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XXVII
XXVII
Servius Sulpicius to Cicero (at Astura)
Athens, March, 45 B.C.
When I received the news of your daughter Tullia`s death, I was indeed as
much grieved and distressed as I was bound to be, and looked upon it as a
calamity in which I shared. For, if I had been at home, I should not have
failed to be at your side, and should have made my sorrow plain to you face to
face. That kind of consolation involves much distress and pain, because the
relations and friends, whose part it is to offer it, are themselves overcome
by an equal sorrow. They cannot attempt it without many tears, so that they
seem to require consolation themselves rather than to be able to afford it to
others. Still I have decided to set down briefly for your benefit such
thoughts as have occurred to my mind, not because I suppose them to be unknown
to you, but because your sorrow may perhaps hinder you from being so keenly
alive to them.
Why is it that a private grief should agitate you so deeply? Think how
fortune has hitherto dealt with us. Reflect that we have had snatched from us
what ought to be no less dear to human beings than their children - country,
honour, rank, every political distinction. What additional wound to your
feelings could be inflicted by this particular loss? Or where is the heart
that should not by this time have lost all sensibility and learned to regard
everything else as of minor importance? Is it on her account, pray, that you
sorrow? How many times have you recurred to the thought - and I have often
been struck with the same idea - that in times like these theirs is far from
being the worst fate to whom it has been granted to exchange life for a
painless death? Now what was there at such an epoch that could greatly tempt
her to live? What scope, what hope, what heart`s solace? That she might spend
her life with some young and distinguished husband? How impossible for a man
of your rank to select from the present generation of young men a son-in-law,
to whose honour you might think yourself safe in trusting your child! Was it
that she might bear children to cheer her with the sight of their vigorous
youth? who might by their own character maintain the position handed down to
them by their parent, might be expected to stand for the offices in their
order, might exercise their freedom in supporting their friends? What single
one of these prospects has not been taken away before it was given? But, it
will be said, after all it is an evil to lose one`s children. Yes, it is: only
it is a worse one to endure and submit to the present state of things.
I wish to mention to you a circumstance which gave me no common
consolation, on the chance of its also proving capable of 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 my 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 killed - we whose life ought to be
still shorter - when 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 reflexion. 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 you - her own father - praetor, 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 you that you should wait for this period, and not rather
anticipate that result by the aid of your wisdom. But if there 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 her - your 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.
Finally - since we are reduced by fortune to the necessity of taking
precautions on this point also - do 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 your
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 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
the province. Good-bye.
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