Letter Marco to Cesar 18 may 1860 Archive number 831
Paris
18-5-1860
Ah my dear boy, are we condemned to scold one another in turn in each of our letters? I am afraid so, although this will never prevent us remaining the best of friends. What is the meaning of this money that you send me? In truth if one did not say, and one does indeed say it, that one is incapable of presuming in others something which one could not do oneself, I would imagine that you saw in my philosophical or misanthropic musings nothing but an appeal to your pocket. But that is impossible; so do not let us speak of it any more and let us put this whole matter on one side. I would say to you particularly that I am so very happy that my letter should have given pleasure to your dear Lady who, it seems, I shall soon have the joy of addressing by an even more delightful term. In the mean time I am glad to learn that she possesses all the excellent talents of which you write in your letter: for, alas, what use is the most beautiful appearance in the world if it is not supported, and I would say rejuvenated every day by qualities of the heart and soul? They say in Italy that he who marries a very beautiful woman marries her more for others than for himself; that is perhaps an exaggeration but there is some truth in it. This is not to say that beauty is something to be despised; and if my memory serves me well. I think that your dear lady is by no means deprived of that. In addition there is no beauty without charm, but I must return once more to my musings which, from what you tell me, have greatly upset you. No, my dear boy, I have never had the slightest doubt of the goodness of your heart, and if, in my letter, I used those expressions it was because they accurately express what I would feel if a barbarous fate condemned me to this very philosophical end, though one little to be desired; but, since they have caused you pain, I withdraw them absolutely and I will try to prevent any such idea ever again crossing, my mind.
I don’t know whether I have been a little indiscreet, but I told Georges about your forthcoming marriage. After all, ought we not to share with others our own happiness? I am certain that Georges will be as delighted about it as I have been myself and I hope more than ever that next October, with God’s grace , we shall all be together again in Paris in one family and in holy peace. Towards the end of the month I shall leave for Switzerland, as I think I mentioned in my last letter, but I very much hope that this will not prevent you from writing frequently and also hearing from me: the same applies when I go to Ostend next August. I think I also told you that if you had something you would like me to do for you here in Paris I would be only too delighted to do it, if not with ability at least with much zeal;. It only remains for me to beg you to offer my very best wishes to your dear friend and to tell her that, having had the sadness to lose the daughter of my own heart, my one happiness will be to add a second daughter to her whom I found in George’s wife.
Au revoir, my dear boy; write as often as you can, for my children’s letters are my great consolation; of course this must not distract you from your own business.
With love to your dear friend, believe me
Your affectionate father,
Marc-Aurele
18-5-1860
Ah my dear boy, are we condemned to scold one another in turn in each of our letters? I am afraid so, although this will never prevent us remaining the best of friends. What is the meaning of this money that you send me? In truth if one did not say, and one does indeed say it, that one is incapable of presuming in others something which one could not do oneself, I would imagine that you saw in my philosophical or misanthropic musings nothing but an appeal to your pocket. But that is impossible; so do not let us speak of it any more and let us put this whole matter on one side. I would say to you particularly that I am so very happy that my letter should have given pleasure to your dear Lady who, it seems, I shall soon have the joy of addressing by an even more delightful term. In the mean time I am glad to learn that she possesses all the excellent talents of which you write in your letter: for, alas, what use is the most beautiful appearance in the world if it is not supported, and I would say rejuvenated every day by qualities of the heart and soul? They say in Italy that he who marries a very beautiful woman marries her more for others than for himself; that is perhaps an exaggeration but there is some truth in it. This is not to say that beauty is something to be despised; and if my memory serves me well. I think that your dear lady is by no means deprived of that. In addition there is no beauty without charm, but I must return once more to my musings which, from what you tell me, have greatly upset you. No, my dear boy, I have never had the slightest doubt of the goodness of your heart, and if, in my letter, I used those expressions it was because they accurately express what I would feel if a barbarous fate condemned me to this very philosophical end, though one little to be desired; but, since they have caused you pain, I withdraw them absolutely and I will try to prevent any such idea ever again crossing, my mind.
I don’t know whether I have been a little indiscreet, but I told Georges about your forthcoming marriage. After all, ought we not to share with others our own happiness? I am certain that Georges will be as delighted about it as I have been myself and I hope more than ever that next October, with God’s grace , we shall all be together again in Paris in one family and in holy peace. Towards the end of the month I shall leave for Switzerland, as I think I mentioned in my last letter, but I very much hope that this will not prevent you from writing frequently and also hearing from me: the same applies when I go to Ostend next August. I think I also told you that if you had something you would like me to do for you here in Paris I would be only too delighted to do it, if not with ability at least with much zeal;. It only remains for me to beg you to offer my very best wishes to your dear friend and to tell her that, having had the sadness to lose the daughter of my own heart, my one happiness will be to add a second daughter to her whom I found in George’s wife.
Au revoir, my dear boy; write as often as you can, for my children’s letters are my great consolation; of course this must not distract you from your own business.
With love to your dear friend, believe me
Your affectionate father,
Marc-Aurele