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

Cicero to Tr••bonius. Epist. 21.

I Read your letter and your•• booke with great con••entment, but my pleasure was mingled with the greefe of your departure. For in the greatest

desire of perpetuating our conuer••ati∣on, you h••ue left vs with this onely comfort, th••t with daily, and long let∣••ers, the ardent desire of each partie m••y be mittiga••ed. Which, as o•• mine owne part I da••e promise it sh••ll take effect; So I am rea••ie to beleeue that it wi••l not faile on yours; in that the loue you beare mee, is mo••e then manifest. For to omit the fauours, whereof the Citties can g••ue undoubted testimony; when you ••hewed you•• ••elfe an enemie to my enemies. When you defended me to the people; when being Quaestor•• you discharged about my selfe, and the publ••ke office of a Consull•• and would not obey the Tribune of the people, though your Colleague did crowch vnto him. And not to rip vp these late matters, which shall remaine pe••petu∣ally fixed in my memorie: what a trouble had you with me, when wee were employed in armes? how did you reioyce at my returne? what greefe, and discontent surpriz••d you, when you heard of my dolors, and molestations? and finally, how readie w••re you to come by all meanes vnto me at Brundu∣sium, had you not beene sent into Spain•• vnexpectedly? Laying therefore these things apart; which notwith∣standing I so highly esteeme, as I doe mine owne life and sa••etie; tell mee I praie you, what greater notice of your

loue could you haue giuen mee, then what you h••ue afforded mee in this booke? Fi••st, because all my sayings, appeare vnto you ••ull of pleasing de∣lightfulnes••e; which to othe••s perad∣u••nture seeme otherwise. Then, were they so, or but so so; they are as ••ou deliuer them, most ingenuous: & such, as in your grace••ull, and ha••pie ca••ry∣ing of them forestalle euery mans laughter, before they come to consider them to be my passages. But, if you did, as of necessit•••• you must, thinke onely on me; all the while you were a∣bout this compo••ition; I were an Iron fellow if I should not loue you. And in that you could not write this subiect, without a friendly, and louing remem∣branc•• of me. I am readily perswaded, that the affection you beare vnto mee is no lesse, then that which is borne by euery man to his owne person. To which affection, would I had no lesse abilitie in deeds, then I haue in loue to be answerable. Wherein notwithstan∣ding I hope you shall remaine well sa∣tisfied. Now to your letter: Which pleas'd me exceedingly: for besides that, it was ingenuou••, and copious: it was also in euery part full of affection. I answer thereof, first, I wrot that Epi∣stle to Caluus, thinking it should no more haue come to light, then this which you now read: For a thing mnst

be otherwise written, which wee deter∣mine should be onely read of those, to whom 'twas sent; then that which is to passe through the hands of many. Then, where as you meruaile that I ex∣alted his wit with such great commen∣dation, you supposing that they excee∣ded the bounds of veritie: I answer, that I thought fitting so to doe. Hee shewes great promptitude in writing; hee prosecutes a certaine method of his owne, conducted by a kinde of error in iudgement; wherein notwithstan∣ding he doth very well; he is full of lear∣ning, but does not liuelie expresse his conceipt: therefore I exhorted him thereunto. For if you would put spirit into any man, or sharpen his vnder∣standing, there is no better way in the world, then to commend him. This is my iudgement, and counsell about Caluus: Counsell; in that I prais'd him, to exhort him: Iudgement; in that I h••ld him to haue a wit worthie to bee esteemed. It remaines that I pray, that your iourney may proue happie; that I expect your returne with hope, that I visite you oftner in my thoughts, and betweene writing to you, and reading your letters that I mittigate the insatia∣ble desire I haue to see you. My desire is, that you should often call to memo∣rie, your owne officious endeauours for mee. Of which if it bee lawfull

to be mindefull; 'twere base in me to be forgetfull. For I would not onely haue you to esteeme me for an honest man, but one, of whom your selfe may haue opinion, you are much beloued. Farewell.