This letter contains applied Stoic ethics filtered through
Seneca's social milieu.
[1]Arriving late at one of his estates, Seneca finds
nothing ready for him and takes that as an opportunity to
illustrate the stoic idea that no circumstance is bad or good.
People make their circumstances bad or good. You may protest
that he's as rich as can be, and so what he might deem "bad
circumstances" are so far from being truly bad that he's just
playing at stoicism: and yet, who of those reading these letters
today does not have several sets of clothes, a TV, a cell phone,
a car, etc. In many ways, we who read these letters are all as
rich as Seneca today. His point may well still stand.
[1] Itinere confectus incommodo magis quam
longo in Albanum meum multa nocte perveni: nihil habeo
parati nisi me. Itaque in lectulo lassitudinem pono, hanc
coci ac pistoris moram boni consulo. Mecum enim de hoc ipso
loquor, quam nihil sit grave quod leviter excipias, quam
indignandum nihil <dum nihil> ipse indignando
adstruas.
Sentence Structure:
Itinere confectus incommodo magis
quam longo in Albanum meum multa nocte perveni: (main clause; confectus "exhausted";
abl. of instrument; abl. of time; in Albanum
meum sc. fundum or praedium or the
like, cf. Ep. 12.1.2 Veneram in
suburbanum meum:
rich Romans often had several estates. This refers to one
of Seneca's)
nihil habeo parati (main clause; genitive dependent on nihil--where
Latin says nihil parati we say "nothing ready")
nisi me (sc. paratum habeo). (nisi "except")
Itaque in lectulo lassitudinem pono,
(main clause; pono, "lay aside," "put
away"; a lectulus is a small couch for resting or
reading)
hanc coci ac pistoris moram boni
consulo. (main clause; illud boni consulo="I
am well satisfied with that"; mora most often
means "delay," but here it seems to mean "lateness,"
"tardiness" and takes genitives coci ac pistoris,
who are the "cook/baker" and the "baker/miller"
respectively)
Mecum enim de hoc ipso loquor, (main clause; de hoc ipso refers to
the quam ... clauses to follow)
quam nihil sit grave (indirect question)
quod leviter
excipias, (relative clause;
subordinate clause in indirect speech, hence
subjunctive; perhaps also relative clause of
characteristic, also hence subjunctive; excipio
"stand up to," "tolerate," "sustain" (a blow or the
like))
quam indignandum nihil
(sc.sit) (indirect
question)
<dum nihil>
ipse indignando adstruas. (dum "provided
that" takes subjunctive (AG 528); also
subordinate clause in indirect speech, hence
subjunctive; a(d)struo, "add (to),"
"increase"; the pointy brackets < > indicate a
modern editor thought these words are essential,
although not found in any
manuscript)
[2]Seneca notes that although his
workers hadn't made bread for him, nonetheless they all have
bread they can share with him, even if it is not the fancy
quality usually served to the boss. Just wait until you are
hungry and any bread will be a feast.
[2] Non habet panem meus pistor; sed habet
vilicus, sed habet atriensis, sed habet colonus. 'Malum
panem' inquis. Expecta: bonus fiet; etiam illum tibi tenerum
et siligineum fames reddet. Ideo non est ante edendum quam
illa imperat. Expectabo ergo nec ante edam quam aut bonum
panem habere coepero aut malum fastidire desiero.
Sentence Structure:
Non habet panem meus
pistor; (main clause)
sed habet vilicus (sc. panem), (main clause)
sed habet atriensis (sc.panem), (main clause)
sed habet colonus (sc. panem). (main clause)
'Malum panem (sc. habent)' (main clause of directly
quoted speech: Seneca frequently has imaginary
conversation partners in his letters)
inquis. (main clause)
Expecta: (main clause: back to the
letter-writer's voice)
bonus fiet; (main clause)
etiam illum tibi
tenerum et siligineum fames reddet. (main clause; reddo + acc. x
+ acc. y = "make x y," "render x y")
Ideo non est ante
edendum (main clause; passive periphrastic: ante
separated from its partner quam)
quam illa imperat.
(antequam
distributed with ante in leading clause and quam
introducing temporal subordinate clause; illa
= fames)
Expectabo ergo (main clause)
nec ante edam (main clause)
quam aut bonum
panem habere coepero (antequam
distributed with ante in leading clause
and quam introducing temporal
subordinate clause)
aut malum fastidire
desiero.(continuation of quam
temporal clause)
[3] You cannot control what you will have, but you
can control whether you want what you don't have: freedom is
the skill of happily doing without.
