Seneca Epistula LXXV
Commentary by Andrew Van Buskirk and Jacques Bailly, revised by
Jacques Bailly
Introduction
Letter 75 falls into two halves: sections 1-7 are about the
relationship between Seneca's words, their content, and his life, while
sections 8-18 are about the status of people with respect to wisdom and
virtue. The two halves are not clearly connected to each other, and the
transition between them is abrupt.
The first half consists of a familiar important theme: Seneca claims
actions are more important than words, and when words are used, what
you say is more important than how you say it. Seneca would prefer to
embody his ideals and demonstrate them by living them. Failing that, he
says he wants to convey his ideals in words without expending great
energy on style. And yet, style is not to be rejected: if it is
possible without great effort to write in a pleasing style, that is all
to the good, says Seneca. But style is nonetheless beside the point.
The point is the content of the philosophy being discussed. Seneca
shows little or no sign of being aware that there are good arguments
that he is oversimplifying the matter.
In the second half, Seneca is concerned to explain that even those who
have not reached the status of the stoic sage are nonetheless better
off trying to do so than not. To that end, he postulates stages that
fall short of the virtue of the sage, and yet are populated by people
better off than the unwashed masses who are utterly ignorant of
stoicism and fall prey to their passions.
Text
LXXV. SENECA LVCILIO SVO SALVTEM
[1] Minus tibi accuratas a me epistulas mitti quereris. Quis enim
accurate loquitur nisi qui vult putide loqui? Qualis sermo meus esset
si una desideremus aut ambularemus, inlaboratus et facilis, tales esse
epistulas meas volo, quae nihil habent accersitum nec fictum. [2] Si
fieri posset, quid sentiam ostendere quam loqui mallem. Etiam si
disputarem, nec supploderem pedem nec manum iactarem nec attollerem
vocem, sed ista oratoribus reliquissem, contentus sensus meos ad te
pertulisse, quos nec exornassem nec abiecissem. [3] Hoc unum plane tibi
adprobare vellem, omnia me illa sentire quae dicerem, nec tantum
sentire sed amare. Aliter homines amicam, aliter liberos osculantur;
tamen in hoc quoque amplexu tam sancto et moderato satis apparet
adfectus. Non mehercules ieiuna esse et arida volo quae de rebus tam
magnis dicentur (neque enim philosophia ingenio renuntiat), multum
tamen operae inpendi verbis non oportet. [4] Haec sit propositi nostri
summa: quod sentimus loquamur, quod loquimur sentiamus; concordet sermo
cum vita. Ille promissum suum implevit qui et cum videas illum et cum
audias idem est. Videbimus qualis sit, quantus sit: unus est. [5] Non
delectent verba nostra sed prosint. Si tamen contingere eloquentia non
sollicito potest, si aut parata est aut parvo constat, adsit et res
pulcherrimas prosequatur: sit talis ut res potius quam se ostendat.
Aliae artes ad ingenium totae pertinent, hic animi negotium agitur. [6]
Non quaerit aeger medicum eloquentem, sed si ita competit ut idem ille
qui sanare potest compte de iis quae facienda sunt disserat, boni
consulet. Non tamen erit quare gratuletur sibi quod inciderit in
medicum etiam disertum; hoc enim tale est quale si peritus gubernator
etiam formosus est. [7] Quid aures meas scabis? quid oblectas? aliud
agitur: urendus, secandus, abstinendus sum. Ad haec adhibitus es;
curare debes morbum veterem, gravem, publicum; tantum negotii habes
quantum in pestilentia medicus. Circa verba occupatus es? iamdudum
gaude si sufficis rebus. Quando tam multa disces? quando quae didiceris
adfiges tibi ita ut excidere non possint? quando illa experieris? Non
enim, ut cetera, memoriae tradidisse satis est: in opere temptanda
sunt; non est beatus qui scit illa, sed <qui> facit.
[8] 'Quid ergo? infra illum nulli gradus sunt? statim a sapientia
praeceps est?' Non, ut existimo; nam qui proficit in numero quidem
stultorum est, magno tamen intervallo ab illis diducitur. Inter ipsos
quoque proficientes sunt magna discrimina: in tres classes, ut
quibusdam placet, dividuntur.
[9] Primi sunt qui sapientiam nondum habent sed iam in vicinia eius
constiterunt; tamen etiam quod prope est extra est. Qui sint hi
quaeris? qui omnes iam adfectus ac vitia posuerunt, quae erant
conplectenda didicerunt, sed illis adhuc inexperta fiducia est. Bonum
suum nondum in usu habent, iam tamen in illa quae fugerunt decidere non
possunt; iam ibi sunt unde non est retro lapsus, sed hoc illis de se
nondum liquet: quod in quadam epistula scripsisse me memini, 'scire se
nesciunt'. Iam contigit illis bono suo frui, nondum confidere. [10]
Quidam hoc proficientium genus de quo locutus sum ita conplectuntur ut
illos dicant iam effugisse morbos animi, adfectus nondum, et adhuc in
lubrico stare, quia nemo sit extra periculum malitiae nisi qui totam
eam excussit; nemo autem illam excussit nisi qui pro illa sapientiam
adsumpsit.
