A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

494 From Principate to Monarchy
To mother.
From an inscription.
Translated
by Miss
Rachel R.
Hiller.
This eulogy
to a deceased
mother belongs
to the
Augustan
age.
A model wife
and mother.
II.
Eulogy on Murdia
As an honor to Murdia, the daughter of Lucius, my
mother.
May her good quahties by their inherent strength
be such an aid to others that they may in consequence be
stronger and better. She divided her property equally
among her sons and gave a fair portion to her daughter.
The love of the mother was evident from her devotion to
her children and from the equal distribution of her property.
To my stepfather, she bequeathed a fixed sum that
the customary dowry might be increased by a free gift.
Mindful of my own father, and faithful
to him, after an
appraisal of the property, she made special bequests to
me, not preferring me to my brothers to their discredit;
but recalling my father's generosity to me, she decided
that that portion which she had taken from my inheritance
under the influence of the second husband, ought to
returned, so that guarded by her care, it was restored to
my property.
She herself determined, as she had been given in marriage
by her parents to worthy men, she would be obedient
and honest; as a wife to the deserving she would become
more acceptable; through her fidelity, she would be regarded
the dearer;
be
through her judgment, the more excellent;
after her death, she would be worthy of universal
praise since the distribution of her property would show a
sweet and faithful spirit toward her husbands, a uniform
treatment of her children, in very truth her sense of justice.
Wherefore, since the praise of all good women is wont to
be of the same simple character, for their natural good
qualities, preserved through their own care, do not call
for a diversity of words; and since they have all by their
fair fame, made the same qualities worthy; and since it