University of Virginia Library

Epistle XI. Plinius to Julius Genitor.

by Mr. M.

OUR Friend Artemidorus is of so benevolent a Temper, that he is for inflaming the Kindnesses of his Friends with the most extravagant commendations. This puts him on setting such a Value on my Deserts, which, tho' here true, he runs too great a Length in.

'Tis true, indeed, when the Philosophers were banish'd the City, I visited him in the Suburbs; and what was more remarkable and dangerous too, I was at that time Prætor.

He wanted a considerable Sum of Money, to pay some Debts he had contracted on some generous and friendly Accounts, which for all the Whispers of some great and rich People, I gave instead of lending him.

All this I did in such a critical Time, when I had seven Friends either murder'd or banish'd. Among the murder'd were Senecio, Rusticus,

Helvidius; and the banish'd were Mauricus, Gratilla, Arria, Fannia. When I was sing'd as it were with so many Thunderbolts about me, I had good Reason, and too sure and Omen, to expect the same Fate.

These are no Reasons as he would have 'em, in my Opinion, of my being so finely spoken of; only I may be said not to have been so base as to abandon a Friend in Distress.

For I lov'd and admir'd his Father-in-Law C. Musonius, as much as the Difference in our Years would allow; and when I commanded as Colonel in Syria, I contracted a great Intimacy with Artemidorus himself. In that indeed I gave a Specimen that I had the Taste of a Philosopher, or something the nearest to it that could be: For of all those who assume that Name in our Age, you shall hardly pick out one of his Sincerity and Veracity. I forbear mentioning his Patience and Indefatigableness in every Extremity of Heat and Cold, his Abstinence in Eating and Drinking, and the whole Regulation of his Soul and Senses.

These are mighty Things, and so they would be in another; but in him were the least, in comparison with his other Virtues; which was the Reason that C. Musonius preferr'd him for a Son-in-Law to all Competitors whatsoever. All which indeed I very gratefully remember, since he is pleas'd so unmercifully to extol me before others as well as your self.

But I fear, thro' his excessive good Nature, he keeps no Measure with himself, which I hinted before: For in such an Instance, a Man, tho' otherwise the discreetest Person breathing, is guilty of a Fault; which, tho' pardonable, is yet a Fault, I mean, to entertain a better Opinion of ones Friends than they can possibly deserve.