taxations which were impos'd vpon them beyond all reason And because the Armie was disseuer'd through a certaine disorder growing before my arriual vpon which cause fiue Cohorts of it were withdrawen vnder Philomelum without either Legate or Tâ—ibune and finally without so much as a Centurion the remainder of the Armie lying in Lycaonia I gaue Commission to Marcus Anneius thâ— Legate to reconduct the sayd cohorts thither where the others were and so knitting together the whole Armie that he â—hould encampe himselâ—e there in Lycaonia vnder Iconium After he hauing performed all things according to mine order giuen him I came to the Campe the xxvi of August hauing first drawen together a good number of the best forraine souldiers I could take vp both foot and horse besides those which were voluntarily offered me by the free Nations those Kings who are in league with vs. In the meane while hauing mustred my men I directed my mâ—rch towardes Cilicia And the first of September being on my way Embassadors ouertooke mâ— from king Commagenus which being all astonished fraught with feare related to me for a certaine truth how the Parthians were passed into Syria whereat my mind was wonderfully troubled in respect of Syria and mine owne Prouince and briâ—fly in respect of all Asia Wherefore I resolu'd too to hold on my way by that part of Cappadâ—cia which confineth with Cilicia perceiuing that if I should fall into Cilicia I might easily deâ—end it through the naturall siâ—uation of Mount Amanus for there are but onely two entries out of Syria into Cilicia and both of them are narrow that with a very few men the enemies passage may be stopped and on the part of Syria Cilicia could not be better fortified but Cappadocia I feared because it lay open to Syria and is expos'd to the danger that might accrew from bordering kings Who though they be our frends yet dare they not manifest themselues enemies to the Parthians Therefore in the furthest part of Cappadâ—cia not farre â—rom Mount Taurus vnder the towne of Cybistra I encamped both to defend Cilicia and to supplant the new disseignes oâ— bordâ—ring Nations holding Cappadocia And in the meane time â—umors on all sides being spâ—ead and a great warre expected king â—â—â—â—tarus a wise and vâ—lianâ— man of â—hom bâ—â—h you I together with the whole Sâ—â—atâ— had euer a singular good conceipt haâ—ing found him vpon all occasions faithfull aâ—d wâ—ll affâ—cted to the people of Râ—me sent Ambassadors to me infoâ—ming me that he would come with all hâ—s Forces into my Campe. Wherâ—pon I being mou'd through so louing and courâ—eous a demonstration gaue him thankes by letters exhorting him to hasten his comming as much as was possibleâ— and hauing stayed at Cybistra fiue dayes to furnish my selfe of things necessarie for the warre I deliuer'd king Arioâ—aâ—zâ—nes from an imminent perill which beâ—ore he had not perceiued And being â—ecommended to me at your requâ—st by the Senate I did not onely procure his safetie but so effected that he might cause himselfe to be both obey'd and feared Bâ—sides this I prâ—uailed so far with the same King that he shew'd fauour to Metra and that Athenâ—us whom you so seriously recommended to me Who through the malice of Athenaides had beene banished so that he now maintaines them about him in greâ—t and honouâ—able fashion And perceiuing what warre might eâ—sue betweene king Ariobarzanâ—s and the Priest if the Priest with Armes meant to defend himselfe as the common opinion was he would doe being a poweâ—â—ull young man and furnished with horse foot and which imported most with money being fauoured by thâ—m that affected innouation I caus'd â—im to depart out of the kingdome and so accommodaâ—ed â—he Kings affaiâ—es as without tumult or Armes he might bearâ— himâ—elfe as a King and liue without any â—ealousie keeping a roiall guard within his Pallace In the meane â—pace by letters receiu'd from diuers and by messengers arriued I vnderstood how a great Armie of the Parthians and Arabians made approach to Antiochia and that a great troope of their horse who were gotten into Cilicia were discomfited and hewen in pieces by my Cauallerie and Praetorian Infantâ—rie who weâ—e of the gâ—arison of Epiphanea Whereupon seeing that the Parthia Nation giuing ouer the enterprise of Capâ—adocia drew neare to Cilicia with great dayes iourneyes I conductâ—d the Armie towardes Mount Amanus whither being come I had aduertisement how thâ— enemy was risâ—n from before Anâ—iochiâ— Bibulus was 〈◊〉 thereinto And hearing that Dâ—â—â—tarus waâ— hasting towâ—rds me with a strong Cauâ—llerie and Infantâ—rie and mulâ—itude of Forces I sent him word that I now saw no neâ—d why he shoulâ— remooue himselfe so farre fâ—om his â—ingdome but vpon any occurrâ—nt I wouâ—d suddainly giue him notice Afâ—â—r these euents retaining a firme resolution to pacifie the people of Mount Amanus and to expell them that euer wâ—re enemies though I came with an intâ—ntion to â—uccour both the one and other Prouince if the time permitted neuerthelesse I iudging that this would redound to the benefit of both those Prouinces I thought it most expedient to bring my determination â—o effect And thereâ—ore making a shew of departing from the sayd Mountaine and remouing about a dayes iourney off and pitching my tents vnder Epiphanâ—a the xij oâ— October about the shutting in of the â—uening I with the most actiue of my souldiers aduanced and so marching all night at breake of day we ascâ—nded the mountaine and dâ—â—â—ding the Armie part remâ—ined vnder mine and my brothers command part I committed to Caius Pâ—ntinius and the rest I left to Luâ—iâ—â— Anâ—cius and Lucius Tullius who are all the Legates I haue and so marching on in thiâ—â—quipage we assâ—iâ—â—d the enemies on a suddaine of whom some were slâ—ine some â—aken hauing no time left them for flight Pâ—ntinius beleaguer'd Erana Which being the Metropolitane of Amanuâ—â— may rather be tearmed a cittie then a Burrough and moreouer Sepyra and Commoris Which townâ—s were verie strong deâ—ending themselues resolutely But yet they were so oppressed that in the end with greatâ— slaughter of the enemies they were taken And this assault beginning before day light continued till two houres within the night Besides â—his we tooke six small towns and burnt diuers others After these eâ—fects ensued we pitched at the foote of Amanus call'd by the name of Alâ—xanders Altars in which place staying some foure dayes we spent the time in extinguishing our enemies and in â—orraging and wasting that part of Amâ—nus which lies against my Prouince These things being perform'd I conducted mine Armie within sight of Pindenissus a Burrough of priuiledged Cilicians Which is seated vpon a verie high mountaine a place inexâ—ugnable and inhabiâ—ed by men who alwayes scorn'd â—o be gouern'd by their owne Kings much lesse by others And percâ—iuing that they gaue receptacle to all that flâ—d making opâ—n defence through hope they had that â—he Parâ—hianâ— would arriue to their succour me
