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

Cicero to Lucius Messinius. Epist. 21.

I Haue read your letters with content∣ment, by which I vnderstood, that you greatly desire to see mee: Which I imagined, though you had not written it. Neither is my desire in this, inferior to your owne. And so let my thoughts obtaine their wished ends, as I heartily desire to be with you. For, when our Countrey did more abound, then now it doth, with men of valour, and true Citizens, and the number of my friends was greater; yet was there none, with whom I was more willing to conuerse, then with your selfe, and but few, with whom so willingly; but now, some be∣ing dead, other some in remote Coun∣tries, and others not bearing that mind towards mee, they were wont to doe; I should verily thinke one day better spent with you, then all the time I con∣sume with many of those, with whom I conuerse out of necessitie. And I as∣sure you, that solitarinesse would bee much more acceptable to me, (which, notwithstanding, is not granted mee)

then their enter••ainements, that daily frequent my house; except it be of one, or two, at the most. Therefore I retire my selfe, as I would wish you also, to our pleasing studies: and withall, I comfort my selfe with the memoriall of my intentions, thinking to my selfe, that I neuer had respect, (as I suppose you conceiue) to priuate benefit, but to pub∣lique safetie. And if hee, whom you could neuer loue, because you loued me, had not borne me enuie; hee, and with him all other good men, had been happy. I would neuer consent, that the violence of any particular man should bee so powerfull, as to suppresse com∣mon libertie. And after I saw those armes, which I euer feared would bee able to doe more, then the consent of good Citizens, who, according to my directions, and examples, vndertooke to defend the Common-wealth: I was of opinion, that discords were rather to be compounded, though vpon vnequall termes, so it we••e with securitie, then to fight against those, who were stron∣ger then our selues. But shortly wee'l confer, both of this, and many other things. And I remaine now in Rome, for no other end, but before my depar∣ture, to know the successe of the war, that is now on foot in Africa. For, I am of constant beleefe, that we shal shortly see an end thereof. And I am of opi∣nion,

it imports me, I know not what, to delay my departure: that I may ioyne with my friends, to take some course, according to the newes, we shall receiue. Although I cannot tell you, what it is, that should so import mee; matters being growne to that passe, as ouercome who will, the victorie will be the same, though equitie, stand more with the one, then the other part. And yet notwithstanding, now, that I am out of all hope, I beare a more conten∣ted ••inde, then when wee were be∣twixt hope, and feare. And your last letters but one, encrea••ed my confi∣dence: In that by them I vnderstood, that to support iniuries, your singular humanitie, much encouraged you, and much also your learning. I'le not bee sparing to tell you the truth: At first, I tooke you to bee rather of a so••t dispo∣sition, then otherwise; as for the most part, all we are, to whom the chaine of seruitude seemes too heauie; being inu∣red to liue nobly, in a happie and free Citie. But as in good fortune, wee bare our selues moderately, so ought wee to resist this constantly, which is the worst that could haue happened: That a∣mong so many euils, we may enioy this little benefit; that whereas in happie times; it was our dutie to contemne death, in which is felt no miserie; now, being plunged in so many tribulations,

we ought not so much to contemne, as to desire it. I request you, for the loues sake, that you beare mee, to embrace this quiet: and firmely to beleeue, that besides offence, and sin, from which you haue beene hitherto, and euer will bee exempted, there can nothing light vpon a man, how terrible soeuer, which should dismay him. I will presently come to you, if I see there bee any oc∣casion. And if it be requisite, to change resolution, I will for••hwi••h adu••rtise you. But I beseech you, being so crazie, hazard not to trauell, out of a desire to see mee, before you haue my aduice therein. Let mee request you, to loue me still, as you doe; and to regard your health, alacritie, and contentment. Farewell.