§2.1Ex iis quae mihi scribis, et ex iis quae audio, bonam spem de te concipio; non discurris nec locorum mutationibus inquietaris.
From what you write to me, and from what I hear, I conceive good hope for you; you do not run about, nor are you disquieted by changes of place.
Aegri animi ista iactatio est.
That tossing about is a sign of a sick mind.
Primum argumentum conpositae mentis existimo posse consistere et secum morari.
The first evidence, I think, of a well-ordered mind is to be able to stay in one place and linger with oneself.
§2.2Illud autem vide, ne ista lectio auctorum multorum et omnis generis voluminum habeat aliquid vagum et instabile.
But look to this, lest that reading of many authors and of books of every kind should have something vague and unstable about it.
Certis ingeniis inmorari et innutriri oportet, si velis aliquid trahere, quod in animo fideliter sedeat.
You must linger among certain writers of genius and be nourished by them, if you wish to derive anything which may settle faithfully in your mind.
Nusquam est, qui ubique est.
He who is everywhere is nowhere.
Vitam in peregrinatione exigentibus hoc evenit, ut multa hospitia habeant, nullas amicitias.
To those who spend their life in traveling, it happens that they have many lodgings but no friendships.
Idem accidat necesse est iis, qui nullius se ingenio familiariter applicant, sed omnia cursim et properantes transmittunt.
The same must happen to those who apply themselves familiarly to no single writer's genius, but pass over everything hastily and in a hurry.
§2.3Non prodest cibus nec corpori accedit, qui statim sumptus emittitur; nihil aeque sanitatem impedit quam remediorum crebra mutatio; non venit vulnus ad cicatricem, in quo medicamenta temptantur; non convalescit planta, quae saepe transfertur.
Food does not benefit nor enter the body if it is ejected as soon as it is taken; nothing so much impedes health as a frequent change of remedies; a wound does not come to a scar on which medicines are constantly tried; a plant does not grow strong which is often transplanted.
Nihil tam utile est, ut in transitu prosit.
Nothing is so useful that it can be of service in passing.
Distringit librorum multitudo.
A multitude of books distracts the mind.
Itaque cum legere non possis, quantum habueris, satis est habere, quantum legas. "
Therefore, since you cannot read all that you may possess, it is enough to possess as much as you can read.
§2.4Sed modo," inquis, "hunc librum evolvere volo, modo illum. "Fastidientis stomachi est multa degustare; quae ubi varia, sunt et diversa, inquinant, non alunt.
"But now," you say, "I want to turn over this book, and now that." It is the sign of a squeamish stomach to taste many things; when these are varied and diverse, they spoil rather than nourish.
Probatos itaque semper lege, et si quando ad alios deverti libuerit, ad priores redi.
Read, therefore, always approved authors, and if ever you wish to turn aside to others, return to the former.
Aliquid cotidie adversus paupertatem, aliquid adversus mortem auxilii compara, nec minus adversus ceteras pestes; et cum multa percurrens, unum excerpe, quod illo die concoquas.
Procure daily some help against poverty, some against death, and no less against other plagues; and when you have run through many things, select one to digest on that day.
§2.5Hoc ipse quoque facio; ex pluribus, quae legi, aliquid adprehendo Hodiernum hoc est, quod apud Epicurum nanctus sum;
This I do myself; from the many things I have read, I seize upon something.
soleo enim et in aliena castra transire, non tamquam transfuga, sed tamquam explorator. "
This is today's, which I found in Epicurus; for I am accustomed to cross over even into the enemy's camp, not as a deserter, but as a scout.
§2.6Honesta," inquit, "res est laeta paupertas. "Illa vero non est paupertas, si laeta est.
"A cheerful poverty," he says, "is an honorable thing." But indeed, it is not poverty if it is cheerful.
Non qui parum habet, sed qui plus cupit, pauper est.
Not he who has little, but he who craves more, is poor.
Quid enim refert, quantum illi in arca, quantum in horreis iaceat, quantum pascat aut feneret, si alieno inminet, si non adquisita sed adquirenda computat? Quis sit divitiarum modus, quaeris? Primus habere quod necesse est, proximus quod sat est.
For what does it matter how much lies in his chest, how much in his barns, how much he feeds or lends on interest, if he gapes after what belongs to another, if he computes not what has been acquired, but what is to be acquired? What is the limit of wealth, you ask? First, to have what is necessary; next, to have what is enough.
VALE.
FAREWELL.