letters of cicero-第6章

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hat　I　may　call　the　drama　of　my　actions　and　fortunes：　for　it　includes　varied　acts；　and　shifting　scenes　both　of　policy　and　circumstance。　Nor　am　I　afraid　of　appearing　to　lay　snares　for　your　favour　by　flattering　suggestions；　when　I　declare　that　I　desire　to　be　complimented　and　mentioned　with　praise　by　you　above　all　other　writers。　For　you　are　not　the　man　to　be　ignorant　of　your　own　powers；　or　not　to　be　sure　that　those　who　withhold　their　admiration　of　you　are　more　to　be　accounted　jealous；　than　those　who　praise　you　flatterers。　Nor；　again；　am　I　so　senseless　as　to　wish　to　be　consecrated　to　an　eternity　of　fame　by　one　who；　in　so　consecrating　me；　does　not　also　gain　for　himself　the　glory　which　rightfully　belongs　to　genius。　For　the　famous　Alexander　himself　did　not　wish　to　be　painted　by　Apelles；　and　to　have　his　statue　made　by　Lysippus　above　all　others；　merely　from　personal　favour　to　them；　but　because　he　thought　that　their　art　would　be　a　glory　at　once　to　them　and　to　himself。　And；　indeed；　those　artists　used　to　make　images　of　the　person　known　to　strangers：　but　if　such　had　never　existed；　illustrious　men　would　yet　be　no　less　illustrious。　The　Spartan　Agesilaus；　who　would　not　allow　a　portrait　of　himself　to　be　painted　or　a　statue　made；　deserves　to　be　quoted　as　an　example　quite　as　much　as　those　who　have　taken　trouble　about　such　representations：　for　a　single　pamphlet　of　Xenophon's　in　praise　of　that　king　has　proved　much　more　effective　than　all　the　portraits　and　statues　of　them　all；　And；　moreover；　it　will　more　redound　to　my　present　exultation　and　the　honour　of　my　memory　to　have　found　my　way　into　your　history；　than　if　I　had　done　so　into　that　of　others；　in　this；　that　I　shall　profit　not　only　by　the　genius　of　the　writeras　Timoleon　did　by　that　of　Timaeus；　Themistocles　by　that　of　Herodotusbut　also　by　the　authority　of　a　man　of　a　most　illustrious　and　well…established　character；　and　one　well　known　and　of　the　first　repute　for　his　conduct　in　the　most　important　and　weighty　matters　of　state；　so　that　I　shall　seem　to　have　gained　not　only　the　fame　which　Alexander　on　his　visit　to　Sigeum　said　had　been　bestowed　on　Achilles　by　Homer；　but　also　the　weighty　testimony　of　a　great　and　illustrious　man。　For　I　like　that　saying　of　Hector　in　Naevius；　who　not　only　rejoices　that　he　is　〃praised；〃　but　adds；　〃and　by　one　who　has　himself　been　praised。〃　But　if　I　fail　to　obtain　my　request　from　you；　which　is　equivalent　to　saying；　if　you　are　by　some　means　preventedfor　I　hold　it　to　be　out　of　the　question　that　you　would　refuse　a　request　of　mineI　shall　perhaps　be　forced　to　do　what　certain　persons　have　often　found　fault　with；　write　my　own　panegyric；　a　thing；　after　all；　which　has　a　precedent　of　many　illustrious　men。　But　it　will　not　escape　your　notice　that　there　are　the　following　drawbacks　in　a　composition　of　that　sort：　men　are　bound；　when　writing　of　themselves；　both　to　speak　with　greater　reserve　of　what　is　praiseworthy；　and　to　omit　what　calls　for　blame。　Added　to　which　such　writing　carries　less　conviction；　less　weight；　many　people；　in　fine；　carp　at　it；　and　say　that　the　heralds　at　the　public　games　are　more　modest；　far　after　having　placed　garlands　on　the　other　recipients　and　proclaimed　their　names　in　a　loud　voice；　when　their　own　turn　comes　to　be　presented　with　a　garland　before　the　games　break　up；　they　call　in　the　services　of　another　herald；　that　they　may　not　declare　themselves　victors　with　their　own　voice。　I　wish　to　avoid　all　this；　and；　if　you　undertake　my　cause；　I　shall　avoid　it：　and；　accordingly；　I　ask　you　this　favour。　But　why；　you　may　well　ask；　when　you　have　already　often　assured　me　that　yOu　intended　to　record　in　your　book　with　the　utmost　minuteness　the　policy　and　events　of　my　consulship；　do　I　now　make　this　request　to　you　with　such　earnestness　and　in　so　many　words？　The　reason　is　to　be　found　in　that　burning　desire；　of　which　I　spoke　at　the　beginning　of　my　letter；　for　something　prompt：　because　I　am　in　a　flutter　of　impatience；　both　that　men　should　learn　what　I　am　from　your　book；　while　I　am　still　alive；　and　that　I　may　myself　in　my　lifetime　have　the　full　enjoyment　of　my　little　bit　of　glory。　What　you　intend　doing　on　this　subject　I　should　like　you　to　write　me　word；　if　not　troublesome　to　you。　For　if　you　do　undertake　the　subject；　I　will　put　together　sonic　notes　of　all　occurrences：　but　if　you　put　me　off　to　some　future　time；　I　will　talk　the　matter　over　with　you。　Meanwhile；　do　not　relax　your　efforts；　and　thoroughly　polish　what　you　have　already　on　the　stocks；　andcontinue　to　love　me。

