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I Protest, I haue no greater comfort in this my absence, then to write vnto you. For me thinkes I talke, and toy with you, as if we were together. And yet this proceeds not through the Spe∣ctra of Catius; in whose fauour I will by my next, produce you so manie rusti∣call
Stoicks, that I will driue you to af∣firme, that Catius was borne in Athens. I am much contented, that our Pansa, with the wonderfull satisfaction of all men, hath obtain'd so honourable a charge. And I vow to God, I doe not reioyce for him alone, but for all of vs. Hoping that it will be discerned, how much euery man naturally shuns, and abhorres tyrannie•• and on the contra∣rie, how chearefully they embrace, and fauour the iust, and merci••ull; and that those honors which wicked men, labor and desire to obtaine, are distributed to honest and good men. It's a great mat∣ter, that it should be so difficult to per∣swade men, that vertue of her selfe is amiable, and an excellent rewarder of her followers: being truer, then truth it selfe, that vertue, iustice, and honestie, are those seedes which produce the true repose and peace of minde: as Epicurus himselfe (from whom all the Catij, and Amasinij his erronious interpreters are derived:) beareth wi••nesse, saying, That he cannot liue comfortabl••e, that liues not iustly, honestly. Wherefore Pansa pu••suing the ho••est d••lectations of life, pos••es••eth ve••tue: and those whom we call louers ••f delights and pleasures, are louers likewise of honestie and iu∣st••ce: and such as endeuouring them∣selues in all vertues, doe poss••sse them. And therefore, Sylla, whose iudgemen••
we must needs a••proue; perceiuing the Ph••los••phe••s to bee dissonant among ••hem••elues, wi••hout se••king out which was the chiefe good; purcha••'d in a moment, all goods. Whose death cer∣tainely I h••ue borne with a constant mind; and so much the rather, being as••ured, that Caesar will not suffer vs long to looke after it, hauing aboun∣dance of condemned men, whom hee m••y in his place restore vnto vs, tho••••h ••here is a ••onne of his, remaining, who is well able to discharge his Fathers of∣fice. Now, to come vnto the Com∣mon-wealth. I looke for a relation of the warre of Spaine. I would I were dead, if I, be not much perplexed; and I had rather liue vnder our vsuall, that's a mercifull Lord; then to vndergoe a new yoke of one that is full of crueltie. You know how presumptuous Cn••ius is, and arrogates euery great thing vnto him••elfe; you know, how he main∣taines, that crueltie is a kind of vertue: you know how ridiculous hee thought himselfe vnto vs. And therefore, I am affraid, least in exchange, he ••ay, with his Sword, basely laugh at vs. If you loue me, write vnto me. Oh! how glad I would be, you did but as••ure me, whi∣ther you read this letter, with a troubl••d mind, or a di••burdened. For a•• ••he same ins••ant, I should come to know, what resolution to vndertake in mine
owne occurrents. To auoyd prolixitie, I will bid you farewell: and as you loue me, loue me. If Caesar vanquish, looke for me presently. Farewell.