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We have had the fatisfaction of the opinion of his phyficians in his favour; and may heaven give fuccefs to their art, and free me from this reftlefs anxiety! If that fhould happily be the event, I shall immediately return to my favourite Laurentinum, or, in other words, to my books and ftudious retirement. At prefent, fo much of my time and thoughts is employed in attendance upon my friend, and in my apprehenfions for him, that I have neither leifure nor inclination for fubjects of literature. Thus have I informed you of my fears, my wishes, and my intentions. Communicate to me, in your turn, but in a gayer ftyle, an account not only of what you are and have been doing, but even of your future defigns. It will be a very fenfible confolation to me in this perplexity of mind, to be affured that yours is easy. Farewel.

LETTER XII.

To Bebius.

LETTER XIII.

To Voconius Romanus.

held a

ROME has not for many years bemore magnificent and folemn fpectacle, than was lately exhibited in the public funeral of that great man, the illuftrious and fortunate * Virginius Rufus. He lived thirty years in the full enjoyment of the highest reputation; and as he had the fatisfaction to fee his actions

celebrated by poets and recorded by hiftorians, he feems even to have anticipated his fame with pofterity. He was thrice raised to the dignity of conful, that he who + refused to be the first of princes, might at least be the highest of subjects. As he escaped the refentment of those emperors to whom his virtues had given umbrage, and even rendered him odious, and ended his days when this beft of princes, this friend of mankind †, was in

*The ancients feem to have confidered fortune as a mark of merit in the perfon who was thus diftinguished. Cicero (to borrow the obfervation

MY friend and guest Tranquillus has of an excellent writer) recommended Pompey to

an inclination to purchase a small farm, of which, as I am informed, an acquaintance of yours intends to difpofe. I beg you would endeavour he may have it upon reasonable terms; a circumstance which will add to his fatisfaction in obtaining it. A dear bargain is always difagreeable, particularly as it is a reflection upon the purchafer's judgment. There are feveral circumftances attending this little villa, which (fuppofing my friend has no objection to the price) are extremely fuitable to his tafte: the convenient distance from Rome, the goodnefs of the roads, the fmallness of the building, and the very few acres of land around it, which is just enough to amufe, but not employ him. To a man of the ftudious turn that Tranquillus is, it is fufficient if he has but a small spot to relieve the mind and divert the eye, where he may faunter round his grounds, traverfe his fingle walk, grow familiar with his two or three vines, and count his little plantations. I mention these particulars, to let you fee how much he will be obliged to me, as I fhall to you, if can help him to the purchase of this little Fox, fo agreeable to his tafte, upon terms of which he fhall have no occation to repent. Farewel.

you

the Romans for their general upon three accounts, as he was a man of courage, conduct, and goodfortune; and not only Sylla the dictator,, but feveral of the Roman emperors, as is still to be fern upon their medals, among other titles, gave themfelves that of felix, or fortunate.

At the time of the general defection from Nero, Virginius was at the head of a very powerful army in Germany, which had preffed him, and even attempted to force him, to accept the title of emperor. But he constantly refuted it: adding, that he would not even fuffer it to be given

to any perfon but whom the fenate fhould elect. With this army he marched against Vindex, who had put himself at the head of 100,000 Gauls. Having come up with him, he gave him battle, in which Vindex was flain, and his forces entirely

defeated.

After this victory, when Nero's death was known in the army, the foldiers renewed their application to Virginius to accept the imperial dignity; and though one of the tribunes rushed into his tent, and threatened that he should either receive the empire, or his ford through bis body, he refolutely perfifted in his former fentiments. But as foon as the news of Nero's death was con

firmed, and that the fenate had declared for Galba, he prevailed with the army, though with much difficulty, to do fo too. Plutarch. in Galb.

of

The juftnefs of this glorious title, the friend mankind, which our author here gives to Nerva, confirmed by the concurrent teftimony of all the hiftorians of thefe times. That excellent em

peror's short reign feems indeed to have been one uninterrupted feries of generous and benevolent actions; and he used to fay himself, he had the fatisfaction of being confcious he had not committed a fingle act that could give just offence to any man. Dion. I. 68.

