Pliny Paraphrase VII.5

incredibile est quanto desiderio tui tenear

Pliny says he is held by an unbelievably strong longing for her.

in causa amor primum

The main reason for this feeling is love.

deinde quod non consuevimus abesse

Another reason is that they are not used to being apart.

inde est quod magnam noctium partem in imagine tuā vigil exigo

Because of this, he spends much of the night awake thinking about her.

inde quod interdiu, quibus horis te visere solebam

For the same reason, during the day, at the times he used to visit her,

ad diaetam tuam ipsi me… pedes ducunt

his feet themselves lead him to her sitting-room, as if by habit.

quod denique aeger et maestus

Finally, he feels weak and sad.

ac similis excluso a vacuo limine recedo

He leaves her empty doorway like a rejected lover.

unum tempus his tormentis caret

Only one time is free from these emotional pains.

quo in foro amicorum litibus conteror

That is when he is worn out in the forum by friends’ legal cases.

aestima tu quae vita mea sit

He asks her to consider what his life is like.

cui requies in labore in miseria curisque solacium

For him, rest and comfort come only through work, misery, and worries.

vale

Farewell.