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

Cicero to Marcus Cato. Epist. 4.

BEing resolued, to make a sute vnto the Senate, which questionlesse in it selfe, is iust and honest; neuer••helesse, I thought fit therein to vse your autho∣ritie as an instrument: knowing what fauour, and assi••tance, the rare qu••lities of your minde may affoord me: which haue brought you into such reputation with euery man, that your meanes in obtaining any great matter of moment, are exceeding powerfull. And to this effect, I was d••sirous in this present let∣ter, fully to aduertise you, of the course I tooke, to retaine the ami••ie of our associat's; and of the Iustice, and Cha••i∣tie, which I shewed to their Sub••ectes: hoping that by this way, I should more easilie encline you, to fauour me. The

last of Iuly I was in my Prouince, and perceiuing how it was a season, to re∣paire to the Armie without any delaie: I stayed onely in Laod••cea three daies, in Apameae foure, three in Sinadis: and as many more in Philomelum: and leau∣ing in all these townes multitudes of souldiers. I disburdened manie other Citties, who were surcharged with in∣tollerable tributes, and heauie vsuries: and clear'd them of infinite debts vn∣sufferable; growing by taxations, which were impos'd vpon them, beyond all reason. And because the Armie, was disseuer'd, through a certaine disorder, growing before my arriual; vpon which cause, fiue Cohorts of it, were with∣drawen, vnder Philomelum, without ei∣ther Legate, or T••ibune; and finally, without so much as a Centurion; the remainder of the Armie lying in Lycao∣nia, I gaue Commission to Marcus An∣neius th•• Legate, to reconduct the sayd cohorts thither, where the others were: and so knitting together the whole Ar∣mie, that he ••hould encampe himsel••e there in Lycaonia, vnder Iconium. Af∣ter, he hauing performed all things ac∣cording to mine order giuen him, I came to the Campe, the xxvi. of Au∣gust: hauing first drawen together, a good number of the best forraine soul∣diers I could take vp, both foot, and horse, besides those, which were vo∣luntarily

offered me, by the free Nati∣ons, & those Kings, who are in league with vs. In the meane while hauing mustred my men, I directed my m••rch towardes Cilicia. And the first of Sep∣tember being on my way, Embassadors ouertooke m••, from king Commagenus, which being all astonished, & fraught with feare, related to me for a certaine truth, how the Parthians were passed into Syria; whereat my mind was won∣derfully troubled, in respect of Syria, and mine owne Prouince, and bri••fly, in respect of all Asia. Wherefore I re∣solu'd too, to hold on my way by that part of Cappad••cia, which confineth with Cilicia; perceiuing that if I should fall into Cilicia, I might easily de••end it, through the naturall si••uation of Mount Amanus, (for there are but onely two entries, out of Syria into Cilicia, and both of them are narrow, that with a very few men, the enemies passage may be stopped, and on the part of Syria, Cilicia could not be better fortified) but Cappadocia I feared: because it lay open to Syria, and is expos'd to the danger, that might accrew from bordering kings. Who, though they be our frends, yet dare they not manifest themselues, enemies to the Parthians. Therefore, in the furthest part of Cappad••cia, not farre ••rom Mount Taurus, vnder the towne of Cybistra, I encamped; both

to defend Cilicia, and to supplant the new disseignes o•• bord••ring Nations, holding Cappadocia. And in the meane time, ••umors on all sides being sp••ead, and a great warre expected, king ••••••••∣tarus, a wise, and v••lian•• man, (of ••hom b••••h you, & I, together with the whole S••••at••, had euer a singular good con∣ceipt, ha••ing found him vpon all occa∣sions faithfull, a••d w••ll aff••cted to the people of R••me,) sent Ambassadors to me, info••ming me, that he would come with all h••s Forces into my Campe. Wher••pon, I, being mou'd, through so louing and cour••eous a demonstra∣tion, gaue him thankes by letters, ex∣horting him to hasten his comming as much as was possible•• and hauing stay∣ed at Cybistra fiue dayes, to furnish my selfe of things necessarie for the warre, I deliuer'd king Ario••a••z••nes from an imminent perill, which be••ore he had not perceiued. And, being ••ecommen∣ded to me, at your requ••st by the Se∣nate, I did not onely procure his safe∣tie, but so effected, that he might cause himselfe to be both obey'd, and feared. B••sides this, I pr••uailed so far with the same King, that he shew'd fauour to Metra, and that Athen••us, whom you so seriously recommended to me. Who through the malice of Athenaides had beene banished: so that he now main∣taines them about him, in gre••t, and

