Looking for help with this part of Epicurus' "Letter to Menoeceus":
ἃ δέ σοι συνεχῶς παρήγγελλον, ταῦτα καὶ πρᾶττε καὶ μελέτα, στοιχεῖα τοῦ καλῶς ζῆν ταῦτ’ εἶναι διαλαμβάνων.
That's more than 12 words. I would be happy to hear about the full passage, but really I want to know about the last few words (I'll take the last 12, or whatever works).
Some translators have rendered the words that most interest me as "first principles of the good life". Others have gone with "elements of right life". Perhaps there are other possibilities as well. The main issue is that "first principles of the good life" does not sound right to me, and I am wondering how much warrant for that the text offers. What is the most literal rendering of those words?
Thank you!