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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
