§16.26.1verberavi te cogitationis tacito dumtaxat convicio, quod fasciculus alter ad me iam sine tuis litteris perlatus est.
I have scourged you only with the silent reproach of my thoughts, because another packet has now been brought to me without a letter from you.
non potes effugere huius culpae poenam te patrono; Marcus' est adhibendus, isque diu et multis lucubrationibus commentata oratione vide ut probare possit te non peccasse.
You cannot escape the penalty for this fault with yourself as your advocate; Marcus must be called in, and see to it that he, with a speech studied for a long time and through many nightly vigils, may be able to prove that you have not done wrong.
§16.26.2plane te rogo, sic ut olim matrem nostram facere memini, quae lagonas etiam inanis obsignabat, ne dicerentur inanes aliquae fuisse quae furtim essent exsiccatae, sic tu etiam si quod scribas non habebis, scribito tamen, n e furtum cessationis quaesivisse videaris.
I ask you plainly, just as I remember our mother used to do of old—who would seal up even empty wine-jars, lest any which had been stealthily drained should be said to have been empty—so you too, even if you have nothing to write, write nevertheless, lest you should seem to have sought a pretext to cover the theft of your laziness.
valde enim mi semper et vera et dulcia tuis epistulis nuntiantur.
For indeed, things both true and sweet are always announced to me by your letters.
ama nos et vale.
Love us, and farewell.