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

Cicero to Publius Lentulus Vice-consull. Ep. 7.

I haue read your letters, in which you are thankfull vnto me, because I often acquaint you with all passages, and be∣cause

I make open demonstration to you of the affection I beare you. It was needlesse to thanke me, because I was oblieged to loue you, (if I would not appeare vnworthie of your good opini∣on:) and besides, I tooke delight in this frequent epistolar correspondence with you, seeing we could not in ab∣sence otherwise enioy one another. And when it fals out that I write not so often vnto you, it shall proceed from a distrust I shall haue to put my letters in euery mans hands. But alwaies, when I shal haue a faithful messēger, I wil not omit the opportunitie. Touching the particulars, which you desire to know, concerning your friends, they would be tedious to relate, but as for that, of which I haue often heretofore written vnto you, I can bid you now relie vpon it for a certaintie. That some, which both greatly could, and should haue fauoured you, haue enuied your great∣nesse, and the course of your Fortunes. Although the case be not alike, yet it hath some equalitie with mine. For they that were offended with you, vpon an occasion that concerned the Com∣mon-wealth, haue openly withstood you; and those that were defended by you, haue not beene so mindfull of your valour, as hatefull of your commenda∣tion. At which time, as I haue hereto∣fore at large written vnto you, I haue

knowne Hortentius, and Lucullus to be very affectionate towards you; and a∣mongst those ••hat are Magistrates, Lu∣••ius Racilius, a most faithfull and louing friend of yours. With that diligence, I bestow in fauouring you, I profit not so much as I should, if I fauoured ano∣ther, men presuming, that I helpe you more out of obligation, than discreti∣on. Amongst the Consulars I haue not knowne a man besides H••r••entius and Lucullus, ••hat hath made so much as a shew, of any good, much l••sse done a∣ny good thing for you. I write nothing vnto you of P••mp••ius, because you know, he hath beene very seldome in the Senate. But this I tell you, that hee h••th often re••soned with me, about your matters, and that not onely when he was inuited thereunto by me, but of his owne proper inclination also. And the letters which you lately sent him, were wondrous acceptable vnto him, as I haue vnderstood by signes of grea∣••est certaintie, I must needes con••esse, that you haue not onely filled me with ioy, but with admiration, when I con∣sider, how ingenuously, and with what great discretion, you haue kept so rare a man your friend, and so much oblie∣ged him vnto your courtesie. Wiping out of his memorie, the fal••e suspition, which he had, that you s••ould be offe••∣ded with him, beleeuing as oth••rs did,

that he stroue with you about the resto∣ring of the king. To tell truth, though you haue alwayes found him readie to pleasure you, and especially then, when peraduenture the con••ra••ie was doub∣ted, as when Caninius, sought that the people should giue him the managing of this businesse, yet I can assure you, that I neuer saw him, more earnest, or forward than at this present. Therefore know, that whatsoeuer I write, shall be written by his Councell, and opinion. I say then, till now the Senate hath not denied you the restoring of the King. Because that decree, that no man might restore him, was rather made out of furie then by reason; and the Tribunes as you know were thereunto opposed. You therefore hauing the gouernment of Silicia and Cyprus, may easily informe your selfe, whether your fo••ces be suffi∣cient to bridle Alexandria, a••d Aegypt, and finding it a ma••ter feyseable, you may, goe into A••exandria with the ar∣mie, leauing the King at Ptolem••is, or there bouts, and when you haue set all things quiet, and appointed, and placed your gu••risons, you may restore Ptole∣m••us to his former state and Domini∣on. And af••er this manner, he shall be restored by you, as the Senate had in the beginning ord••ined; and restored without the armie, as these religious persons said, was according to the plea∣sure,

or liking of the Sibylla. And you shall thus doe a thing agreeable to the honour of your selfe, and of our Com∣mon-wealth. It is true, that the attempt seemes vnto vs, doubtfull, because wee know men will iudge according to the successe. And, if the matter should fall out as we would haue it, euery man will proclaime you wise, and valorous: If any misfortune should come betweene you and home, all men will say you were vaine, and ambitious. Wherefore, you shall better gather than we, whe∣ther the enterprise be secure, as hauing the estate of all Aegypt within your view. Our opinion is, that if you haue any certaintie, to possesse your selfe of that kingdome, that you defer no time in effecting it; but if the case be doubt∣full, put not your selfe vpon it. This I assure you, that if you prosper in it, you shall be in your absence praised of ma∣ny, and at your re••ur••e, of all men; if it happen otherwise, I forsee that no∣thing but ••ll can come thereof. The Se∣nate hauing declared their pleasure, and besides there being the respect of the religion. But as I exhort you, to put your sel••e vpon the taske, if you finde things without danger; so if you doubt they will giue you battell: I disswade you from it. And againe I tell you what from the beginning I haue signified vnto you, that men will censure your

