I have given you the best advice I can; this is my gift to you. The usual gifts made to princes cost more to the recipient than if he bought them in the open market, and in time perish; but good advice, however much used, will never be the worse for wear.
ὅπερ εἶπον ἀρχόμενος: i.e. in § 1. For ἀρχόμενος see note on E. 63 τελευτῶν.
ἀλλὰ τοιαύτας . . . κατατρίψεις, ‘but such gifts, that, however much you use them (lit. if you use them very much) and if you use them every day (lit. if you never leave out a day), you will never wear them out.’