Ep. 7.1.1Terret mē haec tua tam pertināx valētūdō, et quamquam tē temperantissimum nōverim, vereor tamen nē quid illī etiam in mōrēs tuōs liceat.This illness of yours, so persistent, alarms me, and although I know you to be most self-controlled, I am still afraid that it may take some liberties even with your character. Ep. 7.1.2Proinde moneō patienter resistās: hoc laudābile hoc salūtāre.I advise you, therefore, to resist it patiently: this is praiseworthy, this is healthful. Ep. 7.1.2Admittit hūmāna nātūra quod suādeō.Human nature allows what I am urging. Ep. 7.1.3Ipse certē sīc agere sānus cum meīs soleō: "Spērō quidem, sī forte in adversam valētūdinem inciderō, nihil mē dēsīderātūrum vel pudōre vel paenitentiā dignum;I myself, certainly, when I am in health, am accustomed to deal with my household like this: 'I hope, indeed, that if I should happen to fall into ill health, I shall want nothing deserving either shame or regret; Ep. 7.1.3sī tamen superāverit morbus, dēnūntiō nē quid mihi dētis, nisi permittentibus medicīs, sciātisque sī dederitis ita vindicātūrum, ut solent aliī quae negantur."if, however, the disease should get the better of me, I give you notice that you are to give me nothing unless the doctors permit it, and you are to know that if you do give it, I shall punish you as others usually punish what is refused them.' Ep. 7.1.4Quīn etiam cum perūstus ārdentissimā febre, tandem remissus ūnctusque, acciperem ā medicō pōtiōnem, porrēxī manum utque tangeret dīxī, admōtumque iam labrīs pōculum reddidī.Indeed, once when, burnt up by a most violent fever, I had at last been relieved and anointed and was taking a draught from my doctor, I held out my hand, told him to feel my pulse, and handed back the cup when it was already raised to my lips.
Ep. 7.1.5Posteā cum vīcēnsimō valētūdinis diē balineō praeparārer, mussantēsque medicōs repente vīdissem, causam requīsīvī.Later, when on the twentieth day of my illness I was being made ready for the bath, and suddenly saw the doctors muttering, I asked the reason. Ep. 7.1.5Respondērunt posse mē tūtō lavārī, nōn tamen omnīnō sine aliquā suspīciōne.They replied that I could bathe safely, yet not altogether without some misgiving. Ep. 7.1.6"Quid" inquam "necesse est?"'What need is there?' I said; Ep. 7.1.6atque ita spē balineī, cui iam vidēbar īnferrī, placidē lēniterque dīmissā, ad abstinentiam rūrsus, nōn secus ac modo ad balineum, animum vultumque composuī.and so, calmly and gently giving up the hope of the bath, to which I already seemed to be on my way, I composed my mind and my face for abstinence once more, just as a moment before I had for the bath. Ep. 7.1.7Quae tibi scrīpsī, prīmum ut tē nōn sine exemplō monērem, deinde ut in posterum ipse ad eandem temperantiam astringerer, cum mē hāc epistulā quasi pignore obligāvissem.I have written this to you, first so that I might not advise you without an example, and then so that I myself might be held to the same self-control in future, having bound myself by this letter as if by a pledge.
Ep. 7.1.7Valē.Farewell.