quiet poffeffion of the empire, it seems as if providence had purposely preferved him to these times, that he might receive the honour of a public funeral. He arrived, in full tranquillity, and univerfally revered, to the eighty-fourth year of his age; having enjoyed an uninterrupted Bate of health during his whole life, excepting only a paralytic diforder in his hands, which, however, was attended with no pain. His last sickness, indeed, was fevere and tedious; but even the accident that occafioned it added to his glory. As he was preparing to return his public acknowledgments to the emperor, who had raised him to the confulship, a large volume, which he accidentally received at that time, too weighty for a feeble old man, flipped out of his hands. In hastily endeavouring to recover it, the pavement being extremely ippery, he fell down and broke his taigh-bone; which fracture, as it was kilfully fet at first, and having befides the infirmities of age to contend with, could never be brought to unite again. The funeral obfequies paid to the memory of this great man, have done honour to the emperor, to the prefent age, and even to eloquence herself. The confal Cornelius Tacitus pronounced his funeral oration; for, to crown the feries of his felicities, he received the applaufe of the most eloquent of orators. He died full of years and of glory, as illuftrious by the honours he refufed, as by thofe he acquired. Still, however, he will be muffed and lamented by the world, as the bright model of a better age; efpecially by myself, who not only admired him as a patriot, but loved him as a friend. We were not only natives of the fame province, and of neighbouring towns, but our eftates were contiguous. Befides thefe accidental connections with him, he was alfo left guardian to me; and indeed be treated me with the affection of a parent, Whenever I offered myself a candidate for any employment, he constantly fupported me with his intereft; as in all the honours I have obtained, though he had long fince renounced all offices of nature, he would kindly give up the repofe of his retirement, and come in perfon to folicit for me. At the time when it is customary for the priests to nominate fach as they judge worthy to be received

into their facred office, he constantly propofed me. Even in his last sickness I received a distinguishing mark of his affection; being apprehenfive he might be named one of the five commiffioners appointed by the fenate to reduce the public expences, he fixed upon me, young as I am, to carry his excufes, in preference to fo many other friends of fu perior age and dignity; and in a very obliging manner affured me, that had he a fon of his own he would nevertheless have employed me in that office. Have I not fufficient cause then to lament his death, as if it were immature, and thus pour out the fulness of my grief in the bofom of my friend? if indeed it be reafonable to grieve upon this occafion, or to call that event death, which, to such a man, is rather to be looked upon as the period of his mortality than the end of his life. He lives, my friend, and will continue to live for ever; and his fame will spread farther, and be more celebrated by mankind, now that he is removed from their fight.

I had many other things to write to you, but my mind is fo entirely taken up with this fubject that I cannot call it off to any other. Virginius is conftantly in my thoughts; the vain but lively impreffions of him are continually before my eyes, and I am for ever fondly imagining that I hear him, converfe with him, and embrace him. There are, perhaps, and poffibly hereafter will be, fome few who may rival him in virtue; but not one, I am perfuaded, that will ever equal him in glory. Farewel.

LETTER XIV.
To Paulinus.

WHETHER I have reafon for my rage, is not quite fo clear; however, wondrous angry I am. But love, you know, will fometimes be irrational; as it is often

* Namely of Augurs. "This college, as re"gulated by Sylla, confifted of fifteen, who were "all perfons of the first diftinction in Rome: it

"was a priesthood for life, of a character indeli❝ble, which no crime or forfeiture could efface; "it was neceffary that every candidate should be "nominated to the people by two Augurs, who "gave a folemn testimony upon oath of his dig"nity and fitnefs for that office." Middleton's Life of Cic. v. 1. 529.

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ungovernable, and ever jealous. The Occafion of this my formidable wrath is great, you must allow, were it but juft: yet taking it for granted, that there is as much truth as weight in it, I am moft vehemently enraged at your long filence, Would you foften my refentment? Let your letters for the future be very fre. quent, and very long. I fhall excufe you upon no other terms; and as abfence from Rome, or engagement in bufinefs, is a plea I can by no means admit; fo that of ill health, the gods, I hope, will not suffer you to allege. As for myfelf, I am enjoying at my villa the alternate pleafures of Itudy and indolence; thofe happy privileges of retired leisure! Farewel.

LETTER XV.

To Nepos.

E had received very advantageous accounts of Ifeus, before his arrival here; but he is fuperior to all that was reported of him. He poffefies the utmost facility and copioufnefs of expreffion, and his unpremeditated difcourfes have all the propriety and elegance of the most ftudied and elaborate compofition. He fpeaks the Greck language, or rather the genuine Attic. His exordiums are polite, eafy, and harmonious; and, when occafion requires, folemn and majestic. He gives his audience liberty to call for any question they pleafe, and fometimes even to name what fide of it he shall take;

when immediately he rifes up in all the graceful attitude of an orator, and enters at once into his fubject with furprising fluency. His reflections are folid, and clothed in the choiceft expreffions, which prefent themselves to him with the utmost facility. The eafe and strength of his moit unprepared difcourfes plainly difcover he has been very converfant in the best authors, and much accuftomed to compofe himself. He opens his fubject with great propriety; his ftyle is clear, his reafoning strong, his inferences juft, and his figures graceful and fublime. In a word, he at once inftructs, entertains, and affects you, and each in fo high a degree, that you are at a lefs to deter mine in which of thofe talents he moft excels. His arguments are formed in all the ftrength and concifenefs of the strictest Logic; a point not very eafy to attain

