Epistle XVII. To Gallus.
by
the Same. [Mr. Henley.]
[_]
On the Cause of Corellia.
YOU admonish and importune me at once to undertake the Cause of absent
Corellia, against Caius Cæcilius, who is design'd Consul. For Your Admonition I give you Thanks,
but I take it ill to be importun'd about it. For I ought to be inform'd in order to know it,
but shou'd not be sollicited to do, what it
would be extremely dishonourable to neglect. Should I make any Scruple to defend the Daughter of
Corellus? Indeed, there is no close Acquaintance, but still there is a Friendly Understanding between me and the Person against whom you would set me at work.
Another Consideration, is the Worth of the Man, and that very Honour to which he is appointed;
which I ought to reverence the more, since I have already pass'd it. For it is natural to desire,
what has been our own Interest, should stand in the greatest Credit and Esteem.
But all these Arguments are cold and vain, when I think I am to assist the Daughter of
Corellus. This turns my View on that Great Man, equal to the wisest,
the most approv'd, and sagacious in our Age. From admiring, I came to love him,
and (the reverse of what is usual) I still admir'd him more, after I perfectly knew him.
For indeed I knew him entirely; he conceal'd nothing from me, whether pleasant or serious;
melancholy, or joyful.
I was then very Young, and even
then he did me Honour; and (I will take Leave to say it) paid me a Respect as his Equal.
His Aid and Vote in every Competition for Places were at my Service: He was my Introductor and Companion,
when I enter'd on any Office; my Councellor and Director, in the Management of it;
and in short, in every Charge I went through, tho' weak and advanc'd in Years,
appear'd to be Vigorous and Youthful.
What Credit has he given me at Home, in Publick, and even with the Emperor?
For when, on an accidental Occasion, a Talk arose about Promising young Men at the Emperor
Nerva's, and most of the Company were pleas'd to commend me, he was silent for a Time,
which gave him the more Weight; then with that Gravity you know, he said,
I am oblig'd to be the more sparing in my Praise of
Secundus, because he does nothing but by my Advice.
An Expression that implied, (what it would have been an Extravagance in me to have presum'd) I acted every Thing well,
since I acted by the Counsel of the most judicious Man alive. On his Death-bed too,
he told his Daughter (as she commonly reports it) I have indeed procur'd you a Number of Friends,
in a longer course of Life than ordinary, but the Chief are
Cæcilius
and
Cornutus. When I reflect on this, I bethink my self that I ought to take Care,
not in any part to fail the Trust of so provident a Friend. Therefore I will readily serve
Corellia, and not be afraid to give a Distaste by it. Tho' I flatter my self,
that I shall not only have the Pardon but the Applause of that very Person,
who, you tell me, sets the Cause on Foot, (perhaps new, since it is against a Woman) if I shall happen,
either for my own Excuse or Recommendation, to use these same Expressions,
in the Pleading, more largely and copiously, than the narrow Bounds of a Letter,
permit me.
Farewell.