[3] Necessarium est parvo adsuescere: multae
difficultates locorum, multae temporum etiam locupletibus et
instructis †advobus optantem prohibent et†occurrent.
Quidquid vult habere nemo potest, illud potest, nolle quod
non habet, rebus oblatis hilaris uti. Magna pars libertatis
est bene moratus venter et contumeliae patiens.
Sentence Structure:
Necessarium est parvo
adsuescere: (main clause; infinitive is subject of
est and necessarium is predicate
nominative)
multae difficultates
locorum, multae temporum etiam locupletibus et
instructis †advobus optantem prohibent etâ€
occurrent. (main clause with obelized corrupted
part; the editor could not find a satisfactory solution
and so opted to print what was found but obelize it to
indicate corruption)
Quidquid vult
habere (indefinite relative
clause; subject is the same as the "one" in "no
one" which the subject of potest in
main clause)
nemo potest (sc. habere), (main clause)
illud potest (sc. facereor the
like), (main clause)
nolle ... (nolle in
apposition to illud to main clause)
quod non habet, (relative clause;
antecedent is id, the understood object of nolle)
... rebus oblatis
hilaris uti. (conclude main clause
with another infinitive in apposition to illud;
hilaris is the subject of uti and is
nominative because it is in agreement with the subject
of the leading verb potest; uti takes
ablative)
Magna pars libertatis
est bene moratus venter et contumeliae patiens. (main clause; subject is venter;
pars is predicate nominative: moratus and
patiens modify venter: contumeliae
is objective genitive with patiens)
[4] Being used to doing without brings
great pleasure and involves no need of anything fancy: it is
more enjoyable than a banquet.
[4] Aestimari non potest quantam voluptatem
capiam ex eo quod lassitudo mea sibi ipsa adquiescit: non
unctores, non balineum, non ullum aliud remedium quam
temporis quaero. Nam quod labor contraxit quies tollit. Haec
qualiscumque cena aditiali iucundior erit.
Sentence Structure:
Aestimari non potest
(main clause)
quantam voluptatem
capiam ex eo (indirect question)
quod lassitudo
mea sibi ipsa adquiescit: (quod "the fact
that" clause, with indicative to present its content
as a fact: note lassitudo repeated from
opening of this letter)
non unctores, non
balineum, non ullum aliud remedium quam (sc. remedium) temporis quaero. (main clause)
Nam ... (begin main clause)
quod labor
contraxit (relative clause;
antecedent is the object of tollit, namely an
unexpressed id or the like)
... quies tollit. (end main clause)
Haec qualiscumque
cena aditiali iucundior erit. (main clause; aditialis cena
"inaugural dinner/feast")
[5]
Seneca extolls the worth of testing oneself without
warning to be sure of one's steadfastness. If one remains calm
in the face of an unexpected test, that is a more true
indication that one' soul is strong. By not wanting a thing,
one supplies what one needs.
[5] †Aliquod enim†experimentum animi sumpsi subito; hoc
enim est simplicius et verius. Nam ubi se praeparavit et
indixit sibi patientiam, non aeque apparet quantum habeat
verae firmitatis: illa sunt certissima argumenta quae ex
tempore dedit, si non tantum aequus molestias sed placidus
aspexit; si non excanduit, non litigavit; si quod dari
deberet ipse sibi non desiderando supplevit et cogitavit
aliquid consuetudini suae, sibi nihil deesse.
Sentence Structure:
†Aliquod enimâ€
experimentum animi sumpsi subito; (main clause; subito because
this test of the strength of his soul is unexpected; the
obelisk symbols †indicate corrupted
text)
hoc enim est
simplicius et verius. (main clause)
Nam ... (begin main clause)
ubi se praeparavit
et indixit sibi patientiam, (temporal clause; subject
is the generic "one" or "you")
... non aeque apparet
(main clause)
quantum habeat
verae firmitatis: (indirect question;
genitives are dependent on quantum)
illa sunt certissima
argumenta (main clause)
quae ex tempore dedit, (relative clause;
antecedent is illa argumenta; a "restrictive"
relative clause; subject is the
generic "one" or "you"; one
"gives evidence/indications")
si non tantum
aequus molestias sed placidus aspexit; (protasis to illa
sunt main clause: this and the following 4
protases identify what illa argumenta refers
to, just as in English "If you ate 6 pies, then that
is what you did," where that is specified by
the protasis: there are many ways to translate such
protases, not all of which involve an if-clause in
English)
si non excanduit, (protasis to following clause: generic
"one" as subject)
non litigavit; (main clause, "one has no
quarrel")
si ... (begin protasis with
understood apodosis, non
litigavit, "one has no
quarrel," "one is not upset")
quod dari deberet
(quod relative
pronoun whose antecedent is the understood object of
supplevit)
... ipse sibi non
desiderando supplevit (continue protasis; non
desiderando is a gerund and ablative of means)
et cogitavit
(a further verb in the
continued protasis)
aliquid
consuetudini suae (sc. deesse), (1st indirect speech
clause dependent on cogitavit: suae
reflexive adjective "one's")
sibi nihil
deesse. (second indirect speech
clause dependent on cogitavit: sibi
reflexive dative pronoun)
[6] We often use a thing simply because we have
it: if we lose it, we can, however, realize that it was
superfluous all along. Or we acquire and use a thing simply
because others are doing so (if fewer were using it, we
would follow suit). And what is worse, if enough people
commit a fault, we think of the fault as a proper action.
