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

Lentulus, to his Cicero. Ep. 14.

HAuing met with our Brutus, and perceiuing that hee meant to make some stay, be••ore his comming into Asi••: I returned thither, to col∣lect the remainder of my labours; and to send money forthwith to Rome. In the meane time I vnderstood, that Do∣lobella's Nauie was in Lycia. With bet∣ter then an hundred great ships to em∣barque his armie. And that Dolobella had made these preparations, to the end, that if his hopes in Syria were frustrated, he might get aboord, and make for Italie; to ioyne with th'An∣tonij, and residue of Rebells. Whereof

I was so fearefull, that laying aside all other care, with a few small shipping I made towards him. And, if the Rhodi•• had not crossed me: I had per∣aduenture ended that businesse. How∣so••uer, the greatest number of those ships were taken, and the whole Nauie discomfited. Through feare of our arri∣uall, the Captaines & souldiers fled: and we tooke all the great merchant ships, of what burden soeuer. I am assured, that I haue preuented Dolabella's com∣ming with any Nauie into Italie, which I greatly feared; and I haue crost his vnion with his Companions, which might haue put you to some trouble. How greatly the Rhodij, despaired both of vs, and the Common-weal••h, by the publike letters which I haue sent, you may gather. And certainely I haue written lesse of their inraged dis∣position, then in effect I found it. But, that I haue written somewhat thereof, doe not wonder: Their follie is too palpable. Neither did any particular iniuries to my selfe, euer moue mee. Their bad practises against our safetie, their desire of following the factious; their standing out in defiance of euerie honest man; could not by me in reason be supported. And yet I esteeme them not all knaues. But the same parties, who neither receiued my father, when hee fled; nor Lucius L••••tulus; nor

Pompeius; nor other famous Captains; the verie same as it were ou•• of destinie, are either now themselues in Magistra∣cie; or else haue such therein, as are at their disposing. So that, persisting in doing euill, they shew the same arro∣gancie. And it is not onely profitable to our Common-wealth, but also ne∣cessarie, that such insolencie should bee chastised; which will grow greater, if by impunitie it be supported. As for our honor, I desire, you would haue a care thereof: and when you haue any occasion, either in the Senate, or in any other occurrent, vouchsafe to fauor me. Seeing Asia is deputed to the Consuls, and they permitted, that till they come themselues, they may place a Lieuete∣nant in the gouernment; entreat them, at my request rather to conferre this dignitie vpon my selfe then any other, and that they will constitute me Lieu∣tenant, till either of them comes vnto their gouernment. For they haue no occasion to hasten their comming, or to send hither any Armie. For Dolobel∣la is in Syria, and will, before these men come, be supprest by Cassius: as you diuinely foresaw, and did prognosti∣cate. For Dolabella, being beaten from Antiochia; and in the assault he gaue, ill entreated; distrusting euerie other Ci∣tie, is retir'd to L••odic••a, which is vpon the coast of Syria. There I hope short∣lie

he will be rowsed, and hauing no place of refuge left him: nor being a∣ble to withstand so great an Armie, as that of Cassius; I make no doubt but that ere this time, he is defeated, and subdued. Whereupon I thinke Pansa, and Hirtius, need not hasten, in their Consulship to come vnto their Pro∣uinces; but rather discharge their Con∣sulship at Rome•• wherefore if you re∣quest them, that I in the meane while, may haue the managing of Asia; I hope you may obtaine it. Besides, Pansa, and Hirtius promis'd mee by word of mouth, and afterwards wrote vnto me thereof, and Pansa affirmed as much to ou•• Verrius, that he would procure, that during his Consulship, I should haue no successor. Yet I protest that I affect not this prorogation out of any desire I haue vnto the Prouince. For vnto me, it hath euer beene very troublesome, dangerous, and expensiue. But because I would not haue suffered in vaine, so many discommodities, and be vrged to depart from hence, before I reape the last fruites of my laborious industrie. For, if I could send home those somms which I had gathered; I would require a successor: but to get in that which I disboursed to Cassius; and that which we lost by the death of Trebonius; and by Dolabella's crueltie; or by their per••idious proceedings, who failed

both me, and the Common-wealth, against the dutie of their alle∣geance: Which cannot bee done, without time. I am v••ged to desire, that you, as your custo••e is, would be a meanes, that I may haue this opportu∣nitie. I hope, I haue so borne my selfe towards the Common-wealth, that in reason I may expect, not the benefit o•• this Prouince, but as much as Cassius, and Brutus: not onely, in that I was an associate with them, in that same acti∣on, and daunger; but also because now, I am not wanting, in any valour, or in∣dustrie. For I was the first, that brake the lawes of Antonius; the first that drew Dolabella's Cauallerie, to take part with the Common-wealth; and that surrendred it to Cassius; the first to presse souldiers for generall safetie, against that most wicked conspiracie; and that onely vnited Syria, and the Armies that were there, with Cassius, and the Common-wealth. For, if I had not giuen so much treasure to Cassius; so many men; and with that expedition I did; he would neuer haue attempted to goe into Syria. Which if it had not beene, the Common-wealth should by this time haue had no lesse cause, to feare Dolabella, then Antonius. And all these things I did, notwithstanding, I was a familiar friend, and companion to Dolabella; and by neare affinitie

allied to the Antonij; and had also by their meanes, gotten my Prouince. But because I bare greater loue to my countrie, I was the first that rais'd war against mine owne familiars. And though I finde, that for these things, I haue not hitherto, had any great re∣compence: Yet am I not altogether out of hope: nor will I hold it trouble∣some resoluedly to perseuer in the de∣sire of libertie only: but in labour al∣so, and in dangers. N••uerthelesse if, for the benefit of the Senate, and of all good men, I be also put forward, by some prouocation of iust, and lawfull glorie; wee shall bee in the greater au∣thoritie with others, and consequent∣ly be able the more to assist the Com∣monwealth. When I was with Brutu••, I could not see your son, because he was then gon w^t the troups of horse to their assigned winter gua••ison•• But, th••t he is so disposed, I ••weare vnto you, I reioyce both for yours, and ••or his, but especially for mine owne sake. For I hold him in the est••eme of a Br••th••r, because he is your sonne, and worthie of you. Farewell. From P••••ga: the 29. of May.