[11] Quid inter morbos animi intersit et adfectus saepe iam dixi. Nunc
quoque te admonebo: morbi sunt inveterata vitia et dura, ut avaritia,
ut ambitio; nimio artius haec animum inplicuerunt et perpetua eius mala
esse coeperunt. Ut breviter finiam, morbus est iudicium in pravo
pertinax, tamquam valde expetenda sint quae leviter expetenda sunt;
vel, si mavis, ita finiamus: nimis inminere leviter petendis vel ex
toto non petendis, aut in magno pretio habere in aliquo habenda vel in
nullo. [12] Adfectus sunt motus animi inprobabiles, subiti et
concitati, qui frequentes neglectique fecere morbum, sicut destillatio
una nec adhuc in morem adducta tussim facit, adsidua et vetus pthisin.
Itaque qui plurimum profecere extra morbos sunt, adfectus adhuc
sentiunt perfecto proximi.
[13] Secundum genus est eorum qui et maxima animi mala et adfectus
deposuerunt, sed ita ut non sit illis securitatis suae certa possessio;
possunt enim in eadem relabi.
[14] Tertium illud genus extra multa et magna vitia est, sed non extra
omnia. Effugit avaritiam sed iram adhuc sentit; iam non sollicitatur
libidine, etiamnunc ambitione; iam non concupiscit, sed adhuc timet, et
in ipso metu ad quaedam satis firmus est, quibusdam cedit: mortem
contemnit, dolorem reformidat.
[15] De hoc loco aliquid cogitemus: bene nobiscum agetur, si in hunc
admittimur numerum. Magna felicitate naturae magnaque et adsidua
intentione studii secundus occupatur gradus; sed ne hic quidem
contemnendus est color tertius. Cogita quantum circa te videas malorum;
aspice quam nullum sit nefas sine exemplo, quantum cotidie nequitia
proficiat, quantum publice privatimque peccetur: intelleges satis nos
consequi, si inter pessimos non sumus. [16] 'Ego vero' inquis 'spero me
posse et amplioris ordinis fieri.' Optaverim hoc nobis magis quam
promiserim: praeoccupati sumus, ad virtutem contendimus inter vitia
districti. Pudet dicere: honesta colimus quantum vacat. At quam grande
praemium expectat, si occupationes nostras et mala tenacissima
abrumpimus! [17] Non cupiditas nos, non timor pellet; inagitati
terroribus, incorrupti voluptatibus, nec mortem horrebimus nec deos;
sciemus mortem malum non esse, deos malo non esse. Tam inbecillum est
quod nocet quam cui nocetur: optima vi noxia carent. [18] Expectant
nos, <si> ex hac aliquando faece in illud evadimus sublime et
excelsum, tranquillitas animi et expulsis erroribus absoluta libertas.
Quaeris quae sit ista? Non homines timere, non deos; nec turpia velle
nec nimia; in se ipsum habere maximam potestatem: inaestimabile bonum
est suum fieri. Vale.
Texts of Seneca's letters on this site are from www.thelatinlibrary.com
as submitted by Hansulrich Guhl
(Frauenfeld, Switzerland) from an unidentified edition and (the later
books) by Sally Winchester from the Reynolds edition. Typographical
errors may have been corrected by J Bailly.
Commentary
[1] Minus tibi accuratas a me
epistulas mitti quereris. Quis enim
accurate loquitur nisi qui vult putide loqui? Qualis sermo meus esset
si una desideremus aut ambularemus, inlaboratus et facilis, tales esse
epistulas meas volo, quae nihil habent accersitum nec fictum.
Minus: adverbial.
accuratas . . . epistulas: acc.
subj. in indirect speech.
putide: adv. "affectedly"
Qualis sermo . . . aut ambularemus:
present contrary to fact conditional.
Qualis . . . tales:
Qualis is a relative adj. corresponding to
the
demonstrative adj. talis. For example, "qualis sum talem te esse
volo" means "I want you to be the
same as I am." cf.
Allen & Greenough (151.i)
una: adverbial.
[2] Si
fieri posset, quid sentiam ostendere quam loqui mallem. Etiam si
disputarem, nec supploderem pedem nec manum iactarem nec attollerem
vocem, sed ista oratoribus reliquissem, contentus sensus meos ad te
pertulisse, quos nec exornassem nec abiecissem.
quid
sentiam ostendere quam loqui mallem: the contrast between
word and deed is a common trope.
Etiam si disputarem . . . supploderem
. . . iactarem . . . reliquissem: another contrary to fact
statement. Ista refers to all the histrionics in
the previous line (ista is expressive of contempt). Note that
reliquissem shifts in tense from present to past contrary to fact, and
the rest of the sentence follows suit with pertulisse, exornassem and
abiecissem.
contentus: takes an infinitive.
quos: antecedent is sensus.
[3] Hoc unum plane tibi
adprobare vellem, omnia me illa sentire quae dicerem, nec tantum
sentire sed amare. Aliter homines amicam, aliter liberos osculantur;
tamen in hoc quoque amplexu tam sancto et moderato satis apparet
adfectus. Non mehercules ieiuna esse et arida volo quae de rebus tam
magnis dicentur (neque enim philosophia ingenio renuntiat), multum
tamen operae inpendi verbis non oportet.
adprobare vellem: an impf.
