§69.1Mutare te loca et aliunde alio transilire nolo; primum, quia tam frequens migratio instabilis animi est.
I do not wish you to change your location and to leap from one place to another; first, because such frequent migration is a sign of an unstable mind.
Coalescere otio non potest, nisi desit circumspicere et errare.
One cannot settle down in leisure unless one ceases to look around and wander.
Ut animum possis continere, primum corporis tui fugam siste.
In order that you may be able to control your mind, first stop the flight of your body.
§69.2Deinde plurimum remedia continuata proficiunt.
Secondly, continuous remedies are of the greatest benefit.
Interrumpenda non est quies et vitae prioris oblivio.
Quiet and the forgetfulness of your former life must not be interrupted.
Sine dediscere oculos tuos, sine aures adsuescere sanioribus verbis.
Allow your eyes to unlearn, and allow your ears to get used to sounder words.
Quotiens processeris, in ipso transitu aliqua, quae renovent cupiditates tuas, tibi occurrent.
As often as you go out, on the very journey things will meet you that will renew your desires.
§69.3Quemadmodum ei, qui amorem exuere conatur, evitanda est omnis admonitio dilecti corporis, nihil enim facilius quam amor recrudescit, ita qui deponere vult desideria rerum omnium, quarum cupiditate flagravit, et oculos et aures ab iis, quae reliquit, avertat.
Just as he who endeavors to rid himself of love must avoid every reminder of the beloved body—for nothing flares up again more easily than love—so he who wishes to put aside his desires for all the things for which he burned with passion should turn away both his eyes and his ears from what he has left behind.
Cito rebellat adfectus.
Passion quickly rebels.
§69.4Quocumque se verterit, pretium aliquod praesens occupationis suae aspiciet.
Wherever he turns, he will see some present reward for his occupation.
Nullum sine auctoramento malum est.
No evil is without its hire.
Avaritia pecuniam promittit, luxuria multas ac varias voluptates, ambitio purpuram et plausum et ex hoc potentiam et quicquid potest potentia.
Avarice promises money, luxury many and various pleasures, ambition the purple and applause, and from this, power and whatever power can do.
Mercede te vitia sollicitant; hic tibi gratis vivendum est.
The vices entice you with a reward; here you must live for nothing.
§69.5Vix effici toto saeculo potest, ut vitia tam longa licentia tumida subigantur et iugum accipiant, nedum, si tam breve tempus intervallis caedimus.
It can scarcely be brought about in a whole lifetime that vices, swollen by such long license, are subdued and accept the yoke, let alone if we cut up so short a time with interruptions.
Unam quamlibet rem vix ad perfectum perducit adsidua vigilia et intentio.
Constant watchfulness and concentration can scarcely bring any single thing to perfection.
§69.6Si me quidem velis audire, hoc meditare et exerce, ut mortem et excipias et, si ita res suadebit, accersas.
If you indeed wish to listen to me, meditate on this and practice it: to welcome death and, if circumstances so advise, to summon it.
Interest nihil, illa ad nos veniat an ad illam nos.
It makes no difference whether it comes to us or we go to it.
Illud imperitissimi cuiusque verbum falsum esse tibi ipse persuade: "Bella res est mori sua morte. "Nemo moritur nisi sua morte.
Persuade yourself that that saying of the most ignorant is false: "It is a beautiful thing to die one's own death." No one dies except by his own death.
Illud praeterea tecum licet cogites: nemo nisi suo die moritur.
Besides, you may reflect on this: no one dies except on his own day.
Nihil perdis ex tuo tempore; nam quod relinquis, alienum est VALE.
You lose nothing of your own time; for what you leave behind belongs to another. FAREWELL.