exhortations, let me rather congratulate you upon this noble display of your patriotism. It is your privilege (and a privilege, perhaps, which no one ever enjoyed before) to have exercised the severest acts of necessary justice, not only without incurring any odium, but with the greatest popularity; with the approbation of the lowest, as well as of the best and highest, amongst us. If this were a circumstance in which chance had any share, I should congratulate your good fortune; but it was the effect of a noble and undaunted resolution, under the guidance of the strongest and most enlightened judgment. I say this, from having read the speech you made upon this occasion to the people; and never was any harangue more judiciously composed. You open and explain the fact with so much address, and gradually rise through the several circumstances in so artful a manner, as to convince all the world that the affair was mature for your animadversion. In a word, you have delivered the commonwealth in general, as well as the city of Rome in particular, from the dangers with which they were threatened; and not only performed a singular service to the present generation, but set forth a most useful example for times to come. You will consider yourself, then, as the great support of the republic; and remember, she expects, that you will not only protect, but distinguish those

illustrious persons* who have laid the foundation for the recovery of our liberties. But I hope soon to have an opportunity of expressing my sentiments to you more fully upon this subject in person. In the mean while, since you are thus our glorious guardian and preserver, I conjure you, my dear Dolabella, to take care of yourself for the sake of the whole commonwealth.† Farewell.

* Brutus and Cassius, together with the rest of the conspirators.

+ Cicero communicated a copy of this letter to Atticus, who appears to have much disapproved of those encomiums with which it is so extravagantly swelled. The hyperbole, indeed, seems to have been the prevailing figure in Cicero's rhetoric; and he generally dealt it out, both to his friends and to his enemies, with more warmth than discretion. In the present instance, at least, he was either very easily imposed upon by appearances, or he changed his opinion of Dolabella's public actions and designs, according to the colour of his conduct towards himself. Perhaps both these causes might concur in forming those great and sudden variations, which we find in our author's sentiments at this period, with respect to the hero of the panegyric before us; for, in a letter to Atticus, written very shortly after the present, he speaks of Dolabella with high displeasure; and, in another to the same person, a few months later, he exclaims against him with much bitterness, as one who had not only been bribed by Antony to desert the cause of liberty, but who had endeavoured, as far as in him lay, entirely to ruin it. The accusation seems to

LETTER X.

[A. U. 709.]

TO TREBONIUS.*

I HAVE recommended my Orator (for that is the title which I have given to the Treatise I promised to send you) to the care of your freedman Sabinus. I was induced to trust it in his charge, from the good opinion I entertain of his countrymen; if, indeed, I may guess at his country by his

have been just; but it is observable, however, that, in both the letters referred to, part of Cicero's indignation arises from some personal ill treatment, which he complains of having received from Dolabella. Vid. Ad Att. xiv. 18. xvi, 15.

* Some account has already been given of Trebonius in Vol. III. p. 78, note. Cæsar, upon his return from Spain, in the preceding year, appointed him consul with Quintus Fabius Maximus; but this, and other favours of the same kind, were not sufficient to restrain him from entering into the conspiracy, which was soon afterwards formed against Cæsar's life. At the same time, therefore, that Brutus and Cassius found it expedient to leave Rome, Trebonius secretly withdrew into Asia Minor, which had before been allotted to him as his proconsular province; and he was on his way to that government when the present letter was written. Dio. p. 236, 247. Ad Att. xiv. 10.

*

name, and he has not, like an artful candidate at an election, usurped an appellation to which he has no right. However, there is such a modesty in his countenance, and such an air of sincerity in his conversation, that I am much deceived if he does not possess, in some degree at least, the true Sabine simplicity. But not to suffer him to take up any more of my paper, I will now turn, my dear Trebonius, to yourself. As there were some circumstances attending your departure that increased the affection I bear towards you, let me intreat you, in order to soothe the uneasiness I feel from your absence, to be as frequent a correspondent on your part, as you shall certainly find me on mine. There are two reasons, indeed, why you ought to be more so; the first is, that, as the republic can now no

* Cicero supposes, that Sabinus was so called, as being a native of Sabinia, a country in Italy, the inhabitants of which were celebrated for having long retained an uncorrupted simplicity of manners." Hanc olim veteres vitam coluere Sabini," is Virgil's conclusion of that charming description which he gives of the pleasing labours and innocent recreations of rural life. Georg. ii. 532.

+ It was an artifice sometimes practised by the candidates for offices, in order to recommend themselves to the good graces of their constituents, to pretend a kindred, to which they had no right, by assuming the name of some favourite and popular family. Manut.

10

longer be considered as in Rome, but removed with its glorious defenders, we, who remain here, must expect to receive from our provincial friends what we used to transmit to them, an account, I mean, of the commonwealth. The next reason is, because I have many other opportunities in your absence, besides that of writing, to give you proofs of my friendship; whereas you have none, I think, of testifying yours, but by the frequency of your letters. As to all other articles, I can wait; but my first and most impatient desire is to know what sort of journey you have had, where you met Brutus,* and how long you continued together. When you are advanced farther towards your province, you will acquaint me, I hope, with your military preparations, and with whatever else relates to our public affairs, that I may be able to form some judgment of our situation. I am sure, at least, I shall give no credit to any intelligence but what I receive from your hands. In the mean time, take care of your health, and continue to allow me the

* Brutus had not left Italy when Trebonius set out for Asia, nor did he leave it till several months afterwards; so that the inquiry which Cicero here makes, must relate to some interview which he supposed that Trebonius might have had with Brutus before the former embarked. Vid. Ad Att. xiv. 10.