§16.10.1ego vero cupio te ad me venire, sed viam timeo.
I do indeed wish that you would come to me, but I fear the journey.
gravissime aegrotasti, inedia et purgationibus et vi ipsius morbi consumptus es;
You have been very gravely ill; you have been worn out by fasting, purges, and the violence of the disease itself.
graves solent offensiones esse ex gravibus morbis si quae culpa commissa est;
Serious relapses are wont to occur after severe illnesses if any carelessness is committed.
iam ad id biduum, quod fueris in via, dum in Cumanum venis, accedent continuo ad reditum dies quinque.
Furthermore, to those two days which you will spend on the road while coming to my villa at Cumae, five days will immediately be added for the return journey.
ego in Formiano a. d. III K. esse volo.
I wish to be at my villa at Formiae on December 30 (the third day before the Kalends of January).
ibi te ut firmum offendam, mi Tiro, effice.
My dear Tiro, see to it that I find you strong and well there.
§16.10.2litterulae meae sive nostrae tui desiderio oblanguerunt, hac tamen epistula, quam Acastus attulit, oculos paulum sustulerunt.
My, or rather our, literary pursuits had languished from longing for you; yet by this letter, which Acastus brought, they have raised their eyes a little.
Pompeius erat apud me, cum haec scribebam, hilare et libenter.
Pompeius was with me when I was writing this, cheerful and agreeable.
ei cupienti audire nostra dixi sine te omnia mea muta esse.
To him, who was eager to hear our writings, I said that without you all my works are mute.
tu Musis nostris para ut operas reddas.
Prepare yourself to render your services to our Muses.
nostra ad diem dictam fient; docui enim te fides e)/tumon quod haberet.
Our promises will be performed on the appointed day; for I have taught you what etymology "fides" (good faith) has.
fac plane ut valeas.
Make sure you recover completely.
nos adsumus.
We are at hand.
vale.
Farewell.
xiiii K.
December 19 (the fourteenth day before the Kalends of January).