To Minucius Fundanus

When I consider how the days pass with us at Rome, I am surprised to find that any single day taken by itself is spent reasonably enough, or at least seems to be so, and yet when I add up many days together the impression is quite otherwise.  If you ask anyone what he has been doing to-day, he will tell you perhaps that he has been attending the ceremony of a youth’s coming of age; he has assisted at a wedding, been present at the hearing of a lawsuit, witnessed a will, or taken part in a consultation.  These occupations seem very necessary while one is engaged in them; and yet, looking back at leisure upon the many hours we have thus employed, we cannot but consider them mere frivolities.  Looking back especially on town life from a country retreat, one is inclined to regret how much of life has been spent in these wretched trifles.

This reflection is one which often occurs to me at my place at Laurentum, when I am immersed in studies or invigorating my bodily health.  In that peaceful home I neither hear nor say anything which needs to be repented of.  There is no one there who speaks evil of anyone; and I have not to complain of any man, except sometimes of myself when I am dissatisfied with my work.  There I live undisturbed by rumours, free from the vicissitudes of hope and fear, conversing only with myself and my books.  What a true and genuine life it is; what a delightful and honest repose—­surely more to be desired than the highest employments.  O sea and solitary shore, secret haunt of the Muses, with how many noble thoughts have you inspired me!  Do you then, my friend, take the first opportunity of leaving the noisy town with all its empty pursuits, and devote your days to study or leisure.  For, as Attilius well says, it is better to have nothing to do than to be doing of nothing.

To Septicius Clarus

How did it happen, my friend, that you failed to keep your engagement to dine with me?  I shall expect you to repay me what I spent on the festival—­no small sum, I can assure you.  I had prepared for each of us, you must know, a lettuce, three snails, two eggs, and a barley cake served with sweet wine and snow; the snow most certainly I shall charge to your account, as it melted away.  There were olives, beetroots, gourds, onions, and a hundred other dainties.  You would also have heard a comedian, or the reading of a poem or a lute-player, or even if you had liked, all three, such was my liberality.  But luxurious delicacies and Spanish dancing girls at some other house were more to your taste.  I shall have my revenge of you, depend upon it, but I won’t say how.  Indeed, it was not kind thus to mortify your friend—­I had almost said yourself; for how delightfully we should have passed the evening in jests and laughter, and in deeper talk!  It is true you may dine at many houses more sumptuously than at mine but nowhere will you find more unconstrained gaiety, simplicity and freedom.  Only make the experiment, and if you do not ever afterwards prefer my table to any other, never favour me with your company again.