Epistle IX. To Apollinaris.
by
Mr. Henley.
[_]
On his Petition for the Tribuneship.
I Am restless and anxious about the Petition of my Friend Sextus Euritius;
I am affected with a deep Concern upon it; and a sollicitude, which I never endur'd for myself;
I feel, as it were, for another Me; and otherwise indeed, my Credit,
Esteem, and Character might suffer: I procur'd him the Senatorian Habit,
and the Questorship of Cæsar. By my Suffrage he is come to a Right of Petitioning for the Office of Tribune;
which if he does not carry in the Senate, I am afraid, that Cæsar
will think i have impos'd upon him; so that I must labour the point, that all may entertain the same Opinion of him,
as I have infus'd into the Emperor. If I wanted this Incentive to my Zeal,
yet I should desire to assist a young Gentleman of the utmost Probity,
good Sense, and Learning; One that is worthy of the highest Approbation,
as well as his whole Family. For his Father was Euritius Clarus,
a Man of ancient Virtue, Eloquent, well vers'd in the Practice of the Bar, which he supported
with great Honesty, and equal Steadiness and
Modesty. His Uncle was
C. Septitius, than whom I never knew any thing more True,
Plain-dealing, Candid, or Faithful. They are all equal Rivals in the Love of me:
I have now an opportunity to requite them all in one; so that I lay hold on my Friends,
am a supplicant to them, visit them round, go about their usual Stands in Public,
and try by my Addresses, what degree of Power and Favour I am Master of with them.
I must beg of you in your Turn, to undertake a Part of my Burden: I shall return it,
whether you demand a Requital, or no. You are Belov'd, Courted, Frequented:
Only show your Inclination, and others will sometime be found to Second your Wishes.
