Ep. CXXIII.

(To excuse himself for postponing his acceptance of an invitation.)

I reverence your presence, and I delight in your company; although otherwise I counselled myself to remain at home and philosophize in quiet, for I found this of all courses the most profitable for myself.  And since the winds are still somewhat rough, and my infirmity has not yet left me, I beg you to bear with me patiently for a little while, and to join me in my prayers for health; and as soon as the fit season comes I will attend upon your requests.

[123] ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ

Ἡδέσθην σου τὴν παρουσίαν καὶ στέργω τὴν συνουσίαν, καίτοι γε ἄλλως ἐμαυτὸν νουθετήσας οἴκοι μένειν καὶ καθ' ἡσυχίαν φιλοσοφεῖν: τοῦτο γὰρ εὗρον ἐμαυτῷ ἐκ πάντων λυσιτελέστερον. Ἐπεὶ δὲ οἵ τε ἀέρες ἔτι ταραχώδεις καὶ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν ἡ ἀρρωστία, παρακαλῶ, μικρὸν μακροθύμησον, συνεύχου δὲ τὴν ὑγίειαν: καὶ ἡνίκα ἂν ᾖ καιρός, ἐπιστησόμεθα σαῖς εὐχαῖς.