Selection 1 (3 pref. 1-4)
[3.pr.1] Nōn praeterit mē, Lūcīlī virōrum optime, quam magnārum rērum fundāmenta pōnam senex, quī mundum circumīre cōnstituī et causās sēcrētaque eius ēruere atque aliīs nōscenda prōdere. quandō tam multa cōnsequar, tam sparsa colligam, tam occulta perspiciam? [3.pr.2] premit ā tergō senectūs et obicit annōs inter vāna studia cōnsūmptōs. tantō magis urgeāmus et damna aetātis male exēmptae labor sarciat. nox ad diem accēdat, occupātiōnēs recīdantur, patrimōniī longē ā dominō iacentis cūra solvātur, sibi tōtus animus vacet, et ad contemplātiōnem suī saltim in ipsō fīne respiciat.