Letter 76

I was charmed by Cincius’ visit on the 28th of Rome. January before daybreak: for he told me you were in Italy and he was sending some men to you. I did not like them to go without a letter from me—not that I had anything to write, especially when you are so near, but that I might express my delight at your arrival and how I have longed for it. So fly to me with the assurance that your love for me is fully reciprocated. The rest we will discuss when we meet. I am writing in haste. The day you arrive, mind, you and your party are to accept my hospitality. I shall be delighted if you can pay me a visit. You will be surprised at Tyrannio’s excellent arrangement in my library. What is left of it is much better than I expected: still I should be glad if you would librariolis duos aliquos, quibus Tyrannic utatur glutinatoribus, ad cetera administris, usque imperes, ut sumant membranulam, ex qua indices fiant, quos vos Graeci, ut opinor, σιλλύβους appellatis. Sed haec, si tibi erit commodum. Ipse vero utique fac venias, si potes in his locis adhaerescere et Piliam adducere. Ita enim et aequum est et cupit Tullia. Medius fidius ne tu emisti λόχον praeclarum. Gladiatores audio pugnare mirifice. Si locare voluisses, duobus his muneribus liber esses. Sed haec posterius. Tu fac venias et de librariis, si me amas, diligenter.

periucundus mihi Cincius fuit ante diem iii Kal. Febr. ante lucem; dixit enim mihi te esse in Italia seseque ad te pueros mittere. quos sine meis litteris ire nolui, non quo haberem quod tibi, praesertim iam prope praesenti, scriberem sed ut hoc ipsum significarem, mihi tuum adventum suavissimum exspectatissimumque esse. qua re advola ad nos eo animo ut nos ames, te amari scias. cetera coram agemus. haec properantes scripsimus. quo die venies, utique cum tuis apud me sis.