honou••able fashion. And perceiuing what warre, might e••sue, betweene king Ariobarzan••s, and the Priest, if the Priest with Armes meant to defend himselfe: as the common opinion was he would doe, being a powe••••ull young man, and furnished with horse & foot, and which imported most, with mo∣ney, being fauoured by th••m, that af∣fected innouation; I caus'd ••im to de∣part out of the kingdome, and so ac∣commoda••ed ••he Kings affai••es, as without tumult, or Armes, he might bear•• him••elfe as a King, and liue with∣out any ••ealousie, keeping a roiall guard within his Pallace. In the meane ••pace, by letters receiu'd from diuers; and by messengers arriued, I vnderstood, how a great Armie of the Parthians, and A∣rabians, made approach to Antiochia: and that a great troope of their horse, who were gotten into Cilicia, were dis∣comfited and hewen in pieces, by my Cauallerie, and Praetorian Infant••rie, who we••e of the g••arison of Epiphanea. Whereupon, seeing that the Parthia: Nation, giuing ouer the enterprise of Cap••adocia, drew neare to Cilicia; with great dayes iourneyes, I conduct••d the Armie towardes Mount Amanus: whi∣ther being come, I had aduertisement, how th•• enemy was ris••n from before An••iochi••, & Bibulus was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there∣into. And hearing that D••••••tarus wa••

hasting tow••rds me, with a strong Ca∣u••llerie, and Infant••rie, and mul••itude of Forces: I sent him word, that I now saw no ne••d, why he shoul•• remooue himselfe so farre f••om his ••ingdome: but vpon any occurr••nt, I wou••d sud∣dainly giue him notice. Af••••r these e∣uents, retaining a firme resolution, to pacifie the people of Mount Amanus, and to expell them, that euer w••re ene∣mies, though I came with an int••ntion, to ••uccour both the one, and other Prouince, if the time permitted: neuer∣thelesse, I iudging, that this would re∣dound to the benefit of both those Prouinces; I thought it most expedient to bring my determination ••o effect. And there••ore making a shew of depar∣ting from the sayd Mountaine, and remouing about a dayes iourney off: and pitching my tents vnder Epiphan••a, the xij. o•• October, about the shutting in of the ••uening, I, with the most actiue of my souldiers aduanced: and so mar∣ching all night, at breake of day, we asc••nded the mountaine; and d••••••ding the Armie, part rem••ined vnder mine, and my brothers command, part I committed to Caius P••ntinius, and the rest I left to Lu••i•••• An••cius, and Lucius Tullius, who are all the Legates I haue: and so marching on in thi•• ••quipage, we ass••i••••d the enemies on a suddaine: of whom some were sl••ine, some ••aken,

hauing no time left them for flight. P••ntinius beleaguer'd Erana: Which being the Metropolitane of Amanu•••• may rather be tearmed a cittie, then a Burrough; and moreouer, Sepyra, and Commoris. Which town••s were verie strong, de••ending themselues resolute∣ly. But yet they were so oppressed, that in the end with great•• slaughter of the enemies, they were taken. And this assault beginning before day light, con∣tinued till two houres within the night. Besides ••his, we tooke six small towns, and burnt diuers others. After these e••fects ensued, we pitched at the foote of Amanus, call'd by the name of Al••x∣anders Altars; in which place, staying some foure dayes, we spent the time in extinguishing our enemies, and in ••or∣raging, and wasting that part of Am••∣nus, which lies against my Prouince. These things being perform'd, I con∣ducted mine Armie within sight of Pindenissus, a Burrough of priuiledged Cilicians. Which is seated vpon a verie high mountaine, a place inex••ugnable, and inhabi••ed by men, who alwayes scorn'd ••o be gouern'd by their owne Kings, much lesse by others. And per∣c••iuing that they gaue receptacle to all that fl••d, making op••n defence, through hope they had, that ••he Par••hian•• would arriue to their succour: me thought the honour of the Romane soueraigntie,