His me,

even in ftudied compofitions. mory is fo extraordinary, that he will repeat what he has before spoke extempore, without lofing a fingle word. This wonderful faculty he has acquired by great application and practice; for his whole time is fo devoted to fubjects of this nature, that he thinks and talks of nothing elfe. Though he is above fixty-three years of age, he still chooses to continue in this profeffion; than which, it must be owned, none abounds with men of more worth, fimplicity, and integrity. We who are converfant in the real contentions of the bar, unavoidably contract a certain artfulness, however contrary to our natural tempers: but the bufiness of the fchools, as it turns merely upon matters of imagination, affords an employment as innocent as it is agreeable; and it muft, methinks, be particularly fo to those who are advanced in years; as nothing can than to enjoy thofe reafonable pleasures, be more defirable at that period of life, which are the most pleafing entertainments of our youth. I look therefore upon Ifeus, not only as the most eloquent, but the most happy of men; as I fhall efteem you the most infenfible if you appear to flight his acquaintance. Let me prevail with you then to come to Rome, leaft for the pleafure of hearing this exif not upon my account, or any other, at traordinary perfon. Do you remember to have read of a certain inhabitant of

the city of Cadiz, who was fo ftruck with the illuftrious character of Livy, fee that great genius; and, as foon as he that he travelled to Rome on purpose to again? A man must have a very inelehad fatisfied his curiofity, returned home gant, illiterate, and indolent (I had almost think whatever relates to a fcience fo enfaid a very mean) turn of mind, not to tertaining, fo noble, and fo polite, worthy of his curiofity. You will tell me, perhaps, you have authors in your own study authors you may turn over at any time, equally eloquent. I allow it; and thofe but you cannot always have an opportunity of hearing Ifeus. Befides, we are infinitely more affected with what we hear, than what we read. fomething in the voice, the countenance, the habit, and the gefture of the fpeaker,

There is

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seater, an sommar in fixing an imprefin ou ne mund, and gives this methot of miratum greatly the advantage of a nang one can receive from books; that eat was the spiction of Efchines, who having read to the Roodians a speech of Demafieres, which they loudly appauded. - But now,” find he, “would you are her affected, had you heard "krar amief thandering out this “Size maras gue?” Echines, if we nus delete Jemininenes, had great dig187 of untrance; yet, you fee, he could tot but comes in wood have been a conkrale advantage to the oration, if it ind been pronounced by the author himit, mal the pamp and energy of his powerful einction. What I aim at by d), is, to perfzade you to come and erless; and let me again intreat you b, if for no other reason, at least thit you may have the pleasure to fay, you cace head im Farewel

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HOW is my friend employed? Is it in the plectares of ftudy, or in those of the feid? Or does he ate both togeter, as be well may, on the banks of to favourite Larios? The fish in that tobe lake will fapply you with sport of the kind; as the woods that furround it olaford you game; while the folem3ty of that fequetered scene will at the he time dipole your mind to contemthon. Whether you are entertained with , or any of thcfe agreeable amufements, t be it that I fhould fay I envy you; but, I mat confess, I greatly regret that I catact partake of them too; a happiI as earnetly long for, as a man in a fever does for drink to allay his thirft, or baths and fountains to amuage his heat.

to his very dry. Ovid mentions the balit, as to as the air and men of Germanicus, as exprefive of his coquence:

Diumkuns adta, taras of wala'que &ferti, Špeaque contra aɛe Sun mittas ésser. De Pont. 2. 5.

Ere yet be foeaks, the orator is fren In a the auquence of garo and mien. Now calles Lago di Como, in the Milanefe. Comum, the place where Puny was born, and near Nwhica Cantina had a country-bouse, was fit

Met upon the border of this nic.

Shall I never break loose (if I may not disentangle myself) from these ties that thus closely withhold me? I doubt, indeed, never; for new affairs are daily increafing, while yet the former remain unfinished; fuch an endless train of bufinefs rifes upon me, and rivets my chains fill fafter! Farewel.

LETTER XVII.
To Ogavius.

