Seneca Epistula ad Lucilium XXXIX
Initial commentary by Sarah Doubleday: revised by Jacques Bailly
Text
XXXIX. SENECA LUCILIO SUO SALUTEM
[1] Commentarios quos desideras, diligenter ordinatos et in
angustum coactos, ego vero componam; sed vide ne plus profutura
sit ratio ordinaria quam haec quae nunc vulgo breviarium dicitur,
olim cum latine loqueremur summarium vocabatur. Illa res discenti
magis necessaria est, haec scienti; illa enim docet, haec admonet.
Sed utriusque rei tibi copiam faciam. Tu a me non est quod illum
aut illum exigas: qui notorem dat ignotus est. [2] Scribam ergo
quod vis, sed meo more; interim multos habes quorum scripta nescio
an satis ordinentur. Sume in manus indicem philosophorum: haec
ipsa res expergisci te coget, si videris quam multi tibi
laboraverint. Concupisces et ipse ex illis unus esse; habet enim
hoc optimum in se generosus animus, quod concitatur ad honesta.
Neminem excelsi ingenii virum humilia delectant et sordida:
magnarum rerum species ad se vocat et extollit. [3] Quemadmodum
flamma surgit in rectum, iacere ac deprimi non potest, non magis
quam quiescere, ita noster animus in motu est eo mobilior et
actuosior quo vehementior fuerit. Sed felix qui ad meliora hunc
impetum dedit: ponet se extra ius dicionemque fortunae; secunda
temperabit, adversa comminuet et aliis admiranda despiciet. [4]
Magni animi est magna contemnere ac mediocria malle quam nimia;
illa enim utilia vitaliaque sunt, at haec eo quod superfluunt
nocent. Sic segetem nimia sternit ubertas, sic rami onere
franguntur, sic ad maturitatem non pervenit nimia fecunditas. Idem
animis quoque evenit quos immoderata felicitas rumpit, qua non
tantum in aliorum iniuriam sed etiam in suam utuntur. [5] Qui
hostis in quemquam tam contumeliosus fuit quam in quosdam
voluptates suae sunt? quorum impotentiae atque insanae libidini ob
hoc unum possis ignoscere, quod quae fecere patiuntur. Nec
immerito hic illos furor vexat; necesse est enim in immensum exeat
cupiditas quae naturalem modum transilit. Ille enim habet suum
finem, inania et ex libidine orta sine termino sunt. [6]
Necessaria metitur utilitas: supervacua quo redigis? Voluptatibus
itaque se mergunt quibus in consuetudinem adductis carere non
possunt, et ob hoc miserrimi sunt, quod eo pervenerunt ut illis
quae supervacua fuerant facta sint necessaria. Serviunt itaque
voluptatibus, non fruuntur, et mala sua, quod malorum ultimum est,
et amant; tunc autem est consummata infelicitas, ubi turpia non
solum delectant sed etiam placent, et desinit esse remedio locus
ubi quae fuerant vitia mores sunt. Vale.
Text from thelatinlibrary.com, with minor housekeeping changes
unless otherwise noted.
1.
Seneca discusses the difference between
breviaries and summaries: a breviarium is good for fresh
learning, a summarium for reminding. Since they are
alternative names for the same thing, Seneca likely means that
students like briefness (brev-) while those who
already know like to be quickly reminded of the important points (summ-).
Summarium is so infrequently used that it is difficult to
judge Seneca's claim that it is an older Latin name, while breviarium
has a handful of instances around Seneca's time.
A bit of speculation is necessary in order to understand the beginning of this letter. Perhaps we should imagine that Lucilius requested something like summary notes about some idea(s) or some thinker(s). Seneca suggests that Lucilius should consider whether ratio ordinaria would be better than summary notes. Ratio ordinaria might refer to "the usual way" of learning as opposed to the shortcut offered by Seneca's notes: the usual way would be that Lucilius read, study, and make his own notes. Tu a me non est quod illum aut illum exigas may refer to a request made by Lucilius (or imagined by Seneca) that Seneca provide evidence or backup witnesses for his commentarios. That would make qui notorem dat ignotus est have a point: the idea would be that if one needs backup, one doesn't really know the material.
[1] Commentarios quos desideras, diligenter ordinatos et in
angustum coactos, ego vero componam; sed vide ne plus profutura
sit ratio ordinaria quam haec quae nunc vulgo breviarium dicitur,
olim cum latine loqueremur summarium vocabatur. Illa res discenti
magis necessaria est, haec scienti; illa enim docet, haec admonet.
Sed utriusque rei tibi copiam faciam. Tu a me non est quod illum
aut illum exigas: qui notorem dat ignotus est.
2.
Seneca will send along some summaries in
Seneca's own manner (meo more), but meanwhile he compels
Lucilius to read philosophical works.
Seneca claims that Lucilius' noble soul will by nature be stirred
by the honorable things (found in the philosophical works) and not
delighted by vicious things: humans are, according to Stoicism, by
nature good in their original tendencies. An optimistic view.
3.
Philosophy reduces and tempers the ill
effects of fortune (at the extreme is the stoic sage, who is
immune to fortune).
