22. C. Plinius to his friend Catilius Severus, &c.

1. I Have tarried now a long time in the city, and indeed as one astonished.

2. The long and continued sicknesse of Titus Aristo doth much trouble me, one whom I both admire and love exceedingly; for he is as grave, as honest, and as learned, as any man in the world: so that I think not one man, but learning it self, and all good arts, are very much endangered in one man.

3. How well skilled is he both in the civil and in the common-law? Page  108 what a deal of histories, examples, and antiquities doth he understand? there is nothing that you desire to learn, which he cannot teach: He is indeed to me a treasury, as oft as I enquire after any thing that is mysterious.

4. Besides, how much credit there is in his words, how much authority, what a fine and gracefull lingring? What is there which he doth not know out of hand? and yet he maketh a stop for the most part, and is at a doubt through the diversity of rea∣sons; which, with a sharp and great judgment, he fetcheth, dis∣cerneth, and considereth from their original and first causes.

5. Besides, how sparing he is in his diet? how moderate in his apparell?

6. I use to look upon his very chamber and bed, as a kind of picture of antient frugality

7. His gallantnesse of spirit doth set out these things, which doth nothing for outward show, but all things according to his conscience; and looketh for the reward of what is well done, not from people's talk, but from what is done.

8. In short, one shall have much ado to compare any one of those that make a shew of Philosophy, to this gallant man.

9. He doth not follow the schools, nor the galleries, or please other mens and his own leisure with long disputations; but he is in his gown, and in his businesse, he helpeth many by pleading for them, and more by his counsel.

10. Yet he will come behind none of those that are the chief in chastity, piety, justice, or fortitude.

11. You would wonder, if you were by, to see with what pa∣tience he beareth this very sicknesse, how he strugleth with his pain, how he abideth thirst, how lying still and all covered, he passeth over the incredible heat of his ague-fits.

12. A while ago he called me, and some few with me, whom he loveth very well, and entreated us that we would ask the physitians concerning the chief point of this sicknesse, that if it were past remedy, he might die a voluntary death; but if it were onely difficult and long, he might abide it.

13. For he must yield to his wife's entreaty, he must yield to his daughter's tears, he must yield also to us his friends, that he may not forsake our hopes, if they be not in vain, by a volun∣tary death.

Page  10114. I think that to be a very hard matter, and worthy especial commendation.

15. For to run upon death by a kind of fury and instinct, is an ordinary thing with many; but to deliberate and consider its causes, and to undertake, or lay aside a resolution for life or death, as reason shall perswade, is the property of a gallant spirit.

16. And the Physitians indeed do promise us, that all will be well; it remaineth, that God say Amen to what they say, and at last deliver me from this thought somnesse: which when I am freed from, I will go again to my Laurentinum, that is, to my books, and my writing-tables, and my leisure to study.

17. For now I have either no leisure, whilst I sit by him, to write or to read any thing; or I have no list, being so much troubled.

18. You now understand what I fear, what I wish, and like∣wise what I intend for hereafter.

19. Do you in like manner write to me again what you have done, what you do, and what you mean to do, but in a more pleasant manner.

20. It will be no small ease to my grief, if you complain of nothing. Farewell.