Epistle VI. To Fundanus.
by
B. G. Esq;
[_]
He desires his Interest for a Friend.
IF at any Time, now especially, I wish you were at Rome, and must desire you to come;
I want you to second my Desires, my Endeavour to serve Julius Naso,
who is a Candidate: He has many and great Competitors, against whom, as it would be honourable,
so it will be difficult to succeed. I am therefore doubtful; I entertain Hope,
and yet am not without Fear; I can hardly think I have pass'd the Consulship,
and seem myself again a Candidate for all the Offices I have gone thro'.
He deserves this Care for the long Esteem he has had for me, I cannot say I was acquainted with his Father,
my Age would not permit it, but he has been pointed out to me in my Youth,
as a Man of great Worth. He was not only a Lover of Learning, but a Patron of it,
and came almost daily to Quintilian and Nicetes, whom I frequented,
A man so considerable, that his Memory can't but be useful to his Son.
There are many in the Senate, who did not know
him, many to whom he was known, who shew their Respect only to the Living.
Wherefore, not relying on his Father's Reputation which may do him Credit,
but little Service: We must insist on his own Merit, which truly, as if he had foreseen this Time,
he always provided for: He has contracted many Friendships, and those he made he ever cultivated:
Me truly, as soon as his Age qualify'd him to distinguish, he propos'd to his Imitation.
He stands by me with Attention; if I plead, he stays to hear me repeat:
He is the first, and that particularly interests himself in my Works at their first Appearance,
now singly, formerly with his Brother, whose late Death obliges me to supply his Place.
For I lament his untimely Fate, and condole with
Naso for losing the Assistance of the best of Brothers,
and being left only to that of his Friends. For these Reasons, I beg you will come and strengthen my Interest with yours,
for it is of great Consequence, that you appear and go
about with me. Such is your Autho
rity, that I shall ask my Friends with a better Grace in your Company:
Break thro' all Impediments. This is the Time, your Friendship, my Honour,
calls for: I have undertaken for
Naso and it is publick: It is I make an Interest;
I risque my Credit: In short, if
Naso obtains his Suit, the Honour is his;
if he miscarries, the Repulse is mine.
