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and he chanced to turn the conversation upon a subject which
about that time was in many people's mouths。 You must
remember； Atticus； for you were very intimate with Publius
Sulpicius； what expressions of astonishment； or even indignation；
were called forth by his mortal quarrel； as tribune； with the consul
Quintus Pompeius； with whom he had formerly lived on terms of
the closest intimacy and affection。 Well； on this occasion；
happening to mention this particular circumstance； Scaevola
detailed to us a discourse of Laelius on friendship delivered to
himself and Laelius's other son…in…law Galus Fannius； son of
Marcus Fannius； a few days after the death of Africanus。 The
points of that discussion I committed to memory； and have
arranged them in this book at my own discretion。 For I have
brought the speakers； as it were； personally on to my stage to
prevent the constant 〃said I〃 and 〃said he〃 of a narrative； and to
give the discourse the air of being orally delivered in our hearing。
You have often urged me to write something on Friendship； and I
quite acknowledged that the subject seemed one worth everybody's
investigation； and specially suited to the close intimacy that has
existed between you and me。 Accordingly I was quite ready to
benefit the public at your request。
As to the _dramatis personae_。 In the treatise on Old Age； which I
dedicated to you； I introduced Cato as chief speaker。 No one； I
thought； could with greater propriety speak on old age than one
who had been an old man longer than any one else； and had been
exceptionally vigorous in his old age。 Similarly； having learnt from
tradition that of all friendships that between Gaius Laelius and
Publius Scipio was the most remarkable； I thought Laelius was just
the person to support the chief part in a discussion on friendship
which Scaevola remembered him to have actually taken。
Moreover； a discussion of this sort gains somehow in weight from
the authority of men of ancient days； especially if they happen to
have been distinguished。 So it comes about that in reading over
what I have myself written I have a feeling at times that it is
actually Cato that is speaking； not I。
Finally； as I sent the former essay to you as a gift from one old
man to another； so I have dedicated this _On Friendship_ as a most
affectionate friend to his friend。 In the former Cato spoke； who
was the oldest and wisest man of his day； in this Laelius speaks on
friendship…Laelius； who was at once a wise man （that was the title
given him） and eminent for his famous friendship。 Please forget
me for a while； imagine Laelius to be speaking。
Gaius Fannius and Quintus Mucius come to call on their
father…in…law after the death of Africanus。 They start the subject；
Laelius answers them。 And the whole essay on friendship is his。 In
reading it you will recognise a picture of yourself。
2。 _Fannius_。 You are quite right； Laelius！ there never was a better
or more illustrious character than Africanus。 But you should
consider that at the present moment all eyes are on you。 Everybody
calls you 〃the wise〃 _par excellence_； and thinks you so。 The same
mark of respect was lately paid Cato； and we know that in the last
generation Lucius Atilius was called 〃the wise。〃 But in both cases
the word was applied with a certain difference。 Atilius was so
called from his reputation as a jurist； Cato got the name as a kind
of honorary title and in extreme old age because of his varied
experience of affairs； and his reputation for foresight and firmness；
and the sagacity of the opinions which he delivered in senate and
forum。 You； however； are regarded as wise in a somewhat
different sense not alone on account of natural ability and
character； but also from your industry and learning； and not in the
sense in which the vulgar； but that in which scholars； give that
title。 In this sense we do not read of any one being called wise in
Greece except one man at Athens； and he； to be sure； had been
declared by the oracle of Apollo also to be 〃the supremely wise
man。〃 For those who commonly go by the name of the Seven
Sages are not admitted into the category of the wise by fastidious
critics。 Your wisdom people believe to consist in this； that you
look upon yourself as self…sufficing and regard the changes and
chances of mortal life as powerless to affect your virtue。
Accordingly they are always asking me； and doubtless also our
Scaevola here； how you bear the death of Africanus。 This curiosity
has been the more excited from the fact that on the Nones of this
month； when we augurs met as usual in the suburban villa of
Decimus Brutus for consultation； you were not present； though it
had always been your habit to keep that appointment and perform
that duty with the utmost punctuality。
_Scaevola_。 Yes； indeed； Laelius； I am often asked the question
mentioned by Fannius。 But I answer in accordance with what I
have observed： I say that you bear in a reasonable manner the grief
which you have sustained in the death of one who was at once a
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