[6] Multa quam supervacua essent non intelleximus nisi
deesse coeperunt; utebamur enim illis non quia debebamus sed
quia habebamus. Quam multa autem paramus quia alii
paraverunt, quia apud plerosque sunt! Inter causas malorum
nostrorum est quod vivimus ad exempla, nec ratione
componimur sed consuetudine abducimur. Quod si pauci
facerent nollemus imitari, cum plures facere coeperunt,
quasi honestius sit quia frequentius, sequimur; et recti
apud nos locum tenet error ubi publicus factus est.
Sentence Structure:
Multa ... (begin main clause, but multa
makes best sense translated as subject of essent:
a proleptic construction)
quam supervacua
essent (indirect question
dependent on intelleximus:it might
make easier sense to translate multa as the
subject of essent rather than direct object of
intelleximus; quam is adverbial
modifying supervacua)
... non intelleximus
(conclude main clause)
nisi deesse
coeperunt; (protasis to intelleximus
clause)
utebamur enim illis (main clause)
non quia debebamus
(sc. illis uti)(causal clause)
sed quia habebamus
(sc. illa). (causal clause)
Quam multa autem
paramus (main clause; quam
modifies multa; although paro
often means "prepare," it also often means
"acquire" and is synonymous with apparo, comparo, or acquiro)
quia alii
paraverunt, (causal clause)
quia apud plerosque
sunt! (causal clause)
Inter causas malorum
nostrorum est (main clause)
quod vivimus ad
exempla, (quod "the fact
that" clause, presented by as a fact and hence with
indicative; this is a nominal clause and serves as
subject of main clause)
nec ratione
componimur (2nd part of quod
clause)
sed consuetudine
abducimur. (3rd part of quod clause)
Quod ... (begin main clause; quod = id
quod and means "a thing which" or "what": it or
its unexpressed antecedent id is not only the
direct object of facerent, imitari, facere, and
sequimurbut also supplies the implicit
subject of sit and the quia frequentius
clause)
si pauci facerent (present contrary to fact
protasis
... nollemus imitari,
(continue main clause; present contrary
to fact apodosis; nolo can mean "not want," but
also "refuse")
cum plures facere
coeperunt, (cum temporal
clause; quod is the direct object of facere
here)
quasi honestius
sit (clause of comparison (A&G
524) in primary sequence)
quia
frequentius, (causal clause
expressin why people think it is honestius;
verb est omitted)
sequimur; (second main clause; quod is
direct object of sequimur)
et recti apud nos
locum tenet error (main clause; recti depends on
locum; apud nos = "in our minds")
ubi publicus factus
est. (relative clause; error
to be supplied as subject; publicus predicate
nominative)
[7] Many people in Seneca's circles travel in
style with subordinates to clear the riff raff out of the
way and make it clear that the traveler is important. They
carry expensive fragile things to show off their supposed
worth. Their servants are never tanned, because that would
mean they are workers. They need skin products because they
are delicate.
Seneca thrice uses forms of omnes, by which he means
anything but "everyone": he means everyone who counts,
namely the rich, noble, or powerful. The rest, the staff,
the slaves, the workers, are not part of omnes.
[7] Omnes iam sic peregrinantur ut illos
Numidarum praecurrat equitatus, ut agmen cursorum antecedat:
turpe est nullos esse qui occurrentis via deiciant, [ut] qui
honestum hominem venire magno pulvere ostendant. Omnes iam
mulos habent qui 5 crustallina et murrina et caelata
magnorum artificum manu portent: turpe est videri eas te
habere sarcinas solas quae tuto concuti possint. Omnium
paedagogia oblita facie vehuntur ne sol, ne frigus teneram
cutem laedat: turpe est neminem esse in comitatu tuo
puerorum cuius sana facies medicamentum desideret.