'potential' subjunctive (or an 'optative' subj.)
expressing an unaccomplished wish in present time: cf. A&G
(441&447).
omnia me illas sentire:
indirect statement after adprobare. It is in apposition to hoc unum.
quae dicerem: subjunctive in a
dependent
clause in indirect discourse: secondary sequence.
nec tantum sentire sed amare:
adds an afterthought to the indirect speech clause.
adfectus: what case does satis
take?
quae de rebus tam magnis dicentur:
the antecedent of quae has been omitted. It would be ea or something
similar, and that understood ea is the subject of esse in the preceding
clause.
dicentur: why subjunctive?
multum: ironically, Seneca does
spend a much time and effort on his words. What he must mean is that
there should be a balance: one should not spend time creating overly
contrived speech, nor should one just toss things out without adequate
thought. and care in formulation.
impendi: dependent on oportet.
[4] Haec sit propositi nostri
summa: quod sentimus loquamur, quod loquimur sentiamus; concordet sermo
cum vita. Ille promissum suum implevit qui et cum videas illum et cum
audias idem est. Videbimus qualis sit, quantus sit: unus est.
Haec sit propositi nostri summa:
sit is what type of subjunctive?
quod sentimus loquamur, quod loquimur
sentiamus: an example of
chiasmus: a figure of speech which consists of the pattern a-b-b-a:
sentiamus, loquamur, loquimur,
sentiamus. Why are loquamur and sentiamus subjunctive?
concordet: Why subunctive?
Ille promissum . . . qui, et cum
videas . . . audias: why subjuncitve videas and audias?
Remember: "Anything that ut can do, qui can do better." In other words,
every sort of clause that ut can take, qui can also take.
qualis sit, quantus sit:
indirect questions.
unus est: if someone's speech
and actions differ from each other, are they really one person?
[5] Non
delectent verba nostra sed prosint. Si tamen contingere eloquentia non
sollicito potest, si aut parata est aut parvo constat, adsit et res
pulcherrimas prosequatur: sit talis ut res potius quam se ostendat.
Aliae artes ad ingenium totae pertinent, hic animi negotium agitur.
delectent ... prosint: jussive.
Si tamen contingere . . . adsit et res
pulcherrimas prosequatur: the protasis is a simple conditional.
Remember that the apodosis of a conditional can be a command, a
question, or, as here, a jussive. The subject of every verb in this
sentence is eloquentia.
sollicito: sc. modo.
parata: modifies what fem. sg.
noun?
parvo: abl. of price.
talis: frequently prepares for
a result clause.
res: refers to the content of
speech or writing as opposed to the words or style.
ingenium: here, ingenium must
mean "contrivance."
hic: contrasts with aliae
artes. Prosaic English would use "but" to connect the two clauses of
this sentence, rather than leave them in asyndeton as Seneca does.
[6]
Non quaerit aeger medicum eloquentem, sed si ita competit ut idem ille
qui sanare potest compte de iis quae facienda sunt disserat, boni
consulet. Non tamen erit quare gratuletur sibi quod inciderit in
medicum etiam disertum; hoc enim tale est quale si peritus gubernator
etiam formosus est.
ita competit ut: ita frequently
prepares for an ut clause of result (but it is also used correlatively
with ut in other constructions).
compte: adverb.
quae facienda sunt: passive
periphrastic construction. The
antecedent of quae is iis.
boni consulet: idiomatic for
"think well of": the subject is aeger, the object medicum.
erit: impersonal.
quare gratuletur sibi: why is
gratuletur subjunctive? What is its subject?
quod: "because."
. . . tale . . . quale . . .:
". . . the same . . . as . . .."
si: si introduces the protasis
of a conditional, but there is no explicit apodosis, just as in English
"Procrastinating will be the same as if you had decided not to act,"
where we can supply something like ". . . as would be the case if . . .."
[7] Quid aures meas scabis?
quid oblectas? aliud
agitur: urendus, secandus, abstinendus sum. Ad haec adhibitus es;
curare debes morbum veterem, gravem, publicum; tantum negotii habes
quantum in pestilentia medicus. Circa verba occupatus es? iamdudum
gaude si sufficis rebus. Quando tam multa disces? quando quae didiceris
adfiges tibi ita ut excidere non possint? quando illa experieris? Non
enim, ut cetera, memoriae tradidisse satis est: in opere temptanda
sunt; non est beatus qui scit illa, sed <qui> facit.
agitur:
Latin uses agitur to refer to the matter at hand, what is being done
now, what is at issue in the present instance.
urendus, secandus, abstinendus sum:
passive periphrastics in asyndeton. These
are three typical medical treatments.
haec: what is the antecedent?
tantum: takes a partitive
genitive.
tantum . . . quantum . . . :
"as much . . . as . . . " note the similarity of this correlative to
the correlative (tale . . . quale) in section 6. Correlatives consist
of a demonstrative (here tantum and tale) and a relative (here quantum
and quale): the demonstrative starts with a t, while the relative
starts with a q. In both cases, the relative (i.e. quantum and quale)
is translated with "as."That pattern of t-demonstrative and
q-relative-translated-with-"as" is a useful pattern to remember.
