letters of cicero-第25章
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diminishing your sorrow。 On my voyage from Asia； as I was sailing from Aegina towards Megara； I began to survey the localities that were on every side of me。 Behind me was Aegina； in front Megara； on the right Piraeus； on my left Corinth： towns which at one time were most flourishing； but now lay before my eyes in ruin and decay。 I began to reflect to myself thus： 〃Hah！ do we mannikins feel rebellious if one of us perishes or is killedwe whose life ought to be still shorterwhen the corpses of so many towns lie in helpless ruin？ Will you please； Servius； restrain yourself and recollect that you are born a mortal man？〃 Believe me； I was no little strengthened by that reflection。 Now take the trouble； if you agree with me； to put this thought before your eyes。 Not long ago all those most illustrious men perished at one blow： the empire of the Roman people suffered that huge loss： all the provinces were shaken to their foundations。 If you have become the poorer by the frail spirit of one poor girl； are you agitated thus violently？ If she had not died now； she would yet have had to die a few years hence； for she was mortal born。 You； too； withdraw soul and thought from such things and rather remember those which become the part you have played in life： that she lived as long as life had anything to give her； that her life outlasted that of the Republic； that she lived to see youher own fatherpraetor； consul； and augur； that she married young men of the highest rank； that she had enjoyed nearly every possible blessing； that； when the Republic fell； she departed from life。 What fault have you or she to find with fortune on this score？ In fine； do not forget that you are Cicero； and a man accustomed to instruct and advise others； and do not imitate bad physicians； who in the diseases of others profess to understand the art of healing； but are unable to prescribe for themselves。 Rather suggest to yourself and bring home to your own mind the very maxims which you are accustomed to impress upon others。 There is no sorrow beyond the power of time at length to diminish and soften： it is a reflexion on yea that you should wait for this period； and not rather anticipate that restmlt by the aid of your wisdom。 But if here is any consciousness still existing in the world below； such was her love for you and her dutiful affection for all her family； that she certainly does not wish you to act as you are acting。 Grant this to heryour lost one！ Grant it to your friends and comrades who mourn with you in your sorrow！ Grant it to your country； that if the need arises she may have the use of your services and advice。
Finallysince we are reduced by fortune to the necessity of taking precautions on this point alsodo not allow anyone to think that you are not mourning so much for your daughter as for the state of public affairs and the victory of others。 I am ashamed to say any more to you on this subject； lest I should appear to distrust your wisdom。 Therefore I will only make one suggestion before bringing my letter to an end。 We have seen you on many occasions bear good fortune with a noble dignity which greatly enhanced yotmr fame： now is the time for you to convince us that you are able to bear bad fortune equally well； and that it does not appear to you to be a heavier burden than you ought to think it。 I would not have this to be the only one of all the virtues that you do not possess。
As far as I am concerned； when I learn that your mind is more composed； I will write you an account of what is going on here； and of the condition of th。 province。 Good…bye。
XXVIII
To SERVIUS SULPICIUS RUFUS （IN ACHAIA）
FICULEA （APRIL）
YES； indeed； my dear Servius； I would have wishedas you saythat you had been by my side at the time of my grievous loss。 How much help your presence might have given me； both by consolation and by your taking an almost equal share in my sorrow； I can easily gather from the fact that after reading your letter I experienced a great feeling of relief。 For not only was what you wrote calculated to soothe a mourner； but in offering me consolation you manifested no slight sorrow of heart yourself。 Yet； after all； your son Servius by all the kindness of which such a time admitted made it evident； both how much he personally valued me； and how gratifying to you he thought such affection for me would be。 His kind offices have of course often been pleasanter to me； yet never more acceptable。 For myself again； it is not only your words and （I had almost said） your partnership in my sorrow that consoles me； it is your character also。 For I think it a disgrace that I should not bear my loss as youa man of such wisdom think it should be borne。 But at times I am taken by surprise and scarcely offer any resistance to my grief； because those consolations fail me； which were not wanting in a similar misfortune to those others； whose examples I put before my eyes。 For instance； Quintus Maximus； who lost a son who had been consul and was of illustrious character and brilliant achievements； and Lucius Paullus； who lost two within seven days； and your kinsman Gallus and M。 Cato； who each lost a son of the highest character and valour；all lived in circumstances which permitted their own great position； earned by their public services； to assuage their grief。 In my case； after losing the honours which you yourself mention； and which I had gained by the greatest possible exertions； there was only that one solace left which has now been torn away。 My sad musings were not interrupted by the business of my friends； nor by the management of public affairs： there was nothing I cared to do in the forum： I could not bear the sight of the senate…house； I thoughtas was the factthat I had lost all the fruits both of my industry and of fortune。 But while I thought that I shared these losses with you and certain others； and while I was conquering my feelings and forcing myself to bear them with patience； I had a refuge； one bosom where I could find repose； one in whose conversation and sweetness I could lay aside all anxieties and sorrows。 But now； after such a crushing blow as this； the wounds which seemed to have healed break out afresh。 For there is no republic now to offer me a refuge and a consolation by its good fortunes when I leave my home in sorrow； as there once was a home to receive me when I returned saddened by the state of public affairs。 Hence I absent myself both from home and forum； because home can no longer console the sorrow which public affairs cause me； nor public affairs that which I suffer at home。 All the more I look forward to your coming； and long to see you as soon as possible。 No reasoning can give me greater solace than a renewal of our intercourse and conversation。 However； I hope your arrival is approaching； for that is what I am told。 For myself； while I have many reasons for wishing to see you as soon as possible； there is this one especiallythat we may discuss beforehand on what principles we should live through this period of entire submission to the will of one man who is at once wise and liberal； far； as I think I perceive； from being hostile to me； and very friendly to you。 But though that is so； yet it is a matter for serious thought what plans； I don't say of action； but of passing a quiet life by his leave and kindness； we should adopt。 Good…bye。
XXIX
To ATTICUS （AT ROME）
PUTEOLI； 2！ DECEMBER
WELL； I have no reason after all to repent my formidable guest！ For he made himself exceedingly pleasant。 But on his arrival at the villa of Philippus on the evening of the second day of the Saturnalia； the villa was so choke full of soldiers that there was scarcely a dining…room left for Caesar himself to dine in。 Two thousand men； if you please！ I was in a great taking as to what was to happen the next day； and so Cassius Barba came to my aid and gave me guards。 A camp was pitched in the open； the villa was put in a state of defence。 He stayed with Philippus on the third day of the Saturnalia till one o'clock； without admitting anyone。 He was engaged on his accounts； I think； with Balbus。 Then he took a walk on the beach。 After two he went to the bath。 Then he heard about Mamurra without changing countenance。 He was
