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

Cicero to Papirius Paeto. Epist. 18.

BEing idle in Tusculanum; because I haue sent my Disciples to meet Cae∣sar their acquaintance, with hope by this meanes, to recouer me his fauour; I receiued ••our most pleasant letters: by which I vnderstood, that my coun∣sell pleased you. For, as Dionysius the Tyrant, being driu••n out of Siracusa, set vp, as is reported, a schoole, at Co∣rinth: So I, Courts of Iudgement be∣ing put to silence; and my Kingdome, of pleading causes, lost; haue applyed my selfe, as it were, to keepe a schoole. What desire you more? I am also glad I run this course. For, I come by this meanes, to obtaine many things: first, that which principally, at this instant, is necessary; I fortifie my selfe against this terrible season: I know not how good the way I hold is; but well I s••e, 'tis not wors••, then that which hath be••n held by others: except peraduen∣••ure it had b••en•• be••ter to dye: in ones b••d, I'le grant: but this came not to passe: and at the battaile I was not.

others, [as] Pompeius, your Lentul••••s, Scipio, [and] Afranius, dyed reproch∣fully; but Cato honourably: And this questionlesse, when wee will, wee may do••: yet let vs endeuour; as wee doe, that it may not be so necessary for vs, as for him. This is therfore the fi••st thing, which I purchase: and there is yet an∣other, that I grow better; first, in my health, which giuing ouer exercise, I had lost; then, that fluent vtte∣ra••ce, which I was wont to haue, (if I euer had it) if I had not beene reduced to these exercises, would haue been im∣paired. The last gaine I make; which peraduenture you'l esteeme, aboue all the fore-m••ntioned, is this; that by this time, I haue eaten more Peacocks, thē you haue done Pigeons. Make your selfe merry there, with Atteri••n broth, I'le be [merrie] here, with that of Hir∣tius. Come therefore, if you be a good fellow, and learne, now at length, to liue as you desire. Though I consider, I teach the Dolphines to swim. But seeing I perceiu••, that you cannot sell the pos∣sessions had of your debtors, for pay∣ment, according to Caesars valuation; nor fill a pot wi••h money, it b••hooues you to returne to Rome. I hold it farre better, that you should dye here with eating too much; then there, for want of meat. I see you haue consumed that, which you had. I hope your friends

haue done the like: you are there∣fore blowne vp, if you looke not to your selfe. You may ride to Rome vpon that Mule, which you say, is left you, seeing you haue eaten your G••lding. You shall haue a place in the schoole, as an Vsher, vnder mee, and withall, you shall haue a cushion. Fare∣well.