Letter 2061: I had hoped for the vacant plot of land near Naples that adjoins my property from yours, so that I might build a new...
I had hoped for the vacant plot of land near Naples that adjoins my property from yours, so that I might build a new house. You, sharing your Lucullan estate with me, and so that modesty does not reject the gift, you deny that what I confess was not mine seems to be yours. Allow me at least to express my gratitude. Do not refuse the thanks of a friend who recognizes generosity even when the giver tries to make it seem like nothing. The site is beautiful, the opportunity is timely, and with your permission I will build something worthy of the location and of our friendship.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
Vacui apud Neapolim soli quod mihi ex tuo adiacet, ut aedes novas molirer,
optaveram; tu mecum opera Lucullana partins, et ne verecundia refutet oblatum,
15 negas tui iuris videri, quod ego meum fateor non fuisse. patere, ut saltem gratiam
tibi debeam. neque enim fas est mala fide me recuperare, quod possum bona sumere.
adicis praeterea lenocinia, quibus morbum fabricatoris inrites: geminam porticum so- 2
lido et incormpto opere curvatam multis in longitudinem pa^^ibus explicari; vicina
esse, quae constrao, et parvo aedificationis negotio, quod intervenit, posse misceri. quid
20 laboras adversum verecundiam meam? ego quoque facio, quod recusas: gratus sum
mnneri tuo. sed vereor ne accedent^ sumptu, dum vetera novis nitimur aemulari,
intellegam maiora te velle concedere, quam me posse reparare.
LXI (LX) ante a. 395.
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