Iamdudum gaude, si sufficis rebus:
gaude: 2nd p. sing. imp. A simple fact present condition. rebus is dat.
with sufficio.
quando quae didiceris adfiges tibi:
note the tense of didiceris. Latin uses the future perfect in many
situations where it makes logical sense but would not be the normal
English usage.
ut cetera: parenthetical remark.
in opere temptanda sunt: what
neuter plural things is temptanda modifying?
Non est beatus, qui scit illa, sed qui
facit:
Why is qui scit illa in the indicative rather than the subjunctive
mood? "A relative clause in the Indicative merely states
something as a fact which is true of the antecedent; a characteristic
clause (in the Subjunctive) defines the antecedent as a person or thing
of such a character that the statement made is true of him or it and of
all others belonging to the same class (A&G 534)." If we take the
grammar's observation as a rule, it seems
that Seneca is making a statement about a class of persons, and thus
that qui
scit should be in the subjunctive. But the phenomena of generalizing
occurs in many ways in language: here, Seneca has decided to put the
whole thought in the indicative. It loses none of its general force
because of that, just as English "she who snoozes loses" or "she who is
snoozing is losing" is no less general than "whoever snoozes loses" or
"anyone who snoozes loses."
[8] 'Quid ergo? infra illum
nulli gradus sunt? statim a sapientia
praeceps est?' Non, ut existimo; nam qui proficit in numero quidem
stultorum est, magno tamen intervallo ab illis diducitur. Inter ipsos
quoque proficientes sunt magna discrimina: in tres classes, ut
quibusdam placet, dividuntur.
est: impersonal.
a sapientia praeceps est:
predicative. A comparable English idiom is "It's downhill from here,"
where "downhill" is a predicate adjective, and "it's" is impersonal.
Although their grammatical structure is similar, the meanings of this
Latin and the English sentence just cited are not the same, of course.
Nam qui proficit . . . ab illis
diducitur: once again, Seneca is generalizing, and so could have
used a relative clause of characteristic, but he did not.
stultorum: partitive
gen.
magno . . . intervallo: abl. of
degree of difference.
ab illis:
abl. of separation.
quoque: adverbial "too."
ut quibusdam placet: who are
the
quibusdam? other Stoic philosophers. Note that not all ut clauses take
the subjunctive.
[9] Primi sunt qui sapientiam
nondum habent sed iam in vicinia eius
constiterunt; tamen etiam quod prope est extra est. Qui sint hi
quaeris? qui omnes iam adfectus ac vitia posuerunt, quae erant
conplectenda didicerunt, sed illis adhuc inexperta fiducia est. Bonum
suum nondum in usu habent, iam tamen in illa quae fugerunt decidere non
possunt; iam ibi sunt unde non est retro lapsus, sed hoc illis de se
nondum liquet: quod in quadam epistula scripsisse me memini, 'scire se
nesciunt'. Iam contigit illis bono suo frui, nondum confidere.
sed iam in vicinia eius: the
antecedent of eius is sapientiam.
prope
and extra:
adverbs.
Qui sint hi quaeris?: sint
pres. subj. in indirect question
Qui omnes iam adfectus ac vitia
posuerunt: omnes agrees with adfectus.
qui . . . quae erant
complectenda, didicerunt: the antecedent of quae is omitted. It
would be something like ea and would be the object of didicerunt. The
subject of didicerunt (and posuerunt) is qui.
inexperta: predicate
nominative. adhuc modifies inexperta.
illis: dative of possession.
retro: modifies lapsus.
quod in quadam epistula scripsisse me
memini, 'scire se nesciunt': quod is a linking relative.
Translate "that is what ...." The quotation, 'scire se nesciunt' is in
apposition to quod.
contigit: impersonal. Takes the
dat. illis.
bono suo: object of both frui
and confidere.
[10]
Quidam hoc proficientium genus de quo locutus sum ita conplectuntur ut
illos dicant iam effugisse morbos animi, adfectus nondum, et adhuc in
lubrico stare, quia nemo sit extra periculum malitiae nisi qui totam
eam excussit; nemo autem illam excussit nisi qui pro illa sapientiam
adsumpsit.
Quidam hoc proficientium genus de quo
locutus sum ita complectuntur: the opinions of other Stoic
philosophers, who understand (complectuntur) the group of those who are
making progress in a slightly different way, with the result that they
say (ut dicant) ....
dicant: pres. subj. in result
clause in primary sequence
effugisse and stare: the subject of effugisse and
stare is the members of hoc proficientium genus, i.e. those who are not
yet sages, but are striving to be.
quia nemo sit: subjunctive
because this is a subordinate clause in indirect discourse.
nisi (is sit extra periculum malitiae)
qui.
totam eam: where English uses
an adverb ("it entirely"), Latin used an adjective ("the entire it").
nisi (is illam excussit) qui.