ayde may come from thâ—nce and so being all ioyned togethâ—r we may more eâ—sily extirpate tâ—â— seed of wicked Cittizens In conclusioÌ„ I promise you thus muchâ— my Cicero that nâ—â—ther courage nor diligence shâ—ll be wanting on my part To speake truth I desire to tâ—ke away all trouble remaining but if any bee left I will giue place to no man neyther in resolution affection oâ— patience in your seruice I endâ—uour also what I can to draw Lepâ—â—us to ioyne 〈◊〉 this enterprise and I offer my selfe in all 〈◊〉 to be at his commâ—â—d so he will stâ—nd for the Common wealth I vse hâ—â—eâ—n the helpe and meanes of my brother oâ— Laâ—â—ensis and ouâ— friend Furnius Particular hâ—treds shall be no hindrance to me but that with nay greatest enâ—mie I will agree for thâ— safetie of the Common-wealth And in case I should doe no good I will not abate my courage and I will be more readie and hardy then before and peraduenture it may redound to my greater glorie that I haue deâ—ended the Common-wealth with mine owne forces onely Looke to your health and to loue me as I doe you Farewell Cicero to Plancus Imperator elected Consull Ep. 12. THough I ought to reioyce in the behalfe of the Common-wealth that in times of such necessitie you haue so greatly assisted her Neuerthelesse may Foâ—â—une so grant that I may embrace you a Conquerour in the happie state of the Common-wealth as a great part of my ioy proceedeth from your digniâ—y which I know now to be very eminent and will also be so hereafter For I assure you that more acceptable letters then yours were neuer recited in the Senate And this happened both through a singular greatnesse of the good that you haue done in the Common-wealth and also through the grauitie of the words and sentences Which questionlesse seem'd no new thing vnto me who was well informed of your valour and called to minde what you promis'd me in the letters you sent me and had fully also by our Furnius beene aduertised of your designes But the Senate apprehended greater matters then were expected not that it euer doubted of your disposition but it had not full information neither what you were able to doe nor what you intended to attempt Wherefore Marcus Varisidius hauing deliuered me your letters on the vij of Aprill in the morning I tooke in reading them infinite contentment and a great multitude of excellent Cittizens accompanying me out of my house I presently made them all partakers of my contentation Afterwards came our Munatius out of his wonted custome to see mee and I shewed him your letters for as yet he knew nothing because Varisidius came first to me and he said that so you appointed him A little after Munatius gaue me those letters to read which you sent both to him and to the publicke state We thought good presently to goe and present the letters to Cornutus Praetor of the Cittie who because the Consuls were out of Rome according to the auncient custome supplyed their place The Senate was forth with coâ—uented and almost all the Senaâ—ors â—ssâ—mbled thâ—ough the fame and expectâ—tion of your letters Which being recited Cornuâ—us had a scruple of conscience by reason the Pullarian southsayers tooke notice that he had not vsed requisite diligence in making the diuinations And this was approued by our Colledge Whereupon the businesse was deâ—erred till the day following On which day I contended much in defence of your honour with Seruiliusâ— who hauing by fauour obtained that his opinion should first bee heard the greater part of the Senate opposed him and my opinion which was the second to be moued being allowed of by the greater part of the Senate at Seruilius entreatie Publius Titius spake against it The matter was referred ouer to the next day Seruilius came prouided with an vniust minde euen against Ioue himselfe in whose Tâ—mple the mater was heard Now how roughly I handled him and how roundly I cut of Titius that oppos'd himselfe against vs I wish you may vnderstand by other mens lettersâ— take this onely from mine That the Senate could not bee more graue more constant nor more fauourable to your praise then at that instant it shewed it selfe And yet the Senate was not more friendly to you then the whole Cittie For there was a wonderful accord to deliuer the Common wealth and all the peoâ—lâ— of Rome concurre to this enterprise prosequute therefore as you doe and make your name â—ternall and all these semblances of glorie raiâ—'d from vaine appearances of renowne contemne them as sâ—ort flitting and transitorie things True honour consists in vertue which illustrates it selfe more then any way els by effecting great seruices for the Common-wealth whereof Fortune sets befâ—â—e you a most admirable oppoâ—â—unitie Which hauing once embracedâ— suffer it not to flie from you but procuâ—e that the Common-wealth may be no lesse bound to you then you to her As for me you shall perceiue that I will not onely be fauourable to you in honour but I will also seeke how to augment it in you not to faile in the office I owe as well to the Common-wealth which I loue aboue my selfe as also to our vnfained amity And in those courses which I haue vndeâ—taken for the aduancement of your honour I take gâ—eat delight for the fidelitie and wisedome of Tiâ—us Manaâ—us otheâ—wise hath beene well knowne vnto me moâ—â— euidently perceiuâ—d in the loue and diligence he hath vsed in your occasions Farewâ—ll Cicero to Plancus Imperator elected Consull Ep. 13. VVHensoeuer occasion was offered me to aduance your honour I omitted nothing in your commendation labouring that your valour might be as well exalted with words as acknowledged with rewards as by the Senates decree it selfe you may perceiue For so was it recorded in writing euen as I reading the written paper of mine owne handâ— had perswaded and the greater part of the Senate followed my oâ—inion with singular desire and generall consâ—nt Though I by the letters you sent me vnderstood that you were more delighted with the approofe of good men then with outward appearance of glory neuertheles I thought fit we should enter into consideration though you demanded nothing how farre the Common-wealth was indebted to you Finish you thaâ— which was begunne by others And whosoeuer suppresseth Marcus Antonius that man shall finish the warre And therefore Homer called neither Aiax nor Achilles the bane of Troy but Vlysses Farewell Cicero to Plancus Imperator elected Consull Ep. 14. O Acceptable newes two dayes before the victorie of your succour endeuour expedition and armie Vnderstand that though your enâ—mies be discomfited yet all hopes remaine in you it being informed that from the battaile of Mutina the principall Captaines of the aduerse parâ—y are fled And it will be no lesse acceptable to make an end of the remainder of this wicked warre then to haue repelled it at the beginning I questionlesse together with many
