Letter 71: Your courage has won universal admiration -- courage tempered by gentleness and meekness, showing kindness to your...

To Zeno, General and Consul, Your courage has won universal admiration -- courage tempered by gentleness and meekness, showing kindness to your household and boldness to your enemies. These are the qualities of an admirable general. In a soldier's character the chief ornament is bravery, but in a commander prudence takes precedence. After these come self-discipline and fairness, by which a whole treasury of virtue is assembled. Such wealth is the reward of a soul that reaches after the good and, with its eyes fixed on the sweetness of the fruit, finds the labor well worth bearing. For virtue's athletes, the God of all -- like some great master of the games -- has offered prizes: some in this life, some in the life beyond that has no end. Those belonging to this present life your excellency has already enjoyed; you have reached the highest honor. May it also be your lot to obtain the lasting, eternal blessings -- to receive not only the consul's robe but the garment that is beyond description and divine. This is the common prayer of all who understand the greatness of that gift.

Letter 71