Book III · 14

No longer wander at hazard; for neither wilt thou read thy own memoirs,⁴ nor the acts of the ancient Romans and Hellenes, and the selections from books which thou wast reserving for thy old age.⁵ Hasten then to the end which thou hast before thee, and, throwing away idle hopes, come to thy own aid, if thou carest at all for thyself, while it is in thy power.

Go astray no more; for thou art not likely to read thy little Memoranda, or the Acts of the Romans and the Greeks of Old Time, and the extracts from their writings which thou wast laying up against thine old age. Haste then to the consummation and, casting away all empty hopes, if thou carest aught for thy welfare, come to thine own rescue, while it is allowed thee.