in perpetual night.

[3908]"Returning out of Asia, when I sailed from Aegina toward Megara, I
began" (saith Servius Sulpicius, in a consolatory epistle of his to Tully)
"to view the country round about. Aegina was behind me, Megara before,
Piraeus on the right hand, Corinth on the left, what flourishing towns
heretofore, now prostrate and overwhelmed before mine eyes? I began to
think with myself, alas, why are we men so much disquieted with the
departure of a friend, whose life is much shorter? [3909]When so many
goodly cities lie buried before us. Remember, O Servius, thou art a man;
and with that I was much confirmed, and corrected myself." Correct then
likewise, and comfort thyself in this, that we must necessarily die, and
all die, that we shall rise again: as Tully held; _Jucundiorque multo
congressus noster futurus, quam insuavis et acerbus digressus_, our second
meeting shall be much more pleasant than our departure was grievous.

Aye, but he was my most dear and loving friend, my sole friend,

[3910] "Quis deciderio sit pudor aut modus
Tam chari capitis?"------

"And who can blame my woe?"

Thou mayst be ashamed, I say with [3911]Seneca, to confess it, "in such a
[3912]tempest as this to have but one anchor," go seek another: and for his
part thou dost him great injury to desire his longer life. [3913]"Wilt thou
have him crazed and sickly still," like a tired traveller that comes weary
to his inn, begin his journey afresh, "or to be freed from his miseries;
thou hast more need rejoice that he is gone." Another complains of a most
sweet wife, a young wife, _Nondum sustulerat flavum Proserpina crinem_,
such a wife as no mortal man ever had, so good a wife, but she is now dead
and gone, _laethaeoque jacet condita sarcophago_. I reply to him in
Seneca's words, if such a woman at least ever was to be had, [3914]"He did
either so find or make her; if he found her, he may as happily find
another;" if he made her, as Critobulus in Xenophon did by his, he may as
good cheap inform another, _et bona tam sequitur, quam bona prima fuit_; he
need not despair, so long as the same master is to be had. But was she
good? Had she been so tired peradventure as that Ephesian widow in
Petronius, by some swaggering soldier, she might not have held out. Many a
man would have been willingly rid of his: before thou wast bound, now thou
art free; [3915]"and 'tis but a folly to love thy fetters though they be of
gold."