Cicero's Epistles to Atticus, with Notes, Tr by W. Guthrie

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1806. Excerpt: ... CICERO'S EPISTLES TO ATTICUS. BOOK III. EPISTLE I. I Wish I may see the day1, when I shall thank you for having compelled me not to end my being. Hitherto I feel weary of life; but I beg that 1 The reader will perceive, that Cicero's incautious conduct, during his consulship, and his cowardly behaviour, when pushed by Clodius, had driven him into severe banishment, which he bore with unparalleled despondency. It is true, the love of his country is still visible through all his expressions of personal affliction; but a man must be fond of Cicero to madness and enthusiasm, should he deny that his dejection and despondency in his adversity, were only proportioned to his insolence and vanity in his prosperity. This is often, if not always, the case with human nature; nor is there a more illustrious instance of it than in the person of Cicero. In his letters, where he lays open, without reserve, the sentiments of his that you will instantly meet me at Vibo, to which I have many reasons for retiring. But if you come to that city, we shall settle the plan. of . . his heart, we find him, by turns, blaming or blackening, reproving or reviling, the greatest men of Rome. We have already seen with what contempt he, on all occasions, characterises Pompey; how he loads Crassus, blames Caesar, vilifies Hortensius, sneers at Lucullus, and treats even Cato as a wrongheaded man, of a narrow genius, and more fitted to mislead than to direct a party. Cicero made a very happy choice of Atticus for his confident. He was a Roman knight, who had formed to himself and pursued, a scheme of pleasure, which that age thought to be rational, and succeeding times have pronounced to be amiable. He was a professed Epicurean, and acted up to all the refinements of that sect, both in moral...