Of the four male children that were born to him, two he happened to have given to others for adoption. 1 Of the two that were at home one died five days before his triumph, at the age of fourteen, and the other five days after the triumph, at the age of twelve. When he went forth, and the people expressed their compassion and sympathy, he said that now he had no fears or misgivings about his country, since Fortune had thrust upon his house the retribution due for all their good fortune, and he had received this in behalf of all. 2
1 To the houses of Scipio and of Fabius.
2 Cf. Plutarch's Life of Aemilius Paulus, chaps. xxxv. and xxxvi. (274 A and F); Seneca, Ad Marciam de consolatione, 13; Valerius Maximus, v. 10. 2; Velleius Paterculus, i. 10. Cicero refers briefly to Aemilius's fortitude (De amicit, 2 (9); Tusc. Disput. iii. 28 (70); Letters, iv. 6).

