Seneca Letter XXV
Commentary revised by Jacques Bailly
from an assignment by Benjamin Suib
SENECA LUCILIO SUO SALUTEM
[1]
Quod ad duos amicos nostros pertinet, diversa via eundum est;
alterius enim vitia emendanda, alterius frangenda sunt. Utar
libertate tota: non amo illum nisi offendo. 'Quid ergo?' inquis
'quadragenarium pupillum cogitas sub tutela tua continere?
Respice aetatem eius iam duram et intractabilem: non potest
reformari; tenera finguntur.' [2] An profecturus sim nescio:
malo successum mihi quam fidem deesse. Nec desperaveris etiam
diutinos aegros posse sanari, si contra intemperantiam steteris,
si multa invitos et facere coegeris et pati. Ne de altero quidem
satis fiduciae habeo, excepto eo quod adhuc peccare erubescit;
nutriendus est hic pudor, qui quamdiu in animo eius duraverit,
aliquis erit bonae spei locus. Cum hoc veterano parcius agendum
puto, ne in desperationem sui veniat; [3] nec ullum tempus
aggrediendi fuit melius quam hoc, dum interquiescit, dum
emendato similis est. Aliis haec intermissio eius imposuit, mihi
verba non dat: exspecto cum magno fenore vitia reditura, quae
nunc scio cessare, non deesse. Impendam huic rei dies et utrum
possit aliquid agi an non possit experiar.
[4]
Tu nobis te, ut facis, fortem praesta et sarcinas contrahe;
nihil ex his quae habemus necessarium est. Ad legem naturae
revertamur; divitiae paratae sunt. Aut gratuitum est quo egemus,
aut vile: panem et aquam natura desiderat. Nemo ad haec pauper
est, intra quae quisquis desiderium suum clusit cum ipso Iove de
felicitate contendat, ut ait Epicurus, cuius aliquam vocem huic
epistulae involvam. [5] 'Sic fac' inquit 'omnia tamquam spectet
Epicurus.' Prodest sine dubio custodem sibi imposuisse et habere
quem respicias, quem interesse cogitationibus tuis iudices. Hoc
quidem longe magnificentius est, sic vivere tamquam sub alicuius
boni viri ac semper praesentis oculis, sed ego etiam hoc
contentus sum, ut sic facias quaecumque facies tamquam spectet
aliquis: omnia nobis mala solitudo persuadet. [6] Cum iam
profeceris tantum ut sit tibi etiam tui reverentia, licebit
dimittas paedagogum: interim aliquorum te auctoritate custodi -
aut Cato ille sit aut Scipio aut Laelius aut alius cuius
interventu perditi quoque homines vitia supprimerent, dum te
efficis eum cum quo peccare non audeas. Cum hoc effeceris et
aliqua coeperit apud te tui esse dignatio, incipiam tibi
permittere quod idem suadet Epicurus: 'tunc praecipue in te ipse
secede cum esse cogeris in turba'. [7] Dissimilem te fieri
multis oportet, dum tibi tutum [non] sit ad te recedere.
Circumspice singulos: nemo est cui non satius sit cum quolibet
esse quam secum. 'Tunc praecipue in te ipse secede cum esse
cogeris in turba' - si bonus vir <es>, si quietus, si
temperans. Alioquin in turbam tibi a te recedendum est: istic
malo viro propius es. Vale.
Introduction
This
letter first explores an effort to help two of Seneca and
Lucilius' mutual friends (unnamed) to improve themselves, one of
whom is older (can you teach an old dog new tricks?), the other
younger. Seneca
says he doesn't know if it will work, but he will try "tough
love."
Next Seneca turns to Lucilius'
own character. The chief points he makes about character improvement
here are: everything external to one's self is unnecessary and
unimportant, what is needed to stay alive is easily obtained,
and imagining someone watching your every move will help you to
improve (especially if the imagined observer is a good person) until
you become good and fit to be your own company. He suggests that Lucilius
follow good Roman exampla (Scipio, Cato, and Laelius). He also
uses the Hellenistic philosopher Epicurus twice as an exemplum
for good living. Presumably Seneca uses Epicurus, whose
philosophy was a rival to the stoics, to emphasize points of
agreement, perhaps with the implication that if two so different
schools agree on a point, it is more reliable, or perhaps
maneuvering to suggest to any Epicurean readers that stoicism
offers all the good things of Epicureanism and more besides.
Commentary
1.
Quickly setting out the situation, namely that of two
mutual friends both of whom have faults that need correcting,
Seneca immediately begins with terse, pointed formulation (eundem
est, non amo nisi offendo, tenera finguntur).
He uses Lucilius as an imaginary interlocutor, a frequent
tactic. The gist of the thought here is "tough love" and
consideration of whether age makes a person incorrigible.
