Psellos told Ioannes Mauropous he had left a noisy wedding to visit him for teaching, but changed plans and set off to the festival of the Holy Fathers. On the way a rainstorm forced him to land at Agros, from where he later embarked for home. But another storm had driven him to another harbour. After walking a distance he went home by sea. Since then he had been ill and in pain, not eating or drinking, so Mauropous should visit him before he died. In another letter, he told Mauropous that love would never catch on unless lovers showed it. Psellos had vainly expected an immediate visit from him, and now pictured him in an Elysian setting while Psellos was very ill. The letter was sent to provoke a visit. In the third letter he complained that he had had only one brief visit from Mauropous, and needed more. He was frustrated in his desire for contact. Illness kept him indoors, and going out in the street within 40 days would mean death. What excuse did Mauropous have?