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

Marcus Caelius, to Cicero. Epist. 9.

DOe you thinke that Hirrus re∣main'd scorned? but you doe not well know all. For if you knew how ea∣sily, and with how little paines I put him downe, you would blush; calling to mind, how he was sometimes so im∣pudent as to concurre with you. And after this repulse, he laughes with euery man: to counterfeit a good Cittizen, he speakes against Caesar: he blames the Senate, for being so slacke to delibe∣rate: he followes Curio with ill words: what needes more? this repulse hath made him change nature. Besides this; though he neuer appeared in the Forum, and hath little practise in pleading: yet is there not a more courteous aduocate then he. He entertaines and followes euery cause, but seldome after noone. I wrote vnto you, that on the xiij. of August, the matter of the Prouinces would be determined: but because Marcellus chosen Consull for the yeare following, was of another opinion, it is put ouer to the first of September. The Consulls were so farre from doing any thing els, that they could not bring many Senators to Counsell. I sent not these, before to day, which is the second

of September: and hitherto no course at all is taken. For any thing I see•• this cause will be deferred ti••l the next yeare: and so farre as I conceiue, you must leaue one in the gouernment of the Prouince. For otherwise exchange cannot be made; se••ing it cannot be resolued, that a new gouernour should be sent into the Galli••; which must needs stand in the same condition, that other Prouinces doe. Of this I make no doubt: and I meant to write to you thereof, that you might know how to dispose of your selfe. Almost in euery letter I write vnto you of the Panthers. It will be l••ttle credite to you, that Pa∣tiscus should send ten to Curio, and that you should not send me many more. Curio gaue me those ten, with other ten besides, which he had out of Afri••a: to the end, you m••y not suppose, that he can onely giue possessions. You may h••ue as many as you will, so you will be mindfull, in sending to call for those Cybiratae; and writing into Pam••hilia, where they say a number are taken: and I importune you more now, then vsu∣ally, for I determine to solemnize my spo••ts separate from my Colleague. For my sake, straine your nature a little: vse diligence herein. You were wont to be pleased, as well as my selfe; to haue but fe•• businesses; now, you shall h••ue no ••urther trouble, then to speake, that is

to command, and giue in charge. For when they are taken, you may leaue the ca••e of keeping and conducting them, to those men, whom I haue sent, to re∣couer my debt of Si••ius. And peraduen∣ture if you put me in hope of hauing them, I will send others for the same purpose. Marcus Fe••idius, a Romane knight comes in those parts for his oc∣casions. He is an honest young man, vali••nt, and sonne to a friend of mine. I recommend him to you, and entreate you to repute him in the number of your friends. He hath certaine land in your Prouince, which payes part of the increase. He would by your fauour be free'd from this imposition. Which thing is both easie, and honest for you to grant him: and you shall bestow a benefit, vpon men gratefull, mindfull, and replenished with bountie. I would not haue you thinke, that Fauonius hath not had their fauour, who sell their voyces at a price, but he found none of the better sort of Cittizens fauourable to him. Your Pompeius sayes openly, that he will neuer permit, that Caesar shall hold his Prouince, with an Armie and be Consull: neuerthelesse, he gaue councell, that the Senate should not for the present, enter into any other deli∣beration; and ••hat Scipio, should be ex∣pected to deliuer his opinion thereof, the first of March: and that then the

matter should be propounded in the Senate, and that nothing else should be done, before this be ended. Which opinion daunted Balbus Cornelius, and I know hee complain'd thereof to Scipio. Calidius in defending himselfe, was most eloquent, in accusing ano∣ther, rather cold then otherwise. Fare∣well.