Letter 16.17

I see what you are up to: you want your letters too to be collected into volumes. But listen, you who are accustomed to be the critic of my writings, where did that awkward phrase come from, "faithfully serving one's health"? How did "faithfully" get into that expression? That word has its proper home in the sphere of duty; its migrations into foreign territory are many. For both learning and a house and a skill and even a farm can be called "faithful" -- the result being, as Theophrastus would say, a timid metaphor. But more of this in person. Demetrius came to me -- with quite an entourage! You know well enough. You were of course unable to see yours. Tomorrow he will be here; you will see him then. For I am planning to leave here the day after tomorrow morning. Your health greatly worries me; but attend to it and do everything. When you do, consider that you are both with me and giving me the fullest satisfaction. I am grateful that you took care of the Cuspius matter, for I very much wish to serve his interests. Farewell.

DCL (Fam. XVI, 17) TO TIRO (AT ROME) ASTURA (29 JULY) I see what you are about: you want your letters also to be collected into books. But look here! You set up to be a standard of correctness in my writings — how came you to use such an unauthorized expression as “by faithfully devoting myself to my health”? How does fideliter come in there? The proper habitat of that word is in what refers to duty to others — though it often migrates to spheres not belonging to it. For instance: “learning,” “house,” “art,” “land,” can be called fidelis, granting, as Theophrastus holds, that the metaphor is not pushed too far. But of this when we meet. Demetrius called on me, from whose company to Rome I escaped with considerable adroitness. It is plain that you could not have seen him; he will be in town tomorrow, so you will see him. I myself think of starting early the day after. Your ill-health makes me very anxious, but devote yourself to its cure and omit no means. If you do that, consider that you are with me and are giving me the most complete satisfaction. Thank you for attending to Cuspius ; for I am much interested in him. Good-bye.

XVII. Scr. a.u.c. 708. TULLIUS TIRONI SAL. Video, quid agas: tuas quoque epistulas vis referri in volumina. Sed heus tu, qui xann esse meorum scriptorum soles, unde illud tam êxuron , "valetudini fideliter inserviendo?" unde in istum locum "fideliter" venit? cui verbo domicilium est proprium in officio, migrationes in alienum multae: nam et doctrina et domus et ars et ager etiam fidelis dici potest, ut sit, quomodo Theophrasto placet, verecunda tralatio. Sed haec coram. Demetrius venit ad me quo quidem comitatu éfwm¤lhsa satis scis etueum videlicet non potuisti videre; cras aderit: videbis igitur; nam ego hinc perendie mane cogito. Valetudo tua me valde sollicitat, sed inservi et fac omnia: tum te mecum esse, tum mihi cumulatissime satisfacere putato. Cuspio quod operam dedisti, mihi gratum est; valde enim eius causa volo. Vale.