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

Cicero Imperator, to Caninius Salustius Vice-quaestor. Epist. 17.

YOur officer on the xvii. of Iulie, deliuered me your letters at Tarsis: whereunto I will particularly answere, as you seeme to desire. I heare not a word of any Successor in my place, neither doe I thinke, that any man shall succeed. There is nothing to the con∣trary, why I may not depart, at the ••ime appointed; especially all feare of the Parthian warre being taken away. And I thinke not to stay in any place, I haue an opinion, that I shall goe as fa••re as Rhodes, to see my sonne; and nephew, But I dare not assure you ••hereof. I would faine be with all spe••d in R••me, yet I'le proceed in my voy••ge accord∣ing to the intelligence, that I shall re∣ceiue from thence. And according as I shall thinke, that it may turne to the benefit of the Common-wealth Your Successor cannot come so soone, that you may meete me in Asia. Whe••e you tell me, that Bibulus grau••ts you an ample ••reedome, from rendring an ac∣compt of that you haue receiued; I gr••unt you it were good for you that it w••re so, bu•• I am not of opin••on, that the law Iulia will tollerate it: which

Bibulu•• obserues not for some peculiar reasons of his owne•• but if you approue of my counc••ll: I would aduise you to obserue it. In that you write, I should not di••furnish Apamea of men; I see that some are of the same opinion, and I am very sorrie, that I haue g••u••n oc∣cas••on to malignant spirits to pra••tle thereof so vntowardly. Whether the Parthians are return'd or no, besides your selfe, I know no man makes doubt: and because this newes was generally divulged for certaine, I ca∣sheered so great a number of choice souldiers; whom, I had placed in the guarisons of the Citties. It was not ••rue, that I sent you, my Qu••sto••s ac∣compts; nor, were they yet finished•• I meane to leaue a cop••ie of them in A∣pamea. Concerning th•• bootie, that came to my hand•• in th••s war, no man laid hand vpo••'t, nor shall touch one farthing thereo••, ••xcept the Quaestors of Rome, that is, the people of Rome: I am minded to returne all the common treasure, by the Bankers of Laodicea. From whom I will take securi••ie, that it m••y be paid in without my daunger: Whereas you mooue me in a matter of ••e•• thousand crownes, I can in no sort furnish you: because one part of the treasure, amoun••ing of the spo••le, is al∣readie in the conueyers hands: and mine owne portion the Quaestor hath

receiued. For your d••mand, concer∣ning my opinion of the Legions, which by the Senates order, are to come into Syria: at fi••st I doubted, whether they should come or no: but now I assure my selfe, that they shall not come, when they shall vnderstand, that there is no daunger of warre in Syria. I see well enough, that Marius, successor to Bibulus will ar••iue very late, because or∣der was set downe, that he should bring men along with him. I haue answered one o•• your letters, now I come to an∣other. You intreat me, that I would write to Bibulus in your behalfe, with all importunitie possible. To which I answere, tha•• I am readie herei•• to giue you all con••en••ment: but yet I haue some cause to complaine of you, that alone, amongst all those which are about Bibulus, you did not aduer••ise me of the euill opinion, that he conceiu••s of me without cause. For many haue told me, that Antiochia being in great feare, and much hope being repo••ed in me and my armie, he should say, that he would rather suffer any extremity, then seeme to haue need of my ayde. And, that you haue concealed this from mee displeaseth me not, vnderstanding what respect a Quaestor should beare ••o a Praetor. And I heard before, what termes he stood vpon wi••h you. More∣ouer, when he wrote to Thermus touch∣ing

the Parthian warre, I had not so ••uch as the least word from him con∣cerning it; to whom he knew well, that the d••ung••r of that warre did apper∣taine. Neither did he euer w••ite vnto m••, more ••hen once, to recommend his sonne vnto me when he s••ood for the Augureship. Wh••reupon I, mo••ed by compassion, ••nd bec••use I ••uer affected his sonne, I would not but answere him very courteously: but if he be of that humor, ••hat he beares an euill mind to euery man, which I could neuer be∣l••eue, I ought to care ••he l••sse, t••ough he loues not me neither. But if he haue any particular hatred to my selfe, my l••tters will stand you in small st••ad That he ha••es me, I manifestly discerne by this, that he hath written to the Se∣nate, how he hath vsed all endeuou••s, that the money might be made ou••r by exchange, to the peoples aduantage; at••••ibu••ing onely to himselfe that glo∣rie, which was no l••sse mine then his owne: saying fu••ther, that he was the man, who sent backe the troupes of h••rse of Lombardie, to ease the people of such a charge: which was my action, and none of hi••. He hath afterwards made me partaker of a businesse, which concernes himsel••e onely; affirming that the prouision of prouender for the oullandish horse, was demaunded by vs both. But what more manifest testi∣monie

o•• his malignant, and ••a••e na∣ture can be requir'd, ••hen•• w••it••ng to A••io••arz••n••s, to whom, the Senate at m•• ••••q••••st, had giuen the title o•• Ki••g, he stiled him not K••ng, but soone ••o King A••i••barzanes It is not good to commend any one, to men of that con∣dition; because in such a ca••e they doe worse. But, to doe you •• pleasure, I haue written to him. Abou•• the d••li∣uering, or not deliuering i••, vse your owne discretion. Far••well.