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I Know that all your friends haue writ∣ten to you, with what endeuour, and affection, I haue defended, and aug∣mented your dignitie. For I haue tra∣uail'd in such sort, that they m••y very well perceiue, the desire I h••u•• to plea∣sure you. I haue so bandied with the
Consuls, and many Consular persona∣ges, as I neuer was so feruent in plead∣ing any thing: and I haue vndertaken to defend your honour, in all occasions, that hence-forward shall pres••nt them∣selues: to pay what I owe to our aunci∣ent amitie; as now I doe, and would haue done before, if a certaine qualitie of the times, being opposite to my de∣sire, had not hindred me. And truely I was euer readie in heart, to honour and pleasure you: but it f••ls out, that some men, ••nemies, and enuious of o∣thers praise, like a pestilence, infecting and corrupting our friendship, haue procured, that for a time, there passed not betwixt vs, any great effects of loue: and to recouer in part, that time, I might well desire, but n••uer hope, ••or so fit an occasion, as at this present is: Fortune affording me a meanes, not onely to sh••w vnto you, my true and constant loue, but to shew it you, in the gr••atest height of your felicitie. Wher∣in my h••p hath beene so fauourable, that not onely your familie, but all Rome discernes, me to be your verie friend. And now, your wife, amongst other matrones the chiefest; and your obedient, and valorous sonnes, are go∣uern'd according to my precepts, and instructions; making vse of me in their op••ortunities: And the Senate, and people of Rome, see manifestly, that in
this your absence, you haue not a friend, that more zealouslie procureth your honour then my selfe. I care not to giue you adue••tisement, of such things as haue ensued, and daily fall out, for you•• friends will write to you thereof. For my selfe, be ass••red, that when I vndertooke to honour and ob∣serue you, I was mooued thereto out of no suddaine desire, nor accidentallie: but so soone as I entred into businesses, I alwayes had this end, to anneere my selfe as much as I could to your friend∣ship. Since which time, I cannot re∣member, that I haue not daily more and more, obseru'd, and esteem'd you; and that you neither loued, nor accep∣ted of me. And if at some times, no bad effects, but some dislike hath growne betweene vs, this occurring through ••alse suggestions, and of no moment, I would haue the memoriall of that time, so to be rooted out of our memorie, tha•• it may neue•• grow againe. For you are, and I desi••e to be such a man, as I hope our inward friendship, shall be praise-worthie in either of vs, both of vs lighting on the selfe same times of the Common-wealth. You may make that ac••ompt of me, which best plea∣seth you; but yet I thinke you'le value me no lesse, then belongs to my place. Howsoeuer, I promise, and make offer of my selfe, in so much as I shall be able
to effect any thing for your benefit. And though in this, I should haue ma∣ny competitors, neuerthelesse I'le giue that triall of my selfe, as they shall all remaine vanquished; offering to stand to any mans iudgement, especially of Marcus, and Publius your sonnes: the which, though they be both, deare to me, yet I am somewhat more affected to Publius; because not on••ly at this present, but ••uen from his childhood, he hath alwayes lou'd and reuerenced me as a Father. Suppose these l••tters to be in stead of a league, not of an Epi∣stle: and be secure, that I will most re∣ligiously obserue, and performe, what∣soeuer now I promise you: And I will euer discharge the same office that I perform'd in your absence, in defence of your digniti••; first because I am your friend, and then, because I would not appeare variable or inconstant. I will not therefore be longer. Onely I af∣firme vnto you, that whensoeuer of my sel••e I finde I haue abilitie to doe any thing, which may procure you satisfa∣ction, ben••fit, or reputation, I will of mine owne accord doe it. And in what I cannot find•• out, if I but vnde••stand it from you, or yours, I will so worke, that ••ou s••all rest contented, in hauing mo••ed me. I beseech you therefore im∣ploy me in any occasion of yours, how little or great, or indifferent so••uer it
〈…〉〈…〉 write to your fri••nds, that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my e••deuour, aduise, autho∣ri••ie, and ••••uour, i•• publique or p••••uate occ••s••on••, eith••r iudiciall, or domesti∣call: ••f your owne, or of your fri••nds; to the end that my care•• may diminish as faire as is pos••ible, their d••sire of your owne presence. Farew••ll.