§10.1Sic est, non muto sententiam: fuge multitudinem, fuge paucitatem, fuge etiam unum.
So it is, I do not change my opinion: flee the crowd, flee the few, flee even a single person.
Non habeo, cum quo te communicatum velim.
I have no one with whom I would wish you to be shared.
Et vide, quod iudicium meum habeas: audeo te tibi credere.
And see what judgment you have from me: I dare to trust you to yourself.
Crates, ut aiunt, huius ipsius Stilbonis auditor, cuius mentionem priore epistula feci, cum vidisset adulescentulum secreto ambulantem, interrogavit, quid illic solus faceret? "Mecum," inquit, "loquor.
Crates, as they say, the disciple of this very Stilbo, whom I mentioned in my previous letter, when he saw a young man walking in secret, asked him what he was doing there alone. "I am speaking with myself," he said.
"Cui Crates "Cave," inquit, "rogo, et diligenter adtende; cum homine malo loqueris. " §10.2Lugentem timentemque custodire solemus, ne solitudine male utatur.
To whom Crates said, "Take care, I beg you, and pay close attention: you are speaking with a bad man." We are accustomed to keep watch over one who is mourning and fearing, lest he make bad use of solitude.
Nemo est ex inprudentibus, qui relinqui sibi debeat; tunc mala consilia agitant, tunc aut aliis aut ipsis futura pericula struunt; tunc cupiditates improbas ordinant; tunc quicquid aut metu aut pudore celabat, animus exponit, tunc audaciam acuit, libidinem inritat, iracundiam instigat.
There is no one among the foolish who ought to be left to himself; at that time they agitate evil plans, at that time they devise future dangers either for others or for themselves; then they arrange wicked desires; then the mind exposes whatever it was hiding out of fear or shame, then it whets audacity, incites lust, and goads anger.
Denique quod unum solitudo habet commodum, nihil ulli committere, non timere indicem, perit stulto; ipse se prodit.
In short, the one advantage that solitude has, to commit nothing to anyone, not to fear an informer, is lost to the fool; he himself betrays himself.
Vide itaque, quid de te sperem, immo quid spondeam mihi, spes enim incerti boni nomen est: non invenio, cum quo te malim esse quam tecum.
See therefore what I hope for you, or rather what I promise myself—for hope is the name of an uncertain good: I find no one with whom I would rather you be than with yourself.
§10.3Repeto memoria, quam magno animo quaedam verba proieceris, quanti roboris plena.
I recall to memory with how great a mind you threw out certain words, full of how much strength.
Gratulatus sum protinus mihi et dixi: "Non a summis labris ista venerunt, habent hae voces fundamentum.
I immediately congratulated myself and said: "Those words did not come from the edge of the lips, these voices have a foundation.
Iste homo non est unus e populo, ad salutem spectat. " §10.4Sic loquere, sic vive; vide ne te ulla res deprimat.
This man is not one of the crowd; he looks toward salvation." Speak thus, live thus; see that no thing depresses you.
Votorum tuorum veterum licet dis gratiam facias, alia de integro suscipe; roga bonam mentem, bonam valitudinem animi, deinde tunc corporis.
You may release the gods from your old vows, and undertake others anew; ask for a sound mind, sound health of soul, and then of body.
Quidni tu ista vota saepe facias? Audacter deum roga;
Why should you not make those vows often?
nihil illum de alieno rogaturus es.
Boldly ask God; you are going to ask him for nothing belonging to another.
§10.5Sed ut more meo cum aliquo munusculo epistulam mittam, verum est, quod apud Athenodorum inveni: "Tunc scito esse te omnibus cupiditatibus solutum, cum eo perveneris, ut nihil deum roges, nisi quod rogare possis palam. "Nunc enim quanta dementia est hominum! Turpissima vota dis insusurrant;
But, that I may send the letter with some small gift according to my custom, it is true what I found in Athenodorus: "Know that you are free from all desires then, when you have reached the point where you ask nothing of God except what you can ask openly." For how great is the madness of men now!
si quis admoverit aurem, conticescent.
They whisper the most shameful vows to the gods; if anyone brings his ear close, they will fall silent.
Et quod scire hominem nolunt, deo narrant.
And what they do not want a human being to know, they tell to God.
Vide ergo, ne hoc praecipi salubriter possit: sic vive eum hominibus, tamquam deus videat; sic loquere cum deo, tamquam homines audiant.
See therefore whether this can be wholesomely prescribed: live with men as if God were watching; speak with God as if men were listening.
VALE.
FAREWELL.