The familiar epistles of M.T. Cicero Englished and conferred with the: French Italian and other translations

Seruius Sulpitius to Cicero. Epist. 5.

FOr the death of your daughter Tu••∣lia, I wa•• as truely sorrowfull, as be∣houed me: but this I reputed a com∣mon misfortune; and had I been there, I would haue assisted you with all possi∣ble kindnesse, and with your owne eies, you should haue read my griefe. Now, though their estate be pitiful, & lamen∣table, that vndertake to comfort others; who either being kinsfolkes, or neere f••iends, haue more need of consolation

themselues, being no waies able ••o dis∣charge this office, without aboundant teares, in that they are afflicted with the same care and griefe: yet will I not forbeare to set before your eyes those things, which at ••his present come into my minde: not because I imagine, that you did not discouer them, but in that by the vaile of your griefe, they are peraduenture concealed from you. What's the reason, that the death of your daughter should so afflict you? Remember how Fortune hath hither∣to to••sed vs. Shee hath depriued vs of those goods, which men ought to e∣steeme no lesse deere, then their chil∣dren; our countrey, our dignities, all honours, and commendable customes. What greater sorrow could pierce your heart, through the accesse of this dis∣aster? or what minde is there, that is not so inured to these things, that it is ere this time hardned; and that in fee∣ling them, is sorrowfull? haue you com∣passion of her, b••cause she is dead? In deed I suppose, this greeues you: Though nece••sarily you must, as wee al••o oftentimes consider, that they haue beene very fortunate, to whom the heauens were so fauourable, as depri∣uing them of life, they brought vpon them a death without vexation. And why should shee desi••e longer life? To what end? Vpon what hopes? To

marry with some Gentle••man, with whom she might haue liu'd h••ppily? I beleeue, that amongst our young Nobilitie, you might haue made choice of a son in law, co••respondent to your owne dignitie: to whose trust, you might ••ecurely haue committed your children. Or, because she might haue occasion to reioyce, when shee saw her children in flourishing estate? And such, who, of themselues, might be a∣ble to gouerne their fathers inheri∣tance? might attaine successiuely to all honours? might shew courtesie in their ••riends occasions? Which of these things was not taken away, before it was giuen? Oh, but you'l say, The losse of children go••s neere the ••eart. 'Tis true, it is an ••uill, but to suffer what we suffer, is far worse. Ile rel••te a thing vnto you, which gaue mee no small consola••ion; to try, if it can a••∣ford you as much. Returning out of Asia, and sailing from Aegina, towards Megara, I cast mine eye round about. B••hinde me lay Aegina, before M••gar••, on the ••ight h••nd Pirae••us, and on the left Corinthus: wh••ch were somet••mes renowned Cities, but now appeare to euery mans view, demolished, and euen wi••h the g••ound: And thus I began to con••ider with my selfe: Doe we then, poore wretched men, so dismay our selues, when any one of vs is slaine, or

dead; When in one onely place, so many bod••es of razed Cit••es are seene lying on the ground? Wilt not thou, ô Seruiu••, ackno••ledge and remember thy selfe, to bee borne mor••a••l? I•• you thinke good, propound to your sel••e this other example: Not long since, at one instant, many honourable men were slaine: The Empire was much impayr'd: All the Pr••uinces were tor∣mented: And doe you, for one si••ly womans breath expir'd, poure out so infinite lamentation? Who, if shee were not now dead, within a few yeeres, of nec••ssitie shee must dye; be∣ing mortall borne. Alas! banish this passion from your heart, and rather re∣call those things to your minde, that are worthie of your person: that shee liu'd as long time as was requisite; that she liued in the flourishing estate of the Common-wealth; that she saw her fa∣ther P••aetor, Consull, and Augure; that shee was married to one of the no∣blest young men in Rome; that shee ta∣s••ed all contentments, that possibly may bee ••nioyed in this world; and at last, departed this life at the same in∣stant, when the Common-wealth her selfe failed. And therefore nei••her you, nor shee, could complaine of Fortune. Besides you must remember, how you are the same Cic••ro, that was wont ••o perswade, and comfort others. Doe

not therefore imitate ignorant Physi••i∣ans, who in other mens maladies, pro∣fesse they haue the Art of Physicke, but by no meanes can cure themselues: ra∣ther haue recourse to those remedies, with which you were wont to cure o∣thers misfortunes. There is no greefe so great, which length of ••ime doth not make lesse, and extenuate. It becomes you not to expect this time, and not to withstand it by your wisdome. And if it bee true, that the soule is immortall: then she questionlesse, out of the loue she beares to you, and the affection to the r••st of her friends, would no•• haue you commit this errour. Deny not this fauour therefore to your daughters soule. D••ny it not your good friends, who sorrow ••or your greefe•• Nor deny it to your Country, because, if shee stood in need of you, shee may vse your aid and councell. And seeing we are reduced to such a point, that we must also haue a respect to this; take heed, lest others censure, that you la∣ment not so much for your daughter, as for another mans victorie, and the calamities of the Common-wealth. I am asham'd to write vnto you of this more at large, because I would not seeme to be diffident of your wisdome: with this breefe record therefore, I will make an end. We heretofore saw, that you gouern'd prudently in your happy

••ort••nes; and reaped thereby high commendation. Now, let it appeare vpon this accident, that you know how to demeane your selfe also in disasters, without taking greater greefe then is conuenient: to the end, that of all o∣ther vertues, this may not onely seeme wanting in you. As for the occur∣rents of these par••s, when I heare of the pacification of your minde, I will pre∣sently giue you aduertisement. Fare∣well.