Ep. 1.2.1Quia tardiōrem adventum tuum prōspiciō, librum quem priōribus epistulīs prōmīseram exhibeō.Because I foresee that your arrival will be rather late, I present the book that I had promised in my earlier letters. Ep. 1.2.1Hunc rogō ex cōnsuētūdine tuā et legās et ēmendēs, eō magis quod nihil ante peraequē eōdem scrīpsisse videor videor.I ask you, as is your custom, both to read and to correct it, all the more because I seem never before to have written with quite the same zeal. Ep. 1.2.2Temptāvī enim imitārī Dēmosthenēn semper tuum, Calvum nūper meum, dumtaxat figūrīs ōrātiōnis;For I have tried to imitate Demosthenes, always your favourite, and Calvus, lately mine, at least in the figures of speech; Ep. 1.2.2nam vim tantōrum virōrum, "paucī quōs aequus ..."for the force of such great men only 'the few whom just …' Ep. 1.2.2assequī possunt.can attain. Ep. 1.2.3Nec māteria ipsa huic - vereor nē improbe dīcam - aemulātiōnī repugnāvit: erat enim prope tōta in contentiōne dīcendī, quod mē longae dēsidiae indormientem excitāvit, sī modo is sum ego quī excitārī possim.Nor did the material itself resist this rivalry (I fear I may speak immodestly): for it lay almost entirely in the cut and thrust of speaking, which roused me as I slumbered in long idleness, if only I am the sort of man who can be roused.
Ep. 1.2.4Nōn tamen omnīnō Mārcī nostrī fugimus quotiēns, paulum itinere dēcēdere nōn intempestīvīs amoenitātibus admonēbāmur ācrēs: enim esse nōn trīstēs volēbāmus volebamus.Yet I have not altogether shunned the colourful touches of our Marcus, whenever I was prompted by not unseasonable charms to step a little aside from the road: for I wanted to be vigorous, not grim. Ep. 1.2.5Nec est quod putēs mē sub hāc exceptiōne veniam postulāre.There is no reason for you to think that I am asking for indulgence by this exception. Ep. 1.2.5Nam quō magis intendam līmam tuam, cōnfitēbor et ipsum mē et contubernālēs ab ēditiōne nōn abhorrēre, sī modo tū fortasse errōrī nostrō album calculum adiēceris.For to make you ply your file the harder, I shall confess that both I myself and my companions are not averse to publication, if only you perhaps cast a white pebble in favour of our mistake. Ep. 1.2.6Est enim plānē aliquid ēdendum - atque utinam hoc potissimum quod parātum est!For something must certainly be published — and if only it might be this above all, which is ready! Ep. 1.2.6Audīs dēsidiae vōtum - ēdendum autem ex plūribus causīs, maximē quod libellī quōs ēmīsimus dīcuntur in manibus esse, quamvīs iam grātiam novitātis exuerint;You hear the prayer of idleness — but published it must be, for several reasons, chiefly because the little books I have already sent out are said to be in people's hands, although they have now lost the charm of novelty; Ep. 1.2.6nisi tamen auribus nostrīs bibliopōlae blandiuntur.unless, that is, the booksellers are flattering my ears.
Ep. 1.2.6Sed sānē blandiantur, dum per hoc mendācium nōbīs studia nostra commendent.But let them flatter by all means, provided that by this lie they make my studies dear to me. Ep. 1.2.6Valē.Farewell.