Seneca claims here that the soul, by its very nature, gives itself
an impulse to better things (ad meliora hunc impetum), and
thus can flourish (be felix, "happy," but not just
fleetingly "happy"). That impulse to better things can transform
one's life such that one has a healthy attitude toward both
successes and setbacks and one does not think the same things are
to be admired as other people do.
Quemadmodum ... ita ...:
correlatives, “Just as ... so ... .” | surgit
...potest: where English requires "and," Latin can
omit such conjunctions, which is called "asyndeton," a stylistic
device.
| secunda: neuter
plural substantive adjective: secundus meaning "favorable"
comes from the use of secundus of a current or wind that
is "following" and so speeds one along (secundus is related
to sequor).
4.
Seneca discusses the dangers of excess. It
can lead to missing the end goal and cause injury.
[4] Magni animi est magna contemnere ac mediocria malle quam
nimia; illa enim utilia vitaliaque sunt, at haec eo quod
superfluunt nocent. Sic segetem nimia sternit ubertas, sic rami
onere franguntur, sic ad maturitatem non pervenit nimia
fecunditas. Idem animis quoque evenit quos immoderata felicitas
rumpit, qua non tantum in aliorum iniuriam sed etiam in suam
utuntur.
magni
animi: genitive of quality. Est
boni poetae bene scribere means "it is of
(a quality/characteristic/part, etc.) a good poet to write
well." A "great soul" is that of the stoic sage.
5.
Seneca continues to talk about the danger of
unchecked pleasure. He notes that while the desire for many kinds
of pleasure has no logical end and can always expand, it has the
saving quality of making those who have such a desire suffer (and
hence perhaps has its own cure as a consequence).
[5] Qui hostis in quemquam tam contumeliosus fuit quam in quosdam
voluptates suae sunt? quorum impotentiae atque insanae libidini ob
hoc unum possis ignoscere, quod quae fecere patiuntur. Nec
immerito hic illos furor vexat; necesse est enim in immensum exeat
cupiditas quae naturalem modum transilit. Ille enim habet suum
finem, inania et ex libidine orta sine termino sunt.
tam... quam...:
"so... as... ." Note how fully corrrelated and balanced these
clauses are: Qui hostis corresponds to voluptates suae,
fuit to sunt, in quemquam to in quosdam,
and tam to quam (both of which modify contumeliosus).
The order, however, is nicely reversed: ABC contumeliosus fuit
CBA sunt.
| quosdam: substantive pronoun,
accusative object of in (quosdam does not modify voluptates
suae, which is nominative). Note that in quemquam
and in quosdam are further examples of the phenomenon that
in is not always translatable by English "in": here it
means "against" or "to," as it frequently does.
6.
Seneca describes how pleasures can be
cultivated into vices. What is 'necessary' by nature is minimal:
pleasures lure us into thinking superfluous things 'necessary,'
after which we become slaves to our pleasures (because of our
bloated idea of what is 'necessary'). It is a vicious cycle that
results in bad fixed habits.
[6] Necessaria metitur utilitas: supervacua quo redigis?
Voluptatibus itaque se mergunt quibus in consuetudinem adductis
carere non possunt, et ob hoc miserrimi sunt, quod eo pervenerunt
ut illis quae supervacua fuerant facta sint necessaria. Serviunt
itaque voluptatibus, non fruuntur, et mala sua, quod malorum
ultimum est, et amant; tunc autem est consummata infelicitas, ubi
turpia non solum delectant sed etiam placent, et desinit esse
remedio locus ubi quae fuerant vitia mores sunt. Vale.
metitur: deponent.
Vocabulary
actuosus, -a, um, active
adduco, adducere, adduxi, adductus, lead to,
bring to
admiror (1), admire, wonder at
admoneo, admonere, admonui, admonitus, remind,
suggest, bring to mind
adversus, -a, -um, adverse
an, whether (introduces indirect question or a
second indirect question)
angustus, -a, -um, constrained, small, narrow
animus, -i, m., soul
breviarium, -i, n., epitome, summary,
abridgement, abstract
careo, carere, carui, caritum, lack be, be
without (+ abl. of separation)
cogo, cogere, coegi, coactus, collect,
compress, draw together; force, compel
commentarius, -i, m., notes, notebook,
commentary
comminuo, comminuere, comminui, comminutum,
diminish
compono, componere, composui, componitus, put
together, bring together, compose, collect
concito (1), rouse, urge, encourage
concupisco, concupiscere, concupivi,
concupitus, cover, very much desire, strive for
consuetudo, -inis, f., habit, wont
consummo (1), accomplish, complete, finish
contemno, contemnere, contempsi, contemptum,
value little, despise
contumeliosus, insulting, abusive
copia, -ae, f., ample supply, plenty
delecto (1), delight, allure
deprimo, deprimere, depressi, depressus, press
down
desidero (1), want, ask for
desino, desinere, desii, cease, stop
despicio, despicere, despexi, despectus, lood
down on, despise
dicio, dicionis, f., authority, sway
diligenter, carefully
disco, discere, didici, learn
do, dare, dedi, datus, give, provide
doceo, docere, docui, doctus, teach
evenio, evenire, eveni, eventus, turn out,
happen
excelsus, -a, -um, eminent, exalted, lofty
exeo, exire, exi(v)i, go out, leave; result,
turn out, issue
exigo, exigere, exegi, exactus, demand, require
expergiscor, expergisci, experrectus, to be
awakened; to awake
extollo, extollere, exalt, elevate, lift up
extra, outside of (+ acc.)