[11] Quid inter morbos animi
intersit et adfectus saepe iam dixi. Nunc
quoque te admonebo: morbi sunt inveterata vitia et dura, ut avaritia,
ut ambitio; nimio artius haec animum inplicuerunt et perpetua eius mala
esse coeperunt. Ut breviter finiam, morbus est iudicium in pravo
pertinax, tamquam valde expetenda sint quae leviter expetenda sunt;
vel, si mavis, ita finiamus: nimis inminere leviter petendis vel ex
toto non petendis, aut in magno pretio habere in aliquo habenda vel in
nullo.
intersit: why subjunctive?
morbi: predicate nominative.
nimio artius: nimio modifies
artius, which modifies inplicuerunt.
perpetua: predicate nominative.
ut breviter finiam: a purpose
clause similar to English "To put it briefly, . . .."
finiamus: hortatory. Whereas
the first defition of morbus was in the form "morbus est ...," the two
definitions introduced by finiamus are in the form of two extensive
infinitive clauses.
inminere: takes the dative.
ex toto: idiomatic for
"entirely, utterly, completely."
in magno pretio habere in aliquo
habenda vel in nullo: habenda is neuter plural and is the object
of habere. Understand another pretio with in aliquo and in nullo.
Seneca could have expressed the same thought as in magno pretio habere
ea quae in aliquo pretio vel in nullo habenda sunt.
[12] Adfectus sunt motus animi
inprobabiles, subiti et
concitati, qui frequentes neglectique fecere morbum, sicut destillatio
una nec adhuc in morem adducta tussim facit, adsidua et vetus pthisin.
Itaque qui plurimum profecere extra morbos sunt, adfectus adhuc
sentiunt perfecto proximi.
frequentes neglectique: these
are circumstantial adjectives. The reader must decide how to take them.
For instance, in English, we may say "Actions frequent and uncorrected
become habits." In that English sentence, "frequent" and "unheeded" are
circumstantial adjectives. We may take the sentence to mean 1) because the actions are frequent
and uncorrected, they become habits, 2)
if the actions are frequent and uncorrected, they become
habits, 3) although the
actions are frequent and uncorrected, they become habits, or 4) when the actions are frequent and
unheeded, they become habits, or some other way. Here it seems that the
causal because or the
conditional if are
appropriate.
nec adhuc in morem adducta: a
participial phrase modifying destillatio.
adsidua et vetus (destillatio facit)
pthisin.
profecere: what person is this perfect verb?
adfectus: be careful of the
case.
perfecto proximi:
proximi takes a dative here and is the subject of sentiunt.
[13] Secundum genus est eorum
qui et maxima animi mala et adfectus
deposuerunt, sed ita ut non sit illis securitatis suae certa possessio;
possunt enim in eadem relabi.
illis: dative of possession.
relabi: infinitive.
[14] Tertium illud genus extra
multa et magna vitia est, sed non extra
omnia. Effugit avaritiam sed iram adhuc sentit; iam non sollicitatur
libidine, etiamnunc ambitione; iam non concupiscit, sed adhuc timet, et
in ipso metu ad quaedam satis firmus est, quibusdam cedit: mortem
contemnit, dolorem reformidat.
extra omnia (vitia).
ad quaedam: ad here means "towards" or perhaps "in the presence
of."
quibusdam cedit: mortem contemnit,
dolorem reformidat: the asyndeton contrasts with the sed's,
etiamnunc, and et of the previous clauses.
[15] De hoc loco aliquid
cogitemus: bene nobiscum agetur, si in hunc
admittimur numerum. Magna felicitate naturae magnaque et adsidua
intentione studii secundus occupatur gradus; sed ne hic quidem
contemnendus est color tertius. Cogita quantum circa te videas malorum;
aspice quam nullum sit nefas sine exemplo, quantum cotidie nequitia
proficiat, quantum publice privatimque peccetur: intelleges satis nos
consequi, si inter pessimos non sumus.
aliquid cogitemus: compare
English "Let's think a bit."
bene nobiscum agetur:
idiomatic. See ago in vocabulary.
magna felicitate naturae:
ablative of instrument/means, epexegetical genitive. An "epexegetical
genitive" explains: here naturae explains in what the felicitas
consists.
videas . . . sit . . . proficiat . . .
peccetur: why subjunctives?
quantum: takes a genitive.
si inter pessimos non sumus:
the verb sumus should be subjunctive according to normal Latin grammar
rules, because it is a subordinate clause in indirect speech. All
editions consulted print sumus, however.
[16] 'Ego vero' inquis 'spero me
posse et amplioris ordinis fieri.' Optaverim hoc nobis magis quam
promiserim: praeoccupati sumus, ad virtutem contendimus inter vitia
districti. Pudet dicere: honesta colimus quantum vacat. At quam grande
praemium expectat, si occupationes nostras et mala tenacissima
abrumpimus!
amplioris ordinis: a genitive
of quality. Genitives of quality only occur if the noun is modified by
an adjective, as here, where amplioris modifies ordinis.
optaverim . . . promiserim:
potential subjunctives (Gildersleeve & Lodge 257). The "perfect
tense" does not refer to the past.
inter vitia districti: a
circumstantial participle. The reader has to decide whether it is
causal, concessive, temporal, instrumental, etc.
