Letter 7.20

Velia was more delightful to me because I saw that it loves you. But why should I speak of you, whom everyone loves? By my faith, even your Rufio was missed as if he were one of us. I do not blame you for taking him away to your building project. Although Velia is no cheaper than the Lupercal, I would rather have your place than all this here. If you listen to me, as you usually do, you will keep these paternal possessions. The people of Velia seemed a little worried. Do not leave the noble river Hales; do not abandon the Papirian house. That other place has everything that tends to hold even visitors, though if you cut down that famous tree you will have greatly improved the view. Above all, especially in these times, it seems useful to have a refuge: first, a city whose people care for you; then your own house and fields in a secluded, healthy, pleasant place. My dear Trebatius, I think this matters to me too. Keep well, look after my business, and, with the gods' help, expect me before midwinter. I took from Sextus Fadius, Nico's pupil, Nico's book On Overeating. What a pleasant doctor, and what an eager student I am for this discipline. Our Bassus hid this book from me, but not from you, it seems. The wind is freshening. Take care of your health. July 20, Velia.

DCCLXXI (Fam. VII, 20) TO GAIUS TREBATIUS (AT ROME) VELIA, 20 JULY: Velia seemed to me the more charming because I perceived that you were popular there. But why name you, who are a universal favourite? Even your friend Rufio , upon my word, was as much in request as though he had been one of us. But I don't blame you for having taken him away to superintend your building operations; for although Velia is as valuable as the Lupercal , yet I would rather be where you are than own all your property here. If you will listen to me, as you usually do, you will keep this paternal estate — for the Velians seemed a little afraid that you wouldn't — and will not abandon that noble stream, the Hales , nor desert the Papirian mansion — though that other has a famous lotus which attracts even foreign visitors, but which would after all much improve your view if it were cut down. But, above all, it seems a most desirable thing, especially in such times as these, to have as a refuge in the first place a town whose citizens are attached to you, and in the second place a house and lands of your own, and that in a retired, healthy, and picturesque spot. And this, my dear Trebatius , is to my interest also, I think. But keep well and see to my affairs, and expect me home D.5. before the winter. I carried off from Sextus Fadius , Nico 's pupil, the essay of Nico 's “On Over-eating.” What a pleasant doctor! And what a ready scholar am I in such a school as that! But our friend Bassus kept me in the dark about that book: not so you, it seems. The wind is rising. Take care of yourself.

XX. Scr. Veliae XIII. Kal. Sextiles a.u.c. 710. CICERO TREBATIO SAL. Amabilior mihi Velia fuit, quod te ab ea sensi amari; sed quid ego dicam te, quem quis non amat? Rufio, medius fidius, tuus ita desiderabatur, ut si esset unus e nobis; sed te ego non reprehendo, qui illum ad aedificationem tuam traduxeris; quamquam enim Velia non est vilior quam Lupercal, tamen istuc malo quam haec omnia. Tu, si me audies, quem soles, has paternas possessiones tenebis—nescio quid enim Velienses verebantur—, neque Heletem, nobilem amnem, relinques nec Papirianam domum deseres: quamquam illa quidem habet totum, a quo etiam advenae teneri solent—quem tamen si excideris, multum prospexeris—; sed in primis opportunum videtur, his praesertim temporibus, habere perfugium primum eorum urbem, quibus carus sis, deinde tuam domum tuosque agros, eaque remoto, salubri, amoeno loco; idque etiam mea interesse, mi Trebati, arbitror. Sed valebis meaque negotia videbis meque dis iuvantibus ante brumam exspectabis. Ego a Sex. Fadio, Niconis discipulo, librum abstuli N¤xvnow perÐ polufag¤aw : o medicum suavem meque docilem ad hanc disciplinam! sed Bassus noster me de hoc libro celavit; te quidem non videtur. Ventus increbrescit. Cura, ut valeas. XIII. Kal. Sextil. Velia.