Sentence Structure:
Omnes iam sic
peregrinantur (main clause)
ut illos Numidarum
praecurrat equitatus, (result clause)
ut agmen cursorum
antecedat: (result clause)
turpe est (main clause)
nullos esse (this infinitive clause
with the two following adjectival relative clauses
explaing who nullos are serves as subject of turpe
est)
qui occurrentis
via deiciant, (relative clause of
purpose; antecedent is nullos; occurrentis
is acc. pl.; via ablative dependent on deiciant)
[ut] qui ... (begin relative clause
of purpose; antecedent is nullos; ut
is superfluous, but evidently found in the manuscripts,
and hence square-bracketed)
honestum
hominem venire magno pulvere (indirect speech
dependent on ostendant; honestum
means "of high social standing" rather than
"virtuous" here)
... ostendant. (conclude relative
clause of purpose)
Omnes iam mulos
habent (main clause)
qui crustallina et
murrina et caelata magnorum artificum manu
portent: (relative clause of
purpose)
turpe est (main clause)
videri
eas
te habere sarcinas solas (videri "to be
seen"; acc. + inf. which acts as subject of turpe
est; hence turpe is neuter
predicate nominative to agree with the infinitive)
quae tuto concuti
possint. (relative clause of
characteristic; if you have fancy baggage that is
strong and protective and able to take a beating, it
means you have precious things that need protection)
Omnium paedagogia
oblita facie vehuntur (oblita from oblino,
not obliviscor; being suntanned was a mark of
lower class; a paedagogium is either a place to
train pages or, as it is here, the pages themselves: omnium
clearly includes only the people Seneca is counting, and
not the pages, slaves, etc.)
ne sol (sc. teneram cutem
laedat), (purpose clause)
ne frigus teneram
cutem laedat: (purpose clause)
turpe est (main clause)
neminem esse in
comitatu tuo puerorum (acc. + inf. which acts
as subject of turpe est; hence turpe
is neuter predicate nominative)
cuius sana facies
medicamentum desideret. (relative clause of
characteristic)
[8] All people of that sort are to be avoided:
their influence is nefarious and persistent and leaves a
trace that will develop into a problem later.
[8] Horum omnium sermo vitandus est: hi sunt
qui vitia tradunt et alio aliunde transferunt. Pessimum
genus [horum] hominum videbatur qui verba gestarent: sunt
quidam qui vitia gestant. Horum sermo multum nocet; nam
etiam si non statim proficit, semina in animo relinquit
sequiturque nos etiam cum ab illis discessimus,
resurrecturum postea malum.
Sentence Structure:
Horum omnium sermo
vitandus est: (main clause; vitandus est is
the passive periphrastic conjugation)
hi sunt (main clause)
qui vitia tradunt (relative clause;
antecedent is hi)
et alio aliunde
transferunt (sc. vitia). (second limb of relative
clause; two words with ali- in the same clause
has an idiomatic meaning, for which see A&G 315a-c;
vitia is to be as direct object of transferunt
as well as tradunt)
Pessimum genus
[horum] hominum videbatur (main clause; imperfect meaning "used
to ..."; text within square brackets is in manuscripts
but considered superfluous by a modern editor)
qui verba
gestarent: (relative clause of
characteristic; secondary sequence; gesto verba
"blab words," "brag in words")
sunt quidam (main clause; the present tense of sunt
contrasts with videbatur 'used to seem (to be)';
English requires a "but" or the like to introduce a
clause like this one that contrasts with the previous
clause; when Latin omits such connectives, it is called
'asyndeton')
qui vitia gestant.
(relative clause of
characteristic; primary sequence; vitia gesto "brag
(by means of ostentatious) vices")
Horum sermo multum
nocet; (main clause; multum is
adverbial)
nam ... (begin main clause)
etiam si non statim
proficit, (protasis of simple
condition; horum sermo to be supplied as
subject of proficit)
... semina in animo
relinquit (continue main clause; horum sermo
continues as subject)
sequiturque nos ... (begin second limb of main clause; resurrecturum
postea malum is subject)
etiam cum ab illis
discessimus, (cum temporal
clause)
... resurrecturum
postea malum. (conclude
main clause)
[9] Praise of bad things is a seductive song
difficult to expel from one's mind. It must be blocked
from the start. [9] Quemadmodum qui
audierunt synphoniam ferunt secum in auribus modulationem
illam ac dulcedinem cantuum, quae cogitationes inpedit nec
ad seria patitur intendi, sic adulatorum et prava laudantium
sermo diutius haeret quam auditur. Nec facile est animo
dulcem sonum excutere: prosequitur et durat et ex intervallo
recurrit. Ideo cludendae sunt aures malis vocibus et quidem
primis; nam cum initium fecerunt admissaeque sunt, plus
audent.
