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

Cicero, Imperator; to Appius Pulcher (as I hope) Censor. Ep. 11.

LYing with the Campe neere to the riuer Pyramus, I ••eceiued at one time two of your letters, which Quin∣••us Seruilius sent me from Ta••sus: one was written the v. of Aprill: the other, which seemed the latt••r, bare no date. I will first therefore answer to the for∣mer. Whereas you write vnto me, that you are cle••red of the imputed crime of Maiestie: of which successe, though I vnderstood by le••ters, by messengers, and finally by fame it selfe, (for nothing could be more divulg'd: not that any man thought otherwise, but because all the occasions of renowned men, are euer spred with a common voyce) yet your owne letters multiplied my ioy; not onely in that they reuealed what was past, more abundantly then others

did: but also, by rea••on, that vnd••r∣standing of it by your selfe, I had the greater cause (as I thought) to reioyce with you. I haue therefore enter••ain'd you a far off, in thought, and kissed your letters, and, with my selfe, I re∣ioyc't, as if the businesse had beene mine owne. For, when the people, the Senate, and the Iudges; doe fauor wit, endeauour, or vertue; me think••s they fauour me also. Which peraduen••ure proceed•• from that sweet deceit, by which I am nuzzel'd in a beliefe, that my selfe also am possest of those parts to which al fauour, or grace belongeth. Neither did I wonder, that your cause should haue so glorious an issue, but that your enemies could carry ••o wic∣ked a minde. And though you are yet to purge your selfe, de ambitu: this need not much to trouble you. For, as you euer encreased Maiestatem, of the peo∣ple of Rome, So you euer shunned am∣bitum. Aud what is Maiestas? Nothing else, vndoubtedly (according to Sylla's meaning) but, That no man should be de∣fam'd by any other, without rigorus chastise∣ment: & Ambitus was wont for the most part to be so apparāt, that as well ••e that seeks ••o defend himselfe being culpable, of∣fendeth: as he that accus••th one that is inno∣cent. For whether one giues, or not, con∣trarie to the lawes, how can it possibly be concealed? & of all the honors you

euer emoyed, who euer had the least suspition [thereof]? O, what hard fortune had I, that I could not then be present? I know well enough, what sport I should haue made. But touching the triall de Mai••state, you write two things, which giue me singular con∣tentment; one is, that you were defen∣ded by the Common-wealth her selfe, who, though she were better stor'd with good and valiant cittizens, should support men of your qualitie: but now more especially, because there is such a penurie, in euery age and degree, that shee being left as a poore forsaken, and desolate widdow, hath great reason to imbrace such tutors. the other is: be∣cause you so highly extoll the fidelitie and loue, of Pompeius, and Brutus, both my very deare friends. I am glad, you haue two kinsmen so louing and noble: the one neither hath, or euer had in all the world his like; and the other hath now a long time enioy'd the chiefest place among the yong men of this Cit∣tie; and shortly also, as I hope, shall carrie it from them, that in yeares farre exceed, and goe before him. Concer∣ning the corrupted witnesses, if Flaccus cause not their infamie to be publickely proclaim'd in their seuerall Citties; when I passe through Asia, it shall be done. Now, I come to your other E∣pistles: I haue perus••de the forme and

draft you sent me, of the present times, and the whole state of the Common-wealth, and I am much comforted in the prudent discour••e you make there of. Because I see the daung••r is not so great, as I feared, and there is better de∣fence, then I in any wise hoped; If it be true you write vnto me, that all the citty referres it selfe to Pompeies direction and gouernment. And also I conc••iue, how prone your mind is, and enfl••med to the defence of common libertie. And I was singularly well pleas'd in your lo∣uing care and vigilancie, that in the depth of your waightiest occasions, you faile not to mak•• knowne vnto me, the state of the Common-wealth. If I had thought, you had beene in these distra∣ctions, I would not haue written so earnestly to you, about the bookes of the Auguries. Now, I sollicite you not to the performance of your promise herein, reserue them till another time, when both the one, and the other of vs, may be at better leisure. And in their stead send me at this present, all your Orations compleat, as you promised. Tullius who should haue spoken with me in your name, is not yet come to me. And here are now no more of your friends; but that all mine, are likewise yours. I know not what those letters be, which, you say, I wrote vnto you, in so great choller, I haue written twice vn∣to

you, in iustific••tion of my sel••e, a∣bout the false reports, that were d••li∣uer'd you of me: and in iustifying my selfe, I complaine of you, for giuing them credite: and me thought one friend might lawfully vs•• such expostu∣la••ions with another. Bu•• if you relish them no••, Ile vse them no more. And if the letters I wrote to you, vpon such a subiect were (as you write) destitute of eloquence: I tell you they were not mine. For as Arist••rchus accounted no verse to be Homers, which he approu'd not of: so, (giue me leaue a little to be pleasant,) suppose you nothing to be mine, which is not smooth and elegant. F••rewell. And if you be Censor, be mindfull to looke backe into the Cen∣sorship of your great Grand-••ather.