As soon, Apollonius, as I heard the news of the untimely death of your son, who was very dear to us all, I
fell sick of the same grief with you, and shared your misfortune with all the tenderness of sympathy. For he was a
sweet and modest young man, devout towards the Gods,
obedient to his parents, and obliging to his friends; indeed
doing all things that were just. But when the tears of his
funeral were scarcely dry, I thought it a time very improper
to call upon you and put you in mind that you should bear
this accident like a man; for when this unexpected affliction made you languish both in body and mind, I considered
then that compassion was more seasonable than advice. For
the most skilful physicians do not put a sudden stop to a
flux of humors, but give them time to settle, and then foment the swelling by softening and bringing it to a head
with medicines outwardly applied.
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