and opposition must be vaine and friuolous And whatsoeuer I haue hitherto written hath beene almost wholly vpon this occasion That you may at leâ—gth looke to your selfe The courses of the Senate of all Courts of iustice and the whole state are altered nothing remaineth for vs to doe but to wish for quietnesse and those that gouerne make show that they wil content vs so that men will be quieâ— and not so much â—rouoke their greaâ—nesse to displeasure â—ut we must not thinke to liue with that repuâ—ation vvhich beâ—itteth noble Senators thankes be to them that haue allienated Pompeius from the Senate and broken the peace which was betvveene him the Nobilitie But to turne to our purpose about your mattâ—rs I haue found that Pompeiuâ— is a good friend vnto you and when he becomes Consull you shall â—â—nde if I be not decâ—iued whatsoeuer true partiâ—â—lar and important fauours your heart caâ— imâ—gine or be desired And I hauing an especiall care of all your businesse vvill spurre him alvvaies forward And I am not onely sure that I shall neuer seeme vnto him importunate but I rather hope that he perceiuing me so graâ—efull will herein assuredly find great contentment Leâ—tulus liue secure for euery little occasion of yours sticks neerer me then all mine owne And I being of that mind can satisfie my selfe for matter of my diligence but for the effects it is impossible as not being able with my vâ—ry thoughts to serch out the way to shew you my thankefulnesse much lesse in act to equalize the least part of your fauours It is here reported that you haue gotten a great victorie And vve expect the nevves thereof from you And we haue alreadie spoken to Pompeius and so soone as your letâ—ers shall arriue vve vvill speake vvith the Magistrates and Senators And in all your businesse although it should so fall out that we should vvorke more then vve thinke our selues able yet it seemes much lesse vnto vs then is befitting Fare you well Cicero to Publius Lentulus Vice-consull Ep. 9. YOur letters vvere very acceptable vnto me because I vnderstood by them that you apparently perceiue how much I respect you vvhich had not beene so well expressed if I said I had loued you because in my conceit that name of respect although it be exceeding graue and holy is notwithstanding of lesse vveight and of much lesse price then are the courtesies you haue done me As for the thankes you render me nothing hath thereunto more mooued you then a certaine aboundance of affection which giues occasioÌ„ that you esteeme those things vvhich vvithout my vtter shame and soule imputation cannot be pretermitted But if all this time we haue beene separated we had liued togither and in Rome I had made more manifest demonstration of my mind vnto you For vvith equall commendation in defence of the Common-wealth vve should haue proceeded in euery action to one and the selfe same end and purpose And I hope it may yet come to passe asvvell for that vvhich you giue notice of as because you can easily performe the same Of the which I vvill here after giue satisfaction according to your dâ—sire and vvill declare vnâ—o you hovv I am affected and the state in vvhich I now find my selfe But to turne vnto my purpose if you had beene at Rome I would haue beene gouerned by your pleasure and haue remitted my selfe wholly vnto your loue and infinite vvisedome and you should haue vsed me as a Counceller peraduenture not altogether ignorant but I am sure faithfull and affectionate Although I am verie glad as I ought to be to heaâ—e you are full of glorie in your Prouince for your late obteined victorie Yet here you would haue reaped a better crop of your seede and more abouÌ„dant Because I would wonderously haue helped you to haue bin reuenged on them of whom you know there are some that greatly maligne you for hauing restored me into my Countrie other some that enuâ—e you for the reputation and renovvn which is fallen vnto you by so noble a fact and honourable enterprise Although that wretched villaine naturall enemie of his friends vvho vvithout fauour and depriued of any man to vphold him in recompence of your especiall fauours done him bestirred him vvith that feeble force he had to doe you iniurie Yet hee himselfe in our reuenge hath giuen condigne punishment to his owne offences For such plots of his haue beene discouered â—hat haue not onely vtterly dishonored him but during life depriued him of libertie And although I should hauâ— lik't it better that you had learned by my example then by your owne experience yet I reioyce in my sorrow that you haue knowne that faith in men vvith small cost which I to my great losse haue beene acquainted vvith and I am disposed to discourse a while vpon this point to giue ansvvâ—re to that you haue demanded You write that you vnderstand that I am reconciled vvith Câ—sar and with Appius and further you adde that for being so you doe not reprehend me but that you would know what reason hath moued me to defend praise Vatinius which that it may the better be explained iâ— is necessarie that I declare my minde vnto you taking my discourse from far-fetch'd passages When I returned good Lâ—ntulus into my Countrie it was my meaning to helpe not onely my friends but also the Common-wealth and because I found my selfe infinitely oblieged vnto you as being by your meanes returned I thought I was likewise oblieged vnto it as hauing fauoured you in my restauration And whereas formerly I had wearied my selfe in the seruice thereof because I would not bâ— wanting vnto it in the office of a good Cittizen I now thinke that it behooueth me much more to doe the same that I might not be vngratefull And this disposition of mine I made knowne vnto the Senate when you were Consull and reasoned with your selfe often about it Though from the beginning when you sought that the Senate should restore my former losses many things offended me finding my â—elfe of the one part secretly hated and of the other slowly fauoured For neither when there was reasoning about my house or of that wicked violence by which I and my brother were cast out of doores did they ioyne with you which should haue assisted nor yet made they demonstration of that minde towards me which I expected not only in matters that were of moment no nor yet in such as although they were for the great losâ—e of all my moueables necesâ—arie howsoeuer they were of mee but as base things little esteemed And though I perceiued tâ—ings passe in this manner for they were not very secret yet did I not esteeme the present â—â—iurie equall vnto their merit past Wherefore although I knew my selfe much obliged to Pompeius especially because you more then any man tolde mee that you saw him very earnest in my cause And although I loued him not so much for