Sentence Structure:
Quemadmodum ... (quemadmodum is a
relative adverb whose antecedent is sic--"just
as ..., so ...")
qui audierunt
synphoniam (relative clause: the
antecedent of qui is the omitted subject of
ferunt)
ferunt secum in
auribus modulationem illam ac dulcedinem
cantuum,
quae cogitationes
inpedit (relative clause; modulationem
illam ac dulcedinem cantuum is treated as one
singular thing and is the antecedent of quae)
nec ad seria
patitur intendi, (second limb of
relative clause; ; intendo ad + acc. =
"strive for," "pay attention to"; intendi is an
impersonal passive infinitive of an intransitive
verb, meaning literally "there is a striving for,"
"one strives for," or "one pays attention to" (A&G
208d))
sic adulatorum et
prava laudantium sermo diutius haeret (main clause; sic "so"
correlates with quemadmodum above; prava
is direct object of laudantium)
quam auditur. (comparative clause,
because diutius is comparative)
Nec facile est animo
dulcem sonum excutere: (main clause; the infinitive phrase dulcem
sonum excutere is the subject of est, with
facile a predicate nominative: cf. turpe est
in sentences above)
prosequitur (main clause; subject to be provided
from context preceding)
et durat (main clause; same subject as prosequitur)
et ex intervallo
recurrit. (main clause; same subject as prosequitur)
Ideo cludendae sunt
aures malis vocibus et quidem primis; (main clause)
nam ... (begin main clause)
cum initium
fecerunt (temporal cum clause)
admissaeque sunt, (2nd limb of temporal cum
clause)
... plus audent. (conclude main clause)
[10] An imaginary interlocutor suggests that
happiness consists in consuming: why save or be wise, for
tomorrow we may die? This interlocutor makes many claims,
but the connections between them are not made explicit.
For example, is the interlocutor's point that consuming is
a way to remember one's mortality becauselife slowly leaks away just as food, riches, and pleasures are used
up or ephemeral? Or is it that consuming is being mindful
of one's mortality because good food, wealth, and
pleasures do no good to the dead, and so we may as well
indulge? Seneca would agree with the first point (time is
our only possession, as Letter 1 says:
tempus tantum nostrum est), but not the second. The idea
that other people's well being (or even that of one's
future self) might matter doesn't occur to this
interlocutor, nor does Seneca point it out later.
[10] Inde ad haec pervenitur verba: 'virtus et
philosophia et iustitia verborum inanium crepitus est; una
felicitas est bene vitae facere; esse, bibere, frui
patrimonio, hoc est vivere, hoc est se mortalem esse
meminisse. Fluunt dies et inreparabilis vita decurrit.
Dubitamus? Quid iuvat sapere et aetati non semper voluptates
recepturae interim, dum potest, dum poscit, ingerere
frugalitatem? †Eo†mortem praecurre et quidquid illa
ablatura est iam sibi †interere†. Non amicam habes, non
puerum qui amicae moveat invidiam; cottidie sobrius prodis;
sic cenas tamquam ephemeridem patri adprobaturus: non est
istud vivere sed alienae vitae interesse.
Sentence Structure:
Inde ad haec
pervenitur verba: (main clause; pervenitur is
impersonal passive of an intransitive verb (see A&G
408d), literally "there is an arriving" but in
better English "one arrives at," "one reaches"; haec
"this" refers forward to what the imaginary interlocutor
says right after this clause)
'virtus et
philosophia et iustitia verborum inanium crepitus
est;
una felicitas est
bene vitae facere; (bene facere, "benefit,"
"improve," takes dat. vitae "one's life")
esse, bibere, frui
patrimonio, hoc est vivere, (main clause; the infinitives are in
apposition to hoc)
hoc est ...
se mortalem esse (indirect speech
dependent on meminisse)
... meminisse. (conclusion of clause parallel toprevious
clause)
Fluunt dies
et inreparabilis vita
decurrit.
Dubitamus?
Quid iuvat sapere
et aetati non semper
voluptates recepturae interim ... (semper is distributive "on
every occasion," "every time")
dum potest,
dum poscit,
... ingerere
frugalitatem?
