1Out of an inheritance that has come to me I have recently bought a Corinthian bronze statue, small indeed but charming and finely wrought, as far as I understand, who perhaps understand very little in any matter, and certainly in this: yet this statue even I understand. 2For it is nude, and neither conceals its faults, if it has any, nor fails to display its merits. 2It represents an old man standing; 2the bones, muscles and sinews, the veins, even the wrinkles appear as in a living, breathing man; 2the hair thin and receding, the forehead broad, the face shrunken, the neck scrawny; 2the arms hang limp, the breasts sag, the belly is sunken; 3from behind, too, the same age shows as from the front.
3The bronze itself, as far as its true colour indicates, is old and ancient; 3in short, everything about it is such that it can hold the eyes of artists and delight those of the unskilled. 4This tempted me to buy it, novice though I am. 4But I bought it not to keep at home — for I do not yet have any Corinthian bronze at home — but to set it up in a frequented place in my native town, preferably in the temple of Jupiter; 5for it seems a gift worthy of a temple, worthy of a god. 5You, then, as you usually do with everything I lay upon you, take on this task, and order a pedestal to be made at once, of whatever marble you like, to bear my name and my offices, if you think these should be added as well.
6I shall send you the statue itself as soon as I find someone who will not mind the trouble, or I shall bring it with me myself, which is what you prefer. 6For I intend, if only the demands of my office allow, to make a quick trip there. 7You are glad that I promise to come, but you will knit your brow when I add 'for a few days': for the same business that does not yet let me leave does not let me be away any longer. 7Farewell.