spurred me forward, to suppresse their insolencie, that others thereat might be astonished, who stood ou•• stiffe against our dominion. I therefore impaled, and intrenched them, and I beleaguer'd them, with six Bulwares, and encamped about them, with as great an extent as I was able. And I oppugn'd it with Countermures, shelters, and tourrets. And so, battering it with diuers engins, and assailing it with Crosse-bow shot, with great labour, and without any di∣sturbance, or charge to our Associates, I tooke it, within the space of lesse then two moneths. For they within, percei∣uing the Cittie burnt, and ruined on euery side, out of necessitie yeelded themselues. A little beyond, are the Tibarani, as wicked and audacious as the former. Who hearing of the taking in of Pindenissus, sent me hostages. And then I dismissed the Armie, (win∣ter being now come on,) to their se∣uerall quarters. And gaue charge to Quintus my brother, that he should dis∣perse the Armie, in the taken, and sus∣pected Burroughs. Now be as••ured, I shall repute it for a great honour, if, when these my actions are related to the Senate, you will but approue, that a thankefull demonstration may be made thereof. And, ••hough I know it to be the custome, o•• ma••ure, and qua∣lified men, to employ one another in

such like cases, and to adde their ••arnest entreaties: neuerthelesse, I thinke it may suffice me, onely to haue giuen you information thereof. Calling to mind, how many times, you haue with your sentences, fauoured me, in how many places exalted, and honoured, and vpon how many occasions benefit∣ted me: your words I euer est••emed of such power, that when soeuer you commended me, I was sure to com∣passe all my pretences. And finally, I remember, when not minding to grant the celebration of a publicke feast, vnto a famous man, and endued with singu∣lar integritie; you said you would grant it him, if it were demanded for ma••ters effected by him, as Consull in the Cit∣tie. And the same honor you yeelded to me in my gowne: not by vertue of Armes, as it was graunted to many: but, (as neuer any had it;) for my Coun∣tries preseruation. I forbeare to alledge, how for my sake, you car'd not to ex∣cite against your selfe many enemies, to expose your selfe to many perils, and to resist the violence of my Fortunes. Which you were ready to oppose, euen ••o the end, if I had beene so pleased. And last of all, that you reputed mine, your enemie; whose death you also ap∣proued, defending Milo's cause, in the open Senate. So that I might easily per∣c••iue, how worthily you este••med o••

me On my p••rt, I wil not now produce the good ••ffices, I euer perform'd for you; but onely ••n affectionate encli∣nation towards you: Through which, I was enforced not alone, to reuerence you in heart, and imitate your exam∣ple, and your vertues, (For, there's none that doth not so much) but in all my actions, in al•• my writings, as well Greeke, as Latine; and bre••fly in all those Sciences, wherein I exercised my selfe, I could not, but prefer you before all men, aswell those, whom wee know by sight, as those whom fame hath gi∣uen vs notice of. You will, peraduen∣ture, demand of mee, what the reason is, I make so great an accompt, of re∣ceiuing this fauour from the Senate? To which, I will freely answer, because I thinke I can, & ought so to do; aswell by reason of our studies, as for our in∣ward friendship, and also for the dome∣sticall familiaritie, that hath ••eene be∣twixt our fathers. If euer there were a man, that by nature, (ney, (••f mine owne affection deceiue me not) that out of iudgement and learning) neuer reli∣shed the vaine praises, that are giuen by the vulg••r; I certainely am that man. And thereof my Consulship can giue testimonie; wherein, as in all my life past, I confesse, I h••ue practised those courses, from whence a true glo∣rie might ari••e vnto me. Bu•• yet I was

