\"Nurse，\"quothshe，\"ofatruthIthoughtthatIfeltnoill;butIshallspeedilythinkthatIamsick。Themerefactofmythinkingofitcausesmemuchillandekealarmsme。Buthowdoesoneknowunlessheputittothetestwhatmaybegoodandwhatill？Myilldiffersfromallotherills;for——andIbewillingtotellyouthetruthofit——muchitjoysme，andmuchitgrievesme，andIdelightinmydiscomfort;andiftherecanbeadiseasewhichgivespleasure，mysorrowismydesire，andmygriefismyhealth。IknownotthenwhereofIshouldcomplain;forIknownoughtwhenceevilmaycometomeifitcomenotfrommydesire。
Possiblymydesireisamalady;butItakesomuchpleasureinthatdesirethatitcausesmeapleasantgrief;andIhavesomuchjoyinmysorrowthatmymaladyisapleasantone。Thessala，nurse！tellmenow，isnotthissorrowwhichseemssweettome，andyetwhichtorturesme，adeceitfulone？IknownothowImayrecognisewhetheritbeaninfirmityorno。Nurse！tellmenowthename，andthemanner，andthenature，ofit。ButbewellassuredthatIhavenocaretorecoverinanywise，forIcherishtheanguishofitexceedingly。\"Thessala，whowasrightwiseasregardsLoveandallhisways，knowsandunderstandsbyherspeechthatthatwhichdistractsherproceedsfromLove——becauseshecallsandnamesitsweet——itiscertainthatsheloves;forallotherillsarebittersavethatalonewhichcomesfromloving;butLovetransmutesitsownbitternessintopleasure，andsweetnessoftenturnstoitsopposite。ButThessala，whowellknewthematter，repliestoher：\"Fearnought，Iwilltellyouwellboththenatureandthenameofyourdisease。Youhavetoldme，methinks，thatthepainwhichyoufeelseemstoyoutobejoyandhealth：ofsuchanatureislove-sickness;forthereisinitjoyandsweetness。ThereforeIprovetoyouthatyoulove;forI
findpleasureinnosicknesssaveonlyinlove-sickness。Allotherillsasarulearealwaysgrievousandhorrible;butLoveispleasantandtranquil。Youlove;Iamfullycertainofit。I
regarditnotasbaseinyou;butIwillholditbasenessifthroughchildishnessorfollyyouconcealyourheartfromme。\"
\"Nurse，trulyyouaretalkingtonopurpose;forfirstImeantobecertainandsurethatneverbyanychancewillyouspeakthereoftoanylivingcreature。\"\"Lady，certainlythewindswillspeakofitsoonerthanIunlessyougivemepermission;andofthisIwillmakeyousure——thatIwillhelpyouwithregardtothismatter，sothatyoumayknowofasurety，thatbymeyouwillhaveyourjoy。\"\"Nurse，inthatcaseyouwouldhavecuredme;buttheemperorisgivingmeinmarriagewhereatIamgrievouslyafflictedandsadbecausehewhopleasesmeisnephewofhimwhomIamtowed。Andifthismanhavehisjoyofme，thenhaveIlostmine;andthereisnomorejoytobelookedfor。