§2.1.1quamquam me nomine neglegentiae suspectum tibi esse doleo, tamen non tam mihi molestum fuit accusari abs te officium meum quam iucundum requiri, praesertim quom, in quo accusabar, culpa vacarem, in quo autem desiderare te significabas meas litteras, prae te ferres perspectum mihi quidem, sed tamen dulcem et optatum amorem tuum.
Although I grieve that I am suspected by you on the grounds of negligence, yet it was not so troublesome to me that my duty was accused by you as it was pleasant that it was missed, especially since, in the matter in which I was accused, I was free from fault, while in the matter in which you indicated that you longed for my letters, you displayed your love, which, though indeed well known to me, is nevertheless sweet and desired.
equidem neminem praetermisi, quem quidem ad te perventurum putarem, cui litteras non dederim; etenim quis est tam in scribendo impiger quam ego? a te vero bis terve summum et eas perbrevis accepi.
Indeed, I have passed over no one whom I thought likely to reach you, without giving them a letter; for who is so industrious in writing as I? From you, however, I have received at most two or three, and those extremely short.
qua re, si iniquus es in me iudex, condemnabo eodem ego te crimine; sin me id facere noles, te mihi aequum praebere debebis.
Therefore, if you are an unfair judge to me, I shall condemn you on the same charge; but if you do not wish me to do so, you must show yourself fair to me.
sed de litteris hactenus; non enim vereor ne non scribendo te expleam, praesertim si in eo genere studium meum non aspernabere.
But so much for letters; for I do not fear that I shall not satisfy you by writing, especially if you do not despise my zeal in this kind of matter.
§2.1.2ego te afuisse tam diu a nobis et dolui, quod carui fructu iucundissimae consuetudinis, et laetor, quod absens omnia cum maxima dignitate es consecutus quodque in omnibus tuis rebus meis optatis fortuna respondit.
I have both grieved that you have been away from us for so long, because I lacked the fruit of your most pleasant companionship, and I rejoice, because in your absence you have attained everything with the greatest dignity and because in all your affairs fortune has answered my wishes.
breve est, quod me tibi praecipere meus incredibilis in te amor cogit.
What my incredible love for you forces me to advise you is brief.
tanta est exspectatio vel animi vel ingeni tui, ut ego te obsecrare obtestarique non dubitem, sic ad nos conformatus revertare, ut, quam exspectationem tui concitasti, hanc sustinere ac tueri possis; et, quoniam meam tuorum erga me meritorum memoriam nulla umquam delebit oblivio, te rogo ut memineris, quantaecumque tibi accessiones fient et fortunae et dignitatis, eas te non potuisse consequi, nisi meis puer olim fidelissimis atque amantissimis consiliis paruisses.
So great is the expectation of either your spirit or your talent that I do not hesitate to beg and implore you to return to us so prepared that you can sustain and defend this expectation of you which you have aroused; and, since no forgetfulness will ever erase my memory of your services toward me, I ask you to remember that, no matter how great the accessions of both fortune and dignity that shall come to you, you could not have attained them unless, as a boy, you had once obeyed my most faithful and loving advice.
qua re hoc animo in nos esse debebis, ut, aetas nostra iam ingravescens in amore atque in adulescentia tua conquiescat.
Therefore, you must be of such a mind toward us that our age, now growing heavy, may find rest in your love and in your youth.