this decree, Caius Coeli∣us, Lucius Vicinius, Publius Cornelius, and Caius Vibius P••nsa, opposed them∣selues. Besides, it hath pleased the Se∣nate, concerning the Souldiers that were in Caius Caesars armie; that, of such of th••m, as had finished the terme of their seruice, or had any iust occasion to giue ouer their entertainment, the Se∣nate might be informed, that their rea∣sons may bee considered. If any man resist this decree, the Senates pleasure is, that his minde be put in writing, and that the matter bee propounded to the Senate and people. This decree Caius Coelius, and Caius Pans••, Tribunes of the people, withstood. And besides this; the Senates pleasure is, that the next yeere, the Praetors of the yeere present bee sent, into the Prouince of Cilicia, and into the other eight Pro∣uinces, which are gouerned by those that haue beene Praetors; and that they that are sent, shall be sent by lot; and if

these bee not so many as may suffice, that Praetors bee chosen out by lot, of the next precedent yeeres, which haue not beene in gouernment; and that they be sent by lot, to the gouernment of the sayd Prouinces. And if there be not so many of these, as may bee suffi∣cient; that one after another, the Prae∣tors of the immediate next yeeres cast lots, that haue not beene deputed to gouernment; and let this bee so long done, while the number of them is made vp, which are to bee sent, to the gouernment of the Prouinces. If any oppose this d••cree, let his minde bee specified in writing to the Senate. This decree, Caius Coe••ius, and Caius Pansa, Tribunes of the people, oppo∣sed. Moreouer, it was obserued by those words of Cneius Pompeius, and great hopes therby was conceiued, that hee could not without iniustice, deter∣mine of Caesars prouinces, be••ore the Calends of March: but that after the Calends, hee would thinke there∣upon: And being demanded, what if any man should then oppose? he answe∣red; that it should be as much as if Cae∣sar should suborne one, not to suffer the Senate to delib••rate; as if openly hee should deny to obey it. And what if he, (said another) would be Consull, and keepe the Armie too? he replied, free from choller. What if my sonne, would

giue me the bastanado? By these words it was collected, that Pompeie, and Cae∣sar were not of accord. Whereupon, Caesar, as I perceiue, will now discend to one of these two conditions; ei∣ther to remaine in the gouernement of the Gaules, and so being absent he cannot demaund the Consulship: or else obtaining it, he will depart. Curio sets himselfe wholly against him. I know not what he can doe. But I see, that he aymes at a good end, and there∣fore cannot be ruinated. He shewes me great courtesie. But the present hee made me, will redound to my losse. For if he had not giuen me those Panthers, which were brought out of Africa, for his sports; peraduenture I had neuer entred into this dance. But seeing I am entred, and that I must celebrate my sports: I put you in mind of that, which so often I haue written; that you'le pro∣cure me some Beast, from those parts. And I commend vnto you the credite I haue with Sitius. I haue sent Philo thi∣ther my free-man, and Diogenes Graecus: who will speake to you in my name, and deliuer you my letters. I recom∣mend them both vnto you, and the cause for which I sent them: the which, how much it imports me, you shall see in the letters, that they shal present you. Farewell.