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XXI
XXI
To M. Porcius Cato (at Rome)
Asia, September, 50 B.C.
"Right glad am I to be praised" - says Hector, I think, in Naevius - "by
thee, reverend senior, who hast thyself been praised." For certainly praise is
sweet that comes from those who themselves have lived in high repute. For
myself, there is nothing I should not consider myself to have attained either
by the congratulation contained in your letter, or the testimony borne to me
in your senatorial speech: and it was at once the highest compliment and the
greatest gratification to me, that you willingly conceded to friendship, what
you transparently conceded to truth. And if, I don`t say all, but if many were
Catos in our state - in which it is a matter of wonder that there is even one
- what triumphal chariot or laurel should I have compared with praise from
you? For in regard to my feelings, and in view of the ideal honesty and
subtlety of your judgment, nothing can be more complimentary than the speech
of yours, which has been copied for me by my friends. But the reason of my
wish, for I will not call it desire, I have explained to you in a former
letter. And even if it does not appear to you to be entirely sufficient, it at
any rate leads to this conclusion - not that the honour is one to excite
excessive desire, but yet is one which, if offered by the senate, ought
certainly not to be rejected. Now I hope that that House, considering the
labours I have undergone on behalf of the state, will not think me undeserving
of an honour, especially one that has become a matter of usage. And if this
turns out to be so, all I ask of you is that - to use your own most friendly
words - since you have paid me what in your judgment is the highest
compliment, you will still "be glad" if I have the good fortune to get what I
myself have preferred. For I perceive that you have acted, felt, and written
in this sense: and the facts themselves shew that the compliment paid me of a
supplicatio was agreeable to you, since your name appears on the decree: for
decrees of the senate of this nature are, I am aware, usually drawn out by the
warmest friends of the man concerned in the honour. I shall, I hope, soon see
you, and may it be in a better state of political affairs than my fears
forebode!
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