Cicero to Lucius Lucceius, son to Quintus. Epist. 12.

I Determine freely, to open my minde vnto you by letters, which doe not blush; seeing in presence I neuer durst doe it, through a certaine modes•y, I cannot say, but rather a rudenesse. I haue a wonderfull desire, and except I be deceiued, very commendable; tha• you would be pleased to celebrate my name, with the publication of your compositions: the which, though ma∣ny times you told me, you would doe; yet I would haue you pardon mee, though I solicite you thereunto: For the •orme of your writing, which I euer thought would bee excellent, goes be∣yond my expectation, and hath so won mee, that I am surprized with an excee∣ding desire, that my acts atchieud, may be written with your pen. Because I doe no• onely hope, that death it selfe shall not •xtinguish the memoriall of my Page  219 name; but further, in life I desire to enioy that reputation, which may ac∣crew vnto me by your testimony; and to taste that sweetnesse, which I shall finde, seeing my selfe to be praised, and beloued, by one of your qualitie. And though I know how much you are em∣ployed: neuerthelesse, in that I see, you haue now finished the historie of the Italian, and ciuill warre: and you told me you pro•ected the rest; I would not omit for mine own sake, to admonish you, that you would bethink your selfe, whether you would connex our pro∣ceedings with others; or else to doe, as many Graecians haue done, Calistines the Troian war; Timaeus that of Pyrrhus; and Polybius the warre of Numantia: all which, diuided the foresaid wars; so you also might separate the ciuill con∣spiracie, from the wars externall. I see not certainely, that it greatly imports my commendation; yet respecting my great desire, surely it imports, that you doe not obserue the order of times, but that you rather anticipate, & first make mention of my actions. And withall, if you employ your wit vpon one sub∣iect onely, and about one person; me thinkes I foresee, how much more co∣pious and more adorned, the discourse wil proue in euery part. Neither am I so barren of vnderstanding, but that I per∣ceiue, how impudent I am; First, in im∣posing Page  220 vpon you such a burden (which, in respect of your imployments, you might well refuse:) and then, to impor∣tune you, that you would commend me; in that you may thinke peraduen∣ture I deserue it not. But hauing once begun to exceed the bounds of mode∣stie, wee must absolutely laie aside all bashfulnesse. And therefore I request you earnestly, to set forth mine actions, and that with greater lustre, then per∣aduenture, you iudge to stand with their merit: and that you will not tye your selfe to the lawes of Historie, but to the desert of our friendship: which, I desire, should preuaile further with you in this; then truth. And because heretofore, you wrote, in a certaine Proeme, and indeed ingeniously, that euen as that Hercules in Xeno∣phon, would not be mou'd a whit at the allurement of pleasures: so no respect of amitie should stir you. Now, •or my contentment, I would haue you alter your minde, and in regard of our loue, that you would applie your selfe, to sa∣tisfie me in this request. And if (as I d•sire) you resolue to collect a memo∣riall of my proceedings, and to com∣prehend them distinc•ly in one volume: it would bee a subiect, in my opinion, verie worthie of your eloquence. For, beginning from that time, that the con∣spiracie gr•w, and prosequuting euen to Page  221 that [instant] when I return'd from ba∣nishment; you shall meet with so many accidents worthy of historie, as compi∣ling them all together, you wil make vp a reasonable volume. And in this, you may make vse of the knowledge you haue, of the ciuill alterations, relating partly, the originall of discords, partly shewing the remedies against future mischeefes: discommending withall, things blame-worthy, and praising the cōmendable, with such reasons, as you iudge fittest. And if you would follow your wonted custom of speaking freely; you may note, many mens perfidious proceedings, plots, & trecheries against me. Withall, my disasters will minister vnto you great variety in writing, cary∣ing such a kind of contentment, as will inuite mē to read forward. For, nothing is more apt to delight the Readers, then the variety of times, & seuerall mutati∣ons of Fortune. The which, though in their triall, we found them troublesom, yet are we not sorry, to see them writ∣ten. For, the secure remembrance of troubles past, bringeth contentment & others, that neuer sustain'd any greefe of their owne, reading the molestati∣ons of other men, without agreeuance, they feele a kind of compassion, which replenisheth the minde, with accepta∣ble delight. Which of vs feeles not, both contentment, and compassion, Page  222 when he reads the death of that Epami∣nondas, who was slaine before Manti∣nea? where hee commanded, that the weapon which wounded him to death, should then bee taken out of his bodie, when hee heard, that his shield was in safe keeping: and hauing heard thus much, contemning the extreme paine of his wound, in full contentment, he finished his daies, with a noble death. Which of vs reads not, with admirable a•tention, the flight, and returne o• Themistocles? 