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7 C. Plinius to his friend Octavius Rufus, &c.
1. SEe, in what Majesty you have set me, when as you give me the same power and rule, which Homer gave to great Jupiter. God granted him the one, the other he denyed. For I can answer your request also by the like Yea-say and Nay-say.
2 For as it is lawfull for me, especially at your request, to put off the pleading for the Baetici against one man; so neither is it suitable to my credit and constancy, to appear against a Province which you love, and which I have once engaged by so many good offices, so many pains, and so many perills of mine.
3. Therefore I shall keep this moderation, that of the two things which you desire, I may chuse that the rather, in which I may not onely satisfie your desire, but also your judgment.
4. For I ought not so much to consider, what you, being a worthy man, do desire at present, as what you will be likely to approve at all times.
5. I hope I shall be at Rome about the fifteenth of October, and that, being present, I shall make these things good to Gall••s, according to your promise and mine; to whom, for all that, you may even now engage, as touching my resolution,
This Jove did say, and beckened with his brows.
6. For why should I not discourse with you continually in Hom••••'s verses? forasmuch as you do not suffer me to talk in yours, which I so earnestly covet, that me-thinks I may be cor∣rupted with this fee onely, to appear even against the Baetici.
7 I had like to have omitted one thing, which was by no means to be omitted, that I have received your most excellent Dates, which now strive to exceed figs and mushroms.