Epistle XIII. To Priscus.
by
Mr. M.
YOU readily embrace all Opportunities of serving me, and I am not so willingly oblig'd to any body as your self;
for both these Reasons therefore, I am an earnest Petitioner to you for a Favour,
I hope, I shall not be deny'd. You have long had the Command of a great Army,
which must have given you the Power of doing much good, and advancing your Friends;
now think of mine, they are not many, tho' the Number with you wou'd be no Objection:
I have not Assurance to ask for above one or two, or rather but one; That shall be
Voconius Romanus, whose Father was honourable in the Equestrian Degree;
his Father-in-Law (another Father indeed to him) more so: He succeeded him in his Name and Virtue;
his Mother was of one of the best Family of the Higher
Spain, you know the Reputation of that Province. He was himself lately Priest of
Jove: When we were Students together, we contracted a Friendship; he was my constant Companion in City or Country;
we liv'd together with all imaginable Freedom, for there never was a better Friend,
or more agreeable Company: There is something wonderfully taking both in his Person and Conversation:
He is a Man of surprizing Genius, of a fine, pleasant and ready Wit, and has an extraordinary Talent for Pleading,
and writes Letters in such a Style, you would think the very Muses spoke Latin.
I love him passionately, nor in that will he be out-done. In our Youth indeed,
I did him all the good Offices that Age would allow, and lately obtained of the best of Emperors,
for him, the Benefit of the Law, that indulges those that have three Children,
which tho' he give very sparingly, and with Caution, he granted to me,
as of his own Choice: I know not how so well to preserve a Sense of
the Services I have done him, as
by an Addition, especially since he receives every fresh Favour so gratefully,
as to merit my future Friendship.
You see what he is, how well approv'd and esteem'd by me, whom I recommend to your Favour and good Opinion.
Pray think him worthy of your Friendship, for whatever your Generosity can bestow on him besides,
will hold no Competition with that, of which
you may think him in the most intimate manner deserving. I have given you a short Account of his Studies,
his Manners, nay, a Sketch of his whole Life. I wou'd enlarge my Request,
but that I know you do not love to be press'd; and I had been doing it throughout this Letter,
for he asks, and asks most effectually, that gives his Reasons for so doing.