had better issue then I expected That saying came to my minde I am told that that is impossible But presently I became full of all ioy For which being rebuked as if I had beene halfe ouâ— of my wits I excused my selfe thus Accuse me not good friends great pleasure landing Obscures my reason and mine vnderstanding What should I say more while I scoffe at him I seeme as verie a â—oole as himselfe Heere I 'le make a stop Another time when I haue more leisure I will write more copiously vnto you both of this and many other things that concerne you Rufus I must needes loue you because Fortune hath made you a friend to augment my honour and curbe not onely mine enemies but euen such also as enuie me that those may bee sorry for their bad and dishonest parts and these for their apparant follies Farewell Cicero Impâ—rator to Marcus Coelius Rufus Elected Aedile Curule Ep. 10. I Cannot bee perswaded that you wrote not to mee since your being made Aedile especially being elected with such disgrace to the honest man you woâ— of and so much ioy of your â—riends But howsoeuer since this happie Creaâ—ion that so reioyced my heart I neuer heard one word from you which makes me â—eare least my letters should miscarry as wel as yours and be intercepted by the way I assure you I neuer wrote to mine owne house but you had a letter neither could I doe otherwiâ—e the woâ—ld not affording me a dearer or greater friend â—hen your selfe Be careâ—ull tâ—erefore by whom you send me letters Behold Coelius how it fallâ— out according to â—our owne desire I shall gaine a Triâ—mphant crowne without â—oyning â—attaile with the Parthians of whom â—ou doubted knowing â—hat my power was but weake to encounter so strong â—n enemie Conceiue therefore that when I heard of the Partâ—ians approch â—nd remembred how wâ—ake I was in â—ouldiers I reâ—ired to places of adâ—antage and so came to Amanus trusting to the strength of that situation I had in mine Armie a companie of very good outlandish men The mountanous people who neuer knew me othâ—rwise then by Famâ— came flocking in to see mee For in this countrie I manie times ouer-heare these words Is this that Cicero which deliuered Rome from the Treason of those consâ—irators to whom the Senate c. When I arâ—iued at Amanus which is a mountain that seperates mine from Bâ—buluâ— his prouince by a â—orrent Câ—â—sius to my singular contentmeÌ„t had fought so victoriously that he had driuen the enemie from the siege of Antiâ—chiaâ— Bibulus had taken vpon him the Gouernement of his Prouince and I with all my forces pursued certaine rebells of Amanus who had â—uer beenâ— enemies vnto vs. Many of them werâ— slaine many were by vs taken the râ—â—iâ—fled some into one some into another quarter A few strong places there were which we suddainely surprising toâ—ke and set one fier And this victorie wâ—s of that import as I deserued to be â—nâ—tituled by the Armie IMPERATOR according to the mannâ—râ— And this honour I receiued before Issus where Clitarchus told you that Dariuâ— was vanquished by Alexander Thâ—â— pâ—rformed I marched along with miâ—â— Armie to certaine fortifications which daiâ—ie â—orraged all Cilicia and now I am bâ—fore an exceeding strong towne called Pâ—ndenissus which I haue belâ—aguerd thâ—se fiue and twentie daies with argiâ—es vineâ— or shelters and turrets â—nd were it a towne of note I might hope thereby to win much honourâ—â—or bâ—leeue me 't is as difficult and dangerous an enterprise as could bee vnderâ—akâ—n If I take it in as I make no doubt the Senate shall forthwith be aduerâ—ised therof These precedent circumstances I thought good to let you know for your further hopes of that â—uccesse which you desire But to returne to the Parthians wee haue past ouer this Sommâ—r with reasonable euent to our satisfaction but 't is very doubtfull what may heereafter ensue And therefore noble Rufus vse your best endeauours to procure mee a successor in â—his charge or if this as you write and I suppose be hard to comâ—passe let not my Comâ—and in any wise be prolonged for this will readily bee granted Furthermore I instantly request you to write vnto me of the state not onely of present but future affaires and vouchsafe heerein to bee veâ—y vigilant and careâ—ull Farewell Cicero Imperator to Coelius Aedile Curule Ep. 11. WOuld you euer thinke I could want words and not youâ—s onely so elegant but euen those vulgar termes that ordinarilie passe betwixt vs yet this want doe I finde for in that I am much troubled with the feare of what will be resolued on about the Prouinces I am exceeding desiroâ—s â—o returne to Rome I can forbeare the sight of my friends no longer I am incomparablie wearie of my Prouince eiâ—her because I haue alreadie purchased such fame that I need not so much labour to augment it as feare least Fortune diminish it or in that thiâ— employment is not propoâ—tionâ—ble to my forces which can and haâ—e susteyned farre waightier burdens oâ— the Common-wealâ—h or else in very deed because an hot warre is lookt â—or which may be auoyded as I suppose if I be suffâ—red to depart at the time appointed As for your Panthers I haue spoken to diuers who tâ—ke them that they should by all means get me some but thâ—y light on so few now as 't is wonderfull and they too as men commonly say complaine exceedingly that all thâ—ngs are secure in my prouâ—nce besides themselues and therefore they resolued to passe ouer into Cariae Notwithstanding they dailie looke for some there and especially from Patiscus those that are found shall bee all yours but yet I tell you not how many Out of doubt your Aedilâ—ship gaue mee heartie contentment and this present time renued the memoriall thereof for I wrote this letter on the Festiuall day of the great Mother of the Gods I pray send me a particular information of the whole state of the common-wealth because I may boldly build vpon the truth of your aduertisements Farewell Cicero to Marcus Coelius Aedile Curule Ep. 12. THE great rumors which as I heard fell out in Rome on the festiuall dayes of the goddesse Minerua by reason of speeches made vnto the people keepe my minde I assure you in continuall trouble because I could neuer heare further of it and yet that which most grieues me is that among these sturres if there be any thing worthie of laughter I cannot make my selfe merrie with you for I well know there are many thâ—ngs but I dare not write them One thing I dislike that you would neuer vouchsafe to certifie me what hapned in Rome Wherfore vpon the receipt of this letter though the prescribed time of my Government will be out yet would I bee glad to meet with yours to bee truely acquainted with the present state of the Common-wealth to the end when I arâ—â—ue I may not bee a meere stranger Your friend