XI。

To　M。　FADIUS　GALLU5

ROME　（MAY）

I　HAD　only　just　arrived　from　Arpinum　when　your　letter　was　delivered　to　me；　and　from　the　same　bearer　I　received　a　letter　from　Avianius；　in　which　there　was　this　most　liberal　offer；　that　when　he　came　to　Rome　he　would　enter　my　debt　to　him　on　whatever　day　I　chose。　Pray　put　yourself　in　my　place：　is　it　consistent　with　your　modesty　or　mine；　first　to　prefer　a　request　as　to　the　day；　and　then　to　ask　more　than　a　year's　credit？　But；　my　dear　Gallus；　everything　would　have　been　easy；　if　you　had　bought　the　things　I　wanted；　and　only　up　to　the　price　that　I　wished。　However；　the　purchases　which；　according　to　your　letter；　you　have　made　shall　not　only　be　ratified　by　me；　but　with　gratitude　besides：　for　I　fully　understand　that　you　have　displayed　zeal　and　affection　in　purchasing　（because　you　thought　them　worthy　of　me）　things　which　pleased　yourselfa　man；　as　I　have　ever　thought；　of　the　most　fastidious　judgment　in　all　matters　of　taste。　Still；　I　should　like　Damasippus　to　abide　by　his　decision：　for　there　is　absolutely　none　of　those　purchases　that　I　care　to　have。　But　you；　being　unacquainted　with　my　habits；　have　bought　four　or　five　of　your　selection　at　a　price　at　which　I　do　not　value　any　statues　in　the　world。　You　compare　your　Bacchae　with　Metellus's　Muses。　Where　is　the　likeness？　To　begin　with；　I　should　never　have　considered　the　Muses　worth　all　that　money；　and　I　think　all　the　Muses　would　have　approved　my　judgment：　still；　it　would　have　been　appropriate　to　a　library；　and　in　harmony　with　my　pursuits　But　Bacchae！　What　place　is　there　in　my　house　for　them？　But；　you　will　say；　they　are　pretty。　I　know　them　very　well　and　have　often　seem　them。　I　would　have　commissioned　you　definitely　in　the　case　of　statues　known　to　me；　if　I　had　decided　on　them。　The　sort　of　statues　that　I　am　accustomed　to　buy　are　such　as　may　adorn　a　place　in　a　pala　stra　after　the　fashion　of　gymnasia。　What；　again；　have　I；　the　promoter　of　peace；　to　do　with　a　statue　of　Mars？　I　am　glad　there　was　not　a　statue　of　Saturn　also：　for　I　should　have　thought　these　two　statues　had　brought　mc　debt！　I　should　have　preferred　some　representation　of　Mercury：　I　might　then；　I　suppose；　have　made　a　more　favourable　bargain　with　Arrianus。　You　say　you　meant　the　table…stand　for　yourself；　well；　if　you　like　it；　keep　it。　But　if　you　have　changed　your　mind　I　will；　of　course；　have　it。　For　the　money　you　have　laid　out；　indeed；　I　would　rather　have　purchased　a　place　of　call　at　Tarracina；　to　prevent　my　being　always　a　burden　on　my　host。　Altogether　I　perceive　that　the　fault　is　with　my　freedman；　whom　I　had　distinctly　commissioned　to　purchase　certain　definite　things；　and　also　with　lunius；　whom　I　think　you　know；　an　intimate　friend　of　Avianius。　I　have　constructed　some　new　sitting…rooms　in　a　miniature　colonnade　on　my　Tusculan　property。　I　want　to　ornament　them　with　pictures：　for　if　I　take　pleasure　in　anything　of　that　sort　it　is　in　painting。　However；　if　I　am　to　have　what　you　have　bought；　I　should　like　you　to　inform　me　where　they　are；　when　they　are　to　be　fetched；　and　by　what　kind　of　conveyance。　For　if　Damasippus　doesn't　abide　by　his　decision；　I　shall　look　for　some　would…be　Damasippus；　even　at　a　loss。

