Letter 8

I'm in good spirits now that you've remembered your promise and set out. But we need to move quickly — while the season is still warm, let's seize the pleasures of autumn before they slip away. In these months Campania shines with the bounty of the fields and the beauty of the orchards. Baiae is tempered by rare rain and moderate sun. The tables are loaded with delicacies — and you threaten to bring a crowd of friends! But a crowd of good people doesn't frighten me. If twice as many as you mention show up, so much the better. There'll be no shortage of things to break their fast — and your companions, being sober types, won't make the fattened pig their first concern. But why go on? I'll stop talking and demand action. It's the mark of a wise man to seize the moment. Whatever time is lost from the journey will be repaid by the leisure at the other end. Farewell.

Bono animo sumus, cum viam promissi memores inchoastis. nunc properato opus est, ut dum anni tempus calet, autumni bona raptim fruamur. his quippe mensibus 20 Campania nitet agri ubere et arbusti honore* Baiae imbre raro, sole modico tempe- 2 rantur, .mensae ab edulibus copiosae sunt, quibus tu amicorum catervas minaris. sed mihi honestae multitudinis nulla minatio est, et si bis tanto plures, quam scribis, ad- fuerint, frugem bonam feceris. non deerit, quo famem polluant ; nam comitibus vestris utpote sobriis caedundae saginae cura posterior est. quousque longum loquor? mitto 25 verba, rem flagito. occasionem rapere prudentis est. si quid dilationis itiner/ demi- tur, mora otii repensatur. vale. Vm ante a. 376.