'Tis true, that a continued historie seemes much to delight; be∣cause it orderly representeth the suc∣cesse of things past• but a distinct Nar∣ration, wherein men may obserue, the variable and doubtfull accidents, of some excellent man, carries with it, both wonder, and expectation; ioy, & sorrow; hope, and feare: and, if the end be remarkable, in reading it, wee attaine to the height of contentment. Wherefore, it will please me the better, if you resolue to distinguish this tale (as I may terme it) of our affaires, and successes, from the continued course o• your writings: which containes in it, diuers enterprizes, and many effects, both of counsels, and of the times. Nei∣ther will I beleeue, that it should breed any suspition in you, that I goe about to creepe into you, by way of flattery; though I shew so ardent a desire, to bee Page  223 by you celebrated. For, you are not a man, that's ignorant of your selfe. And who reputes them not rather enuious, which admire you not, then those flat∣terers, that doe praise you? Neither am I so foolish, to bee celebrated and eter∣nized by one, who by celebrating mee, may not also himselfe purchase a parti∣cular renowne for his wit, and learning. That so famous a Captaine, Alexander, would onely be drawne by Apelles, and grauen by Lysippus: and hee did it not, bec•use he would win their loue, by the Art of assentation; but because hee saw, that Apelles picture, and the sculp∣ture of Lysippus, would make their names renowned, and bring to hi•∣selfe also, no small reputat•on. Although th•se Artificers, by th••r mysterie, re¦pr•sent nothing, but the forme of the bodie, shewing vs their corporeall image, whom we neuer saw: but who∣soeuer is celebrated for laudable acti∣ons, without helpe of images, he liues of himselfe, and shall liue for euer in the memorie of men. And we se• that Spartan Agesilaus hath no lesse fame, who neuer would bee either drawne, or grauen; then they, that were very carefull herein: For, one little Pamphlet onely of Xenophons, written in com∣mendation of that King, hath far sur∣mounted all the pictures, and statues, that euer were. And the contentment Page  224 of my minde, and the reputation of my name will be the greater, if I bee men∣tioned in your writings, rather then of any other. Because I shall not onely he•ein haue your wit fauourable to me, as Tim•leon had that of Timaeus, and Themistocles, that of Herodotus; but fur∣ther, the authoritie of so honourable a person, and so well knowne in the im∣portant seruices of the Common-wealth. So, as it will see me, that I haue not onely found that shrill trumpet, which Alexander, when he came to Si∣gaeum, said that Homer resounded in ho∣nour of Achilles; but withall, the seri∣ous testimonie of a great, and reputed m•n I like that Hector well, whom N•uim b•ings in, who reioyced not so much, for that he was praised, but hee addes, by a praise worthie man. And, if I obtaine not this fauour from you; that is, if by reason of any businesse of your owne, you shall not haue time herein to content me, (for, in matters possible, I suppose, you would grant my request) I shall peraduenture bee vrged to doe that, which many are wont to reprehend: for I will write of my selfe, after the example, notwithstanding, of many famous men. But you know, that in this part, many respects must be con∣sidered. They must write sparingly of themsel•es, if they haue done any thing worthy of praise, & omit those things, Page  225 which de•erue blame. Whereunto wee may adde, that the writings pur∣chase neither credit, nor authori∣tie; and finallie diuers discommend this manner of writing, saying, that in Greece, the proclaimers of the Gyminician games, vsed greater modestie: who though they haue set the crownes on the heads, of the other Conquerors, and with a loude voice, publis•ed their names; yet when them∣selues before the games be ended, are crowned, they cause another to come to diuulge them: because they will not publish their owne victories. I desire to auoide this taxation, and will shunne it, if you grant me my request; and I entreate you heerein to satisfie me. And to the end, you may not wonder, why I vse such earnest and long suite, or en∣treatie to you for it, y•u hauing o•ten informed me, that with all diligence, you would compound a worke of my actions: I tell you, as I did in the be∣ginning, that I heerein sollicite you, for no other respect, but because, I would by all meanes, that other men should know mee by your bookes be∣fore I die; and that w•ile I liue, I m•y enioy the fruite of my glorie. If con∣ueniently you can, I should bee glad, you would returne me an answer. And if you determine, to take in hand this task•, I will make an abstract, of mine Page  226 owne proceedings. But if you put mee off till another time, I will not doe it, but reserue my selfe, while I speake with you thereof. Prosequute in the meane while, the historie you haue begunne, and perseuer in louing me. Farewell.