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

Cicero Vice-consull, to Appius Pulcher Imperator. Ep. 5.

I Came to Trallis on the xxvii. of Iuly. There Lucius Lucilius presented me your letters, and related what by word of mouth you did commit vnto him. You could not haue sent me a man that was more my friend, neither as I thinke more wise and discreete, to informe me of such matters, as I desired to vnder∣stand. I haue read your letters with great satisfaction, and gaue a diligent eare to Lucilius: Now, you being of o∣pinion also, that ceremonies should not passe betwixt vs, (for, you write: though you haue read, with much con∣tentment what so ••uer by me was men∣tioned about mutuall kind offices, dis¦charged one to another; yet because I ••etch't my r••lation of them somewhat too farre about; you thought them not altogether so requisite) and because in∣deed

they are meerely supe••fluous, when the amitie is such, as hath beene long tried, and that there is no further doubt of faithfulnesse; I will lay them aside: thanking you onely, as I haue reason, for the louing diligence, you vse, in reforming the state of the Pro∣uince, to facilitate my gouernment of the same. First therefore, I thanke you for so courteous an office, then I en∣gage my faithfull promise vnto you, that with all endeuour and zeale, I will euer labour, that first your selfe, and all your friends, and others a••terwards may also perceiue, wh••t a friend I am vnto you. And of thus much, whoso∣euer he be, that's ignorant, he rather seemes, to be discontented at our friendship, then not to be priuie to it. But certainely, it shall apparently bee knowne. For it shall be made manifest by no obscure, nor ignoble persons; neither in occasions lightly importing: but let the effects ••ather proue this, then my words. And in that you write, that going the same way I entend, you feare, you shall not see me in the Pro∣uince, I will reueale the whole matter to you. Talking with Phania your Fr••e-man in Erundusi••••n, I remember I said, I would willingly haue entred into the Prouince, on that part that stood best with your liking: to which he ••••∣plied, that you meant to come by Sea,

and therefore you would be glad, that I were arriued at Sida, a maritime part of the Prouince: I told him I would: and so had done, but that Lucius Clodius aduis'd me in Corcyra no•• to enter into this encombrance, because at my arri∣uall, you would be in Laodicea. This was a farre shorter cut, and more com∣modious; principally in that it gaue you better satisfaction: but afterwards you altered your resolution. Now, you shall vnderstand my disseigne, to the end that you may gather, a•• you may easily, if there be any way for our meeting. I thinke to be at Laodicea, on the last of Iulie: and there will I continue for cer∣taine dayes, for the receipt of some mo∣nies, which I made ouer by way of ex∣change from Rome. Then will I take my course towards the armie; so that in the middest of September, I make ac∣compt to be at Iconium. But if I mistake my selfe in writing, (for I know not what may happen) whensoeuer I set forwards you shall be aduertised of my iournies from day to day, with all pos∣sible expedition, and diligence. I nei∣ther dare, nor willingly will impose vpon you any burden, but if it may be with your conueniencie, it greatly im∣ports vs both, that we should meete, before you leaue the Prouince. If any euill hap, preuent this our interuiew, yet notwithstanding in the gouernment

of this Prouince, I will haue no lesse care of your honour, and reputation, then if I had seene you. I will not write vnto you, that you should performe any thing on my behalfe, till I be out of hope, of meeting you. Whereas you write, that you requested Scaeuola, du∣ring your absence, to gouerne the Pro∣uince till my arriuall; I saw him in E∣phesus, and he kept me company for those three dayes, that I stayed there, but he spake not a word, of your moo∣uing him to any such matter. I would he could, for I cannot be perswaded, that he would not haue serued you. Farewell.