1Julius Florus, I am anxious to know in what regions of the earth Claudius, the stepson of Augustus, is campaigning. 3Is it Thrace and the Hebrus bound in fetters of snow, or the strait running between neighbouring towers, or the rich plains and hills of Asia that detain you? 6What works is the studious band constructing? 6This too concerns me. 7Who takes upon himself to write the deeds of Augustus? 8Who spreads his wars and peace abroad to distant ages? 9What of Titius, soon to be on Roman lips? 10He who did not blanch at draughts from the Pindaric spring, but dared to scorn open pools and streams, how is he?
12How does he remember me? 12Is he eager, with the Muse's blessing, to fit Theban measures to the Latin lyre, or does he storm and bombast in the tragic art? 15What is my Celsus doing? 15He has been warned, and must be warned often, to seek riches of his own and avoid touching whatever writings Palatine Apollo has received, lest, if the flock of birds should one day come to reclaim their feathers, the little crow, stripped of her stolen colours, should provoke laughter. What do you yourself venture? 21Round what thyme do you nimbly flit? 21Yours is no small talent, not untilled and shamefully rough. 23Whether you sharpen your tongue for lawsuits, or prepare to give opinions on civil law, or compose a lovely song, you will carry off the first prizes of the victor's ivy. But if you could leave behind the cold compresses of cares, you would go where heavenly wisdom would lead you.
27Let us, small and great, press on with this work, this pursuit, if we wish to live dear to our country and to ourselves. 30You must also write back this: whether Munatius is as dear to you as he should be; 31or does the badly patched friendship come together in vain and tear apart again? 32But whether hot blood or ignorance of the world troubles you, wild with untamed necks, wherever in the world you live, you who are too good to break the bond of brothers, a votive heifer is fattening for your return.