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

Cicero to Caius Furnius. Epist. 25.

IF it import, as men suppose, that you, as you haue begun, and hitherto haue done, should ••ndeuour your selfe ••or the benefit of the Common-wealth; and be conuersant in waightie employ∣ments, which belong to the extingui∣shing of the reliques of the warre: it seemes you cannot vndertake any thing better, more commen••able, or more honest. And I ••m of ••pinion, that this your endeuour, diligence, and affection towards the Common-wealth, is to be preferred before the Praetorship: the which, not being ••et time, you sue for. For I would h••u•• you vnderstand how great praise you haue purchased, the which certainely is in a manner equall

to that of Plancus; and by Plancus own testimonie; and besides, by fame; and the knowledge of euerie man. Where∣fore I aduise you, not to depart from thence, till euerie sparke of the war re∣maining, be ex••ingu••sh't: for, nothing can procu••e you greater honour. And you know, honor shold aboue all things be preferred. And when you think you haue giuen full satisfaction to the Com∣mon-wealth; then, I would counsell you, to come out of hand, and demand the Praetorship; in that Praetors are shortly to bee created. But take heede, that this ambitious haste, diminish no∣thing of that glorie wee haue attained. Manie men of renowned fame, being abroad in the seruice of the Common-wealth, forbare to come to Rome, that yeere, that was allotted them, to stand for Magistracie. Which you should so much the rather do, because this is, not your proper yeere: but if you had been Aedile two yeeres since, then this had beene your yeere. Now, though you should forbeare to demand the Prae∣torship, it will not seeme that you haue omitted a moment, of the vsuall and ordinarie time of demanding it. And when Plancus shall bee Cousull, though without his helpe, you might easily obtaine it; neuerthelesse, I see, that then your demand will bee, with far greater reputation; so that, matterrs

there succeed, as they are wished. I know 'twas not necessarie, for mee, to speake much to this purpose; knowing you to be wise, and of profound iudge∣ment: but I was desirous y••u should vnderstand my opinion; of which this is the sum: that I would wish you to be carried, rather by true honou••, then ambition: and to esteeme grea∣ter benefit to consist in the perpetuitie of your ••r••is••; then in the hastning of a Praetorship. These verie poynts haue I di••cus••ed at home, in the presence of my brother Quintus, and of C••cina, and Ca••••isiu••, your dear••st friends; Dardanu•• your free-man, being there, at the same instant. All of them thought, that I was herein of a sound opinion, yet I refer my sel••e to your mature iudge∣ment. Farewell.