I was accidentally going along the Via Sacra, meditating on some trifle or other, as is my custom, and totally intent upon it. A certain person, known to me by name only, runs up; and, having seized my hand," How do you do, my dearest fellow?" " Tolerably well," say I," as times go; and I wish you every thing you can desire. "When he still followed me;" Would you any thing?" said I to him. But," You know me," says he:" I am a man of learning." "Upon that account," says I:" you will have more of my esteem. "Wanting sadly to get away from him, sometimes I walked on apace, now and then I stopped, and I whispered something to my boy. When the sweat ran down to the bottom of my ankles. O, said I to myself, Bolanus, how happy were you in a head- piece! Meanwhile he kept prating on any thing that came uppermost, praised the streets, the city; and, when I made him no answer;" You want terribly," said he," to get away; I perceived it long ago; but you effect nothing. I shall still stick close to you; I shall follow you hence: Where are you at present bound for?" "There is no need for your being carried so much about: I want to see a person, who is unknown to you: he lives a great way off across the Tiber, just by Caesar 's gardens." "I have nothing to do, and I am not lazy; I will attend you thither. "I hang down my ears like an ass of surly disposition, when a heavier load than ordinary is put upon his back. He begins again:" If I am tolerably acquainted with myself, you will not esteem Viscus or Varius as a friend, more than me; for who can write more verses, or in a shorter time than I? Who can move his limbs with softer grace[ in the dance]? And then I sing, so that even Hermogenes may envy." 