Ep. 1.15.1Heus tū!Hey, you! Ep. 1.15.1Prōmittis ad cēnam, nec venīs?You promise to come to dinner, and then you do not come? Ep. 1.15.1Dīcitur iūs: ad assem impendium reddēs, nec id modicum.Here is the judgement: you will repay the expense to the last penny, and that is no small sum. Ep. 1.15.2Parātae erant lactūcae singulae, cochleae ternae, ōva bīna, halica cum mulsō et nive - nam hanc quoque computābis, immō hanc in prīmīs quae perit in ferculō -, olīvae bētāceī cucurbitae bulbī, alia mīlle nōn minus lauta.There had been prepared a lettuce each, three snails apiece, two eggs each, spelt-cake with honeyed wine and snow (for you will reckon this in too, indeed this above all, since it melts away on the dish), olives, beetroot, gourds, onions, and a thousand other things no less elegant. Ep. 1.15.2Audīssēs cōmoedōs vel lēctōrem vel lyristēn vel - quae mea līberālitās - omnēs.You would have heard comic actors, or a reader, or a lyre-player, or (such is my generosity) all of them. Ep. 1.15.3At tū apud nesciō quem ostrea vulvās echīnōs Gāditānās māluistī.But you preferred oysters, sow's wombs, sea-urchins and Spanish dancing-girls at the house of I know not whom.
Ep. 1.15.3Dabis poenās, nōn dīcō quās.You will pay the penalty, I do not say what. Ep. 1.15.3Dūrē fēcistī: invīdistī, nesciō an tibi, certē mihi, sed tamen et tibi.You have behaved harshly: you have cheated, I do not know whether yourself, certainly me, but still yourself as well. Ep. 1.15.3Quantum nōs lūsissēmus rīsissēmus studuissēmus!How we would have joked, laughed and studied! Ep. 1.15.4Potes apparātius cēnāre apud multōs, nūsquam hilarius simplicius incautius.You can dine more lavishly at many houses, but nowhere more cheerfully, simply and freely. Ep. 1.15.4In summā experīre, et nisi posteā tē aliīs potius excūsāveris, mihi semper excūsā.In short, try it, and unless afterwards you excuse yourself to others instead, always excuse yourself to me. Ep. 1.15.4Valē.Farewell.