§4.5.1postea quam mihi renuntiatum est de obitu Tulliae, filiae tuae, sane quam pro eo ac debui, graviter molesteque tuli communemque eam calamitatem existimavi; qui, si istic adfuissem, neque tibi defuissem coramque meum dolorem tibi declarassem.
After it was announced to me concerning the death of Tullia, your daughter, indeed I took it as heavily and painfully as I ought to have, and I considered it a common calamity; and I, if I had been there, would not have failed you and would have declared my grief to you in person.
etsi genus hoc consolationis miserum atque acerbum est, propterea quia, per quos ea confieri debet, propinquos ac familiaris, ii ipsi pari molestia adficiuntur neque sine lacrimis multis id conari possunt, uti magis ipsi videantur aliorum consolatione indigere quam aliis posse suum officium praestare, tamen, quae in praesentia in mentem mihi venerunt, decrevi brevi ad te perscribere, non quo ea te fugere existimem, sed quod forsitan dolore impeditus minus ea perspicias.
Although this kind of consolation is wretched and painful, for the reason that those through whom it ought to be performed, the relatives and friends, are themselves affected by an equal grief and cannot attempt it without many tears, so that they themselves seem to stand in need of others' consolation rather than to be able to perform their duty to others, yet I have decided to write to you briefly what has come into my mind at present, not because I think these things escape you, but because, perhaps hindered by grief, you may perceive them less clearly.
§4.5.2quid est quod tanto opere te commoveat tuus dolor intestinus? cogita, quem ad modum adhuc fortuna nobis cum egerit; ea nobis erepta esse, quae hominibus non minus quam liberi cara esse debent, patriam, honestatem, dignitatem honores omnis.
What is there that your inward grief should move you so greatly? Reflect on how fortune has dealt with us up to this time; that those things have been snatched from us which ought to be no less dear to men than children, our country, honor, dignity, and all offices.
hoc 'uno incommodo addito quid ad dolorem adiungi potuit? aut qui non in illis rebus exercitatus animus callere iam debet atque omnia minoris existimare? an illius vicem, cedo, doles?
With this one misfortune added, what could be joined to our grief? Or how should a mind trained in those struggles not be hardened by now and value all things as less? Or is it, pray, her lot that you grieve for?
§4.5.3quotiens in eam cogitationem necesse est et tu veneris et nos saepe incidimus, hisce temporibus non pessime cum iis esse actum, quibus sine dolore licitum est mortem cum vita commutare! quid autem fuit quod illam hoc tempore ad vivendum magno opere invitare posset? quae res, quae spes, quod animi solacium? ut cum aliquo adulescente primario coniuncta aetatem gereret? licitum est tibi, credo, pro tua dignitate ex hac iuventute generum deligere, cuius fidei liberos tuos te tuto committere putares.
How often must you also have come into this thought, and we have often fallen into it, that in these times it has not gone worst with those to whom it was permitted without pain to exchange life for death! What was there, moreover, that could greatly invite her to live at this time? What thing, what hope, what consolation of mind? That she might spend her life joined with some leading young man? It was permitted to you, I suppose, in accordance with your dignity, to choose a son-in-law from this youth, to whose trust you might safely think to commit your children.
an ut ea liberos ex sese pareret, quos cum florentis videret laetaretur, qui rem a parente traditam per se tenere possent, honores ordinatim petituri essent in re publica, in amicorum negotiis libertate sua usuri? quid horum fuit quod non priusquam datum est ademptum sit? at vero malum est liberos amittere. malum;
Or that she might bear children from herself, in seeing whom flourish she might rejoice, who could by themselves hold the property handed down from their parent, were going to seek public offices in order, and would use their freedom in the business of their friends? Which of these things was there that was not snatched away before it was given? But indeed, it is an evil to lose children.
nisi hoc peius sit, haec sufferre et perpeti.
It is an evil; unless this is worse, to bear and endure these things.