actions, not so much according to the counsell you haue embraced, as accor∣ding to the end that shall ensue thereof. But if this way ••hould appeare dange∣rous vnto you, we should like it well, that the king, (giuing assurance to those friends of yours, which in diuerse pla∣ces of your Prouince, haue furnisht him with moneys;) should vse your ayde to returne into his kingdome. You be∣ing easily able to helpe him; aswell for the qualitie, as situation of your Pro∣uince; he being destitute of a more sure meanes to returne withall. This is my opinion; now doe what you thinke best. Whereas you reioyce at my con∣dition, at the familiaritie of Milo, at the vanitie and weaknesse of Clodius, •• won∣der not at your ioy; being the custome of an excell••nt artificer, to take plea∣sure in his own workmanship. Though you cannot imagine how great peruer∣sitie (not to giue it a worse terme) raignes in some kind of men, who if they had fauoured me, I had neuer changed mine intention, in the mana∣ging of the Common-wealth, but their ill carriages towards me haue constrai∣ned me, to runne a course for mine owne safetie, of which I haue beene hi∣therto something carelesse, esteeming honour more than mine owne life. Both might hau•• beene done very well, if these Consula••s were to be trusted, or

had any constancie: but they are for the most part so malicious, and so depri∣ued of iudgement, that whereas they should long affect me, as one that am a most affectionate cittizen to mine own Countrey, they enuie me for defending it. Which I haue written thus freely vn∣to you, because I acknowledge, not onely my present ••state from you, but the beginning of my honour also. And moreouer, because I begin now to be∣leeue, that my obscure paren••age, was not the cause I was so ill beloued: con∣sidering that you, that are bo••ne of a most noble house, could not auoid the rage of these malicious people. Who though they haue su••fered you to arise to one of ••he chiefest places, they haue afterwardes alwayes ••aid waite, to clip your wings for feare you should flie higher. I reioyce, that your Fortune hath not beene like mine, for there is great difference, betweene bei••g a lit∣tle crossed, and being vtterly ruined. Notwithstand••ng out of your worth, you haue laboured so, that I am not greatly to complaine of mine; you ha∣uing prouided, ••hat I h••u•• made a grea∣ter gaine in honour, than I haue recei∣••ed damage in my estate. Therefore at this present I entre••t you; vrged here∣••nto not o••ely by the fauours you haue done me, bu•• by the affection that I euer bare you, that you striue-with all your

power to arise vnto the height of glo∣ry; to which euer since you were a boy, you haue had a strong inclination: and let no•• euery occu••rent iniurie, deiect the lof••ines o•• your spirit, which I haue alwayes loued, and admired. The hope that is of you is great, and great is the comm••ndation of your liberal••tie, as also the memorie of your Con••ulship is great; to which you know well, how great an ornament, and honor will bee added, if some noble argumēt or token of your valour can in the gouernment, which you now haue of that Prouince, be produced. Though I am vnwilling you should enterprise any thing, with∣out diligent consideration, examinati∣on, and preparation. And because I know that all your thoughts haue eu••r beene enclined to ascend to the highest step of honour, when you are arriued, I assure you 'tis an easie matter to main∣taine you there. And to the end that this my exhortation appeare not friuol••us, and from the purpose: know that I haue to this effect beene desirous to put you in minde of the acciden••s which haue occurred to both of vs, that hereafter you may know whom you may trust, and of whom you should be warie. Whereas you write that you would know, what the state of the Common-wealth is: there is great discord, but ••he strife is vnequal; ••or they that are st••on∣gest

in riches, armes, and power, seeme to haue gone so farre through the folly, and in••onstancie of their aduersaries, that they are also at length before them in authoritie. So that, hauing few or none against them, they haue fully ob∣tained that of the Senate, which was neuer thought should haue beene gran∣ted by the people, without great com∣motion. And thus a stipend, with ten Ambassadors hath beene assigned and graunted vnto Caesar, and the time of his gouernment in France prolonged, con∣trarie to the Law Sempronia, which I write briefly vnto you, because the pre∣sent state of the Common-wealth dis∣pleaseth me: yet I write it to aduertise you, that you may in time resolue your selfe to beleeue that, of which I by the studie of so many yeares, and much more by experience, am resolued; that, a man ought not to loue prosperitie without authoritie, nor it without pro∣speritie. Whereas you congratulate with me about my daughter, and Crassipes, I acknowledge your courtesie, and hope, that of such a marriage wee shall haue that content, which is desired. It resteth onely that I remember you, that you bring vp our Lentulus in all those scien∣ces, to which you haue euer beene en∣clined: but aboue all things, that you put him vpon that course, which you haue holden: by which if he goe, there

is no doubt, bu•• he shall become most vertuous, and very valorous; hauing in these his greene yeares, made himselfe of so great an expectation. We do most entirely loue him, aswell because he is your sonne, and worthie to be so; as because I know he loues me, and hath euer done so. Fare you well.