This projected library and collection of antiquities it was the intention of Cicero to have placed in his favourite villa in the neighbourhood of Rome, whose name, consecrated by time, now proverbially describes the retirement of a man of elegant taste.  To adorn his villa at Tusculum formed the day-dreams of this man of genius; and his passion broke out in all the enthusiasm and impatience which so frequently characterise the modern collector.  Not only Atticus, on whose fine taste he could depend, but every one likely to increase his acquisitions was Cicero persecuting with entreaties on entreaties, with the seduction of large prices, and with the expectation, that if the orator and consul would submit to accept any bribe, it would hardly be refused in the shape of a manuscript or a statue.  “In the name of our friendship,” says Cicero, addressing Atticus, “suffer nothing to escape you of whatever you find curious or rare.”  When Atticus informed him that he should send him a fine statue, in which the heads of Mercury and Minerva were united together, Cicero, with the enthusiasm of a maniacal lover of the present day, finds every object which is uncommon the very thing for which he has a proper place.  “Your discovery is admirable, and the statue you mention seems to have been made purposely for my cabinet.”  Then follows an explanation of the mystery of this allegorical statue, which expressed the happy union of exercise and study.  “Continue,” he adds, “to collect for me as you have promised, in as great a quantity as possible, morsels of this kind.”  Cicero, like other collectors, may be suspected not to have been very difficult in his choice, and for him the curious was not less valued than the beautiful.  The mind and temper of Cicero were of a robust and philosophical cast, not too subject to the tortures of those whose morbid imagination and delicacy of taste touch on infirmity.  It is, however, amusing to observe this great man, actuated by all the fervour and joy of collecting.  “I have paid your agent, as you ordered, for the Megaric statues; send me as many of them as you can, and as soon as possible, with any others which you think proper for the place, and to my taste, and good enough to please yours.  You cannot imagine how greatly my passion increases for this sort of things; it is such that it may appear ridiculous in the eyes of many; but you are my friend, and will only think of satisfying my wishes.”  Again—­“Purchase for me, without thinking farther, all that you discover of rarity.  My friend, do not spare my purse.”  And, indeed, in another place he loves Atticus both for his promptitude and cheap purchases:  Te multum amamus, quod ea abs te diligenter, parvoque curata sunt.

Our collectors may not be displeased to discover at their head so venerable a personage as Cicero; nor to sanction their own feverish thirst and panting impatience with all the raptures on the day of possession, and the “saving of rents” to afford commanding prices—­by the authority of the greatest philosopher of antiquity.