"L. Caesar to Valeria Marina, greetings!

If you are well, I am well. Little one, how can I have missed your falling in love? It is a wonderful thing, and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when it happened.

Ursus Longinus wrote to me asking for you in marriage; Uncle Agrippa recommends him highly, and I want you so to be happy, I'm sure you'll have your wish granted, but don't tell him I said so yet. I need him to take this very seriously and convince me that he will be a good husband to you, and that means more than just making love to you and giving you little presents - as you know, being a Roman and your parents' daughter.

So when you write to him say I am concerned about your future (which indeed I am) and that he must plan his career and his business with that in mind.

There are flowers everywhere in Athens and each and every one of them remind me of you, little one. Be well."