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 DII (F IX, 23)

TO L. PAPIRIUS PÆTUS (AT NAPLES)

I arrived yesterday at my Cuman villa, to-morrow I shall perhaps come to see you. But as soon as I know for certain, I will send you word a little beforehand. However, M. Cæparius, who met me on the road at the Gallinarian wood, told me you were in bed with the gout. I was sorry to hear it, as in duty bound; nevertheless, I resolved to come to you, for the sake not only of seeing you and paying you a visit, but even of dining with you: for I don't suppose you have a cook who is gouty also. Expect therefore a guest, who is far from being a gourmet, and is a foe to extravagant dinners.

DIII (A XII, 1)

TO ATTICUS (IN HIS SUBURBAN VILLA)

On the eleventh day from my parting from you I write this notelet on the point of quitting my villa before daybreak. To-day I think of being at my house at Anagnia, to-morrow at Tusculum: there I stay one day. On the 27th, therefore, I start to meet you as arranged. And oh! that I might hurry straight to the embrace of my Tullia and to the lips of Attica! Pray write and tell me what those same lips are prattling of, so that I may know it while I am halting in my Tusculan villa: or, if she is ruralizing, what