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LETTER LXIX.

To Terentia*.

June the 2d. [A. U. 704.] AM informed by the letters of my friends as well as by other accounts, that have had a fudden attack of a you fever. I intreat you therefore to employ the utmost care in re-eftablishing your health.

The early notice you gave me of Cæfar's letter, was extremely agreeable to me and let me defire you would fend me the fame expeditious intelligence, if any thing fhould hercafter occur that me to know. Once more I conjure you to take care of your health. Farewel.

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July the 15th. [A. U. 704.]

I HAVE feldom an opportunity of writ ing; and fcarce any thing to fay that I choose to truft in a letter. I find by your last, that you cannot meet with a purchafer for any of our farms. I beg therefore you would confider of fome other method of raising money, in order to fatisfy that perfon, who you are fenfible I am very defirous fhould be paid 1.

This letter was written by Cicero in the camp at Dyrrachium: for there is one extant to Atticus later than this, and dated from the camp." Mr. Rofs.

This letter was probably written foon after the foregoing, and from the fame place.

I This letter, as well as the two former, was written while Cicero was with Pompey in Greece. The bufinefs at which he fo obfcurely hints, has been thought to relate to the payment of part of Tullia's portion to Dolabella.

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LETTER LXXIII.
To the fame.

[A. U. 704.] THE ill ftate of health into which Tul lia is fallen, is a very fevere additio to the many and great difquietudes tha farther upon this fubject: as I am fur afflict my mind. But I need fay nothing her welfare is no lefs a part of your ten der concern than it is of mine.

ing it proper that I fhould advance neare I agree both with you and her in think to Rome and I fhould have done fo be feveral difficulties, which I am not ye fore now, if I had not been prevented b able to remove. But I am in expectation

It appears by a letter to Atticus, that this per fon acted as a fort of steward in Cicero's family

After the battle of Pharfalia, Cicero woul not engage himself any farther with the Pompeia party; but having endeavoured to make his peac with Cæfar by the mediation of Dolabella, h feems to have received no other anfwer, than a order to return immediately into Italy. And thi he accordingly did a few days before the date of the prefent letter.

of a letter from Atticus, with his fentiments upon this fubject: and I beg you woal forward it to me by the earliest opportunity. Farewel.

LETTER LXXIV.

To the fame.

[A. U. 704.]

none which deferves to be more frequently in our thoughts, than that we ought to remember, "We are men;" that is, creatures who are born to be expofed to calamities of every kind: and therefore, "that it becomes us to fubmit to the con"ditions by which we hold our existence, "without being too much dejected by ac"cidents which no prudence can prevent." In a word, that we should learn by "re

addition to my other misfortunes, I" flecting on the misfortunes which have

have now to lament the illness both of

of my mind is indeed fo utterly difcompofed, that I know not what to refolve, cr how to aft, in any of my affairs. I can only conjure you to take care of yourfelf and of Tullia. Farewel.

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LETTER LXXV.

To the fame.

[A. U. 704.]

"attended others, that there is nothing Doabella and Tullia. The whole frame" fingular in those which befal ourselves." But neither thefe, nor other arguments to the fame purpose which are inculcated in the writings of the philofophers, feem to have fo ftrong a claim to fuccefs, as those which may be drawn from the present unhappy fituation of public affairs, and that endless series of misfortunes which is rifing upon our country. They are such indeed, that one cannot but account those to be most fortunate, who never knew what it was to be a parent: and as to children, in these times of general anarchy those persons who are deprived of their and mis-rule, they have much lefs reafon to regret their lofs, than if it had happened in a more flourishing period of the commonwealth, or while yet the republic had any exiftence. If your tears flow, indeed, from this accident merely as it affects your own perfonal happiness, it may be difficult perhaps entirely to reftrain them. But if your forrow takes its rife from a more enlarged and benevolent principle; if it be for the fake of the dead themselves that you lament, it may be an eafier task to affuage your grief. I fhall not here infift upon an argument, which I have frequently heard maintained in speculative converfations, as well as often read likewife in treatifes that have been written upon this fubject. "Death," fay thofe philofophers, "cannot be con"fidered as an evil: because if any con"sciousness remains after our diffolution,

my thing occurred worth communicating to you, my letters would be more frequent and much longer. But I aced not tell you the fituation of my aff; and as to the effect they have upon my mind, I leave it to Lepta and Trebate to inform you. I have only to add treaties, that you would take care of your own and Tullia's health. Fare

LETTER LXXVI.

