“But pass we to my second reason; in the exposition whereof I must needs with yet more cogency prove to you that he has been wiser than you, seeing that, methinks, you wot nought of the providence of the Gods, and still less of the consequences of friendship.  I say then, that, as ’twas your premeditated and deliberate choice that gave Sophronia to this young philosopher Gisippus, so ’twas his that gave her to another young philosopher.  ’Twas your counsel that gave her to an Athenian; ’twas his that gave her to a Roman:  ’twas your counsel that gave her to a man of gentle birth; ’twas his that gave her to one of birth yet gentler:  wealthy was he to whom your counsel gave her, most wealthy he to whom his counsel gave her.  Not only did he to whom your counsel gave her, love her not, but he scarce knew her, whereas ’twas to one that loved her beyond all other blessings, nay, more dearly than his own life, that his counsel gave her.  And to the end that it may appear more plainly that ’tis even as I say, and Gisippus’ counsel more to be commended than yours, let us examine it point by point.  That I, like Gisippus, am young and a philosopher, my countenance and my pursuits may, without making more words about the matter, sufficiently attest.  We are also of the same age, and have ever kept pace together in our studies.  Now true it is that he is an Athenian, and I am a Roman.  But, as touching the comparative glory of the cities, should the matter be mooted, I say that I am of a free city, and he of a city tributary; that I am of a city that is mistress of all the world, and he of one that is subject to mine; that I am of a city that flourishes mightily in arms, in empire, and in arts; whereas he cannot boast his city as famous save in arts.

“Moreover, albeit you see me here in the guise of a most humble scholar, I am not born of the dregs of the populace of Rome.  My halls and the public places of Rome are full of the antique effigies of my forefathers, and the annals of Rome abound with the records of triumphs led by the Quintii to the Roman Capitol; and so far from age having withered it, to-day, yet more abundantly than ever of yore, flourishes the glory of our name.  Of my wealth I forbear, for shame, to speak, being mindful that honest poverty is the time-honoured and richest inheritance of the noble citizens of Rome; but, allowing for the nonce the opinion of the vulgar, which holds poverty in disrepute, and highly appraises wealth, I, albeit I never sought it, yet, as the favoured of Fortune, have abundant store thereof.  Now well I wot that, Gisippus being of your own city, you justly prized and prize an alliance with him; but not a whit less should you prize an alliance with me at Rome, considering that there you will have in me an excellent host, and a patron apt, zealous and potent to serve you as well in matters of public interest as in your private concerns.  Who, then, dismissing all bias from his mind, and judging with impartial reason, would deem your counsel more commendable than that of Gisippus?  Assuredly none.  Sophronia, then, being married to Titus Quintius Fulvus, a citizen of Rome, of an ancient and illustrious house, and wealthy, and a friend of Gisippus, whoso takes umbrage or offence thereat, does that which it behoves him not to do, and knows not what he does.