[17] Non cupiditas nos, non timor pellet; inagitati
terroribus, incorrupti voluptatibus, nec mortem horrebimus nec deos;
sciemus mortem malum non esse, deos malo non esse. Tam inbecillum est
quod nocet quam cui nocetur: optima vi noxia carent.
inagitati terroribus, incorrupti
voluptatibus: the reader must decide whether these participial
phrases are causal, concessive, conditional, temporal, instrumental,
etc. and translate accordingly (i.e. "because ...," "although ....,"
"if ...," "when/after ...," or "by ...," or some other translation).
malo: dative of purpose or end
(usually occurs with a form of esse, often in the double dative
construction).
tam imbecillum est quod nocet quam cui
nocetur: Seneca is striving for pithy expression. This sentence
claims that both the thing that harms and the thing that is harmed are
a powerless (imbecillum) thing. The stoic ideal is that one should be
invulnerable: no stoic would harm another, but also, no stoic sage can
be harmed, for that sage has fully realized that nothing aside from
virtue matters and virtue is entirely within the sage's control.
[18] Expectant
nos, <si> ex hac aliquando faece in illud evadimus sublime et
excelsum, tranquillitas animi et expulsis erroribus absoluta libertas.
Quaeris quae sit ista? Non homines timere, non deos; nec turpia velle
nec nimia; in se ipsum habere maximam potestatem: inaestimabile bonum
est suum fieri. Vale.
Expectant: the compound subject
comes at the very end of the sentence.
aliquando: English word order
would place aliquando right after si rather than separate the
demonstrative adjective hac from the noun it modifies, faece.
in illud . . . sublime et excelsum:
the verb interrupts this prepositional clause. Once again, English word
order would be different: it would not allow a verb in the middle of a
prepositional clause.
expulsis erroribus: why
ablative?
quae sit ista: tranquillitas
and libertas are ista's antecedents. Although quae and ista are neuter
plural, the verb is singular, because tranquillitas and libertas are
being thought of as a single whole (as in "Macaroni and cheese is Dora's favorite food.")
timere . . . velle . . . habere: the
infinitive is a noun.
Vocabulary
abicio, -icere, -ieci, -iectum, pronounce carelessly,
break off
abruptly
abrumpo, abrumpere, abrupi, abruptum, put an end to, cut short
absolutus, -a, -um, complete
abstineo, -tinere, -tinui, -tentum, restrain; cause to refrain from
food or drink
accersitus, a, um, see arcessitus, a, um
accurate, adv., carefully, exactly, meticulously
accuratus, -a, -um, careful, meticulous, exact
accuro (1), pay attention to, see to, attend to
adduco, adducere, adduxi, adductum, bring into (a specific state)
adfectus, -us, m., a feeling; friendly feeling, goodwill
adfectus, -us, m., emotional state, reaction
adfigo, -figere, -fixi, -fixtum, fasten to, affix
adhibeo, -bere, -bui, -itus, administer; bring in, call in, summon
adhuc, to this point, to this degree, still, yet
admitto, admittere, admisi, admisum, permit, accept
admoneo, admonere, admonui, admonitum, remind
adprobo(1), commend, endorse; prove
adsiduus, -a, -um, constant
adsum, -esse, -fui, -futurus, be present
adsumo, -sumere, -sumpsi, -sumptum, take to oneself
aeger, aegra, aegrum, sick, ailing
aff-, see adf-
ago, agere, egi, actum, do; negotium agere, conduct business;
bene (male) agere cum, go well (badly) for, fall out well (badly) for
aliquando, at some time
aliter, adv., otherwise, in another way
ambitio, -onis, f., self-interest; vain display, ostentation; striving
for popularity
ambulo (1), walk, take a walk
amplexus, us, m., an embrace
amplior, amplius, higher
appareo, ere, ui, itus, be visible, be manifest
appr-, see adpr-
arcessitus, a, um, strained, farfetched
aridus, a, um, dry, arid
ars, artis, f., skill, craft, trade
artius, more tightly
aspicio, aspicere, aspexi, aspectum, notice, observe, look at
attollo, -tollere, to raise up, lift up
auris, is, f., ear
avaritia, -ae, f., greed
beatus, -a, -um, blessed, happy
bonum, -i, n., moral good, a good
breviter, briefly
careo, carere, carui, caritum, (+ abl.), lack, need, not have
cedo, cedere, cessi, cessum, yield (+dat.)
