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

Cicero to Papirius Paeto. Epist. 24.

THough I had bin offended by this Rufus, your friend, of whom you haue now twice written vnto me: yet would I not forbeare to fauour him, in what I were able; seeing you are so

carefull of his occasions: but hauing now both by your letters, and also by those which he sent me, gathered and iudged, that hee entirely affected my safetie; I cannot but be a friend vnto him; not onely for your recommenda∣tion, the which, as reason requires, is of great force with me; but wi••hall, tho∣rough mine owne inclination, and vn∣derstanding. For I would you should know, (my Paeto) that the originall of my i••alousie, and the diligence, that I vsed in looking carefully to my selfe; grew from your letters: to which the letters of many others, were afterwards conformable. For both in Aquinum, & Fabrateria, there were practises against me; which I see, you came to know∣ledge of. And they, as it were, presa∣ging, how troublesome I should be vn∣to them, minded nothing, but to op∣presse me. Whereof, I hauing no iea∣lousie, peraduenture I might haue fallen into some danger, if I had not beene by you aduertised. And therefore this your friend, with me, needs no recom∣mendation. I desire nothing now, but that the fortune of the commonwealth proue so, as he may acknowledge me for an excellen•• pay master. But enough of this. I am sorrie, you haue giuen o∣uer going to banquets. First, because you haue depriued your selfe of a singu∣lar delight and contentment; and then

(for betweene our selues we may speak truth) because I feare, you'le lose what before you had learned; & that you will forget to make those delicate suppe••••, For if, when you had one to imitate, you profited not much; what may I thinke you will now doe? when I had told Spurina the matter; and explained the customes of your life past; verilie, he demonstrated, that the Common-wealth vnderwent a great hazard, if at the beginning of the Spring, you re∣t••rned not to your former vse of ban∣quetting: but now while winter lasteth it might be endured. In good earnest, I aduise you; if you meane to leade an happie life; to keepe companie with your good, pleasant, and louing friend••. [For] nothing more befitteth life, no∣thing affordeth greater happinesse then it. Neither spe••ke I this, in respect of the pleasures, but in respect of liui••g, and eating together, and the libertie of minde: which is more enioyed in fa∣miliar discourse, ••hen any way else, and this is most pleasing at inuitements•• so that our countrie men, named it much more wisely then the Graecians did: they call'd it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifie to drinke, and sup together, our countrie men tearmed them Con∣uiula, because then especiallie men liue together. Doe you obserue how I by Philosophicall reasons, labour to re∣duce

you, to your old custome of sea∣sting? Regard your health: wherein nothing will more helpe you then to go often abroade to supper. But if you wish me well, suppose not, though I write ieastingly, that I haue laid a••ide the care of the Common-wealth. Be perswaded of this my Paeto, that day, and night, I attend and sollicite, no o∣ther thing; but that my Cittizens may be safe, and enioy their libertie. I omit no occasion to admonish, endeauour, and prouide. I haue finally propoun∣ded to my selfe, to repute it for my greatest Fortune, if need were, to lay downe my life, in this care, and admi∣nistration. Once more Farewell.