[1]
Quod ad duos amicos nostros pertinet, diversa via eundum est;
alterius enim vitia emendanda, alterius frangenda sunt. Utar
libertate tota: non amo illum nisi offendo. 'Quid ergo?' inquis
'quadragenarium pupillum cogitas sub tutela tua continere?
Respice aetatem eius iam duram et intractabilem: non potest
reformari; tenera finguntur.'
quod:
quod ad Caesarem pertinet means "as regards Caesar."
Here, quod is an accusative of specification (A&G
572a).
2.
An
profecturus sim nescio: nescio an triggers an
indirect question in the subjunctive.
3.
The vices of the older friend are currently quiet, and so
Seneca thinks it is time to go to work, before they erupt
again. Of success he has doubts, but he will try.
Interestingly, in Epistula 69§14, Seneca claims that
no age is better suited to having a sound mind than old age.
[3]
nec ullum tempus aggrediendi fuit melius quam hoc, dum
interquiescit, dum emendato similis est. Aliis haec intermissio
eius imposuit, mihi verba non dat: exspecto cum magno fenore
vitia reditura, quae nunc scio cessare, non deesse. Impendam
huic rei dies et utrum possit aliquid agi an non possit
experiar.
tempus
aggrediendi: the genitive gerund depends on tempus. | fuit: an epistolary tense: it
will be past when the addressee reads it. | hoc (sc. tempus),
dum… dum: dum "while" takes the historic present
indicative to express a time within which the action of the main
clause happens (see BA §438: dum hoc facis, illud
fecit means "while you were doing this, he did that").
4.
Seneca switches gears to giving direct advice to Lucilius
about his own life: Seneca suggests that Lucilius reduce his
possessions, which is part of the larger stoic claim that
everything except rationality and virtue is indifferent.
Seneca also advocates the Stoic claim that being rich in the
only things that truly matter (rationality and virtue) is up
to us, and we are provided with all else we think we truly
need to remain alive either with no or with little effort.
What is more, says Seneca, no one is so poor that they can't
get bread and water: to be sure, Seneca clearly lives in a
bubble, given that starvation (i.e. not having any food for
weeks) was a much more real and utterly unavoidable and
important factor in his world than ours, but within his bubble
(which most readers of this commentary surely live in as
well), he is absolutely right, and it is an important point.
Don't make the mistake of saying that he is wrong because he
is rich and doesn't at all know whereof he speaks.
[4]
Tu nobis te, ut facis, fortem praesta et sarcinas contrahe;
nihil ex his quae habemus necessarium est. Ad legem naturae
revertamur; divitiae paratae sunt. Aut gratuitum est quo egemus,
aut vile: panem et aquam natura desiderat. Nemo ad haec pauper
est, intra quae quisquis desiderium suum clusit cum ipso Iove de
felicitate contendat, ut ait Epicurus, cuius aliquam vocem huic
epistulae involvam.
ut
facis: Latin has no single word like English "do" that can
stand in for any verb, but facio and ago (see
§3) often mean "do." | praesta:
imperative taking te as its object: fortem is
predicative in agreement with te. For example praestat
se bonum means something like "he proves himself a good
man" or "he behaves himself as a good man." | revertamur: hortatory subjunctive.
| quo egemus: egeo takes ablative. | ad haec ... intra
quae ...: the antecedent of quae is haec,
which refers back to items from the previous sentence. Note that
ad can have a wide variety of meanings: one cannot be
"poor to X" or "poor at food" in English, but
one can be "poor in X" or "poor in terms of X." And yet,
"in" or "in terms of" are no more logical or otherwise better
than "at" or "to" to express "being poor in terms of X": the
same thing applies in Latin. Think carefully, but boldly, about
prepositional usage and translation. | quisquis ... clusit ... contendat:
the person to whom quisquis refers is the subject of
both verbs, just as in English "Whoever knows Latin can read
this letter" where the person to whom "whoever" refers is
subject of both "knows" and "can read." contendat is
potential subjunctive.
| aliquam vocem: although vox
does mean "voice," it also is used for something said: here it refers to
the quotation to follow.
| involvam: another compound verb taking
both a dative (dependent on in-) and an accusative
direct object.
[5]
'Sic fac' inquit 'omnia tamquam spectet Epicurus.' Prodest sine
dubio custodem sibi imposuisse et habere quem respicias, quem
interesse cogitationibus tuis iudices. Hoc quidem longe
magnificentius est, sic vivere tamquam sub alicuius boni viri ac
semper praesentis oculis, sed ego etiam hoc contentus sum, ut
sic facias quaecumque facies tamquam spectet aliquis: omnia
nobis mala solitudo persuadet.
