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"Plutarch to his wife, greeting:
"The messenger you sent me to tell me of the death of our little girl
seems to have missed his way on the road to Athens, but I heard the news
from our granddaughter when I reached Tanagra. I suppose the funeral has
already taken place, and I hope everything was done in a way to give you
the least pain both now and in time to come...
"Try, by carrying yourself back in memory, to return often to the
time before this child was born, when we had no complaint against Fortune,
and compare our situation now with what it was then, as though it had merely
become again the same as it was. For, dear wife, we shall seem to be regretting
the birth of our little daughter if we think of our situation before her
birth as happier than it is now. Not that we should wipe from our memories
the two years between, when she was alive, but consider them as a gift
of grace and special joy. We must not call a blessing a great affliction
because it was short, nor be unthankful for what was given us because Fortune
did not grant us all we hoped for. If we always speak well of Deity, and
are cheerful and content with Fortune, we shall have a fair and pleasant
reward. For one who in a position like ours mostly tries to remember his
blessings, and turns and diverts his mind from the dark and distressing
things in life to what is bright and splendid, will either cure his grief
altogether or else make it seem insignificant and pale in comparison with
his comforts." (Plutarch, Letter of Consolation to His Wife on the
Death of Timoxena)
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