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9. "And further, for my part, I think that a
knowledge of the future would be a disadvantage.
Consider, for example, what Priam's life would have
been if he had known from youth what dire events
his old age held in store for him! But let us leave
the era of myths and come to events nearer home.
In my work On Consolation I have collected instances
of very grievous deaths that befell some of the most
illustrious men of our commonwealth. Passing by
men of earlier day, let us take Marcus Crassus.
What advantage, pray, do you think it would have
been to him, when he was at the very summit of
power and wealth, to know that he was destined to
perish beyond the Euphrates in shame and dishonour,
after his son had been killed and his own army
had been destroyed? Or do you think that Gnaeus
Pompey would have found joy in his three consulships, in his three triumphs, and in the fame of his
transcendent deeds, if he had known that he would
be slain in an Egyptian desert, after he had lost
his army, and that following his death those grave
events would occur of which I cannot speak without
tears?
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