The undistributed sequence bracketing Books 11–13 will prove to showcase only the one crucial locale, scipio's Liternum, twinned with a vivid but unreferenced ‘sub-Catonesque’ journey (86 ∼ 87). After this pinnacle of narration, the collection will feature just three significantly rounded vistas.

First, the imperial colony of Lyons, born only a human lifespan before, burns to the ground. Empathize with its patriot, our [Aebutius] Liberalis – but be stoical (91: it does happen). Play the raconteur, and make a moralizing difference to, and with, this public topos of imperial Roman annals.

Second comes the bare notice of a second manor of seneca's. He bolts by carriage to an estate of his ‘at Nomentum’. Away from fever, and for that reason from the City [of Rome]: from his wife, his wife, his brother, his health, his (Senecan) old age, his wife, his fear. From Pompeia Paulina. From Gallio. The moment he touched the vines, it was a case of ‘Once let into pasture, I went for my food’ (104.6), and recovery of his self (full concentration on study). This letter cements the equation which condenses ‘his health’ into ‘his hearth’ (salutis suae ∼ domum tuam, 104.10 ∼ 11). Denunciation of journey and travel blasts us into the next message, where Lucilius is told to heed his starting orders ‘as if getting a prescription for keeping good health on lucilius’ estate at Ardea' (105.1). Book 19 begins and ends its orientation with ‘greetings from seneca's’ ‘Nomentum estate again’ (110.1).