The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers
The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers
The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius - College of Stoic Philosophers
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AN ESSAY ON FRIENDSHIP 267<br />
myself on the felicity <strong>of</strong> my life, since I have had the<br />
happiness to pass the greatest part <strong>of</strong> it in the society <strong>of</strong><br />
Scipio. We lived under the same ro<strong>of</strong>, passed together<br />
through the same military employments, and were<br />
actuated in all our pursuits, whether <strong>of</strong> a public or private<br />
and views. In<br />
nature, by the same common principles<br />
short, and to express at once the whole spirit and essence<br />
<strong>of</strong> friendship, our inclinations, our sentiments, and our<br />
studies were in perfect accord. For these reasons my<br />
ambition is less gratified by that high opinion (especially<br />
as it is<br />
unmerited) which Fannius assures me the world<br />
entertains <strong>of</strong> my wisdom, than by the strong expectations<br />
I have conceived that the memory <strong>of</strong> our friendship will<br />
prove immortal. I indulge this hope with the greater<br />
confidence as there do not occur in all the annals <strong>of</strong> past<br />
ages above three or four instances <strong>of</strong> a similar amity.<br />
And future times, I trust, will add the names <strong>of</strong> Scipio<br />
and Laelius to that select and celebrated number.<br />
FANNIUS. Your expectations, Lselius, cannot fail <strong>of</strong><br />
being realized. And now, as you have mentioned Friend<br />
ship, and we are entirely disengaged, it would be extremely<br />
it would likewise<br />
acceptable to me (and I am persuaded<br />
be so to Scaevola) if, agreeably to your usual readiness<br />
upon other occasions <strong>of</strong> just inquiry, you would give us<br />
your opinion concerning the true nature <strong>of</strong> this con<br />
nexion, the extent <strong>of</strong> its obligations, and the maxims by<br />
which it<br />
ought to be conducted.<br />
SOEVOLA. Fannius has prevented me in the request I<br />
was intending to make ; your compliance, therefore, will<br />
equally confer an obligation upon both <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
L^LIUS. I should very willingly gratify your desires<br />
if I thought myself equal to the task, for the subject is<br />
interesting, and we are at present, as Fannius observed,<br />
entirely at leisure ;<br />
but I am too sensible <strong>of</strong> my own<br />
insufficiency to venture thus unprepared upon<br />
the dis<br />
quisition <strong>of</strong> a topic which requires much consideration to
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