Erasmus expresses concern that Servatius has not written to him as promised, speculating that he is either too busy or too idle. He urges Servatius to break from his idleness and write soon, reassuring him that he can speak as freely with Erasmus as he would with himself.
ERASMUS TO HIS SERVATIUS, GREETINGS. WHAT are you doing, my Servatius? For I suspect you are engaged in some great affair, which so occupies you that you are not permitted to fulfill what you promised me. For you pledged that you would send me a single letter as soon as possible, and behold, a great interval has passed, and you write nothing nor say anything. What reason shall I guess? Truly, you have either been too busy or too idle—indeed, I suspect both; namely, that you are in that kind of leisure than which nothing is less leisurely, nothing more full of business. For every idle person is in a state of longing, since love is a passion of an unoccupied mind. Therefore, you will do a thing most pleasing and exceedingly useful to yourself if, breaking that leisure, you write to me as soon as possible. Moreover, be of a more confident spirit towards me, and fear my conscience no less than your own. Speak all things with me as if with yourself; that will be most delightful to me. Farewell.