more feruently as it were with teares coniured me to the same for no other cause but in that he feared the instability and inâ—â—deâ—ity of his armie of the which I alâ—o stand in feare I thought it fit to succor him and to expose my sâ—lâ—e to danger for his â—afetyâ— though I knew it had beene a farre more secure course to haue bin attending vpon Isara while Brutus had passed ouer his Armie and ioyned with him as the custome of the wars is to haue marcht against the enemie But if Lepidus being well affected had receiued the least preiudice I saw all this would haue beene ascribed eiâ—her to my obstinacie or feare to my obstinacie because it would haue beene sayd that I had abandoned a good cittizen for some particular enmitiâ—s for feare because in so necessâ—rie a warre I had auoided battaile So that I leâ—t that secure course supposing it better to expose my selfe to daunger that with my presence I might defend Lepidus and ouer-awe his armie Questionlesse I thinke there neuer was any man more sorrowfull for deâ—â—cts that were not his ownâ— For whereas the maâ—ter was no waies doubtfull now when the Armie of Lepidus failes it dâ—â—ues me to grâ—at care and seemes vnto me as it is a point of great impoâ—tance For if I had beene the first to encounter with Antonius he sâ—ould noâ— doubtlesse haue held out an hourâ—â— so confident I am in my selfe and so much I contemne his shack-ragge people and those of Ventidius the Mule-driuer But I cannot but greatly feare being suspitious least vnder the skinne there bee some hidden wound the which may first festor before it can be discouered or cured But certainly if we encamped not both in one place both Lepidus himselfe would be in great danger and that part of the armie which is well enclined towards the Commonwealth Our wicked enemies had also made great profit if they had gleaned any men from Lepidus Which disorders iâ— by my arriuall I do remedie I shall thanke Fortune and mine owne constancie which incited me to make this triall Wherefore the xxi of May I remoued the Campe from the Riuer of Isarâ— leauing the bridge yet â—tanding there which I made vpon it with two Towers at each end one and with a strong guard to the end that to Bruâ—us who was comming and to his armie without any delay the paâ—â—age might be readie I hope within eight daies after the date of these presents I shall vnite my selfe with Lepidus forces Farewell Cicero to Plancus Imperator Epist. 19. THough my desire was not that you should thanke me knowing how exceeding thankefull bâ—â—h in thought and deedes thâ—mselues you are yet I must confesse it contented me aboue measure For I haue seene as men with the eye behold obiects that you loue me Youâ—le say what did you before To deale truelie I alwayes saw it but neuer more apparant Your letters are wondâ—ous well-come to the Senate aswell for the affaires themselues which were waightie and great compassed by an inuincible spirit and with deepe consideration as also for the grauitie of the words and sentences But noble Plancus striue to the vtmost of your power to bring this warre to a period Thuâ— shall you arriue vnto the depth of fauour and the height of glory I wish all good vnto the Common-wealth but I giue you my faith that finding my selfe now wearied out in conseâ—uing her I doe not much more seeke her profit then your glorie Of which the eternall gods hauing as I hope offered you all opportunitie embrace it I beseech youâ— For it is he shall make an end of this most impious and dangerous warre that subdues Auâ—onius Farewell Cicero to Plancus Ep. 20. ALL newes were so vncertaine that came from thence as I knew not what to write vnto you For sometimes we heard such things of Lepidus as we wiâ—hed other whiles the contrary Of you notwithstanding there was a constant report â—hat none can either deceiue or vanquâ—sh you In the one of which things Fortune haâ—h a hand the other is proper to your owne wisedome But I receiâ—ed letters from your Colleague dated the xxv of May wherein was contained how you had written to him that Lepidus gaue no entertainment to Antonius The which will be more certaine if you write the same vnto vs. But you dare not peraduenture do it by reason of the vaine ioy of the leâ—ters past But as you might well erre my Plancus for who is hee that erres not so 't is well knowne to euery one that it was impossible you should be out-reachedâ— And now you cannot onely not be deceiued but you can no more erre because the verie vulgar reprehends that man who stumbles twice vpon one and the same stone But if the matter so stands as you write to your Colleague We are rid of all care but to assure our selues therof we expect your letters This in briefe as many times I haue written vnto you is my opinion whosoeuâ—r cuts off the reliques he will carry away the glorie to haue ended the whole warre Which honor I wish may bee yours and I am confident it will be so Touching the diligence I haue vsed in your affaires which vndoubtedly could not be greater I am exceeding well pleased that you take it in so good part and I wonder not for I conceiued as much But if matters passe well there you shall obserue my diligence to be greater and in farre greater effects Farewell The xxix of May. Plancus to Cicero Epist. 21. I Should bee ashamed of the inconstancie of my letters if it had not growne from anothers leuitie I haue assayed all meanes to vnite my selfe with Lepidus in defence of the Common-wealth to the end that with your lesse molâ—station wee might bee able to resist wicked Citizens All things he demanded I haue promised and proferred him of mine owne good will And I wrote vnto you two dayes since how I trusted that Lepidus would helpe me and follow the warre with common consent I gaue credit to the letters of his hand vpon Laterensis affirmation being present who then was with mee and entreated mee to bee reconciled to Lepidus and to giue him credit I could not long conceiue this good hope of him I looked narrowly to the matter and will bee carefull that through my credulitie the State of the Common-wealth suffer no detriment Hauing passed the riuer Isara with my armie a bridge being in one day made ouer the same and vsing expedition therein according to the importance of the businesse hee hauing requested mee by letters that I should hasten my comming his messenger came to me with other letters wherin he aduised me that I should not come for hee could performe the seruice of himselfe and in the meane while I should stay for him at Isara I will lay open vnto you the rash course I had meant to haue vndertaken I notwithstanding was resolued to goe imagining that he was not
