Letter 669
To Μάγνῳ. (361)
I have heard of your loss, and I grieve with you. Words are inadequate at such moments, and I will not pretend that mine can ease a pain that only time and the natural resilience of the human spirit can truly heal. But I write nonetheless, because friendship demands it and because even inadequate comfort is better than silence.
What I can say is this: the way you have borne this misfortune speaks well of your character. Anyone can be happy in prosperity -- it is adversity that reveals what a person is truly made of. You have shown strength and dignity, and those who know you admire you for it. The philosophers teach us that Fortune is fickle and that the wise man prepares himself for her blows. You have demonstrated that wisdom in practice.
Take whatever time you need for grief. But when you are ready, return to the activities that give your life purpose. The world needs people of your quality, and those of us who count ourselves your friends need you as well.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.