At last this dreadful darkness was dissipated by degrees like a cloud of smoke; real day returned, and even the sun appeared, though very faintly as he appears during an eclipse.  Everything before our trembling eyes was changed, being covered over with white ashes as with deep snow.  We returned to Misenum, where we refreshed ourselves as well as we could and passed an anxious night between hope and fear.  There was more fear than hope, however; for the earthquake still continued and many crazy people were running about predicting awful horrors.

You must read my story without any view of writing about it in your history, of which it is quite unworthy; indeed, my only excuse for writing it in a letter is that you have asked for it.

To Calpurnia, His Wife

It is incredible how impatiently I wish for your return, such is the tenderness of my love for you, and so unaccustomed are we to separation.  I lie awake great part of the nights thinking of you; and in the day my feet carry me of their own accord to your room at the hours when I used to see you, but not finding you there I go away as sorrowful and disappointed as an excluded lover.  The only time when I am free from this distress is when I am in the forum busy with the lawsuits of my friends.  You may judge how wretched my life is when I find my repose only in labour and my consolation in miseries and cares.

To Germinius

You must very well know the kind of people who, though themselves slaves to every passion, are mightily indignant at the vices of others, and most severe against those whom they most closely resemble.  Surely leniency is the most becoming of all virtues, even in persons who have least need of anyone’s indulgence.  The highest of all characters, in my estimation, is that of a man who is as ready to pardon human errors as though he were every day himself guilty of them, and who yet abstains from faults as though he never forgave them.  Let us observe this rule, both in our public and in our private relations—­to be inexorable to ourselves, but to treat the rest of the world with tenderness, including even those who forgive only themselves.  Let us always remember the saying of that most humane and therefore very great Thrasea:  “He who hates vices, hates mankind.”

Perhaps you will ask who it is that has moved me to these reflections?  There was a certain person lately—­But I will tell you of that when we meet.  No; on second thoughts I will not tell you even then, lest by condemning him and exposing his conduct I should be violating the principle which I have just condemned.  So, whoever he is, and whatever he may be, the matter shall remain unspoken; since to expose him would be of no advantage for the purpose of example; but to hide his fault will be of great advantage to good nature.

To the Emperor Trajan

It is my rule, to refer to you all matters about which I have any doubt.  For who can be more capable of removing my scruples or of instructing my ignorance?