Seneca, Epistulae Moralis XX
Commentary by Rachel Thomas
Edited by Jacques Bailly
Introduction
"Verba rebus proba" is the theme of the start of this letter, in
which Seneca urges Lucilius to make his actions and life in general
accord completely with his philosophy. For philosophy is about lives
and actions that demonstrate a coherence with theory and vice versa.
In essence, this is an example of philosophy as therapy. Making
theory and life cohere is not easy, says Seneca, but as a result you
will become and be your own person. You will not think you
desire/need one thing while actually desiring/needing another, for
it is impossible in the long term to continue desiring (or
rejecting) the same thing if it is not the right thing to desire (or
reject).
In section 7, Seneca deals with an objection. Embracing the
philosophical life gives absolute priority to being content with
oneself and what is in one's control, which means one should give no
priority to acquiring material goods or means. What if one's estate
declines? Seneca's reply is that one's true friends will stick
around. Those who don't are not true friends. For this reason alone,
poverty is choiceworthy. Furthermore, one who preaches poverty from
an impoverished estate proves that preaching with deeds, not words.
But if one happens to be rich, there is no reason why one cannot
philosophize. The important thing is that one have the correct
attitude: philosophical wisdom is everything, worldly goods are
worth nothing. And yet, if one prepares oneself well, worldly goods
make it easier to acquire that security without which it is
impossible to be content. And if one is rich, one must continually
prepare oneself by experiencing poverty to some extent by setting
aside days on which to be poor.
Text
XX. SENECA LUCILIO SUO SALUTEM
[1] Si vales et te dignum putas qui aliquando fias tuus, gaudeo; mea
enim gloria erit, si te istinc ubi sine spe exeundi fluctuaris
extraxero. Illud autem te, mi Lucili, rogo atque hortor, ut
philosophiam in praecordia ima demittas et experimentum profectus
tui capias non oratione nec scripto, sed animi firmitate,
cupiditatum deminutione: verba rebus proba. [2] Aliud propositum est
declamantibus et assensionem coronae captantibus, aliud his qui
iuvenum et otiosorum aures disputatione varia aut volubili detinent:
facere docet philosophia, non dicere, et hoc exigit, ut ad legem
suam quisque vivat, ne orationi vita dissentiat vel ipsa inter se
vita unius sit omnium actionum sine dissensione coloris.
Maximum hoc est et officium sapientiae et indicium, ut verbis opera
concordent, ut ipse ubique par sibi idemque sit. 'Quis hoc
praestabit?' Pauci, aliqui tamen. Est enim difficile hoc; nec hoc
dico, sapientem uno semper iturum gradu, sed una via. [3] Observa te
itaque, numquid vestis tua domusque dissentiant, numquid in te
liberalis sis, in tuos sordidus, numquid cenes frugaliter, aedifices
luxuriose; unam semel ad quam vivas regulam prende et ad hanc omnem
vitam tuam exaequa. Quidam se domi contrahunt, dilatant foris et
extendunt: vitium est haec diversitas et signum vacillantis animi ac
nondum habentis tenorem suum. [4] Etiam nunc dicam unde sit ista
inconstantia et dissimilitudo rerum consiliorumque: nemo proponit
sibi quid velit, nec si proposuit perseverat in eo, sed transilit;
nec tantum mutat sed redit et in ea quae deseruit ac damnavit
revolvitur. [5] Itaque ut relinquam definitiones sapientiae veteres
et totum complectar humanae vitae modum, hoc possum contentus esse:
‘quid est sapientia? semper idem velle atque idem nolle.’ Licet
illam exceptiunculam non adicias, ut rectum sit quod velis; non
potest enim cuiquam idem semper placere nisi rectum. [6] Nesciunt
ergo homines quid velint nisi illo momento quo volunt; in totum
nulli velle aut nolle decretum est; variatur cotidie iudicium et in
contrarium vertitur ac plerisque agitur vita per lusum. Preme ergo
quod coepisti, et fortasse perduceris aut ad summum aut eo quod
summum nondum esse solus intellegas.