fecunditas, -atis, f., productivity,
fruitfulness, fecundity
felix, felicis, happy, fortunate
finis, finis, m., border, limit
flamma, -ae, f., flame
frango, frangere, fregi, fractus, break
fruor, frui, fructus sum, enjoy, derive
enjoyment from (+ abl.)
furor, rage,
insanity, anger
generosus, -a, -um, noble, well-born
honestus, -a, -um, honorable
humilis, humil, lowly, humble
iaceo, iacere, ieci, iactus, lie flat
idem, eadem, idem, same
idem, adv., likewise
ignosco, ignoscere, ignovi, ignotus, pardon (+
dat.)
ignotus, -a, -um, ignorant
immensus, -a, um, huge
immerito, undeservedly
immoderatus, -a, -um, excessive, immoderate
impetum, -i, n., impulse, push, force
impotentia, -ae, f., lack of resources,
helplessness, inability
inanis, -e, empty, inane, vain
index, indicis, m., list, catalog, index,
summary
infelicitas, -atis, f., unhappiness
ingenium, -i, n., nature, temperament,
constitution
iniuria, -ae, f., injustice; harm
insanus, -a, -um, unhealthy
interim, meanwhile
ita, so, thus
itaque, thus, therefore
ius, iuris, n., law
laboro (1), exert oneself, work, strive
libido, -inis, f., lust
loquor, loqui, locutus sum, speak
magis, more
malo, malle, malui, prefer
manus, -us, m., hand
maturitas, -atis, f., ripeness
mediocris, -e, medium-sized, moderate
melior, melius, better
mergo, mergere, mersi, mersus, immerse, sink,
plunge
metior, metiri, mensus, measure
miser, misera, miserum, wretched
mobilis, mobile, mobile, able to move
modum, -i, n., measure, moderation
mos, moris, m., custom, manner
motus, -us, m., movement, moetion
naturalis, -e, natural, according to nature
nemo, nemininis, no one; can be used as an adjectival no
(as in "no man")
nescio, nescire, nescivi, nescitum, not know
nimius, -a, -um, too much, excessive
noceo, nocere, nocui, nocitus, harm (takes
dative)
notor, notoris, m., witness, voucher, one who
knows
onus, oneris, n., burden
optimus, -a, -um, best
ordinarius, -a, -um, ordinary, usual; regular,
in order
ordino (1), arrange, set in order
orior, oriri, ortus sum, arise, come forth,
originate
patior, pati, passus sum, endure, suffer,
undergo
pervenio, pervenire, perveni, perventum, arrive
at, reach
pervenio, pervenire, perveni, reach, arrive at
philosophus, -i, m., philosopher
placeo, placere, placui, placitum, please,
satisfy (+ dat.)
pono, ponere, posui, positus, place, put
prosum, prodesse, profui, benefit, help
quemadmodum, just as, in the way in which
quidam, quaedam, quoddam, certain, some, a
quiesco, quiescere, quievi, quietus, be quiet
quisquis, quicquid, whoever, whatever
quod, wherefore, why; non est quod, "there is
no reason why"
quoque, too, also
ramus, -i, m., branch
ratio, onis, f., reason
rectus, -a, -um, straight, upright: in rectum, straight
upward
redigo, redigere, redegi, redactus, bring down,
reduce, diminish
remedium, -i, n., cure, remedy
rumpo, rumpere, rupi, ruptus, break, burst
satis, sufficiently
scio, scire, scivi, scitus, know
secundus, -a, -um, favorable
seges, segetis, f., corn, crop
servio, servire, servi(v)i, servitum, serve, be
a slave, be a servant
sic, thus, so
sine, without (+ abl. of separation)
solum, adv., only
sordidus, -a, -um, dirty, unclean, sordid
species, -ei, f., appearance
sterno, sternere, stravi, stratus, lay low;
spread out, scatter
summarium, -i, n., summary, epitome, abstract
sumo, sumere, sumpsi, sumptum, take
superfluo, superfluere, overflow
supervacuus, -a, -um, redundant, useless
surgo, surgere, surrexi, surrectum, rise, surge
tam, so, to such a degree
tantum, only
tantus, -a, -um, so much, this much
tempero (1), manage, arrange, order; combine
properly
terminus, -i, m., end, limit
transilio, transilire, transilii/-ui, leap over
tunc, then, at that time
turpis, turpe, bad, evil
ubertas, -atis, f., fulness
uterque, utraque, utrumque, each
utilis, -e, useful
utilitas, -atis, usefulness
vehemens, vehementis, strong, eager, ardent
vexo (1), bother, annoy, distress
vitalis, -e, vital, vital
vitium, -i, n., vice
voco (1), call
voco (1), call
voluptas, -atis, f., pleasure
vulgo, commonly