[6]
Cum iam profeceris tantum ut sit tibi etiam tui reverentia,
licebit dimittas paedagogum: interim aliquorum te auctoritate
custodi - aut Cato ille sit aut Scipio aut Laelius aut alius
cuius interventu perditi quoque homines vitia supprimerent, dum
te efficis eum cum quo peccare non audeas. Cum hoc effeceris et
aliqua coeperit apud te tui esse dignatio, incipiam tibi
permittere quod idem suadet Epicurus: 'tunc praecipue in te ipse
secede cum esse cogeris in turba'.
cum profeceris ... ut sit ... licebit dimittas: similar
to a future-more-vivid conditional (profeceris ... licebit)
with a cum clause instead of a si clause. ut
sit result clause. dimittas semi-independent
subjunctive dependent on licebit.
7.
While most people prefer not to be alone, the Stoic sage
can be quite contentedly alone even in a crowd, as is proper,
for her character is its own best company. Others, however,
who are not yet virtuous, are better off with others, so that
they don't fall prey to their own vices. Seneca overstates his
case by claiming that one is better off with just anyone (cum
quolibet), unless he is somehow thinking of the stoic
tenet that all vicious people are equally vicious, and just
about everyone is vicious (explaining which is a long task: it
is one of those notoriously paradoxical stoic positions that
provokes one to think hard). Another facet of Seneca's logic
here is not absolutely clear: why would he think solitude
makes most people more susceptible to vice? We can think of
possible answers to that question, but he does not provide
them.
Text taken from www.thelatinlibrary.com
Vocabulary
adgredior,
see aggredior
adhuc,
still, up to now, up to this point
aeger,
-gra, -grum, sick, ill
aetas,
aetatis f, lifetime, generation
aggredio,
-ere, -ii, -itus, go to, approach
ago,
agere, egi, actum, proceed, act; do
aio,
aiere, say
alioquin,
otherwise
alter,
-a, -um, other, different
amicus,
-i, m, friend
amo
(1), love
an,
introduces indirect questions
apud,
in X's eyes (X is acc.); at X's house (X is acc.)
aqua,
-ae, f, water
auctoritas,
-atis authority, power
audeo,
audere, ausus sum, dare
Cato,
Catonis, m., Cato the Elder (234-149BC)
cesso
(1), cease, stop
circumspicio,
-ere, -spexi, -spectus, look around for (+ acc.)
claudo, claudere, clausi, clausus, another form of cludo
cludo,
-ere, clusi, clusus (also claudo ...), close, enclose;
confine, limit
coepi,
-isse, -tum, (have)
begun
cogitatio,
-onis, f, thinking, meditation
cogito
(1), think, pursue something in the mind
cogo,
-agere, -egi, -actus, force, make
contendo,
-ere, -di, -tus, rival, contest
contentus,
-a, -um, content, happy, satisfied
contineo,
-ere, -tinui, -tentus, hold, keep
contra
(+acc.), against
contraho,
-trahere, -traxi, -tractus, collect, amass; reduce, lessen
custodio,
custodire, custodi(v)i, custoditus, guard, protect
custos,
custodis, m., a guard, protector
desidero
(1), want, wish for
desperatio,
-onis, f., desperation
despero
(1), be hopeless
desum,
deesse, defui, be absent, be lacking
dies,
-ei, m., day
dignatio,
-onis, f., respect, esteem
dimitto,
-ere, dimisi, dimissus, send away, dismiss
dissimilis,
-e, unlike, different
diutinus,
-a, -um, lasting, long
diversus,
-a, -um, different
divitiae,
-arum, f.pl., riches, wealth
do,
dare, dedi, datus, give
dubium,
-i, n., doubt
dum,
while (takes historic present)
duro
(1), harden
durus,
-a, -um, tough, hard
efficio,
-ere, effeci, effectus, render X (acc.) Y (acc.), make X Y;
bring about, effect
egeo,
egere, egui, need (takes abl.)
emendo
(1), emend, correct
eo,
ire, ii, itus, go, advance
Epicurus,
-i. m., Epicurus (341-270 BC), founder of the philosophical
school of Epicureanism
epistula,
-ae f., letter
erubesco,
-ere, erubui, redden, blush
excipio,
excipere, excepi, exceptum, take out, except
experior,
-eriri, expertus sum, test
exspecto
(1), await, look out for
facio,
facere, feci, factus, make, do
faenus,
see fenus
felicitas,
felicitatis, f., happiness
fenus,
-oris, n., gain, profit
fides,
-ei, f., faith
fiducia,
-ae, f., trust, confidence
fingo,
-ere, finxi, fictum, form, shape; touch, handle
fio,
fieri, factus sum, become, be made; happen
fortis,
forte, strong
frango,
frangere, frangi, fractum, break, shatter
gratuitus,
-a, -um, free
habeo,
habere, habui, habitus, have
homo,
hominis, m., man
idem,
likewise, also
impendo,
-ere, -i, -sum, weigh out, expend, spend
impono,
-ponere, -posui, -positus, impose upon; cheat, deceive (+ dat.)