†Eo†mortem praecurre
et quidquid illa ablatura est iam sibi †interere†.
(text between daggers is the manuscript
reading, but the editor does not think it is correct and
sees no sure way to fix it; praecurre imperative)
Non amicam habes, (amica surely refers to a
'lover')
non puerum (puerum surely refers to a
'lover' as well)
qui amicae moveat
invidiam;
cottidie sobrius
prodis; (prodeo 'go out,' 'meet the day';
sobrius can mean 'not drunk' or more generally
'moderate,' 'temperate')
sic cenas tamquam
ephemeridem patri adprobaturus: (approbo + acc. 'render/perform/do/make
(the acc.) satisfactorily'; ephemeris, -idis
is from Greek and means 'daily,' a 'journal,' which can
be accounts, a diary, or other daily records)
non est istud vivere
sed alienae vitae interesse. (the infinitives are the subjects of est)
[11] The imaginary interlocutor suggests that
leaving an inheritance only makes enemies: friends and
family are turned into enemies by greed. Thus, the
interlocutor continues, pay no attention to critics: a good
life is better than a good reputation.
[11] Quanta dementia est heredis sui res
procurare et sibi negare omnia ut tibi ex amico inimicum
magna faciat hereditas; plus enim gaudebit tua morte quo
plus acceperit. Istos tristes et superciliosos alienae vitae
censores, suae hostes, publicos paedagogos assis ne feceris
nec dubitaveris bonam vitam quam opinionem bonam malle.'
Sentence Structure:
Quanta dementia est
heredis sui res procurare et sibi negare omnia (the infinitives are subjects of est)
ut tibi ex amico
inimicum magna faciat hereditas; (result clause)
plus enim gaudebit
tua morte (plus adverbial; subject is the
amicus of the previous clause; gaudeo
takes abl.)
quo plus acceperit.
(relative clause in
indicative--the antecedent is omitted but would have
been eo 'to that degree'; quo ablative
of degree of difference, 'to which')
Istos tristes et
superciliosos alienae vitae censores, suae hostes,
publicos paedagogos assis ne feceris (alienae vitae 'another's life'--Latin
often uses the adjective alienus where English
uses 'of another'; assis genitive of price; eum
assis facio 'I think he's worth an as'; ne
fecerisnec dubitaveris perf.
subjunctive prohibitions)
nec dubitaveris bonam
vitam quam opinionem bonam malle.' (malle complementary infinitive
dependent on prohibitive subjunctive dubitaveris;
malle 'prefer' is comparative and so takes quam
'than')
[12] Seneca urges Lucilius to ignore the
interlocutor's siren song. No argument is given, merely
exhortation not to give in to it. There is an implied argument
that if one wants to keep one's patria, parentes,
and amici as well as one's virtutes, one
should not give in to the siren song. It is also claimed
that it is more satisfying to keep within limits and take
pleasure in things that are honesta, but this
letter does not justify those claims. [12] Hae voces non aliter
fugiendae sunt quam illae quas Ulixes nisi alligatus
praetervehi noluit. Idem possunt: abducunt a patria, a
parentibus, ab amicis, a virtutibus, et †inter spem vitam
misera nisi turpis inludunt†. Quanto satius est rectum sequi
limitem et eo se perducere ut ea demum sint tibi iucunda
quae honesta!
Sentence Structure:
Hae voces non aliter
fugiendae sunt (fugiendae sunt is passive
periphrastic 'are to be avoided'; aliter prepares
for the comparative quam illae)
quam illae ((sc. fugiendae
sunt; comparative
dependent on aliter)
quas Ulixes ...
nisi alligatus
(nisi
'except,' 'unless' with negative noluit
following; a truncated protasis--understand a form
of esse here)
... praetervehi
noluit. (praetervehor is
deponent 'sail past' and takes accusative quas)
Idem possunt: (possunt has for subject hae
voces and an understood infinitive, facere
or something similar; idem is the
neuter accusative object of that infinitive and
is explained in the clause that follows)
abducunt a patria, a
parentibus, ab amicis, a virtutibus, (note the verb-first word order to make
this clause stand out)
et †inter spem vitam
misera nisi turpis inludunt†. (another corrupt passage for which the
editor sees no sure solution; it does not make good
sense, but it is the manuscript reading)
Quanto satius est
rectum sequi limitem et eo se perducere (the infinitives
are the subject of est and satius
is predicate nominative; quanto
is exclamatory, ablative of degree of difference with satius)
ut ea demum sint
tibi iucunda (purpose clause; demum
is an adverb that can mean 'only,' 'exclusively' in
post-Augustan Latin)
quae honesta! (sc. sunt)
[13] Some things attract us, while we fear
others: we should practice in order to resist and uproot
that fear and attraction.
