1As I instructed you often and at length when you set out, Vinnius, you will deliver the sealed volumes to Augustus if he is well, if he is in good spirits, if, in short, he asks for them; 4lest you go wrong out of zeal for me and, as an officious agent, bring dislike upon my little books by excessive effort. 6If perhaps the heavy load of my paper chafes you, throw it away rather than wildly dash down your pack where you are told to deliver it, and turn your father's surname Asina into a joke, and become the talk of the town. 10You will use your strength over hills, rivers and bogs.
11As soon as you have achieved your purpose and arrived there, you will carry your burden placed like this: not tucking the bundle of books under your arm, as a rustic does a lamb, as tipsy Pyrria does her ball of stolen wool, as a tribesman invited to dinner his slippers and felt cap. 16And do not tell everyone that you have sweated carrying poems that might detain the eyes and ears of Caesar. Though besought with many prayers, press on, go; 19farewell; 19take care not to stumble and break your charge.