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man of the most illustrious character and a very dear friend。 That
of course you could not but be affected…anything else would have
been wholly unnatural in a man of your gentle nature…but that the
cause of your non…attendance at our college meeting was illness；
not melancholy。
_Laelius_。 Thanks； Scaevola！ You are quite right； you spoke the
exact truth。 For in fact I had no right to allow myself to be
withdrawn from a duty which I had regularly performed； as long as
I was well； by any personal misfortune； nor do I think that anything
that can happen will cause a man of principle to intermit a duty。
As for your telling me； Fannius； of the honourable appellation
given me （an appellation to which I do not recognise my title； and
to which I make no claim）； you doubtless act from feelings of
affection； but I must say that you seem to me to do less than justice
to Cato。 If any one was ever 〃wise；〃…of which I have my doubts；…he
was。 Putting aside everything else； consider how he bore his son's
death！ I had not forgotten Paulus； I had seen with my own eyes
Gallus。 But they lost their sons when mere children； Cato his
when he was a full…grown man with an assured reputation。 Do not
therefore be in a hurry to reckon as Cato's superior even that same
famous personage whom Apollo； as you say； declared to be 〃the
wisest。〃 Remember the former's reputation rests on deeds； the
latter's on words。
3。 Now； as far as I am concerned （I speak to both of you now）；
believe me the case stands thus。 If I were to say that I am not
affected by regret for Scipio； I must leave the philosophers to
justify my conduct； but in point of fact I should be telling a lie。
Affected of course I am by the loss of a friend as I think there will
never be again； such as I can fearlessly say there never was before。
But I stand in no need of medicine。 I can find my own consolation；
and it consists chiefly in my being free from the mistaken notion
which generally causes pain at the departure of friends。 To Scipio I
am convinced no evil has befallen mine is the disaster； if disaster
there be； and to be severely distressed at one's own misfortunes
does not show that you love your friend； but that you love yourself。
As for him； who can say that all is not more than well？ For； unless
he had taken the fancy to wish for immortality； the last thing of
which he ever thought； what is there for which mortal man may
wish that he did not attain？ In his early manhood he more than
justified by extraordinary personal courage the hopes which his
fellow…citizens had conceived of him as a child。 He never was a
candidate for the consulship； yet was elected consul twice： the first
time before the legal age； the second at a time which； as far as he
was concerned； was soon enough； but was near being too late for
the interests of the State。 By the overthrow of two cities which
were the most bitter enemies of our Empire； he put an end not only
to the wars then raging； but also to the possibility of others in the
future。 What need to mention the exquisite grace of his manners；
his dutiful devotion to his mother； his generosity to his sisters； his
liberality to his relations； the integrity of his conduct to every one？
You know all this already。 Finally； the estimation in which his
fellow…citizens held him has been shown by the signs of mourning
which accompanied his obsequies。 What could such a man have
gained by the addition of a few years？ Though age need not be a
burden；…as I remember Cato arguing in the presence of myself and
Scipio two years before he died；…yet it cannot but take away the
vigour and freshness which Scipio was still enjoying。 We may
conclude therefore that his life； from the good fortune which had
attended him and the glory he had obtained； was so circumstanced
that it could not be bettered； while the suddenness of his death
saved him the sensation of dying。 As to the manner of his death it
is difficult to speak； you see what people suspect。 Thus much；
however； I may say： Scipio in his lifetime saw many days of
supreme triumph and exultation； but none more magnificent than
his last； on which； upon the rising of the Senate； he was escorted
by the senators and the people of Rome； by the allies； and by the
Latins； to his own door。 From such an elevation of popular esteem
the next step seems naturally to be an ascent to the gods above；
rather than a descent to Hades。
4。 For I am not one of these modern philosophers who maintain
that our souls perish with our bodies； and that death ends all。 With
me ancient opinion has more weight： whether it be that of our own
ancestors； who attributed such solemn observances to the dead； as
they plainly would not have done if they had believed them to be
wholly annihilated； or that of the philosophers who once visited
this country； and who by their maxims and doctrines educated
Magna Graecia； which at that time was in a flourishing condition；
though it has now been ruined； or that of the man who was
declared by Apollo's oracle to be 〃most wise；〃 and who used to
teach without the variation which is to be found in most
philosophers that 〃the souls of men are divine； and that when they
have quitted the body a return to heaven is open to them； least
difficult to those who have been most virtuous and just。〃 This
opinion was shared by Scipio。 Only a few days before his death…as
though he had a presentiment of what was coming…he discoursed
for three days on the state of the republic。 The company consisted
of Philus and Manlius and several others； and I had brought you；
Scaevola； along with me。 The last part of his discourse referred
principally to the immortality of the soul； for he told us what he
had heard from the elder Africanus in a dream。 Now if it be true
that in proportion to a man's goodness the escape from what may
be called the prison and bonds of the flesh is easiest； whom can we
imagine to have had an easier voyage to the gods than Scipio？ I am
disposed to think； therefore； that in his case mourning would be a
sign of envy rather than of friendship。 If； however； the truth rather
is that the body and soul perish together； and that no sensation
remains； then though there is nothing good in death； at least there
is nothing bad。 Remove sensation； and a man is exactly as though
he had never been born； and yet that this man was born is a joy to
me； and will be a subject of rejoicing to this State to its last hour。
Wherefore； as I said before； all is as well as possible with him。 Not
so with me； for as I entered life before him； it would have been
fairer for me to leave it also before him。 Yet such is the pleasure I
take in recalling our friendship； that I look upon my life as having
been a happy one because I have spent it with Scipio。 With him I
was associated in public and private business； with him I lived in
Rome and served abroad； and between us there was the most
complete harmony in our tastes； our pursuits； and our sentiments；
which is the true secret of friendship。 It is not therefore in that
reputation for wisdom mentioned just now by Fannius…especially
as it happens to be groundless…that I find my happiness