certus, -a, -um, assured, certain
circa (+ acc.), around; about, in regard to
classis, -is, f., division,
class
coepi, coepisse, coeptum, began (defective verb: has perfect system
with perfect meanings)
colo, colere, colui, cultus, cultivate, nurture
color, -oris, m., tenor
competo, -petere, -petivi and petii, -petitum, (w/ut) if it happens that
complector, -plecti, -plexus, dep., embrace; (of the mind) to embrace,
grasp
compte, adv., with elegance; ornately
concitatus, -a, -um, fast, rapid; vehement, violent
concordo(1), agree, be in harmony
concupisco, concupiscere, concupivi, concupitum, desire ardently, long
for
confido, -fidere, -fisus sum, have complete trust, be assured
conp-, see comp-
consequor, consequi, consecutus, attain
consto, -are, -stiti, (w. abl. of price) to cost; take a position,
stand together
consulo, -sulere, -sului, -sultum, reflect, consider, consult (+dat.);
boni consulo, think well of, be satisfied with
contemno, contemnere, contempsi, contemptum, treat with contempt
contendo, contendere, contendi, contentum, strive
contentus, -a, -um, contented
contingo, -tingere, -tigi, -tactus, happen, befall
cotidie, daily
cupiditas, -atis, f., desire
curo (1), care for, take care of
decido, -cidere, -cidi, fall down
delecto (1), delight
depono, deponere, deposui, depositum, lay down, lay aside
desideo, desidere, desedi, sit, be idle
destillatio, -onis, f., rheum, catarrh, cold
diduco, -ducere, -duxi, -ductum, draw apart, separate
disco, discere, didici, learn
discriminen, inis, n., distinction, difference
disertus, -a, -um, fluent, eloquent
disputo(1), debate, discuss, argue
dissero, -serere, -serui, -sertum, examine, treat of, discuss
districtus, -a, -um, busy
divido, dividere, divisi, divisum, divide, separate
dolor, doloris, m., pain
durus, -a, -um, resistant, enduring
effugio, effugere, effugi, escape from, avoid
eloquens, -entis, eloquent
eloquentia, -a, f., eloquence
enim, for, because
etiam, even, also
etiamnunc, still, yet
evado, evadere, evasi, evasum, escape
excelsus, -a, -um, lofty, sublime
excido, -ere, -i, pass away, perish
excutio, -cutere, -cussi, -cussum, shake off, put away, drive out
exemplum, -i, n., precedent, instance
existimo (1), judge, think
exorno(1), furnish, provide plentifully; to adorn (abstract things)
expecto (1), await
expello, expellere, expuli, expulsum, drive out, force out
experior, -periri, -pertus sum, know by experience
expeto, expetere, expetivi, expetitum, seek out, desire
extra,, adv., and prep., outside
facilis, facile, easy, unforced, natural
faex, faecis, f., dregs, sediment
felicitas, -atis, f., good fortune
fictus, -a, -um, feigned, false
fiducia, ae, f., confidence, trust, reliance, assurance
finio, finire, finivi, finitum, define
fio, fieri, happen, occur
firmus, -a, -um, strong, reliable
formosus, -a, -um, shapely, beautiful, handsome, goodlooking
frequens, frequentis, in great numbers, closely packed
fruo, frui, fructum and fruitus sum, have the benefit of, to enjoy
gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus sum, be glad, rejoice
genus, -eris, n., type, kind
gradus, us, m., stage, step; rank, position
gratulor (1), (+dat), give solemn thanks
gubernator, oris, m., navigator, pilot, helmsman
honestus, -a, -um, honorable
horreo, horrere, horrui, to be afraid of
iacto(1), fling about (of the body, in gesticulation)
iam, already; at this point, at that point
iamdudum, adv., already; long since, long ago
ieiunus, -a, -um, fasting; scant, meagre, poor
ill-, see inl-
imb-, see inb-
imm-. see inm-
imp-, see inp-
inaestimabilis, -is, -e, incalculable; incalculably great
inagitats, -a, -um, unperturbed
inbecillus, -a, -um, weak, feeble
incido, -cidere, -cidi, -casum, (in + acc.), to fall upon unexpectedly
incorruptus, -a, -um, untainted
inexpertus, -a, -um, inexperienced in, unacquainted with
infra, adv., and prep., beneath, below; in rank or estimation
ingenium, -i, n., contrivance, cleverness; talent, genius
inlaboratus, a, um, not worked up, not belabored
inmineo, imminere, (+ dat.), be intent on, be bent on
inpendo, -pendere, -pendi, -pensum, to expend
inpleo, -plere, -plevi, -pletum, fulfill, perform
inplico, inplicare, inplicavi/implicui, inplicitum/inplicatum, entwine,
enfold
inprobabilis, -is, -e, unapprovable, culpable
inquam, inquis, inquit, inquimus, inquiunt, say
intellego, intellegere, intellexi, intellectum, understand, grasp
mentally
intentio, -onis, f., concentration, attention
inter (+ acc.), betweem
interest, interesse, interfuit, interfuturum, there is a difference
intervallum, -i, m., interval, distance, gap
inveteratus, -a, -um, long-standing, chronic
ira, irae, f., anger
iudicium, -i, n., judgement
lapsus, us, m., a gliding, sliding, fall
leviter, lightly; to a slight degree, only a little
liberi, liberorum and liberum,, m. pl., children
libertas, -atis, f., liberty
libido, libidinis, f., lust
liquet, liquere, licuit it is clear, evident, apparent
locus, -i, m., place, location
loquor, loqui, locutus sum, speak
lubricum, -i, n., a slippery place
magis, more
malitia, ae, f., badness of quality; wickedness, vice
malo, malle, malui, prefer
manus, manus, f., hand
mavis, a form of malo
medicus, -i, m., doctor, physician
mehercules, by Hercules
memini, meminisse, remember
memoria, ae, f., record of the past, tradition, history, information
