A letter discussing oratory and the decline of eloquence in the Roman courts.
C. Plīnius Calpurniae suae s. Scrībis tē absentiā meā nōn mediocriter afficī ūnumque habēre sōlācium, quod prō mē libellōs meōs teneās, saepe etiam in vestīgiō meō collocēs.
You kindly tell me my absence very sensibly affects you, and that your only consolation is in conversing with my works, which you frequently substitute in my stead.
Grātum est quod nōs requīris, grātum quod hīs fōmentīs acquiēscis; invicem ego epistulās tuās lectitō atque identidem in manūs quasi novās sūmō.
I am glad that you miss me; I am glad that you find some rest in these alleviations. In return, I read over your letters again and again, and am continually taking them up, as if I had just received them; but, alas! this only stirs in me a keener longing for you; for how sweet must her conversation be whose letters have so many charms!
Sed eō magis ad dēsīderium tuī accendor: nam cuius litterae tantum habent suāvitātis, huius sermōnibus quantum dulcēdinis inest! Tū tamen quam frequentissimē scrībe, licet hoc ita mē dēlectet ut torqueat. Valē.
Let me receive them, however, as often as possible, notwithstanding there is still a mixture of pain in the pleasure they afford me. Farewell.