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

Cicero to Seruius Sulpus. Epist. 28.

THough I willingly seeke vnto you in the occurrents of my friends, yet I am more willingly thankefull, when you haue done any thing, as you doe alwayes vpon my recommendat••on. For you would not beleeue, how manie thankes they returne me, whom I com∣mended vnto you; yea, euen they in whose recommendation I wrote but coldly. All which things are acceptable to me; but the courtesie you shew'd to Lucius M••ssinius, is most acceptable. For he told me, that you had no sooner read my letters, but you presently of∣fred all your assistance to his agents, and that afterwards in effects, you did farre more then in words you had pro∣mised. I would haue you therefore to thinke, (for I can neuer be satisfied in vttering it) that you haue done me her••in a singular pleasure. Wherein I reioyce the more, obseruing that f••om

the same Messinius, great contentment will accrew vnto you. For besides his being valiant, ••ull of courtesie, and bountie, and readie to honour any man: he is also studious in that learning with which being hertofore delighted, our life also is now nourished. In a word, I would haue you augment your benefits, in all his occurrents, when you may performe it with your honor: but in two things I namely entreate you. First, if in making an acquittance to the partie, any securitie be required, that you will vse the meanes, securitie may be giuen him in my name. Then, considering the whole enheritance in a manner consists in those goods, which Oppia, sometimes Mindius wife hath purloyned; that you procure and find a meane, that this woman may bee brought to Rome. Which when shee perceiues shall come to passe, I am of o∣pinion we shall end the businesse: let me therefore r••quest you to giue vs this contentment. What I haue heretofore written I confirme vnto you, and vpon my credi•• assure you, that the pleasures which ••ither you haue, or shall conferre vpon M••ssinius, shall be so well bestow∣ed, that yourselfe will iudge, that you haue shewed fauour, to a very gratefull person, and ingenuous. For to that which you haue perform'd for my sake, I would also haue this addition. A∣gaine,

I doe not thinke that the Lacedae∣monij any waies doubt, but that you wil so receiue them vnder your protection, as befitteth your faith, and equitie; and as their predecessors dignitie deserueth. And I, as he that knowes you well, ne∣uer doubted, but that you are fully en∣formed of the rights, & deserts of each people. Whereupon when Philippus, the Lacedaemonian requested me, that I would recommend vnto you the cittie: though I call'd to minde, that I was bound vnto that Cittie; yet I answered him, that the Lacedaemonij, with you, needed no recommendation. So that I would haue you build vpon this; that I, considering the present troubles, repute all the Citties of Achaia happie, that you gouerne them. And likewise I sup∣pose, that you hauing not onely read o∣uer our Records, but those also of the Graecians, out of your voluntary accord, you neither can, nor will be other then a friend to the Lacedaemonians. Where∣fore I onely request you, that when you shew the Lacedaemonians those fauours, which stand with your credit, dignitie, and equitie; if you thinke good, cause them to vnderstand, that you are desi∣rous to heare, that the pleasures which you doe them, may by me also be ap∣proued. For it concernes me, that they should beleeue, that I haue a care of their Interests. This, I request you, with

the greatest zeale that I am able. Fare∣well.