[7] 'Quid fiet' inquis 'huic turbae familiarium sine re familiari?'
Turba ista cum a te pasci desierit, ipsa se pascet, aut quod tu
beneficio tuo non potes scire, paupertatis scies: illa veros
certosque amicos retinebit. Discedet quisquis non te sed aliud
sequebatur. Non est autem vel ob hoc unum amanda paupertas, quod a
quibus ameris ostendet? O quando ille veniet dies quo nemo in
honorem tuum mentiatur! [8] Huc ergo cogitationes tuae tendant, hoc
cura, hoc opta, omnia alia vota deo remissurus, ut contentus sis
temet ipso et ex te nascentibus bonis. Quae potest esse felicitas
propior? Redige te ad parva ex quibus cadere non possis, idque ut
libentius facias, ad hoc pertinebit tributum huius epistulae, quod
statim conferam.
[9] Invideas licet, etiam nunc libenter pro me dependet Epicurus.
'Magnificentior, mihi crede, sermo tuus in grabatto videbitur et in
panno; non enim dicentur tantum illa sed probabuntur.' Ego certe
aliter audio quae dicit Demetrius noster, cum illum vidi nudum,
quanto minus quam in stramentis incubantem: non praeceptor veri sed
testis est. [10] 'Quid ergo? non licet divitias in sinu positas
contemnere?' Quidni liceat? Et ille ingentis animi est qui illas
circumfusas sibi, multum diuque miratus quod ad se venerint, ridet
suasque audit magis esse quam sentit. Multum est non corrumpi
divitiarum contubernio; magnus ille qui in divitiis pauper est. [11]
'Nescio' inquis 'quomodo paupertatem iste laturus sit, si in illam
inciderit.' Nec ego, Epicure, angulus si iste pauper contempturus
sit divitias, si in illas inciderit; itaque in utroque mens
aestimanda est inspiciendumque an ille paupertati indulgeat, an hic
divitiis non indulgeat. Alioquin leve argumentum est bonae
voluntatis grabattus aut pannus, nisi apparuit aliquem illa non
necessitate pati sed malle. [12] Ceterum magnae indolis est ad ista
non properare tamquam meliora, sed praeparari tamquam ad facilia. Et
sunt, Lucili, facilia; cum vero multum ante meditatus accesseris,
iucunda quoque; inest enim illis, sine qua nihil est iucundum,
securitas. [13] Necessarium ergo iudico id quod tibi scripsi magnos
viros saepe fecisse, aliquos dies interponere quibus nos imaginaria
paupertate exerceamus ad veram; quod eo magis faciendum est quod
deliciis permaduimus et omnia dura ac difficilia iudicamus. Potius
excitandus e somno et vellicandus est animus admonendusque naturam
nobis minimum constituisse. Nemo nascitur dives; quisquis exit in
lucem iussus est lacte et panno esse contentus: ab his initiis nos
regna non capiunt. Vale.
Text from www.thelatinlibrary.com: some corrections may have been
made to that text.
Commentary
[1] Si vales et te dignum
putas qui aliquando fias tuus, gaudeo; mea enim gloria erit, si te
istinc ubi sine spe exeundi fluctuaris extraxero. Illud autem te, mi
Lucili, rogo atque hortor, ut philosophiam in praecordia ima
demittas et experimentum profectus tui capias non oratione nec
scripto, sed animi firmitate, cupiditatum deminutione: verba rebus
proba.
te dignum: double
accusative.
fias: relative clause of
purpose: fio takes predicative nominative.
fluctuaris: how can you tell
that this is not perfect subjunctive?
exeundi: gerund.
