together with a most amiable and becoming modesty. He has
already, with considerable credit, passed through the offices of
quaestor, tribune, and praetor; so that you will be spared the
trouble of soliciting for him those honourable employments. He
has a fine, well-bred, countenance, with a ruddy, healthy
complexion, while his whole person is elegant and comely and his
mien graceful and senatorian: advantages, I think, by no means to
be slighted, and which I consider as the proper tribute to virgin
innocence. I think I may add that his father is very rich. When I
contemplate the character of those who require a husband of my
choosing, I know it is unnecessary to mention wealth; but when I
reflect upon the prevailing manners of the age, and even the laws
of Rome, which rank a man according to his possessions, it
certainly claims some regard; and, indeed, in establishments of this
nature, where children and many other circumstances are to be
duly weighed, it is an article that well deserves to be taken into the
account. You will be inclined, perhaps, to suspect that affection
has had too great a share in the character I have been drawing, and
that I have heightened it beyond the truth: but I will stake all my
credit, you will find everything far beyond what I have
represented. I love the young fellow indeed (as he justly deserves)
with all the warmth of a most ardent affection; but for that very
reason I would not ascribe more to his merit than I know it will
bear. Farewell.

XI

To SEPTITIUS CLARUS

An! you are a pretty fellow! You make an engagement to come to