Cicero to Caius Curio. Ep. 4.

YOu know, there are diuers sorts of letters in vse• but the chiefest is that by which the cōueniencie was brought vs of writing, to giue notice vnto our friends, far off, about n•edfull matters, to vs, or them appertaining. Letters of Page  60 this kinde I assure me, that you expect not from me. For, of your priuate oc∣casions, you haue them that gi•es you notice, and those that brings you newes thereof: and in my [affaires] there is no new thing happened. There are yet found two o•her kinds of letters, which much please me: one familiar, and con∣ceited: the other s•uere, and weightie. Of •hese, I k•ow not, which is least to my purpose. Should I be m•r•y with you? truely I doe not thinke, there is a Cittizen, that hath in these times any •ill to laugh. And in graue matters, Cicero canno• write to Curi•; except hee d•scourse of the Common-wealth, of which it is not safe at this time to speake what he thinkes. Wherefore not hauing other occasion to write, I will end after my wonted manner, and I will on•ou∣•age you to pretend •he height of glo∣ry. Because it is necessary you should encounter that expectation, which hath so much oblieged you to people; and a∣gainst this potent enemy, to fight man∣fully. W••ch you shall easily ouer•ome, b•ing of opinion, that, if you will arriue vnto that height, which you desire, it is necessarie you should employ your selfe about those vertues, by which men get immortall honour. I would to this purpose write more at large if I did not faithfully beleeue, that without my words you were sufficien•ly inflamed: Page  61 neither touched I this point to enflame you, but to manifest the affection, that I beare vnto you. Farewell.