you may of your selfe imagine for I purpose not herein to make you a further declaration Farewell Decimus Brutus Imperator elecâ—ed Consull to Cicero Epist. 13. FRom this time forward it will not be fit that I should thanke you with words For if I can hardly with effects returne you equall merit how should I thinke with words euer to be able to requite you I pray you consider well how matters now stand for being wise as you are reading diligently my letters you shall vnderstand euerie thing I could not my Cicero pursue presently Antoniuâ— for the reasons I shall alledge vnto you I was without horse without beasts for carriage I knew not that Hirtius was slaine I could not bee confident of Caesar before I came vnto him and had talked with him The first day passed after this manner The day following I was by Pansa called earely to Bononiâ— Being on the way newes came that hee was dead I posted presently to my poore companies for so I may truely terme them They are wondrous bare and through want of all things in maruellous ill condition Antonius got two daies iourney before me making much more way in his flight then I in his pursuite for he fled at randome and I followed in warlike ordinance Wheresoeuer he passed he set slaues at libertie and tooke by force whomsoeuer he could hee staid in no place till he came to Vada which place I wil discypher vnto you It lies between the Appennine and the Alpes and is almost impassable I being some 30. miles off him and he hauing alreadie combined his forces with those of Ventidius an oration of his was brought vnto mee wherein hee began to entreat the souldiers that they would follow him beyond the Alpes by reason he held correspondencie with Lepidus At this shouts were raised and principallie by Ventidius souldiers for of his owne he hath verie few that they were resolued to die or vanquish in Italy And moreouer they began to importune him that hee would goe towards Pollentia He not being able to withhold them gaue order for his going thither the day following When I heard this newes I presentlie sent fiue cohorts to Pollentia before they should arriue there and tooke mine owne way thitherwards Trabellius arriuing with his horse at Pollentia found my men which I sent to defend it there an howre before whereat I much reioyced For herein I thinke consists the victorie They conceiued some good hopes for they neither supposed that Plancus fowre Legions were equall to all their forces neither did they thinke that an Armie could so speedilie be conducted out of Italy Against whom the Townes-men hitherto ioyned with the horse I sent before haue of themselues couragiously resisted and at my arriuall I hope they will yet more valiantlie oppose themselues But if peraduenture Antonius should passe the riuer Isara wee will labour with all our power to make such defence that hee may doe no hurt to the Common-wealth Be of great courage and good hopes about the interests of the Common-wealth seeing that both we and our Armies vnited with singular concord are prepared for all enterprizes in your behalfe and seruice Neuerthelesse you must vse your wonted diligence and procure that there want neither men nor anie other thing which the necessitie of war requireth to the end that with better confidence we may fight for your safetie against this impious conspiracie of our enemies who on a sudden haue turned those forces against their Countrey which in long time vnder colour of the Common-wealth they had collected Farewell Cicero to Decimus Brutus Imperator Ep. 14. I Reioyce beyond measure my Brutus that my opinions and censures about the election of the Decemuiri and about honouring â—he young man were by you approoued But what get I by this Beleeue me who am free from vaine-glorie I know no more O Brutus what to doe For the Senate was my organe which now is whollie out of tune That same notable enterprise oâ— yours when you sallied out of Mutina and Antonius flight with the discomfiture of his Armie put vs in such hope of hauing absolutely finished the warre as eueâ—ie one grew to be recomforted and those my contentions heeâ—etofore so violent resembled skirmishes against the winde But to returne to the matter It is the opinion of such as well vnderstand the Martian and the fourth Legion that they cannot by any meanes be brought vnto you Touching the money you demand there is course taken for prouiding it and it shall be dispatched In the calling home of Brutus and appointing Caesar for the guard of Italie you and I haue one opinion But as you write you haue aduâ—rsaries whom I withstand with small labour yet they disturbe mee notwithstanding The Legions are expected out of Africa but euery one wonders that the warâ—e is renewed in those parts There neuer hapened any thing so farre beyond expectation For the victorie being published on the day of your natiuitie 't was thought the Common-wealth should haue been put to no more trouble for many yeares Now these new occasions of feare come to disanull matters alreadie performed Though in those of the xv of May you writ vnto me how not long before you vndeâ—stood by letters from Plancus that Antonius was not receiued by Lepidus Which if it be so all matters will goe well but if otherwise the enterprise will be difficult whose end dependeth on you to be brought about so that I may no waies feare it I can doe no moâ—e then what I haue done yet aboue all others I desire to see you most reputed and honourable euen as I hope you shall be Farewell Cicero to Decimus Brutus Imperator Ep. 15. THough the contentment your letters yeeld me is verie great yet this was greater that being infinitely employed you appointed your Colleague Plancus that he should by letters excuse you to me Which he hath performed diligently And certainely I could haue receiued no greater content from any thing then from this your courtesie and diligence The vnion with your Colleague and your mutuall concord the which by both your letters you haue intimated to the Senate and people of Rome was most acceptable For the rest goe on my Brutus and henceforth striue not to ouercome another but to goe beyond your selfe I must be no longer in writing especially to you whom I meane to imitate in breuitie I expect with desire your letters and attend them of such a tenor as I heartily wish and desire them Farewell Cicero to Decimus Brutus Imperator Epist. 16. IT much imports when this letter shall be deliuered vnto you either when you haue some encumbrance or else when you are free from all molestations And therefore I enioyned him whom I sent vnto you that hee should obserue a due time to present it you For euen as they who personallie come to visite vs at an extraordinarie houre are many times troublesome so letters offend if they be not deliuered
