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.
ROME
