To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
I Should bee ashamed of the incon∣stancie of my letters, if it had not growne from anothers leuitie. I haue assayed all meanes, to vnite my selfe with Lepidus, in defence of the Com∣mon-wealth: to the end, that with your lesse mol••station, wee might bee
able to resist wicked Citizens. All things he demanded, I haue promised, and proferred him of mine owne good will. And I wrote vnto you two dayes since, how I trusted, that Lepidus would helpe me; and follow the warre with common consent. I gaue credit to the letters of his hand, vpon Laterensis affir∣mation, being present: who then was with mee, and entreated mee to bee re∣conciled to Lepidus, and to giue him credit I could not long conceiue this good hope of him. I looked nar∣rowly to the matter; and will bee care∣full, that through my credulitie, the State of the Common-wealth suffer no detriment. Hauing passed the riuer Isara with my armie, a bridge being in one day made ouer the same, and vsing expedition therein, according to the importance of the businesse; hee ha∣uing requested mee by letters, that I should hasten my comming; his mes∣senger came to me, with other letters; wherin he aduised me, that I should not come: for, hee could performe the ser∣uice of himselfe: [and] in the meane while, I should stay for him, at Isara. I will lay open vnto you the rash course I had meant to haue vndertaken. I, notwithstanding was resolued to goe; imagining, that he was not desirous to haue anie companion in the glorie [of the seruice. Yet] conceiuing that he
was beyond measure, ambitious of this honour: I would not attempt any thing therein, but onely lye in pla∣ces neere hand; to the end, that if need required, I might be able without delay to succour him. This I simply cast in my head: but behold, Lat••rensis, a sincere man, wrote vnto me with his owne hand, and to my friends in like manner; shewing, that he had no more hope of himselfe, nor of the Armie, or of Lepidus fidelitie; and lamenting, that hee was betrayed. wherein hee plainely admonish••t mee, that I should take heed of being deceiued: that hee was no more bound to that, he promi∣sed: that I should not bee wanting to the Common-wealth. I haue giuen the copie of his letters to Titius, the Ori∣ginals themselues, and those to which I giue credit, and those to which I supposed no credit was to bee giuen, I will deliuer to Laeu•••• Cispius, to bee conueyed: who was present at all these things: To helpe the matter; Lepidus speaking in publique; his souldiers wic∣ked, and disloyall of themselues; and being also corrupted by the R••freni, and Canidij, their Commanders; and by others, whom, when time serues, you shall know; c••ied out, (See the charity of y• men) that they would haue peace; and, that they would not sight with a∣nie, hauing seene the death of two fa∣mous
Consuls, and of so many Citizens for their Countrey; and the Common-wealth hauing banished, as rebellious, all Antonius followers, and confiscated their goods: and Lepidus neuer puni∣shed them, for this their disloy••ltie, nor did hee in anie sort remedie the same. And, had I come thither, and vnto two Armies lying together, exposed a loy∣all, and faithfull Armie; great succors; the Princes of Gallia; and the whole Prouince: I saw, what a wonderfull folly and temeritie it would haue been: and, that when I had beene defeated, and had with my selfe ruined the Common••wealth, th••re was none that in my de••th, wold haue afforded mee anie honour; nor haue had so much as compassion of me; whereupon I am to returne backe: nor will I endure, that vagabonds shall haue so great a for∣tune. I will seeke to plant mine Armie in places of aduantage, to defend the Prouince; though Le••idus Armie doe rebell against vs; [and] to preserue e∣uerie thing in it present state and con∣dition, till you, from thence, send suc∣cours; and may wi••h equall felicitie here also defend the Common-wealth. Neither to fight, if occasion se••ue; nor to endure a siege, if it bee necessarie: nor to dye, if the case so fall out, in your seruice; shall anie be more readie then my selfe. I exhort you therefore, my
Cicero, to procure, that fr••sh men bee sent out of hand, before the enemie grow stronger, and wee more danted. Wherein, if expedition bee vsed, the Common-wealth shall remaine in pos∣session of victorie, and the wicked bee ex••irpated. Bee carefull of your health, and wish me well. I thinke I shall not neede to excuse my selfe to you; though my bro••h••r, a valiant Cit••zen, and ready for all seruices, be not come thither. By running vp and downe, he hath gotten a continuall seuer, ••nd very trouble∣some. As soone as hee can, I will pro¦cure him to c••rne without delay: th••t he may in no place faile the Common-wealth [o•• his s••ruice]. I pray you, bee tender ouer my reputation. It is not requisite that I s••ould desi••e any thing at your hands, knowing that ••ou doe and may, as I d••sire, i••fini••••ly loue me. Your kindnesse toward me, how great you will it shall be, and in wh••t time demonstrated, I l••••ue to your conside∣ration. Now may de••••••e is, that you wou••d procu••e me Hirtius place, for the l••ue that you beare me, and for the obseruance that I owe you. Fare∣well.