incipio,
-ere, incepi, inceptus, begin
inp-,
see imp-
inquis,
you say
intemperantia,
-ae, f., extravagance, excess
interim,
adv., meanwhile
intermissio,
-onis, f., a breaking off, interruption
interquiesco,
-quievi, -quietus, rest a while, pause
intersum,
-esse, -fui, -futurus, participate in, have a care for (+dat.)
interventus,
-us, m., a coming between, intervention
intra,
inside of, within, (+acc.)
intractabilis,
-e, not to be handled or meddled with
invitus,
-a, -um, unwilling, reluctant
involvo,
-ere, -i, -volutus, wrap x into y, include x in y (+ acc. +
dat.)
Iove,
-is, m., Jove
istic,
in that place of yours
iudico
(1), judge, consider
Laelius,
-i, m., Gaius Laelius, a contemporary of Scipio Africanus
lex,
legis, f., law
libertas,
libertatis, f., liberty
licet
(impers.), be permitted
longe,
far, by far
malo,
malle, malui, prefer
melior,
melius, better
natura,
-ae, f., nature
necessarius,
-a, -um, necessary
nemo,
neminis, m. or f., no one
nescio,
not know
nutrio,
-ire, -ivi, -itus, suckle
oculus,
-i, m., an eye
offendo,
-fendere, -fendi, -fensum, strike
oportet,
oportere, oportuit, (impers.), it is necessary, proper
paedagogus,
-i, m., a pedagogue (teacher/guardian who accompanies youths)
panis,
-is, m., bread
parcus,
-a, -um, frugal, thrifty; parcius (comparative adv.)
more sparingly
paro
(1), prepare, be ready
patior,
pati, passus sum, suffer, endure
pauper,
pauperis, poor
pecco
(1), transgress, sin; offend
perditus,
-a, -um, hopeless, desperate, lost
permitto,
permittere, permisi, permissum, allow, permit
persuadeo,
-ere, -si, -sum, convince, persuade; urge, encourage
pertineo,
-tinere, -tinui, extend to, pertain
possum.
posse, potui, be able
praecipue,
especially, particularly
praesens,
-ntis, present
praesto
(1), keep, maintain (+ acc. of a person + acc. adjective of a
quality)
proficio,
proficere, profeci, profectus, make progress
propior,
propius, nearer
prosum,
-esse, -fui, -futurus, be useful to, benefit
pudor,
-oris, m., shame
pupillus,
-i, m., orphan
puto
(1), think, esteem
quadragenarius,
-a, -um, forty-year-old
quamdiu,
adv., as long as
quietus,
-a, -um, quiet, meditative
quilibet,
quaelibet, quodlibet, whoever, whatever, anyone, anything
recedo,
recedere, recessi, recessum, retreat, withdraw
redeo,
redire, redi(v)i, rediturus, return
reformo
(1), reform
res,
-ei, f., matter, affair
respicio,
-ere, -spexi, -spectum, look back
respicio,
respicere, respexi, respecus, look again at, look back at;
respect, have regard for
reverentia,
-ae, f., respect, honor
revertor,
reverti, reversus, revert (to (ad + acc.))
sano
(1), make sound, heal
sarcina,
-ae, f., a package
satis,
enough, sufficient
scio
(4), know
Scipio,
Scipionis, m., Scipio Africanus (236-183BC)
secedo,
secedere, secessi, secessum, retreat, withdraw
similis,
-e, similar
sine,
without (+ abl.)
singulus,
-a, -um, single, individual
solitudo,
-udinis f., solitude
specto
(1), watch
spes,
-ei, f., hope
sto,
stare, steti, status, stand
suadeo,
-ere, suasi, suasus, recommend, urge, advocate
successus,
-us, m., good result, success
supprimo,
-ere, -pressi, -pressus, press down or under; suppress
tamquam,
as if (+ subjunctive)
tantum,
so far, so much (adverbial accusative)
tempero
(1), forbear, be moderate, be temperate
tempus,
temporis, n., time
tener,
-era, -erum, soft, delicate
totus,
-a, -um, whole, total
turba,
-ae, f., disturbance; crowd
tutela,
-ae, f., a watching, safeguard
tutus,
-a, -um, safe
ullus,
-a, -um, any, anyone
utor,
uti, usus sum, use, employ
utrum,
whether (introduces indirect question)
venio,
-ire, veni, ventus, go, come
verbum,
-i, n., word
veteranus,
-a, -um, old veteran
via,
-ae, f., road
vilis,
-e, cheap, inexpensive
vir,
-i, m., man
vitium,
-i, n., vice, fault, defect
vivo,
vivere, vivi, vitus, live
vox,
vocis, f., voice; saying, proverb, maxim