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

Cicero to Cornificius. Epist. 25.

ON the feasts of Ba••••••us, I receiued your l••tters, whi•••• Cornificius told mee hee deliuered, two and twenty daies af••er the receipt. Ther•• was no Senate that day, ••or the day fol¦lowing. The day of M••n••rua, in full Senate I handled your cause: and it seem'd, Min••rua herselfe, that day fa∣uour'd me. For the Senat•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••he sel••e same day•• that I pl••aded for you, ordai∣ned, that the Statue of Minerua, which I had set vp in the Capitoll, with this in∣scription,

Custos vrbis, and was by a gust of winde blowne downe; should be againe erected. Pansa recited your letters. The Senate approued highly of the matter, with much alacritie, to the greefe of Minotaurus, that is of Cla∣uisius, and Ta••rus, and an honourable decree was passed in your fauor. There were some, which demanded, that some disgrace might h••ue beene im∣pos'd vpon them. But Pansa would needs vse all cl••mencie. I, my Cornifi∣cius, the first day, that euer I conceiued hope of libertie, the xx. of December, while others lingered, layd the founda∣tions of the Common-wealth. That verie day I labour'd much, & wrought effectually in the promotion of your dignitie. For the Senate granted mee, that the gouernment of the Prouinces s••ould not be altered: and ye•• I ceased not afterwards, to beat downe, and im∣pugne him, that with great scorne to the Common-wealth, and iniurie to you held, being absent, this Prouince. So that, exclaiming, and crying out vp∣on him daily, I procur'd, that, whether he would, or no, he betooke ••im to the Citie, and was not onely thrust out of the hope, but the pr••sent securitie, and possession of his Prouince. I am verie glad, that for matters, which I d••ser∣uedly, and most iustly spoke against him, you haue by your sufficiencie pre∣serued

your owne honor, and that you haue beene dignified with the greatest honours of the Prouince. Whereas you purge yourselfe towards me, con∣cerning Sempronius, I except of the ex∣cuse you make. For, that was a kinde of season, when it was requisite to liue after another mans humour. Now you must vnderstand, th••t I, who was wont to counsell, and fauour you, being an∣grie with the times, despairing of li∣bertie, went presently into Greece: but the Northerne windes, like good Citi∣zens, being displeas'd, that I should a∣bandon my Countrey, would not fol∣low me; and those of the South, blow∣ing forcibly a contrarie course, brought me backe to Rhegium; that is, amongst your kindred: and from thence being assisted with wind, and oares, in great hast I came into my Countrey. Where, the day following, in the Senate, wheras others were in great seruitude, I onely was free; and spake in such a mann••r a∣gainst An••onius, as hee was not able to endure: but wi••h that drunken furie of his, oppos'd himselfe against me. And se••king to shed bloud, he did not onely desire, th••t some prouocation wo••ld proceed frō me; but also layd, to y^• end, snares. This man belching, as it were, and vomiting, was by me so repelled, that he lay open to the blowes of C••∣sar Octauianus. ••or, the generous young

man, first to guard himselfe, and then for the interest of the Common-wealth, hath gotten forces togethe••. Which if he had not done, the returne of Antonius from B••u••dusium, would haue beene a plague to our Countrey. I suppose you know, what afterwards ensued. But to returne, where I left, I accept of your excuse for Sempronius. Then, in so great an hurly-burly, you could not resolue of anie thing. Now, the time permi••s, that we may liue after any other fashion, and that other cust••m••s may bee embraced, as Terentius speaketh. Wherefore, my Quintus, enter with vs into the same ship, and come vp to the sterne. There's now but one ship, fraught with all good men, which I endeuour ••o keepe from swaruing; God grant, with a prosperous course; bu•• what wind••s so••uer blow, my skill shall neuer be wanting: And what can ver∣••ue further effect? As for your occasi∣ons, bee of a noble and haughty cou∣rage: and be resolu'd, that all your ho∣nour must stand with the safetie of the Common-wealth. I will effectually wherein I can, fauour Pub••ius Luc••••••us. And i•• was not needfull y••u should ••e∣commend him: he being most dea••e vn∣to me. We haue too much out of season lost Hir••us, and Pansa, our Colleagues, most b••neficiall members to the Com∣monwealth, in their Consulships. For,

though in respect of that Rebell Ant••∣nius, the Common-wealth is secure; yet is she not absolu••ely rid of molestation•• I will defend her, according to my cu∣stome, if no accident hinder m••e: Though at this instant I am v••ry w••ary. But no defatigation shall haue power ••o far ou••r me, as to make me faile in offi∣ces, or fidelitie. And to this purpose, let these suffice•• I will write no¦thing to you of my selfe; I leaue that for you to vnderstand from othe••s. Wee had certaine informations of you, which I would they were true. Of Cneius Minutius, whom in certa••n•• let∣ters you ex••old to the heauens, s••me h••rd reports are dispersed; of which, as also of the proceedings in these parts, I desire to heare from you the certainty. Farewell.