Illud: illud it the direct
object of rogo atque hortor and refers to the idea expressed in ut
clause. Illud can frequently be translated as "the following."
demittas...capias: indirect
command in primary sequence (with rogo and hortor).
profectus: what case? not
nominative.
rebus: ‘deeds.’
proba: imperative.
[2] Aliud propositum est
declamantibus et assensionem coronae captantibus, aliud his qui
iuvenum et otiosorum aures disputatione varia aut volubili detinent:
facere docet philosophia, non dicere, et hoc exigit, ut ad legem
suam quisque vivat, ne orationi vita dissentiat vel ipsa inter se
vita unius sit omnium actionum sine dissensione coloris.
Maximum hoc est et officium sapientiae et indicium, ut verbis opera
concordent, ut ipse ubique par sibi idemque sit. 'Quis hoc
praestabit?' Pauci, aliqui tamen. Est enim difficile hoc; nec hoc
dico, sapientem uno semper iturum gradu, sed una via.
aliud ... aliud: when two
forms of alius occur in parallel clauses, they usually mean
"one . . . another."
declamantibus ... captantibus ...
his: why dative?
hoc: refers to the three
clauses following: ut clause, ne clause, and the
clause introduced by vel. As with "illud," "hoc" too can be
translated as "the following."
vivat: present subjunctive;
indirect command in primary sequence with exigit.
dissentiat: present
subjunctive; nominal ne clause in primary sequence; object
of exigit.
inter se: idiomatic for
“mutually.”
vel ipsa inter se vita unius sit
omnium actionum sine dissensione coloris: clause parallel
to ut and ne clauses preceding, even though not
introduced by a subordinating conjunction. ipsa modifies vita.
unius modifies coloris, which is a predicate genitive
(aka genitive of description). omnium actionum is a genitive
with coloris (as in the parallel English "the color of red" or "the action of kicking" where red just is
the color and kicking just is the action).
concordent...sit: nominal ut-clauses
in primary sequence. They are 'nominal' because they act as nouns
and are in apposition to officium et indicium.
ut ipse ubique par sibi idemque sit:
ipse is the subject with two predicate nominatives.
hoc: refers to the whole
idea of the previous ut-clauses.
Pauci (praestabunt), aliqui (praestabunt) tamen.
iturum (esse): indirect
statement with subject sapientem.
[3] Observa te itaque,
numquid vestis tua domusque dissentiant, numquid in te liberalis
sis, in tuos sordidus, numquid cenes frugaliter, aedifices
luxuriose; unam semel ad quam vivas regulam prende et ad hanc omnem
vitam tuam exaequa. Quidam se domi contrahunt, dilatant foris et
extendunt: vitium est haec diversitas et signum vacillantis animi ac
nondum habentis tenorem suum.
numquid: introduces indirect
questions expecting negative answers
dissentiat...sis...cenes...aedifices:
why subjunctive?
tuos: Latin frequently uses
the bare masculine plural of meus, tuus, etc. to
refer to members of a person's group, whether that group be family
members, soldiers, clients, friends, etc.
vivas: purpose subjunctive.
prende...exaequa:
imperatives.
domi...foris: locatives.
contrahunt ... dilatant ...
extendunt: figurative usages. To con-trahere onself
is to become stingy in terms of money, goods, kindness, speech, etc.
to dilatare and extendere oneself is the opposite.
diversitas: remember that
nominative -tas, genitive -tatis, etc. is a very
common pattern of abstract nouns. They are without exception
feminine.
habentis: modifies animi,
which goes with signum. Remember that participles can take
objects and adverbs just as any verb can do.
[4] Etiam nunc dicam unde
sit ista inconstantia et dissimilitudo rerum consiliorumque: nemo
proponit sibi quid velit, nec si proposuit perseverat in eo, sed
transilit; nec tantum mutat sed redit et in ea quae deseruit ac
damnavit revolvitur.
sit: why subjunctive?
velit: why subjunctive?
tantum: adverb.
