8. C. Plinius to his friend Pompeius Saturninus, &c.

1. YOur Letter was delivered to me in very good time, in which you desire earnestly, that I would send you some of my writings, whereas I had determined that very same thing.

2. You therefore have put spurrs to a free running horse, and at o•ce took away from your self the pardon of refusing the pains, and from me the bashfulnesse of requiring it. For it neither be∣commeth me to be loth to use that which is offered, nor you to Page  70 think much with that which you have desired.

3. Yet there is no cause why you should expect any new work from an idle person: for I am to request, that you would again take leisure-time to peruse that Oration which I made to my fellow-Citizens, when I was to dedicate a Library.

4. I remember indeed, you have already noted some things, but in a generall way; and therefore I now entreat you, that you would not onely mind its generall subject, but also that you would correct every bit of it as exactly as you are wont: for it will be free for me, after it is corrected, either to publish it, or keep it by me.

5. Besides, perhaps the manner of correcting will encline this very lingring of mine to agree to either way; which will either find it not, to deserve putting forth, whilst it peruseth it often over; or make it worthy, whilst it trieth it: though the reasons of this my delaying do not appear so much in the words, as in the sense of the matter.

6. For it is, as it were, somewhat more vain-glorious and lofty: this will blemish my modesty, although the style it self be mean and low, because I am forced to treat both concerning my parents munificency, and my own.

7. This is a tickle and slippery subject, yea, when necessity doth fawningly allure it.

8. For if other mens praises use not to be willingly heard, how hard is it to obtain, that the speech of one that speaketh of him∣self or his friends, may not seem troublesome?

9. For we both envy honest men themselves, and their glory, and the spreading of it abroad somewhat more; and we lesse wrest and carp at such things as are well done at the last, which are laid up in obscurity and silence.

10. For which cause I often thought with my self, Ought I to have composed that, be it better or worse, onely for my self, or for others as well as my self?

11. That also putteth me in mind, that many things which are requisite for the dispatch of a businesse, have neither the like profit or grace, when the same is done.

12. And that I may not fetch examples from afar off, What was more profitable, than to pen out the manner of our munificen∣cy?

Page  7213. For by this I gained, first, that I paused upon honest thoughts; and besides, that I saw the beauty of it by a longer tract; and lastly that I avoided repentance, which is the com∣panio• of hastie lavishnesse.

14. There arose from these a certain practise of scorning mo•y.

15. For, whereas nature hath tied all men to the keeping of it; on the quite contrary, a love of liberality being much, and a long time together po•dered, freed me from the common bonds of covetousnesse: and my munificencie seemed likely to be so much the more commendable, because we were drawn to it not by force, but upon deliberation.

16. This came in as another reason, that we did not promise sports, or sword-plays; but yearly costs, for the maintenance of inge•uous children.

17. Besides, things that please the eyes and ears so far, need no commendation, because they ought not so much to be set on by an O•ation, as to be repressed.

18. And that one may willingly undergo the toyl and •ains of education, it must be done not onely by rewards, but also by ex∣quisite perswasions.

19 For •f Physicians set out their wholsome, but unpleasant meats, by f•ir speech•s; how much mo•e doth it become one, that consults for the publick good, to bring in a most profitable gift, but not altog•ther so popular by kindnesse of speech; especially seeing it was needfull for me to strive, that what was applied to my parents, might be allowed on also by me, and that others might patiently both behold and wonder at the honour of a few.

20. But as I then aimed rather at a common good, then pri∣vate bragging, when I desired that the intent•on and end of my gift might be conceived: so now I fear, lest perchance I may seem not to have minded others benefit, but my own praise, by this manner of edition.

21. Besides, I remember, with how much more delectation the fruit of well-doing may be laid up in one's conscience, than in his commendation.

22. For reputation ought to f•llow, not to be followed after; and if by some accident it do not follow, that which merits fame is not therefore the lesse-comely.

Page  7423. But they that set down their own good deeds in words, are thought not to talk of them, because they have done them; but to have done them, that they may talk publickly of them.

24. So, that thing which is gallant, when another relateth it, commeth to nothing, when he speaks of it who did it.

25. For when men cannot destroy a thing, they inveigh against the bragging of it: so as if you do things that are not worthy to be spoken of, the deed it self; but if you do things praise-worthy, you your self are blamed, because you hold not your peace.

26. But a certain particular consideration troubleth me; for I made not this speech before the Commonalty, but before the Aldermen; not openly in every bodies sight, but in the Town-hall.

27. I fear therefore it may not be convenient, that after I have avoided the flattery and acclamation of the common sort in the speaking, I should now seek after those very same things in the publishing: and that after I had shut the Commons them∣selves (whose good was intended) without the doors and walls of the Court, lest I might seem to make any shew at all of am∣bition, I should now seek after those, as it were, by a fawning kind of flattery, who are like to get nothing from my gift, but the example.

28. You have the reasons of my delay; yet I will follow your advice, whose authority shall be sufficient to me instead of a reason.