Certaine epistles of Tully verbally translated: together with a short treatise, containing an order of instructing youth in grammer, and withall the use and benefite of verball translations

Cicero S. D. Curioni. 39 2 4

You are not ignorant

that there be

many kindes

of Epistles,

but

this one

is most manifest,

for whose sake

the thing it selfe

was inuented,

that

we should certifie

them that be absent

if there were any thing,

which

concerned

either

us

or

them

y^t they should know

you do not surely ex∣pect

a letter

of this kind

from me:

for you haue

both

writers

and

messengers

of your own houshold matters.

but

there is no newes at all

in my matters.

There bee

two sorts

of letters

remaining,

which

do very much delight

me:

one

familiar

and

mercy:

the second

sober

and

graue.

I wot not well,

whether of the two

may least beseeme

mee

to use.

What, should I sport

with you

in a letter?

In very deed,

I thinke

that he is not

a citizen

which

can

be merry

v. laugh

in these times.

Or

shall I write of

some graver matter?

What is there

which

may

bee grauely written on

by Cicero

to Curio,

except it be

of y^e cōmon-wealth?

But

this

is

my state

in this kind,

that

I would not willing∣ly

v. I neither would

write

the things which

I do not thinke.

obseruandum, non scri∣bi & nunc.

Wherefore

seeing

I haue

no matter

to write of,

left

unto me,

I will use

that shutting up

which

I am wont:

and I will incourage

you

to the study

of the chiefest com∣mendation,

for an expectation be∣yond that may bee imagined

is appointed

and

prepared

as a grieuous adver∣sary

for you,

which

you shall very easily vanquish

by one meanes,

if

you make this your resolution,

that you must labour earnestly

in those Arts,

v. in those,

whereby

v. by which Arts

those praises

are obtained,

the glory whereof

v. the glo. of which prayses

you haue exceedingly loved.

I would write

many things

to this purpose,

if I did not verily thinke

v. unlesse I did trust

that you were

sufficiently forward

of your owne selfe:

and

I haue not done

this

whatsoever

I haue lightly tou∣ched,

for to pricke you for∣ward,

v. for the cause of en∣flaming you,

but

to testifie my good will.

Fare you well.