Epistle XII. To Arrian.
by
the Same. [Mr. Henley.]
[_]
On a laudable Action of Marcellinus.
YOU are a Lover of Egnatius Marcellinus, and often commend him to me;
but you will love and commend him still more, when you are acquainted with a late Action,
done by him. When he went abroad as a Provincial Quæstor, and lost his Secretary (who was allotted to him) before the lawful Time of discharging his Salary,
he was of Opinion, and resolv'd, that what he receiv'd
in order to pay him, ought not to be sunk in his own Hands. Therefore,
at his Return, he consulted
Cæsar, and afterwards the Senate,
at the Instance of
Cæsar, how he should dispose of the Salary.
The Question was small, yet a Question still it was. The Heirs of the Secretary claim'd for themselves,
the Officers of the Treasury, for the People; the Cause went on; the Advocate for the Heirs pleaded first,
then the People's Advocate, and both very pertinently.
Cæcilius Strabo
thought it should be confiscated;
Bæbius Macer was for giving it to the Heirs;
Strabo carry'd it. Do you applaud
Marcellinus as I did,
immediately; for tho' it is Satisfaction enough to him to be approv'd both by the Prince and the Senate;
yet he will be extremely pleas'd with your Praise. Since, all, who are mov'd by a Sense of Fame and Glory,
are wonderfully delighted with the Approbation, even of Inferiors. Now
Marcellinus has that Reverence for you, as to put a great
Stress upon your Judgment; and it will be an Addition to this, that if he knows the Step he has taken has reach'd so far,
he must necessarily rejoyce at the Extent, the Progress, and the Advance of his Reputation.
For I cannot tell how it is, but a diffusive Name is more agreeable to Men,
than one that is even great in the Cause and Degree of it.
Farewell.