thought the honour of the Romane soueraigntie spurred me forward to suppresse their insolencie that others thereat might be astonished who stood ouâ— stiffe against our dominion I therefore impaled and intrenched them and I beleaguer'd them with six Bulwares and encamped about them with as great an extent as I was able And I oppugn'd it with Countermures shelters and tourrets And so battering it with diuers engins and assailing it with Crosse-bow shot with great labour and without any disturbance or charge to our Associates I tooke it within the space of lesse then two moneths For they within perceiuing the Cittie burnt and ruined on euery side out of necessitie yeelded themselues A little beyond are the Tibarani as wicked and audacious as the former Who hearing of the taking in of Pindenissus sent me hostages And then I dismissed the Armie winter being now come on to their seuerall quarters And gaue charge to Quintus my brother that he should disperse the Armie in the taken and suspected Burroughs Now be asâ—ured I shall repute it for a great honour if when these my actions are related to the Senate you will but approue that a thankefull demonstration may be made thereof And â—hough I know it to be the custome oâ— maâ—ure and qualified men to employ one another in such like cases and to adde their â—arnest entreaties neuerthelesse I thinke it may suffice me onely to haue giuen you information thereof Calling to mind how many times you haue with your sentences fauoured me in how many places exalted and honoured and vpon how many occasions benefitted me your words I euer estâ—emed of such power that when soeuer you commended me I was sure to compasse all my pretences And finally I remember when not minding to grant the celebration of a publicke feast vnto a famous man and endued with singular integritie you said you would grant it him if it were demanded for maâ—ters effected by him as Consull in the Cittie And the same honor you yeelded to me in my gowne not by vertue of Armes as it was graunted to many but as neuer any had it for my Countries preseruation I forbeare to alledge how for my sake you car'd not to excite against your selfe many enemies to expose your selfe to many perils and to resist the violence of my Fortunes Which you were ready to oppose euen â—o the end if I had beene so pleased And last of all that you reputed mine your enemie whose death you also approued defending Milo's cause in the open Senate So that I might easily percâ—iue how worthily you esteâ—med oâ— me On my pâ—rt I wil not now produce the good â—ffices I euer perform'd for you but onely â—n affectionate enclination towards you Through which I was enforced not alone to reuerence you in heart and imitate your example and your vertues For there 's none that doth not so much but in all my actions in alâ— my writings as well Greeke as Latine and breâ—fly in all those Sciences wherein I exercised my selfe I could not but prefer you before all men aswell those whom wee know by sight as those whom fame hath giuen vs notice of You will peraduenture demand of mee what the reason is I make so great an accompt of receiuing this fauour from the Senate To which I will freely answer because I thinke I can ought so to do aswell by reason of our studies as for our inward friendship and also for the domesticall familiaritie that hath â—eene betwixt our fathers If euer there were a man that by nature ney â—f mine owne affection deceiue me not that out of iudgement and learning neuer relished the vaine praises that are giuen by the vulgâ—r I certainely am that man And thereof my Consulship can giue testimonie wherein as in all my life past I confesse I hâ—ue practised those courses from whence a true glorie might ariâ—e vnto me Buâ— yet I was euer of this opinion that glorie should should not be affected And that this is true refused I not the Prouince assigned to me by the Senate Which being munified and secure yeelded mee mee vndoubted hopeâ— of a Triumph And when I might with little labour haue obtain'd the Augurall dignitie as you cannot but conceiue did I not contemne it but after I râ—ceiu'd that iniurie which notwithstanding turn'd to my great renowne although you euer termed it the ruine of the Common-wealth I applied all my endeuor that the Senate and people of Rome might fauour me with all titles of honour for a signe as it were of mine innocencie Whereupon afterwards I tooke vpon mee the Augureship which at first I car'd not for and the same honour which the Senate is accustomed to grant those men that by armes haue augmented the State of the Common-wealth heretofore by mee contemned I now seeke that with iust title it may bee also relucent in mee And to the end my minde may bee herein satisfied and in this may bâ—e perceiu'd a little sparke of desire to cure the wound of my receiâ—ed iniury Though before I told you I would not entreat you to lend mee your ayd and helpe now with my whole heaâ—t I request your furtherance But not vnlesse my actions at this present be such as doe not onely not seeme friuolous but of that moment that manie haue for matters of lesse consequence been with greatest honours by the Senate dignified And surely if I haue truely obserued your renowned vertues as in effect I haue for you know with what vigilant attention I vse euen to collect your words I conceiue amongst the rest how you were wont not onely to looke into the actions of Captaines valiantly atchiued but also into their customes life and institutions and coâ—sequently to honour them according as thâ—se qualities were in them more or lesse resplendant Which if you please to consider in my actions you shall discerne that to preuent the rebelling of those people who perceiuing so great a war readie to ruine them would presently haue reuolted I betooke my selfe to the safeguard of equitie and moderation And by these stratagems I haue compassed such designes as by no Armie were euer atchiued hauing drawne these Associates â—o our amitie who were our capitall enemies and re-vnited â—hose subiects with our dominion who perceiuing things in a commotion were alienâ—ted expecting to what part Fortune would bee enclined I know not what conceit hath transported mee further then was requisite especially with you to whose eares the complaints of al those people come which are our Associates Of the aboue-mentioned succesâ—es they will plentifully enforme you who thinke themselues re-established by mine ordinance And omitting to alledge that there is not anie one man who will not concur with mee in making a faithful relation of my euents They of the Isle of Cyprus and the Kingdome of Cappadocia shall bee the men who shall speake vnto you in my commendation The like will bee done as I suppose by your especiall friend King