You are certainly a most obstinate, I had almoft faid, a moft cruel man, thus to withhold from the world fuch excellent compofitions! How long do you intend to deny your friends the pleasure of your verses, and yourself the glory of them? Suffer them, I entreat you, to come abroad, and to be admired; as admired they undoubtedly will be, whereever the Roman language is understood. The public, believe me, has long and earnefly expected them, and you ought not to difappoint or delay it any longer. Some few poems of yours have already, contrary to your inclination, indeed, broke their prison, and escaped to light: these if you do not collect together, fome perfon or other will claim the agreeable wanderers as their own. Remember, my friend, the mortality of human nature, and that there is nothing fo likely to preferve your name as a monument of this kind; all others are as frail and perishable as the men whofe memory they pretend to perpetuate. You will fay, I fuppofe, as ufual, let my friends fee to that. May you find many whose care, fidelity, and learning, render them able and willing to undertake fo confiderable a charge! But furely it is not altogether prudent to expect from others, what a man will not do for himself. However, as to publiining of them, I will prefs you no farther; be that when you shall think you to recite them, that you may be more proper. But let me, at least, prevail with difpofed to fend them abroad; and may receive the fatisfaction of that applaufe, which I will venture, upon very juft grounds, to affure you of beforehand. I please myfelf with imagining the crowd, the filence that will attend you: for the the admiration, the applaufe, and even filence of an audience, when it proceeds from an earnest deûre of hearing, is as agreeable

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agreeable to me as the loudeft approbation. Do not then, by this unreasonable referve, defraud your labours any longer of a fruit fo certain and fo defirable; if you should, the world, I fear, will be apt to charge you with careleffnels and indolence, or, perhaps, with timidity. Farewel.

A

LETTER XVIII.
To Prifcus.

S I know

every

you gladly embrace opportunity of obliging me, fo there is no man to whom I had rather lay myfelf under an obligation. I apply to you, therefore, preferably to any body elfe, for a favour which I am extremely defirous of obtaining. You, who are at the head of a very confiderable army, have many opportunities of exercising your generofity; and the length of time you have enjoyed that poft, muft have enabled you to provide for all your own friends. I hope you will now turn your eyes upon fome of mine; they are but a few indeed for whom I fhall folicit you; though your generous difpofition, I know, would be better pleafed if the number were greater. But it would ill become me to trouble you with recommending more than one or two at prefent I will only mention Voconius Romanus. His father was of great diftinction among the Roman knights; and his father-in-law, or as I might more properly call him, his fecond father (for his affectionate treatment of Voconius entitles him to that appellation), was still more confpicucus. His mother was one of the most confiderable ladies of Upper Spain: you know what character the people of that province bear, and how remarkable they are for the ftrict nefs of their manners. As for himself, he has been lately admitted into the facred order of priesthood. Our friendship began with our studies, and we were early united in the clofeft intimacy. We lived together under the fame roof in town and country, as he shared with me my moft ferious and my gayeft hours: and where, indeed, could I have found a more faithful friend, or more agreeable companion? In his converfation, and even in his very voice and countenance, there is the molt amiable fweetnefs; as at the bar he difcovers an elevated genius, an easy and harmonious elocution, a clear and pene

trating apprehenfion. He has fo happy
a turn for epiftolary writing, that were
you to read his letters, you would imagine
they had been dictated by the mufes
themfelves. I love him with a more than
common affection, and I know he returns
it with equal ardour. Even in the earlier
part of our lives, I warmly embraced
every opportunity of doing him all the
good offices which then lay in my power;
as I have lately obtained for him of the
emperor, the privilege granted to
thofe who have three children 1. A favour
which though Cæfar very rarely beftows,
and always with great caution, yet he
conferred, at my request, in fuch a man-
ner, as to give it the air and grace of
being his own choice. The best way of
fhewing that I think he deferves the
obligations he has already received from
me, is, by adding more to them, espe-
cially as he always accepts my favours
with fo much gratitude as to merit far-
ther. Thus I have given you a faithful
account of Romanus, and informed you
how thoroughly I have experienced his
worth, and how much I love him. Let
me intreat you to honour him with your
patronage in a way fuitable to the gene-
rofity of your heart and the eminence of
your ftation. But above all, admit him
into a fhare of your affection; for though
you were to confer upon him the utmost
you have in your power to bestow, you
can give him nothing fo valuable as your
friendship. That you may fee he is wor-
thy of it, even to the highest degree of
intimacy, I have fent you this fhort sketch
of his character. I thould continue my
interceflions in his behalf, but that I m
fure you do not love to be pressed, ar I
have already repeated them in every l
of this letter; for to fhew a just reaso
for what one afks, is to intercede in the
ftrongest manner. Farewel.

in thefe letters, that the art of epiftolary writing
*It appears from this and fome other paffages

was efteemed by the Romans in the number of liberal and polite accomplishments; and we find Ciceto mentioning with great pleasure, in fome had received from his fon or his genius in this of his letters to tticus, the elegant fpecimen he

way.

† Trajan.

By a law paffed A. U. 762, it was enacted, that whatever citizen of Rome had three children fhould be excufed from all troublefome offices where he lived. This privilege the emperors fometimes extended to thote who were not legally entitled to it.

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