What Seneca does not mention here is the vast Stoic
argumentative apparatus about emotions (including the
claim that all the usual emotions are to be gotten rid of)
and everything aside from virtue (everything, absolutely
every thing, has no worth for good or bad: every thing
aside from virtue is an 'indifferent'). Rather than
arguing carefully, Seneca is 'preaching to the converted'
in this letter, shoring up their resolve.
[13] Quod adsequi
poterimus si scierimus duo esse genera rerum quae nos aut
invitent aut fugent. Invitant [ut] divitiae, voluptates,
forma, ambitio, cetera blanda et adridentia: fugat labor,
mors, dolor, ignominia, victus adstrictior. Debemus itaque
exerceri ne haec timeamus, ne illa cupiamus. In contrarium
pugnemus et ab invitantibus recedamus, adversus petentia
concitemur.
Sentence Structure:
Quod adsequi
poterimus (future more vivid apodosis; quod
is a 'linking relative' that refers back to the gist of
the previous section)
si scierimus (future more vivid
protasis)
duo esse genera
rerum (indirect speech
dependent on scierimus)
quae nos aut
invitent aut fugent. (relative clause of
characteristic and hence subjunctive; fugo (1)
'put to flight')
Invitant [ut]
divitiae, voluptates, forma, ambitio, cetera
blanda et adridentia: (note here and in the following clause
the emphatic verb-first order, which makes the clause
stand out)
fugat labor, mors,
dolor, ignominia, victus adstrictior. (whereas the previous list had et
to connect the last two items, as is common in English,
this one lacks it: Latin allows much greater freedom in
this regard than English)
Debemus itaque
exerceri
ne haec timeamus, (purpose clause; hic,
haec, hoc refers to the nearer of two things)
ne illa cupiamus. (purpose clause; ille,
illa, illud refers to the more distant of two
things)
In contrarium
pugnemus (hortatory subjunctive)
et ab invitantibus
recedamus, (hortatory subjunctive)
adversus petentia
concitemur. (hortatory subjunctive; note that the
first two clauses are joined by et whereas the
last is not: again, Latin is more flexible in this
regard than English)
[14]Seneca makes a perhaps forced analogy
between on the one hand bodily posture when physically
ascending or descending and on the other hand one's
mental/psychic nisus and attitude toward pleasures versus
more difficult things. The gist seems to be that one should
resist pleasures and pursue the more difficult things.
[14] Non vides quam diversus sit descendentium
habitus et escendentium? qui per pronum eunt resupinant
corpora, qui in arduum, incumbunt. Nam si descendas, pondus
suum in priorem partem dare, si escendas, retro abducere,
cum vitio, Lucili, consentire est. In voluptates
descenditur, in aspera et dura subeundum est: hic inpellamus
corpora, illic refrenemus.
Sentence Structure:
Non vides (interrogative main clause)
quam diversus sit
descendentium habitus et escendentium? (indirect question; habitus
'posture')
qui per pronum eunt
(relative clause;
antecedent is subject of resupinant; per
pronum eo 'go downhill')
resupinant corpora,
qui in arduum, (relative clause; antecedent
is subject of incumbunt)
incumbunt. (incumbo 'lean in,' 'lean
forward')
Nam ...
si descendas, (future less vivid
protasis)
... pondus suum in
priorem partem dare, ... (simple indicative protasis: understand
cum vitio consentire est as the finite verb here,
as found in the next conditional; dare is the
subject of est, and consentire is a
predicate nominative; pondus suum is direct
object of dare and in priorem partem adverbially
modifies dare; suum refers back to the
generic 'you' of descendas)
si escendas, (future less
vivid protasis)
... retro abducere,
cum vitio, Lucili, consentire est. (simple indicative protasis)
In voluptates
descenditur,
in aspera et dura
subeundum est: (subeundem est passive periphrastic
'one must climb'; interestingly, subeo can mean
both 'climb' and 'plunge' L&S IIA, but the
contextual antithesis to descenditur mandates
that it means 'climb' or the like here)
hic inpellamus
corpora, (hortatory subjunctive)
illic refrenemus.(hortatory
subjunctive)
[15] Stoics are known for paradoxically claiming
that the Stoic sage's every action (every action!) is
virtuous, and equally virtuous, while everyone else's every
action is vicious, and equally vicious at that. By calling
purveyors of these ideas perniciosos and saying that
these ideas can be used to urge us to vices and to justify
libertine behavior (carousing and amatory pursuits), Seneca
here points out that genuine Stoic ideas are amenable to
abuse and distortion.
