Quintus, puer Romanus, novus ad thermas venit et primum diem ibi agit. Mane cum patre ad thermas venit. Per portam magnam intrant, ubi multi homines stant et loquuntur. Quintus circum spectat et miratur: “Pater, quare tot homines hic sunt?” Pater respondet: “Omnes Romani ad thermas veniunt, ut corpus et animus recreentur.”
Servus in vestibulo eos salutat et claves praebet. Pater et Quintus vestimenta sua in apodyterio ponunt. Pater dicit: “Hic vestes relinquimus. Sequere me!” Quintus tunicam suam relinquit et patrem sequitur.
Primum in tepidarium intrant. Quintus calorem sentit et dicit: “Hic locus calidus est, sed non nimis calidus. Quid nunc facimus, pater?” Pater respondet: “Hic paulum quiescimus. Postea ad caldarium ibimus.” In tepidario homines sedentes loquuntur de negotiis et spectaculis. Quintus eos auscultat, sed verba non intellegit.
Deinde ad caldarium eunt. Vapores calidi per aerem surgunt, et Quintus sudorem in facie sua sentit. “Hic locus nimis calidus est!” exclamat. Pater ridet et dicit: “Sustine, Quinte! Caldarium corpus purgat. Mox frigidarium visitabimus.” Quintus patrem spectat et dicit: “Bene, sed longum hic manere nolo.”
Postea ad frigidarium eunt. Aqua frigida in piscina lucet. Pater in aquam descendit et dicit: “Veni, Quinte! Aqua frigida corpus reficit.” Quintus primum dubitat, sed postea pedem in aquam ponit. “Gelida est!” exclamat, sed tandem totum corpus in aquam mergit. “Nunc me melius sentio,” dicit ridens.
Prope piscinam servus amicus Quintum salutat. “Salve, puer! Quomodo tibi placent thermae?” Quintus respondet: “Primum caldarium nimis calidum erat, sed nunc frigidarium mihi placet!” Servus ridet et dicit: “Bene! Si saepe venis, corpus tuum fortius erit.”
Post balnea Quintus et pater ad apodyterium redeunt. Vestimenta sua induunt et domum revertuntur. Quintus dicit: “Thermae sunt optimae! Iterum venire volo!” Pater respondet: “Sic debet. Romani vitam bene vivere sciunt.”
Quintus, a Roman boy, goes to the baths for the first time and spends his first day there. In the morning, he goes to the baths with his father. They enter through a large gate, where many people stand and talk. Quintus looks around and wonders: “Father, why are so many people here?” The father replies: “All Romans come to the baths to refresh both body and mind.”
A servant in the entrance hall greets them and gives them keys. The father and Quintus place their clothes in the changing room. The father says: “Here we leave our clothes. Follow me!” Quintus leaves his tunic and follows his father.
First, they enter the warm room (tepidarium). Quintus feels the heat and says: “This place is warm, but not too warm. What do we do now, Father?” The father replies: “Here we rest a little. Later we will go to the hot room (caldarium).” In the tepidarium, people sitting down talk about business and shows. Quintus listens to them, but he does not understand their words.
Then they go to the caldarium. Hot steam rises through the air, and Quintus feels sweat on his face. “This place is too hot!” he exclaims. The father laughs and says: “Endure it, Quintus! The caldarium cleanses the body. Soon we will visit the cold room (frigidarium).” Quintus looks at his father and says: “Fine, but I do not want to stay here long.”
Afterwards, they go to the frigidarium. Cold water shines in the pool. The father goes down into the water and says: “Come, Quintus! Cold water refreshes the body.” Quintus hesitates at first, but then he places his foot in the water. “It’s freezing!” he exclaims, but finally he immerses his whole body in the water. “Now I feel better,” he says, laughing.
Near the pool, a friendly servant greets Quintus. “Hello, boy! How do you like the baths?” Quintus replies: “At first, the caldarium was too hot, but now I like the frigidarium!” The servant laughs and says: “Good! If you come often, your body will grow stronger.”
After bathing, Quintus and his father return to the changing room. They put on their clothes and go home. Quintus says: “The baths are excellent! I want to come again!” The father replies: “So you should. Romans know how to live life well.”