Cicero to Papirius Paeto. Epist. 21.

IS it possible? doe you thinke you are fooli•h, in seeking to imitate me, in the flashes (for so you tearme them) of my speeches? you should be foolish indeed, if you could not attaine there∣unto: but, seeing in this, you doe not only equalize, but exceed mee; you should •coffe rather at me, then at your selfe. That saying of Trabea, con∣curres not with you: I am hee that la∣bours Page  465 in vaine. But tell me a little? What seeme I to you, in my Epistles? doe you not thinke, I discourse with you, in vulgar tearmes? For wee must not alwaies speake after one manner. It is one thing, to write an Epistle; ano∣th•r, to pleade a cause; another, to speake to the people. Nay, the causes themselues are not to be handled after one fashion: In priuate matters; and not in all; bu• in those of light impor∣tance, •uery thing must more nicely be scanned: but where a mans person; his goods; or his honor is questioned; greater ornament of eloquence is re∣quired. Epistles are wont to be framed of words dailie vsed. But I pray you, my Paeto, how came it into your minde to say, that there was neuer any Papiri∣us, which was not a plebeian? For, mean•r f•milies, haue beene of the Pa∣trician order. The first of them, was Lucius Papirius M•gi••an•us, who was Consull, with L•cius Sempronius Atrati∣nu•, hauing b•ene before Censor, with the sam• [colleague] 312. yeares after the building of Rome. But then, you were c•lled Papi••. After these, there were xiij. more, which obtained of the higher dignities, before Lucius Papirius Crass••, who was the first that gaue o∣ue•• he name P•pisius. This man was dict•tor, and had for captaine of the ranke M•letarie, Lucius P•piri•• Cursor, Page  466 415. yeeres after the building of Rome: and foure yeeres after he was Consull, with Ceso Duillio. After these came Cur∣sor, a verie honourable man: then Lu∣cius Masso, who in demaunding the Ae∣dileship died. After him, many Masse∣nes: of which Patricians, I would haue you reserue pictures in your house. Then follow the Carbones, and the Tur∣di: these were Plebeians, of whom I would haue you make no account. For besides this C••ius Carbo, who was slain by Damasipp•s, none of the Carbones, e∣uer benefitted the Common-wealth. We knew C•eius Carbo, and that his in∣famous brother. Who can bee more wicked then they were? of this friend of mine the sonne of Rubria I say no∣thing. There were three brethren, Publius, Caius, Marcus, surnamed Car∣bones. Publius, accused by Flaccus, was condemned. Marcus fled out of Sicilia: Caius being accused by Lucius Crassus, as 'twas said, poysoned himselfe. Thi• man was a seditious Tribune of the people, and was reported to haue mur∣dred Publius Scipio Africanus: but in my iudgement, there neuer liued a verier villaine then this fellow, that was slaine by our Pompeius at Lilibaeum. And al∣so his father, accused by Marcus Anto∣nius, it is not well knowne after what manner hee came to bee absolued: wherefore my opinion is, that you Page  467 should cleaue to the Patricians, for you see, what bad members the plebeians haue proued. Farewell.