Letter 56

To my Brother. You wrong me, my divine and precious brother. After inspiring a simple, affectionate soul — one easily won by daily intimacy — with love for you and for his niece, you now create a rift between him and yourself, and between him and her. When she was with me, I seemed to see a double image: in the girl I saw you. She has your features, your expressions. Take care of this bond — it is more precious than you realize.

Letter 56: On his Niece [1] To his Brother You wrong me, divine and precious head. After having inspired a simple soul, and one whose affections are easily won by daily intercourse, with a love of yourself and of his niece, you make a breach between him and yourself, as also between him and his niece. [2] When she was with me, I seemed to have before my eyes a twofold image; in the girl I seemed still to see her uncle. Now all that was dear to me is gone, and I even blame my natural character because of its unmeasured tendency to become subject to unjust treatment. [3] But if philosophy has really any value at all, I shall steel my heart to more manliness, and henceforth you will see how tough I am, and how unyielding.