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

Cicero to Marcus Cato. Ep. 6.

NAEVIUS, as I remember, by the mouth of Hector, saith; I finde, O Father, inestimable contentment, in hea∣ring my selfe commended by you, a commen∣dable person. The like may I say, who thinke I haue gained wonderfull glory, because you congratulate with m••e, for my obtained honour, and much more, in that with the testimonie of your opi∣nion, you haue praised my actions. For that Fame, which springs from the iudgement of some graue man, and one of authoritie, augmente••h a mans r••∣nowne and reputation; and eu••ry man

presumes, that it proceeeds from truest vertue. But what in this I take for a sin∣gular fauour, and yeelds mee high con∣tentment, is, that I conceiue, how in respect of our friendship, you haue been most liberall to me of that, which you would willingly haue afforded any, for the t••uths sake. And if our Citie, in which, it is a miracle to finde one Cato, had not onely that one, but did abound in many Cato's, there is no Pompe, nor Triumph so magnificent, which I would not esteeme, as nothing in comparison of the praises which you haue deliuered of me. For, according to my opinion, and in their iudgement, who, with discree•• and sound vnder∣standing, respect the end of true glory: nothing in the world could haue add••d vnto my good name so much, as by your speeches hath beene added. In which, as I haue beene aduertised from home, you exalted me to heauen. I will not contend, in alledging the rea∣sons, that made me not ambitious; but desirous to purchase vnto my selfe that gen••rall grace, which is so much estee∣med; hauing written thereof at large, in my last letters. And though you infer, ••hat a m••n s••ould not bend to such like respects, this no waies distas••s me, for ••'is true, that honors should not be so openly hunted af••er; but when they are o••f••red by the Se••••te, they ought not

to be re••used. And because it pleaseth me to suppose, that the Senate, in re∣compence of my labours sustained in the seruice of the commonwealth, re∣putes me not vnworthy of an ordinary fauour. In such a case I desire no other from you, but after you haue granted me, what your owne iudgement im∣plyes; that you will also reioyce, if I happen to attaine to my desire, as you reioyced at the honor, which not long since was conferred on me. Whereof I know, you tooke that contentment which was requisite; in that you were present, at the recording of the decree thereupon passed; considering that such del••berations are vsually registred, by the dearest F••iends of that part, whom the Act concerneth. I hope we shall shortly see one another againe, and God grant, in a better State, then I can expect of the Commonwealth. Farewell.