LETTER IX. [A. U. 707.] TO THE SAME. My friend and tribe-fellow,* Lucius Cossinius, is one with whom I have long lived in great intimacy; and which his connexions with Atticus has contributed still further to improve. I enjoy the affection of his whole family, but particularly of his freedman Anchialus, who is highly in the esteem, not only of his patron, but of all his patron's friends, in which number I have already mentioned myself. I recommend Anchialus, therefore, to your favour, with as much warmth as if he stood in the same relation to me that he does to Cossinius. You will oblige me, indeed, in a very sensible manner, by receiving him into your friendship, and giving him any assistance he may require; as far, I mean, as your own convenience will admit; and you will hereafter, I am persuaded, receive much satisfaction from your compliance with this request; as you will find Anchialus to be a man of the greatest politeness and probity. Farewell. *The collective body of the Roman people was divided into 35 tribes: and every citizen, of whatever rank, was LETTER X. [A. U. 707.] TO THE SAME. THE pleasure I took in the reflection of having written to you in behalf of my friend and host Lyso, was much increased when I read his letter; and I particularly rejoiced in having so strongly recommended him to your esteem, when I found he had before been a sufferer in your good opinion. For my recommendation, he tells me, was of singular advantage in removing the groundless suspicion you had entertained of him, from a report that he had frequently, whilst he was at Rome, treated your character in a disrespectful manner. Let me, in the first place, then, return you those thanks which I so justly owe you, for suffering my letter to efface every remaining impression of this injurious calumny: and in the next place, although Lyso assures me, that, reeably to your well-natu necessarily enrolled under one or other of these several classes. They were each distinguished by a particular name, as the Tribus Popilia, Tribus Velina, &c. which name was derived either from the place which the tribe principally inhabited, or from some distinguished family it contained. Rosin. Antiq. Rom. red and generous disposition, he has entirely satisfied you of his innocence, yet I entreat you to believe me when I protest, not only in justice to my friend, but to the world in general, that I never heard any man mention you without the highest applause. As to Lyso, in particular, in all the daily conversations we had together, whilst he continued here, you were the perpetual subject of his encomiums, both as he imagined that I heard them with pleasure, and as it was a topic extremely agreeable, likewise, to himself. But though he is fully satisfied with the effects of my former letter, and I am sensible that the generous manner in which you treat him, renders all farther application perfectly unnecessary; yet I cannot forbear renewing my earnest solicitations, that you would continue your favours towards him. I would again also represent to you how well he deserves them, if I did not imagine you were, by this time, sufficiently acquainted with his merit. Farewell, LETTER XI. [A. U. 707.] TO THE SAME. HAGESARETUS of Larissa* having received considerable honours from me during my consulate, has ever since distinguished me with singular marks of gratitude and respect. I strongly recommend him, therefore, to you as my host and friend; as a man of an honest and grateful heart; as a person of principal rank in his native city; and, in short, as one who is altogether worthy of being admitted into your friendship. And I shall be exceedingly obliged to you for letting him see, that you pay regard to this my recommendation. Farewell. * There were two cities of this name in Thessaly: a country contiguous to Greece, and which formerly made part of the kingdom of Macedonia. One of these cities was situated upon the river Peneas, and is now called Larsa, the other was a maritime town. Geographers suppose the latter to be the present Armino, a considerable sea port belonging to the Turks. LETTER XII. [A. U. 707.] TO THE SAME. THE Connection between Lucius Mescinius and myself, results from no less powerful a tie than that of his having been formerly my quæstor.* But, though I always considered a relation of this kind in the high regard it was viewed by our ancestors, yet the refined and elegant virtues of Mescinius† rendered it still more justly sacred. Accordingly there is no man with whom I live in a higher degree of intimacy, or from whose friendship I derive greater satisfaction. He doubts not of your disposition to serve him upon every occasion that shall comport with your honour; however, he is persuaded, that a letter from my hand will considerably strengthen your inclinations for that purpose. This he collects, not only from his own observation, but from those frequent declarations he has heard me make, of the very pleasing and *See Vol. II. p. 288, note. + The reader will find, by the remark referred to in the last note, how little there was of truth and sincerity in the character which Cicero here bestows upon his friend. |