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

Cicero to Quintus Valerius Orca, sonne to Quintus, Legat: Vice-Praet••r. Epist. 4.

THe V••laterrani, are my very kinde friends. For I hauing conferred vpon them a benefit o•• note, they haue returned me an ample gratuitie; consi∣dering that they neuer left mee, either in prosperitie, or in miserie. With whom, though I had nothing to doe; yet, because I loue you entirely, and that I know you haue much honour'd me, I would put you in minde, and ••x∣hort you, to retaine them so in your recommendation, that their poss••ssi∣ons may not be confiscated: especiallie hauing more reason to bee heard then o••hers. First, because they shunned the crueltie of Sylla's times, through the benignitie of ••he gods immortall. And then, because with the great fa∣uour of the people of R••me in my Consulship they they were by me de∣fended. For the Tribunes of the peo∣ple hauing enacted a most wicked law ••ou••hing their landes, I easilie perswa∣ded the Senate, and people of R••me, ••hat they would haue some respect to those Cittizens, whom Fortune as it were through compassion, had pre∣serued. And this my opinion, was ap∣proued,

and confirmed by Caius C••sar, in his first Consulship, when he renew∣ed the law about possessions. Where∣upon the Countie of Volaterra, and the towne, was by him perpetuallie free'd from all incumbrance. So as, I may be secure, that he, who was pleas'd to purchase new friends, would continue his old benefits. And therefore, it be∣fits your prudence, either to follow his authoritie; whose part, and gouern∣ment you followed, with great reputa∣tion; or at least to reseru•• vnto him, the entire businesse. But certainely, you shall doe well, to make a firme resoluti∣on to oblige perpetually vnto your selfe so worthy, so mightie, and so noble a Citie, by so great a benefit. But, what I haue formerly written was to exhort, and aduise you; what followes; to en∣treat you: To conceiue that I do not on∣ly councell you for your owne benefit: but that I haue also occasion to entreat, and seeke vnto you. I therefore giue you to vnderstand, that you shall doe me, a singular pleasure, if you procure, that the Volaterrani may not in any re∣spect be ouerborne, or damni••ied. I commend their whole estates, For∣tunes, and aff••ires; to your fidelitie, equitie, and bountie: as hauing, both by the immortall gods, and by renow∣ned-cittizens of our Common-wealth, with the speciall fauour of the Senate,

and the Romane people beene preser∣u••d. And, if I, as I was wont, had now, the meanes to defend the Volaterrani, in that manner as I vsed to assist my friends: I would omit no office, vn∣effected ••or their benefit. And brie••ly, I would refuse no cont••station in their behalfe, and fauour. But seeing I am confident, I shall now preuaile no lesse with you, then I haue alwaies done with euery man; by that inward amitie, we hold together, and by that loue we mutually bea••e one another, I entreate you in fauour, that you will vouchsafe to vse towards the Volaterrani, that hu∣manitie, and courtesie, as they may iudge this dispatch, to haue beene com∣mitted, as it were by diuine prouidence, to a person, whom I, their perp••tuall defender, was able more to dispose of, then of any other. Farewell.