As　to　what　you　say　about　the　house；　as　I　was　going　out　of　town　I　intrusted　the　matter　to　my　daughter　Tullia：　for　it　'vas　at　the　very　hour　of　my　departure　that　I　got　your　letter。　I　also　discussed　the　matter　with　your　friend　Nicias；　because　he　is；　as　you　know；　intimate　with　Cassius。　On　my　return；　however；　before　I　got　your　last　letter；　I　asked　Tullia　what　she　had　done。　She　said　that　she　had　approached　Licinia　（though　I　think　Cassius　is　not　very　intimate　with　his　sister）；　and　that　she　at　once　said　that　she　could　venture；　in　the　absence　of　her　husband　（Dexius　is　gone　to　Spain）；　to　change　houses　without　his　being　there　and　knowing　about　it。。　I　am　much　gratified　that　you　should　value　association　with　me　and　my　domestic　life　so　highly；　as；　in　the　first　place；　to　take　a　house　which　would　enable　you　to　live　not　only　near　me；　but　absolutely　with　me；　and；　in　the　second　place；　to　be　in　such　a　hurry　to　make　this　change　of　residence。　But；　upon　my　life；　I　do　not　yield　to　you　in　eagerness　for　that　arrangement。　So　I　will　try　every　means　in　my　power。　For　I　see　the　advantage　to　myself；　and；　indeed；　the　advantages　to　us　both。　If　I　succeed　in　doing　anything；　I　will　let　you　know。　Mind　you　also　write　me　word　back　on　everything；　and　let　me　know；　if　you　please；　when　I　am　to　expect　you。。

XII

To　M。　MARIUS　（AT　CUMAE）

ROME　（OCTOBER？）

IF　some　bodily　pain　or　weakness　of　health　has　prevented　your　coming　to　the　games；　I　put　it　down　to　fortune　rather　than　your　own　wisdom：　but　if　you　have　made　up　your　mind　that　these　things　which　the　rest　of　the　world　admires　are　only　worthy　of　contempt；　and；　though　your　health　would　have　allowed　of　it；　you　yet　were　unwilling　to　come；　then　I　rejoice　at　both　factsthat　you　were　free　from　bodily　pain；　and　that　you　had　the　sound　sense　to　disdain　what　others　causelessly　admire。　Only　I　hope　that　some　fruit　of　your　leisure　may　be　forthcoming；　a　leisure；　indeed；　which　you　had　a　splendid　opportunity　of　enjoying　to　the　full；　seeing　that　you　were　left　almost　alone　in　your　lovely　country。　For　I　doubt　not　that　in　that　study　of　yours；　from　which　you　have　opened　a　window　into　the　Stabian　waters　of　the　bay；　and　obtained　a　view　of　Misenum；　you　have　spent　the　morning　hours　of　those　days　in　light　reading；　while　those　who　left　you　there　were　watching　the　ordinary　farces　half　asleep。　The　remaining　parts　of　the　day；　too；　you　spent　in　the　pleasures　which　you　had　yourself　arranged　to　suit　your　own　taste；　while　we　had　to　endure　whatever　had　met　with　the　approval　of　Spurius　Maecius。　On　the　whole；　if　you　care　to　know；　the　games　were　most　splendid；　but　not　to　your　taste。　I　judge　from　my　own。　For；　to　begin　with；　as　a　special　honour　to　the　occasion；　those　actors　had　come　back　to　the　stage　who；　I　thought；　had　left　it　for　their　own。　Indeed；　your　favourite；　my　friend　Aesop；　was　in　such　a　state　that　no　one　could　say　a　word　against　his　retiring　from　the　profession。　On　beginning　to　recite　the　oath　his　voice　failed　him　at　the　words　〃If　　I　knowingly　deceive。〃　Why　should　I　go　on　with　the　story？　You　know　all　about　the　rest　of　the　games；　which　hadn't　even　that　amount　of　charm　which　games　on　a　moderate　scale　generally　have：　for　the　spectacle　was　so　elaborate　as　to　leave　no　room　for　cheerful　enjoyment；　and　I　think　you　need　feel　no　regret　at　having　missed　it。　For　what　is　the　pleasure　of　a　train　of　six　hundred　mules　in　the　〃Clytemnestra；〃　or　three　thousand　bowls　in　the　〃Trojan　Horse；〃　or　gay…colored　armour　of　infantry　and　cavalry　in　some　battle？　These　things　roused　the　admiration　of　the　vulgar；　to　you　they　would　have　brought　no　delight。　But　if　during　those　days　you　listened　to　your　reader　Protogenes；　so　long　at　least　as　he　read　anything　rather　than　my　speeches；　surely　yo