To Titius.

[A. U. 704.] THERE is none of your friends lefs capable than I am, to offer confolation To under your prefent affliction: as the hare I take in your lofs renders me greatly in need of the fame good office yelf. However, as my grief does not e to the fame extreme degree as your's," it is rather an entrance into immortality, should not think I difcharged the duty" than an extinction of life: and if none my connexion and friendship with "remains, there can be no mifery where you require, if I remained altogether en at a time when you are thus overshelmed with forrow. I determined therefore to fuggeft a few reflections to alleviate at leaft, if not tirely remove, the anguifh of your

which

you which

there is no fenfibility." Not to infift, I fay, upon any reafonings of this nature; let me remind you of an argument which I can urge with much more confidence. He who has made his exit from a fcene where fuch dreadful confufion prevails, and where fo many approaching calaThere is no maxim of confolation more mities are in profpect, cannot possibly, it Common, yet at the fame time there is fhould seem, be a lofer by the exchange.

heart.

may

Let

Let me afk, not only where honour, virtue, and probity, where true philofophy and the ufeful arts, can now fly for refuge; but where even our liberties and our lives can be fecure? For my own part, I have never once heard of the death of any youth during all this laft fad year, whom I have not confidered as kindly delivered by the immortal gods from the miferies of thefe wretched times. If therefore you can be perfuaded to think that their condition is by no means unhappy, whofe lofs you fo tenderly deplore; it muft undoubtedly prove a very confiderable abatement of your prefent affliction. For it will then entirely arife from what you feel upon your own accourt; and have no relation to the perfons whofe death you regret. Now it would ill agree with thofe wife and generous maxims which have ever infpired your breaft, to be too fenfible of misfortunes which terminate in your own perfon, and affect not the happiness of thofe you love. You have, upon all occafions both public and private, fhewn yourfelf animated with the firmeft fortitude: and it becomes you to act up to the character you have thus justly acquired. Time neceffarily wears Time neceffarily wears out the deepest impreffions of forrow: and the weakest mother that ever loft a child, has found fome period to her grief. But we should wifely anticipate that effect which a certain revolution of days will undoubtedly produce and not wait for a remedy from time, which we may much fooner receive from reafon.

:

If what I have faid can any thing avail in leffening the weight of your affiction, I fhall have obtained my wifh: if not, I fhall at leait have discharged the duties of that friendship and affection which, believe me, I ever have preferved, and ever fhall preferve towards you. Farewel.

LETTER LXXVII.

To Terentia.

December the 31ft. [A. U. 705.] MY affairs are at prefent in fuch a fitu

ation, that I have no reason to expect a letter on your part, and have nothing to communicate to you on mine. Yet I know not how it is, I can no more forbear flattering myself that I may hear from you, than I can refrain from writing to you whenever I meet with a convey

ance.

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June the 20th. [A. U. 06.] I HAD determined, agreeably to what 1 mentioned in my former, to fend my fon to meet Cafar on his return to Italy. But I have fince altered my refolution as I hear no news of his arrival. For the reft I refer you to Sicca, who will inform you what measures I think neceffary to be taken though I must add, that nothing new has occurred fince I wrote laft. Tullia is ftill with me.-Adieu, and take all poffible care of your health.

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LETTER LXXX.
To Acilius, Proconful.

[A. U. 706.] CAIUS Flavius, an illuftrious Roman kright, of an honourable family, is e with whom I live in great intimacy: Le was a very particular friend likewife of -in-law Pifo. Both he and his brother Lucius fhew me the ftrongeft inhances of their regard. I fhall receive therefore as an honour done to myself, if you will treat Caius with all the highest marks of favour and diftinction, that shall be confiftent with your character and digty: and be affured you cannot in any article more effectually oblige me, than

complying with this requeft. I will add, that the rank which he bears in the world, the credit in which he stands with

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tale of his own order, together with his ite and grateful difpofition, will afford reafon to be extremely well fatisfied with the good offices shall confer you on him. When I fay this, believe me, I not prompted by any interested mots, but fpeak the fincere dictates of truth and friendship. Farewel.

LETTER LXXXI.

To Terentia.

July the 9th. [A. U. 706.] WROTE to Atticus (fomewhat later indeed than I ought) concerning the affar you mention. When you talk with az upon that head, he will inform you of inclinations: and I need not be more tiplicit here, after having written fo fully shim. Let me know as foon as poffible what fteps are taken in that business; and Acquaint me at the fame time with every thing else which concerns me. I have only to add my request, that you would be careful of your health. Farewel.

