_Sen._ Ah, here thou art! Look, love, they are bringing wine to-day from Cales, Ninety-two jars by the invoice;—lay them down In the new cellar. Here’s two hundredweight Of pepper that I have bought: see that be weighed And warehoused, for the quoted price is low. Next, this is Alban raisins, eighteen casks: They may go with the pepper. A ship’s arrived At Ostia laden with black Spanish wool: Send that to the factor. That’s all: but remember Our bailiff from Nomentum comes this afternoon: He is short of hands. Mind he pick sturdy fellows; And check the ration-bills to correspond. Now lastly, love, I want five hundred copies Made of my letters to Lucilius. 390 Bid the clerks set routine aside for this; ’Tis for the provinces. I am pleased, my love, To think how good the work is; and ’tis new: ’Twill outlast the decayed light-heartedness Of Horace: ’tis more suitable besides For plain intelligence, and it should The world. _Pau._ You know I love it, but I fear You work too hard. How is your health to-day? _Sen._ A little headache only, and the old stiffness In the back of my neck: ’tis gout. I think, Paullina, That I should dine more frugally: to-day Let it be roasted apples. _Pau._ Why, you eat nothing: You should take more, not less. Trust me to give you What you should eat. _Sen._ Well, I make no complaint: Mine are small ailments, and ’tis highest health To see thee well: what should I do without thee? Why, all this business that thou takest upon thee Is a man’s work, which, had I to attend to it, Would rob me of my life: now I am free: The day is my own. _Pau._ How will you use my gift? 410 _Sen._ I am in the vein for writing. _Pau._ The muse attend thee! _Sen._ See thou, I have her with me. (_Unrolls a book and goes into his library reading. Exeunt severally._) SCENE ·• 4 _Room in Seneca’s house. Enter SENECA reading._ _SENECA._