my terrible stormes and safe shield against the trecherie of mine enemies And after your departure I contracted friendship with Brutus your kinsman so as I perswade my selfe that from so noble a wit and absolute learning as yours is in all times great honour and contentment will accrew vnto me And I request you as earnestly as I may to worke so that you confirme me in this beleefe and aduerâ—ise me of all euents that happen but especially when you come to Rome Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassiuâ— Epist. 15. THough each of vs departed from the warre vpon like deliberations with hope of peace and hatred of ciuill bloudshed Yet being the first who retired I am peraduenture the more bound to defend the course that wee had taken though many times I call to minde how being together and consulting of sundrie and great matters betweene our selues to prouide for our safeties we held one opinion and made one conclusion Which was to attend what successe the first battaile would haue after which of necessitie it was expedient that either the whole cause should be determined or at least our iudgemâ—nt resolued Which resolution was neuer reprehended but by those who maintained that it was better for the Common-wealth to be absolutely dissoluedâ— then to remaine weakned and dismembered And I saw that if she once perished al hope of reducing her to her due state went with her But if shee were but languishing there would be yet some comfort But things haue happened so farre beyond all mens opinion as it is a greater miracle that â—uer they could fall out then that we were not able to foresee or being men to presage them Questionlesse I confesse that I supposed that after the fatall battaile fought the victorious would prouide for common safetie and the vanquished for themselues But I likewise iudged that these effects could not grow from any other root then from suddaine victorie and humilitie of the vanquished and had this humilitie beene they who were in Africa had found in him the same clemencie which they that went into Asia and Achaia had experienced And that without any other mediation but his owne But the euill proceeded from this that times were carelesly let run on which greatly imparts in ciuill warres For a yeare and an halfe running on in this manner some conceiu'd hope to ouercome others without hope of victorie choose rather to die fighting then to liue by comming to their enemies for mercie And of all these disasters Fortune beares the blame For who would euer haue thought that the Alexandrian warre would euer haue drawne to such a length the warre ciuill And that one Pharnaces could haue strokeÌ„ such a terror into all Asia We concurred all in one election though with a diuersitie of Fortune you went into a part where you might consult and disâ—erne the end of things a faâ—re off which greatly rids â—he minde of cares And I was desirous to meete with Caesar in Italie supposing he would haue come thither with that troupe of renowned men whom he hath preserued and with an intention to moue him to peace whereunto he seem'd readie and verie willing But I could not doe as I would because he pursued his enemie and went farre from these parts Now in what state I liue coniecture you I heare on euery side of the deepe woes and direfull lamentations of miserable Italie and our distressed Cittie Whereunto both you and I and euery man according to his Forces might peraduenture haue found some remedie if the chiefe Commander had arriued Wherefore I request you by all the loue that you haue euer borne me to write vnto me what successe things haue what foundations you lay what may be hoped for and how we should carrie our selues I will performe whatsoeuer your letters enioyne me And I would to God I had followed the councell which you gaue me in your first vnfortunate letters which you sent me from Luceria for then I had without any molâ—station preseru'd my dignitie Farewell Cicero vice-Consull to Caius Cassius Epist. 16. I Perswade my selfe that you will be halfe ashamed to see your selfe surprised with this third Epistle before I can get so much as a lyne or a letter from you But I write not these to vrge you to so small a matter for I expect nay I challenge longer discourses from you If I had opportunitie I would send you euery houre three letters For in writing to you methinkes I haue a kind of a representation of your owne person euer before me though I allow not of these phantasticke apparitions of Catius who approues of those mentall visions of Idols on whose authoritie your new friends relying affirme that the phantasie is able to frame in it selfe the similitude of any imagined bodie And to the end you may vnderstand that Catius the Insubrian of the sect of Epicurus lately dead calleth those Spectra which Gargesius and before him Dâ—mocritus by another title termeâ— Idols And though it may be that these Spectra may be seene because they represent themsâ—lues vnto the eye Yet I would faine haue any man tell me how they can also penetrate the minde And how is it probable that thought or cogitation should haue this priuiledge that as soone as I thinke of you your Spectrum should present it selfe vnto my minde And not onely of yours who are seated in the most secret cell of my memorie but if a conceipt should rise in my imagination in what forme the Island of Britannia lyeth should I beleeue that the Idoll of it would be presented vnto me But I 'le reserue this present subiect till another time Now I meanâ— to trie you and if I perceiue that you should grow choleriâ—ke or that you take it as an affront I will goe further and I will grieue for the vâ—olence hath beene offered youâ— prâ—ying that you may be restored to that heresie from whence you were by Aâ—mes expelled Neither will it sufâ—ice to alledge that for these two or three years you haue voluntarily exiled your selfe from vertue that you haue beene allured by the sweet bait of pleasures and delights but with whom speake I Marie with a man of grauitie and maturiâ—ie who since you dedicated your selfe to publicke negotiations haue in all times gouerned your selfe with that prudence that you haue replenished Rome with honourable and rare examples So that a doubt growes in me whether this sect sprung not out of a better Trunke then we imagine seeing you affected to insert your selfe thereinto But what new conceit leads thee O Cicero Why I 'le tell you the truth It neither being secure nor I being willing to write what I thinke about the Common-wealth I entred into these phantasies thinking it better to write of them then nothing Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 17. YOu haue a companie of prepoâ—terous Corrier's when they go from hence they demand my letters when â—hey come hither they bring me none Although in truth