§7.20.1amabilior mihi Velia fuit, quod te ab ea sensi amari.
Velia was the more dear to me because I felt that you were loved by her.
sed quid ego dicam 'te,' quem quis non amat? rufio medius fidius tuus ita desiderabatur ut si esset unus e nobis.
But why should I say "you," whom who does not love? On my oath, your Rufio was so much missed as if he were one of us.
sed te ego non reprehendo qui illum ad aedificationem tuam traduxeris.
But I do not find fault with you for having transferred him for your building.
quamquam enim Velia non est vilior quam Lupercal, tamen istuc malo quam haec omnia.
For although Velia is not of less value than the Lupercal, yet I prefer what is there to all of these.
tu si me audies, quem soles, has paternas possessiones tenebis (nescio quid enim Velienses verebantur) neque Haletem, nobilem amnem, relinques nec Papirianam domum deseres; quamquam illa quidem habet lotum, a quo etiam advenae teneri solent; quem tamen si excideris, multum prospexeris.
If you listen to me, as you usually do, you will keep these paternal possessions (for I do not know what the Velians were fearing) and you will neither abandon the Hales, a noble river, nor desert the Papirian house; although that house indeed has a lotus tree, by which even strangers are accustomed to be detained; yet if you cut it down, you will have a much better view.
§7.20.2sed in primis opportunum videtur, his praesertim temporibus, habere perfugium primum eorum urbem quibus carus sis, deinde tuam domum tuosque agros, eaque remoto, salubri, amoeno loco; idque etiam mea interesse, mi Trebati, arbitror.
But especially in these times, it seems highly opportunistic to have a refuge, first in the city of those to whom you are dear, and then in your own house and lands, and that too in a remote, healthy, and pleasant spot; and I think, my dear Trebatius, that this is also in my interest.
sed valebis meaque negotia videbis meque dis iuvantibus ante brumam exspectabis.
But keep well, attend to my business, and with the help of the gods, expect me before winter.
§7.20.3ego a Sex. Fadio, Niconis discipulo, librum abstuli *ni/kwnos peri\ *polufagi/as.
I took away from Sextus Fadius, a pupil of Nicon, Nicon's book "On Gluttony".
O medicum suavem meque docilem ad hanc disciplinam! sed Bassus noster me de hoc libro celavit, te quidem non videtur.
Oh, what a delightful physician, and how apt a pupil I am in this discipline! But our friend Bassus hid this book from me; it seems he did not do so from you.
ventus increbrescit.
The wind is freshening.
cura ut valeas.
Take care of your health.
xiii K. Sext. Velia.
July 20, from Velia.