§4.8.1multa me in epistula tua delectarunt sed nihil magis quam patina tyrotarichi.
Many things in your letter delighted me, but nothing more than the dish of salt-fish and cheese.
nam de raudusculo quod scribis,
"μήπω μέγ' εἴπῃς πρὶν τελευτήσαντ' ἴδῃσ"
aedificati tibi in agris nihil reperio.
For as to the bit of money you write about, "speak no big word until you see the end." I find no building for you in the country.
in oppido est quiddam, de quo est dubium sitne venale, ac proximum quidem nostris aedibus.
In the town there is a certain property, about which it is doubtful whether it is for sale, and indeed it is very close to my house.
hoc scito, Antium Buthrotum esse Romae, ut Corcyrae illud tuum Antium.
Know this, that Antium is the Buthrotum of Rome, as that Antium of yours is at Corcyra.
nihil quietius, nihil alsius, nihil amoenius.
Nothing is quieter, nothing cooler, nothing more pleasant.
"εἴη μοι οὗτοσ φίλοσ οἶκος. " §4.8.2postea vero, quam Tyrannio mihi libros disposuit, mens addita videtur meis aedibus.
"May this be my own dear home." Indeed, since Tyrannio has arranged my books for me, a soul seems to have been added to my house.
qua quidem in re mirifica opera Dionysi et Menophili tui fuit.
In which matter, indeed, the wonderful assistance of your Dionysius and Menophilus was of great help.
nihil venustius quam illa tua pegmata, postquam mi sillybis libros inlustrarunt.
Nothing is more beautiful than those bookshelves of yours, now that they have decorated the books for me with title-slips.
vale.
Farewell.
et scribas ad me velim de gladiatoribus, sed ita bene si rem gerunt; non quaero, male si se gesserunt.
And I should like you to write to me about the gladiators, but only if they are doing well; I do not ask if they have behaved badly.