Epistle I.
by
Mr. M.
[_]
On the Funeral of Virginius Rufus.
AFTER a long Intermission, the publick Funeral of Virginius Rufus
exhibits to the Roman People a goodly and memorable Shew of the greatest,
most eminent, and equally happy Citizen. He liv'd thirty Years after his glorious Actions;
saw Poems in his own Praise, read the History of himself, and knew how he should be transmitted to Posterity:
He had past
the third Consulship, that he might attain the highest Post in private Life,
since he would not accept the Throne. Those
Cæsars, to whom his Virtues rendred him suspected and hated,
he surviv'd and left safe and well the best and most Worthy, as if he had been preserv'd for this very Honour of a publick Funeral.
He has pass'd his eighty third Year in great Tranquility and no less Esteem;
he enjoy'd a constant Health, except only that his Hand shook, but without Pain.
The manner of his Death was long and sharp; but even this was attended with Circumstances of Credit,
for as he was preparing an Oration of Thanks to the Prince for the Consulate,
and had taken a large Volume, which by its Weight, old as he was, and standing,
fell out of his Hand, he stoop'd to take it up, but lost his Footing upon a slippery Pavement,
and falling, broke his Hip, which being ill set, and at such an Age, did not unite.
This funeral was an Honour to the Prince, to the Age, and even to the Courts of
Rome.
His Oration was made by the Consul
Cornelius Tacitus, and he arriv'd to this last Point of Happiness,
to have the most eloquent Orator speak his Praise. He dy'd full of Years,
full of Honours, even such as he had refus'd; we cannot but wish for him,
and desire him as the Pattern of the former Age, but I feel the Loss of him in a particular manner,
who did not only pay him publick Honour, but on a Personal Account lov'd,
as much as I admir'd him.
We were of the same Country, the Towns we liv'd in near, our Lands and Estates joyn'd;
besides, being left by my Father, Guardian to me, he expressed the Affection of a Parent:
when I was a Candidate, he honour'd me with his Vote and Interest. Even after he had retir'd from Business,
he return'd whenever my Honour wanted his Assistance. On that Day the Priests are to appoint whom they think most worthy of the Priesthood,
he always named me. And in his last Illness, fearing he should be one of the Quinquevirate,
appointed by order of the Senate, to reduce the publick Expences: Of the many old Friends he had then living,
and those of the Consular Order; Me he chose at this Age to supply his Place,
with this remarkable Expression of his own,
Tho' I had a Son, I wou'd commit this Charge to Thee.
Wherefore I can do no less than lament his death to you, if it be fit,
to bewail or call that death, by which the Mortality of so great a Man is rather ended,
than his Life, for he lives, and will live for ever; tho' he is gone from among Men, he will be immortal in their Memory and Writings;
I did intend to write about some other Matters, but my Mind is wholly taken up with this Contemplation:
I think of
Virginius, I see
Virginius, I hear, I speak to,
I hold
Virginius by now vain Ideas, tho' fresh, to whom it may be we have,
and may have, many Citizens equal in Virtue, in Glory None.