metus, metus, m., fear
minus, adv., less
moderatus, -a, -um, restrained, controlled
morbus, i, m., disease, sickness
morbus, -i, m., sickness
mors, mortis, f., death
mos, moris, m., habit
nefas, n., indecl., offence, wrong, sin
neglego, neglegere, neglexi, neglectum, regard as of no consequence,
disregard, ignore
negotium, -i, n., business; occupation, employment
nequitia, -ae, f., villainy, criminality
nescio, -ire, -ivi and –ii, -itum, not to know; to be ignorant of
nimio, by a great degree, far
nimius, -a, -um, excessive
noceo, nocere, nocui (+dat.), harm, do harm to
nondum, not yet
noxius, -a, -um, injurious, harmful
numerus, i, m., measure; number; a portion, part of a whole
oblecto (1), delight, amuse, entertain
occupatio, -onis, f., employment, business, activity
occupo(1), occupy
opera, ae, f., exertion
oportet, -tere, -tuit impers. + inf., it behooves, it is proper
optimus, -a, -um, best
opto (1), wish for
orator, oris, m., an orator
ordo, ordinis, f., order, rank
osculor, -ari, dep. kiss
ostendo, -dere, -di, -tum, show, exhibit, display
paratus, -a, -um, ready at hand
paro(1), prepare, make ready
parvus, -a, -um, small, little
pecco (1), sin, do wrong
pello, pellere, pepuli, pulsum, set in motion, drive, impel
perfectus, -a, -um, complete, perfect, finished
perfero, -ferre, -tuli, -latus deliver, convey (of news, messages)
peritus, -a, -um, skilled, expert in
perpetuus, -a, -um, everlasting
pertinax, -acis, persistent
pertineo, -ere, -ui (w/ ad) pertain to
pes, pedis, m., foot
pessimus, -a, -um, worst
pestilentia, ae, f., plague
peto, petere, petivi, petitum, seek
p(h)thisis, -is, f., tuberculosis, consumption
placeo, -ere, -ui, -itus sum, please, be agreeable to, be pleasing to;
impers. placet, it pleases, seems good
plane, adv., distinctly, clearly
plurimum, most, very
pono, ponere, posui, positum, put aside
possessio, -onis, f., possession
potestas, -atis, f., power
potius, rather (often + quam, than)
praeceps, praecipitis, headlong
praemium, -i, n., reward
praeoccupo (1), be busy, be engaged
pravus, -a, -um, crooked, awry, not straight; corrupt
pretium, -i, n., price, : in pretio habere, to esteem valuable
privatim, privately, in private
pro + abl., in the place of
proficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, make progress, gain grounds, get an
advantage
proficio, proficere, profeci, profectum, make progress
promitto, promittere, promisi, promissum, promise,
prommissum, -i, n., a promise
prope, adv., and prep. near
propositum, -i, n., plan, objective, intention; the point, the subject
prosequor. prosequi, prosecutus sum, pursue
prosum, -esse, -fui, -futurus, be useful, do good, benefit
proximus, -a, -um, very like (+ dat.); second-best (+dat.)
p(h)thisis, -is, f., tuberculosis, consumption
publice, in public, publicly
publicus, -a, -um, universal, general
pudet, (+ inf.) it shames, it is a cause of shame
pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum, beautiful, pretty
putide adv., affectedly
quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitum, ask
quam, how (used with adjectives in exclamations)
quantus, how many, how much
quare, why
queror, -queri, -questus sum, complain of, complain about
reformido (1), fear
relabor, relabi, relapsus, slip back
relinquo, relinquere, reliqui, relictum, leave behind
renuntio (1), disclaim, refuse, renounce (+ dat.)
res, rei, f., subject matter
retro, back, backward
sanctus, -a, -um, pure, virtuous, blameless
sano(1), heal, cure, restore to health
sapientia, -ae, f., wisdom
scabo, scabere, scabi, scratch
seco, secare, -ui, -tum, cut off, excise, amputate
secundus, -a, -um, second
securitas, -atis, f., freedom from anxiety
sedeo, sedere, sedi, sessum, sit, remain seated
sensus, us, m., judgement, perception, understanding; sentence
sentio, sentire, sensi, sensum, hold or express a belief
sermo, sermonis, m., speech, conversation
sicut, just as
sine (+abl.) without
sollicito (1), worry, trouble
sollicitus, -a, -um, worried
spero (1), hope
sto, stare, steti, status, stand; stop
statim, at once
stultus, -a, -um, foolish, stupid
subitus, -a, -um, sudden
sublimis, -is, -e, lofty, elevated
sufficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectus (+dat.) to be sufficient, be
adequate, suffice
summa, ae, f., most important point; a summary, the gist
supplodo, -plodere, -plosi, supplosum, (from sub+plaudo), stamp
tam, so, to such a degree
tamquam, as if
tantum, adv., only
tempto (1), test, examine
tenax, tenacis, tenacious, persistent
terror, -terroris, m., fright
tertius, -a, -um, third
timeo, timere, timui, fear, dread
timor, timoris, m., fear, dread
trado, -dere, -didi, -ditum, hand down as any kind of inheritance to
posterity
tranquillitas, -atis, f., unperturbedness, peace
turpis, turpis, turpe, disgusting, ugly; bad, evil, depraved
tussis, -is, f., cough
una, adv., together
unus, -a, -um, single, sole, individual; one and the same
uro, urere, ussi, ustum, burn
usus, us, m., application, use, exercise
vaco (1), have free time
valde, very much
valeo, valere, valui, be well, be strong
vetus, veteris, old, ancient
vicinia, -ae, f., neighborhood, locality
virtus, virtutis, f., virtue
vitium, -i, n., vice, fault
volo, velle, volui, want, desire
voluptas, -atis, f., pleasure
vox, vocis, f., voice