Letter 5050: It is the mark of youthful vigor to rouse wild beasts from their woodland lairs and to pursue liberal studies with...

It is the mark of youthful vigor to rouse wild beasts from their woodland lairs and to pursue liberal studies with the pleasure of the hunt. These pleasures of the countryside are not merely recreation -- they train the body for hardship and the mind for quick decision. I envy your energy and your freedom to enjoy it. We city dwellers must content ourselves with the arena's pale imitation of what you experience firsthand among the forests and fields.

luvenalis industriae est excire saltibns feras et liberalia stndia silvestri voluptate distingnere. sic olim Marsus inpiger et fortis Sabellns robnr habuemnt. nostris annis parta proficiant. est huius indulgentiae in quibusdam avibns exemplum, nt nutrimenta senescentibns aetas vicissim prima conportet. sed nondnm convenit yaletndini meae porfyriae P, porphiriae V 13 cineres] M, cerneres PV 14 iusti (iu m ra»,) P 17 itaque V, ista M coherens (co in ras,) P 1 m, 18 emlttam pelius P 20 Sperchio] Af(r), sperthio PV itte V 1 m, 21 cedat] Wmgcndorp, credat PVM 22 snpBsa V, isU M 23 ad eum in ras, V 2 m., ad ipsum M 28 «q* aur. symmachi uc explic ad patemu. incip eiusdem ad olybriu et probinum P, incipit ad oli- brinm et probinum F, om. V 30 om, VF symmacus P 31 iuuenilis V 32 habuerer P fort. scrib, robnr alnerunt 33 ut] /t P 34 oportet V 144 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE PVF uti ferinis yisceribas, nec tamen gratiam muneris vestri minuit apnd me necessitas parsimoniae. nam etsi utendi abstinentia sanitati meae consulit, honor tamen maneris animo satisfecit. LXVIII (LXVI).