[5] Itaque ut relinquam
definitiones sapientiae veteres et totum complectar humanae vitae
modum, hoc possum contentus esse: ‘quid est sapientia? semper idem
velle atque idem nolle.’ Licet illam exceptiunculam non adicias, ut
rectum sit quod velis; non potest enim cuiquam idem semper placere
nisi rectum.
relinquam...complectar: why
subjunctive? this ut maybe a somewhat rare ut
meaning "although" + subj.
hoc: why ablative?
semper idem velle atque
idem nolle (sapientia est): infinitives used as nouns
(nominative): they still have direct objects (idem).
licet: translate as
"provided that" or "as long as." Licet takes the semi-independent
subjunctive adicias.
ut rectum sit: nominal ut-clause
acting as direct object (hence "nominal" clause) of adicias.
quod velis: the antecedent
of quod is omitted. It would be something like id and be the
subject of sit.
idem: subject.
rectum: understand est.
[6] Nesciunt ergo homines
quid velint nisi illo momento quo volunt; in totum nulli velle aut
nolle decretum est; variatur cotidie iudicium et in contrarium
vertitur ac plerisque agitur vita per lusum. Preme ergo quod
coepisti, et fortasse perduceris aut ad summum aut eo quod summum
nondum esse solus intellegas.
velint: subjunctive in
indirect question.
illo momento quo: ablatives
of time when or in which.
in totum: adverbial,
"completely," "across the board."
nulli: what case? Remember
the UNUS NAUTA adjectives that have irregular datives and genitives:
unus,
neuter, uter, solus, nullus, alius, ullus, totus, and alter.
velle aut nolle: subject of
decretum est.
plerisque: ablative or
dative? why?
preme: imperative.
eo: "to that point" or "to
the point." eo is
the antecedent of quod, and so quod might be
translated "where," or "at which."
quod summum nondum esse:
quod subject of esse. Summum predicate
nominative with esse. nondum modifying esse.
solus intellegas: present
subjunctive; relative clause of characteristic in primary sequence.
Solus modifies understood tu.
[7] 'Quid fiet' inquis 'huic
turbae familiarium sine re familiari?' Turba ista cum a te pasci
desierit, ipsa se pascet, aut quod tu beneficio tuo non potes scire,
paupertatis scies: illa veros certosque amicos retinebit. Discedet
quisquis non te sed aliud sequebatur. Non est autem vel ob hoc unum
amanda paupertas, quod a quibus ameris ostendet? O quando ille
veniet dies quo nemo in honorem tuum mentiatur!
Cf. Cicero de Amicitia 64
for the idea that a true friend is one who stays true in calamity.
huic
turbae familiarum: dative with fio.
Remember that the "family" included all the members of a household,
not just a nuclear family of father, mother, and their children.
re familiari: idiomatic for "estate," "family property."
desierit: alternate form of
desiverit: indicative or subjunctive? temporal cum
clauses that refer to the present or future take the indicative.
ipsa se pascet: with turba. se reflexive.
quod...scire, paupertatis scies:
in English word order, with some understood terms supplied, the
sentence might read: tu scies beneficio paupertatis id quod tu
non potes scire tuo beneficio. Note that although beneficio
has to be understood again with paupertatis, beneficio
has a slightly different sense in each place.
paupertatis: why genitive?
Consider that tuo in beneficio tuo is the equivalent
of a genitive. paupertatis is parallel to tuo.
illa: sc. paupertas.
quisquis: subject of both discedet
and sequebatur.
vel: vel usually means "or," but it can be an
intensive particle meaning "indeed" or something similar.
ameris: indirect question in
primary sequence.
mentiatur: present
subjunctive; relative clause of characteristic in primary sequence.
