Ep. 7.30.1Torqueor quod discipulum, ut scrībis, optimae speī āmīsistī.I am distressed that, as you write, you have lost a pupil of the highest promise. Ep. 7.30.1Cuius et valētūdine et morte impedīta studia tua quidnī sciam?Why should I not know that your studies were hindered both by his illness and by his death? Ep. 7.30.1cum sīs omnium officiōrum observantissimus, cumque omnēs quōs probās effūsissimē dīligās.since you are most attentive to every duty, and since you love most generously all whom you approve. Ep. 7.30.2Mē hūc quoque urbāna negōtia persequuntur;City business pursues me even here; Ep. 7.30.2nōn dēsunt enim quī mē iūdicem aut arbitrum faciant.for there is no lack of people who make me judge or arbitrator. Ep. 7.30.3Accēdunt querēlae rūsticōrum, quī auribus meīs post longum tempus suō iūre abūtuntur.Added to this are the complaints of the country people, who after a long time make use of my ears, as is their right, beyond all measure. Ep. 7.30.3Īnstat et necessitās agrōrum locandōrum, perquam molesta: adeō rārum est invenīre idōneōs conductōrēs.There is also the pressing need to let my farms, a very troublesome business: so rare is it to find suitable tenants.
Ep. 7.30.4Quibus ex causīs precāriō studeō, studeō tamen.For these reasons I study on sufferance, but study nevertheless. Ep. 7.30.4Nam et scrībō aliquid et legō;For I both write something and read; Ep. 7.30.4sed cum legō, ex comparātiōne sentiō quam male scrībam, licet tū mihi bonum animum faciās, quī libellōs meōs dē ultiōne Helvidī ōrātiōnī Dēmosthenis cōnfers confers.but when I read, I feel by comparison how badly I write, although you encourage me by comparing my books on avenging Helvidius with Demosthenes' speech Against Meidias. Ep. 7.30.5Quam sānē, cum compōnerem illōs, habuī in manibus, nōn ut aemulārer - improbum enim ac paene furiōsum -, sed tamen imitārer et sequerer, quantum aut dīversitās ingeniōrum maximī et minimī, aut causae dissimilitūdō paterētur.That speech I certainly had in my hands when I was composing them, not to rival it — for that would be shameless and almost insane — but still to imitate and follow it, as far as either the difference between the greatest and the least of talents, or the dissimilarity of the cases, would allow. Ep. 7.30.5Valē.Farewell.