euer of this opinion, that glorie should should not be affected. And that this is true: refused I not, the Prouince assig∣ned to me by the Senate? Which, be∣ing munified, and secure, yeelded mee mee vndoubted hope•• of a Triumph. And when I might with little labour, haue obtain'd the Augurall dignitie, as you cannot but conceiue; did I not contemne it? but after I r••ceiu'd that iniurie, which notwithstanding, turn'd to my great renowne; although you euer termed it the ruine of the Com∣mon-wealth; I applied all my endeuor, that the Senate and people of Rome, might fauour me, with all titles of ho∣nour, for a signe, as it were, of mine in∣nocencie. Whereupon, afterwards I tooke vpon mee the Augureship, which at first I car'd not for: and the same honour, which the Senate is ac∣customed to grant those men, that by armes haue augmented the State of the Common-wealth, heretofore by mee contemned; I now seeke, that with iust title it may bee also relucent in mee. And to the end, my minde may bee herein satisfied, (and in this may b••e perceiu'd a little sparke of desire, to cure the wound of my recei••ed iniury;) Though before I told you, I would not entreat you, to lend mee your ayd, and helpe; now, with my whole hea••t, I request your furtherance. But

not, vnlesse my actions at this present be such, as doe not onely not seeme fri∣uolous; but of that moment, that ma∣nie haue for matters of lesse conse∣quence, been with greatest honours, by the Senate dignified. And surely, if I haue truely obserued your renowned vertues, as in effect I haue (for you know, with what vigilant attention, I vse euen to collect your words) I con∣ceiue, amongst the rest, how you were wont, not onely to looke into the acti∣ons of Captaines valiantly atchiued, but also into their customes, life, and institutions: and co••sequently, to ho∣nour them, according as th••se qualities were in them, more, or lesse resplen∣dant. Which, if you please to consider in my actions, you shall discerne, that to preuent the rebelling of those people, who perceiuing so great a war readie to ruine them, would presently haue re∣uolted; I betooke my selfe to the safe∣guard of equitie and moderation: And by these stratagems, I haue compassed such designes, as by no Armie were e∣uer atchiued: hauing drawne these As∣sociates ••o our amitie, who were our capitall enemies: and re-vnited ••hose subiects with our dominion; who, per∣ceiuing things in a commotion, were alien••ted; expecting to what part, For∣tune would bee enclined. I know not what conceit hath transported mee fur∣ther

then was requisite; especially with you, to whose eares, the complaints of al those people come, which are our As∣sociates. Of the aboue-mentioned suc∣ces••es, they will plentifully enforme you, who thinke themselues re-establi∣shed by mine ordinance. And omitting to alledge, that there is not anie one man, who will not concur with mee, in making a faithful relation of my euents; They of the Isle of Cyprus, and the Kingdome of Cappadocia, shall bee the men, who shall speake vnto you, in my commendation. The like will bee done, as I suppose, by your e∣speciall friend, King Deiotarus. These put all together, cannot peraduenture, speake so far, that they can with words, adde anie thing to the effects. But be∣cause in all ages, there was a lesser num∣ber of those that could subdue their owne appetites, then of those, that knew how to vanquish an enemie; cer∣tainely, you ought to repute my opera∣tions the greater, and more iust, com∣paring with the excellencie of armes, these parts which are more rare, and found with greater difficultie. I will not proceed to more ••fficacious en∣treaties But, as it were, distrusting to be heard, I will cal Philosophie to mine ayde, which is the dearest thing that I esteeme in the world, and the most worthie gi••t, that euer the Gods be∣stowed

vpon humane generation. This communion therefore of studies, wher∣by (, both of vs, hauing from our child∣hood, applied all our thoughts and en∣deuors thereunto); we haue almost a∣lone, brought that ancient & true Phi∣losophie, (which some hold, to taste of sloth & idlenesse,) into the Foru••, and Common-wealth, & almost into the armie; shal pre••ch my deserts vnto you: which, I suppose, Cato cannot (but vn∣lawfully) denie. Wherefore assure your selfe; that if it so happen, that the Se∣nate, through your perswasion, grant me this honour; I shall repute, I haue a••tained to my intention, by the means I most desired, that is, by the loue you beare mee, and your owne authoritie. Farewell.