Note the use of direct speech purporting to quote, as with
the anonymous interlocutor 'quoted' earlier.
[15] Hoc nunc me existimas dicere, eos tantum perniciosos
esse auribus nostris qui voluptatem laudant, qui doloris
metus, per se formidabiles res, incutiunt? Illos quoque
nocere nobis existimo qui nos sub specie Stoicae sectae
hortantur ad vitia. Hoc enim iactant: solum sapientem et
doctum esse amatorem. 'Solus aptus est ad hanc artem; aeque
conbibendi et convivendi sapiens est peritissimus. Quaeramus
ad quam usque aetatem iuvenes amandi sint.'
Sentence Structure:
Hoc nunc me existimas
dicere, (interrogative main clause)
eos tantum
perniciosos esse auribus nostris (indirect speech; tantum
adverbial 'only')
qui voluptatem
laudant,
qui doloris
metus, per se formidabiles res, incutiunt? (doloris and metus
acc. pl.; incutio metum/dolorem 'cause fear/distress')
Illos quoque nocere
nobis (indirect speech dependent
on existimo)
existimo (main clause)
qui nos sub specie
Stoicae sectae hortantur ad vitia. (sub specie + gen.
'in the guise of')
Hoc enim iactant: (hoc refers to the infinitive
clause which follows)
solum sapientem et
doctum esse amatorem.
'Solus aptus est ad
hanc artem; (the subject here is the sapiens,
the Stoic sage)
aeque conbibendi et
convivendi sapiens est peritissimus. (genitive gerunds dependent on peritissimus)
Quaeramus (hortatory subjunctive)
ad quam usque
aetatem iuvenes amandi sint.' (indirect question; usque
goes with ad, as 'up' goes with 'to' in'up
to')
[16] Seneca calls the misuse of Stoic doctrines
'Greek' and suggests that he and Lucilius should follow the
straight path of Stoic virtue, including a short list of
Stoic commonplaces about things we should not be motivated
by (glory, riches, avoiding death, superstition).
[16] Haec Graecae consuetudini data sint, nos ad illa potius
aures derigamus: 'nemo est casu bonus: discenda virtus est.
Voluptas humilis res et pusilla est et in nullo habenda
pretio, communis cum mutis animalibus, ad quam minima et
contemptissima advolant. Gloria vanum et volubile quiddam
est auraque mobilius. Paupertas nulli malum est nisi
repugnanti. Mors malum non est: quid <sit> quaeris?
sola ius aequum generis humani. Superstitio error insanus
est: amandos timet, quos colit violat. Quid enim interest
utrum deos neges an infames?'
Sentence Structure:
Haec Graecae
consuetudini data sint, (hortatory subjunctive, do
'attribute'; haec refers back to the contents of
the previous sentences)
nos ad illa potius
aures derigamus: (illa refers forward to the
contents of the following clauses)
'nemo est casu bonus:
discenda virtus est.
(passive periphrastic)
Voluptas humilis res
et pusilla est
et in nullo habenda
pretio, (sc. est to form the passive
periphrastic; in pretio habere 'to consider of
value/worth')
communis cum mutis
animalibus, (communis takes cum +
abl. to form a further adjective phrase describing voluptas)
ad quam minima et
contemptissima advolant. (relative clause)
Gloria vanum et
volubile quiddam est auraque mobilius. (aura abl.)
Paupertas nulli malum
est (nulli dat.)
nisi repugnanti. (sc. malum est, a
clause of comparison)
Mors malum non est:
quid
<sit> (indirect question)
quaeris?
sola ius aequum
generis humani. (sc. est; sola feminine
to modify mors, while ius aequum is
predicate nominative)
Superstitio error
insanus est:
amandos timet, (the subject of timet, colit,
and violat is superstitio)
quos colit
violat.
Quid enim interest
utrum deos neges
an infames?' (infamo (1), bring
into disrepute, cast blame on)
[17] Philosophy ought never
to justify vice, just as a doctor could never cure a sick man
by recommending immoderate behavior.
[17] Haec discenda, immo ediscenda sunt: non
debet excusationes vitio philosophia suggerere. Nullam habet
spem salutis aeger quem ad intemperantiam medicus hortatur.
Vale.
Sentence Structure:
Haec discenda, (sc. sunt)
immo ediscenda sunt: (immo is used to reject and correct)
non debet excusationes vitio philosophia
suggerere.