DXVII (F XIII, 24)
TO SERVIUS SULPICIUS RUFUS (IN ACHAIA)
Rome
As it gave me great pleasure before to find that you had
remembered my earnest recommendation of Lyso, my host
and friend, so also, when I found from his letter that he
had been the object of your undeserved suspicion, I was
exceedingly rejoiced that I had been so earnest in recommending
him. For he writes me word that my recommendation
has been of the greatest assistance to him, as he
says that a report had been brought you of his being in the
habit of speaking disrespectfully of you at Rome. And
though he writes word that your good nature and kindness of
heart have enabled him to clear himself on that point, yet, first
of all, as in duty bound, I thank you warmly that my letter
has had such influence with you as to cause you on its perusal
to lay aside all that irritating suspicion which you had entertained
of Lyso. In the next place, I would have you believe
me, when I assert that I write this not more in the name of
Lyso than of everybody else—that no one has ever mentioned
you except in the terms of the highest respect. As for Lyso,
indeed, while he was with me every day and almost lived
with me, not only because he thought that I liked hearing
it, but also because it gave him still more pleasure to say it
himself, he used to speak to me in praise of everything you
did and said. Wherefore, though he is now being treated
by you in a way that makes a recommendation from me
unnecessary, and makes him think that he has got all he
wants by means of one letter from me, yet I do beg of you
with no common earnestness to continue to receive him
with kindness and liberality. I would have written a description
of his character, as I did in my previous letter, had
I not thought that by this time he was sufficiently well known
to you by his own merits.