LETTER LXXXII.

To the fame.

July the 10th. [A. U. 706.] Nanfwer to what you object concerning the divorce I mentioned in my , I can only fay, that I am perfectly

Between Tullia and Dolabella.

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LETTER LXXXIV.
To the fame.

Auguft the 12th. [A. U. 706.] HAVE at laft received a letter from Cæfar; and written in no unfavourable terms. It is now faid, that he will be in Italy much fooner than was expected. I him here, or to meet him on his way: but have not yet refolved whether to wait for

as foon as I fhall have determined that point I will let you know.

this meffenger: and let me conjure you I beg you would immediately fend back at the fame time to take all poffible care of health. your Farewel.

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Venufia*, October the 1ft. [A. U. 7c6.] Purpofe to be at my Tufculan villa about the 7th or 8th of this month. I beg that every thing may be ready for my reception: as I fhall perhaps bring feveral friends with me; and I may probably too continue there fome time. If a vafe is wanting in the bath, let it be fupplied with one: and I defire you would likewife provide whatever elfe may be neceflary for the health and entertainment of my guefts. Farewel.

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LETTER

LXXXVII.

To Trebonius +.

[A. U. 706.]

confuls ought to have fhewn, in maintain ing the caufe of liberty by fupportin mine; and though only a quator, y refufed to fubmit to the fuperior authorit of a tribune, whilit your colleague at th fame time meanly yielded to his mea fures? Need I mention (what I fhall a ways however moft gratefully remember the more recent inftances of your regar to me, in the folicitude you exprefied fo my fafety when I engaged in the lat war; in the joy you fhewed when I r turned into Italy; in your friendly pa ticipation of all thofe cares and difquis tudes with which I was at that time op preffed; and in a word, in your kind in tent of vifiting me at Brundifium |, if yo had not been fuddenly ordered into Spain To omit, I fay, thefe various and inefti mable proofs of your friendship; is no the treatife you have now fent me, a mo confpicuous evidence of the fhare I enjoy

in

your heart? It is fo, indeed, in a double view: and not only as you are fo partial as to be the conftant, and perhap READ your letter, but particularly the ingle admirer of my wit, but as you have treatife that attended it, with great light, as to render it, whatever it placed it likewife in fo advantageous may b pleafure. It was a pleasure, neverthelefs, in itself, extremely agreeable. The truth not without its alloy as I could not but of it is, your manner of relating my regret that you fhould leave us at a time pleafantries, is not lefs humorous than the when you had thus inflamed my heart, I do not say with a stronger affection (for der's mirth is exhaufted ere he arrives a conceits you celebrate; and half the reathat, in truth, could admit of no increase), but with a more ardent defire of enjoying obligation to you for making this collec my joke. In short, if I had no other your company. My fingle confolation tion, than your having fuffered me to be arifes from the hope, that we shall endea-fo long prefent to your thoughts, I fhould vour to alleviate the pain of this abfence he utterly infenfible if it were not to imby a mutual exchange of long and fre- prefs upon me the most affectionate fentiquent letters. Whilst I promife this on my part, I affure myfelf of the fame on yours as indeed you have left me no room to doubt how highly I ftand in your regard. Need I mention thofe public initances I formerly received of your friendship, when you thewed the world. that you confidered my enemies as your own; when you food forth my generous advocate in the affemblies of the people; when you acted with that spirit which the

Now called Venofa: a town in the kingdom of Naples, fituated at the foot of the Apennine mountains.

He was tribune in the year of Rome 698, at which time he diftin, uifhed himfelf by being the principal promoter of thole unconstitutional grants that were mace by the people to Pompey, Calar, and Crailus, for the enlargement of their power and dignities.

A Coll Stion of Cicero's B. Mets.

ments.

When I confider, indeed, that nothing but the warmell attachment could have engaged you in fuch a work, I cangard for himself, than you have thus difnot fuppofe any man to have a greater recovered for me. I with it may be in my power to make you as ample a return in do in the affection of my heart; a return every other inlance, as I moft certainly with which I truft, however, you will be perfectly well fatisfied.

But to return from your performance to your very agreeable letter: full as it was, I may yet anfwer it in few words. Let me affure you then, in the first place, that I no more imagined the letter which

After the battle of Pharfalia.
When he was waiting the arrival of Cæfar.

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