Letter 1011: Is this really my luck — that everywhere I turn, there's something that needs rebuilding?

Is this then my lot, that wherever I turn my foot and step, something presents itself that must be built up? For instance, the restoration of the praetorium [official residence] at Capua now forces me into heavy expenses; part of it is falling apart through neglect, and the part that was long ago repaired with careless haste affords a feeble dwelling. Unless prompt attention comes to its aid, either a loss of money will afterward be piled up, or its collapse. For whoever leaves off these works, loses them. Wherefore my mind is set on doing away with the old age of the buildings. And so, in the leisure I have longed for and sought after [...]

Hanccine mihi esse fortunam, ut quoquo versum pedem gradumque contulero, exaedificandum aliquid oflferatnr ? velut me nunc Capuani praetorii instauratio in graves cogit expensas, cuius pars fatiscit incuria, pars neglegenti dudum celeritate reparata imbecillum praestat habitaculum. his nisi properata cura subvenerit, aut pecuniae 30 postea dispendium cumulabitur aut minae. nam quis(iuis haec opera intermittit. amittit. quare animus est amoliri aedium senectutem. ita desiderato et expetito otio 21 Verg. Aen. VI 688. supernam gutturi VF^ 6 media incoquit Htituiw 7 ima] /W, una V 8 uagae sorores Heinsius ebrins mentis] -T, om, 3f, mentis om, V ideo] VFM^ adeo 0 15 litteraturam] V0M, literarum F 17 potl undique F 25 ab hac epittula ineipit apographum codicis P in II Patri Symmachus] [II) , om, VM 26 quo- queuersum V contulero] V[r]^ tulero M^ contulerim [II) 27 exodiflcandum /7 praetarii // 28 cogit] VrM^ coegit (/7) 29 imbecillum] VFM, indecorum (//) 31 amoliri] (//), amoueri VM odium n- ita a desiderato Mommicn 8 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE