Letter 7028: You told me to stay at Baiae [the famous resort on the Bay of Naples].

You told me to stay at Baiae [the famous resort on the Bay of Naples]. The bearer of your letter swore your own arrival was right on his heels. What was I supposed to do, when the same place wouldn't hold me? It seemed more practical to ask you to extend your journey and come to us instead. After all, it was friends you wanted, not Baiae -- unless you're drawn by that famous den of luxury. We'll go back with you, if you'd rather return there.

Bais residere iussisti. adserebat perlator epistulae, imminere excursum tuum calcibus suis. quid facerem, cum me nec locus idem teneret? expeditius visum est, ut a te potius gratiam continuandi ad nos itineris posceremus. amicos enim, non Baias de- 30 siderasti, nisi forte illo luxuriae sinu traheris. comitabimur te, si eo redire malneris, atque] F, ptfiii in P 6 urbanas turbas] F, urban//////// P dedino] F, d////// P 9 motus (/") tim (itim in fxu.) P ligentia tui] (/7), diligen////// P 21 ad////lone P 22 eueniet] Wingendorp, ueniet P 23 pos- sessionem P possit P2 m. 184 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE P quamvis regionis istius caelum salubrius et pares copiae sint. erit optio tua, inten- dere iter an relegere debeamus. ad defensionem meam pertinet eo redeuntem te se- qui, ubi adventantem expectare non potui. vale. XXV.