Source edition
Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol I. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1888.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is an instructional prose piece that offers practical advice for a newlywed couple to achieve a harmonious and happy marriage. Addressing a young bride and groom, the author draws upon numerous historical anecdotes, Aesop's fables, and metaphors from nature to impart wisdom on marital unity. In the beginning, the text emphasizes the importance of overcoming initial discords, sharing emotions, and establishing mutual harmony. As the discussion progresses, it advises the wife to avoid vanity and luxury, focusing instead on cultivating modesty and inner virtue, while urging the couple to share their property and social relationships completely and avoid daily conflicts and anger. Finally, the work concludes that the husband should share philosophy and learning with his wife, suggesting that elevating each other's virtues through intellectual education fosters a truly enduring bond.