BOOK II. XVI. 28-34
out delay, being grateful for the time in which he had the use of it—all this if you do not wish to be crying for your nurse and your mammy! For what difference does it make what object a man has a weakness for and depends upon? In what respect are you superior to the man who weeps for a maid, if you grieve for a trivial gymnasium, a paltry colonnade, a group of youngsters, and that way of spending your time? 30Someone else comes and grieves because he is no longer going to drink the water of Dirce.[1] What, is the water of the Marcian aqueduct inferior to that of Dirce? "Nay, but I was accustomed to that water." And you will get accustomed to this in turn. And then, if you become addicted to something of this kind, weep for this too in turn, and try to write a line after the pattern of that of Euripides:
To Nero's baths and Marcian founts once more.[2]
Behold how tragedy arises, when everyday events befall fools!
"When, then, shall I see Athens once more and the Acropolis?" Poor man, are you not satisfied with what you are seeing every day? Have you anything finer or greater to look at than the sun, the moon, the stars, the whole earth, the sea? And if you really understand Him that governs the universe, and bear Him about within you, do you yet yearn for bits of stone and a pretty rock?[3] When, therefore, you are about to leave the sun and the moon, what will you do? Will you sit and cry as little children cry? What was it you did at
- ↑ The fountain of Dirce was at Thebes; the Marcian aqueduct brought good water to Rome at this time.
- ↑ A parody upon the Phoenissae, 368: "The gymnasia in which I was reared and the water of Dirce." Polyneices is speaking.
- ↑ The rock of the Acropolis and the marble buildings upon it.