[8] Huc ergo cogitationes
tuae tendant, hoc cura, hoc opta, omnia alia vota deo remissurus, ut
contentus sis temet ipso et ex te nascentibus bonis. Quae potest
esse felicitas propior? Redige te ad parva ex quibus cadere non
possis, idque ut libentius facias, ad hoc pertinebit tributum huius
epistulae, quod statim conferam.
tendant: present jussive
subjunctive.
cura...opta: imperatives.
remissurus: future
participle apparently agreeing with Lucilius, the addressee of the
letter (although he would logically be addressed in the vocative,
not the nominative case). Seneca is free with his use of the future
participle.
contentus sit: indirect
command in primary sequence after cura and opta, in
apposition to hoc and hoc. contentus takes
the ablatives temet ipso et nascentibus bonis.
temet: --met is an
emphastic ending that need not be translated. Te is
ablative.
propior: "more nearly."
redige: imperative.
non possis: relative clause
of characteristic.
id: refers to the action
commanded in the previous clause.
facias: present subjunctive;
purpose clause in primary sequence.
hoc: also refers to the
action commanded in the redige clause.
tributum huius epistulae:
subject of pertinebit. Seneca likes to leave Lucilius with a
tributum or "reward," often in the form of a pithy saying.
[9] Invideas licet, etiam
nunc libenter pro me dependet Epicurus. 'Magnificentior, mihi crede,
sermo tuus in grabatto videbitur et in panno; non enim dicentur
tantum illa sed probabuntur.' Ego certe aliter audio quae dicit
Demetrius noster, cum illum vidi nudum, quanto minus quam in
stramentis incubantem: non praeceptor veri sed testis est.
invideas: semi-independent
use of subjunctive with licet. Seneca suggests that Lucilius
might not like it that Seneca uses Epicurus.
magnificentior: adjective
modifying sermo.
tantum: adverbial, "only."
quae: the antecedent is
omitted. It would have been something like ea and would have
been the object of audio.
Demetrius: Demetrius the
Cynic, also referenced in Senecan letters 62.3, 67.14, and
91.19. He lived during the reigns of Caligula, Nero, and
Vespasian, and held a deep contempt for worldly possessions and
prosperity.
[10] 'Quid ergo? non licet
divitias in sinu positas contemnere?' Quidni liceat? Et ille
ingentis animi est qui illas circumfusas sibi, multum diuque miratus
quod ad se venerint, ridet suasque audit magis esse quam sentit.
Multum est non corrumpi divitiarum contubernio; magnus ille qui in
divitiis pauper est.
contemnere: infinitive with
licet
liceat: deliberative
subjunctive.
ingentis animi: genitive of
quality.
illas circumfusas: refers to
divitias.
multum: adverbial, "often."
venerint: quod
causal clauses which are not presented on authority of the
speaker/writer are in the subjunctive. Here, Seneca is imputing
these thoughts to the imaginary rich person who yet manages to have
the proper attitude toward those riches.
ridet ... audit: verbs of
the relative clause begun with qui.
suasque: modifies understood
divitias and is subject of esse.
quam: comparison.
corrumpi: infinitive.
Nominative with est.
magnus ille: sc. est.
[11] 'Nescio' inquis
'quomodo paupertatem iste laturus sit, si in illam inciderit.' Nec
ego, Epicure, _angulus si_ iste pauper contempturus sit divitias, si
in illas inciderit; itaque in utroque mens aestimanda est
inspiciendumque an ille paupertati indulgeat, an hic divitiis non
indulgeat. Alioquin leve argumentum est bonae voluntatis grabattus
aut pannus, nisi apparuit aliquem illa non necessitate pati sed
malle.
laturus sit...inciderit: a
future-more-vivid condition in indirect question.
Nec ego: understood scio
angulus si: the manuscripts
are corrupt here. No sure sense is to be found until after the
semicolon, but the thought that the context demands must be that
Seneca does not know how the poor person who falls into riches will
handle him- or herself.
utroque: refers to each man, the rich and the poor.
ille ... hic: like "the former" and "the latter" in English,
but Latin ille usually refers to something more words away,
while hic refers to something fewer words away.
indulgeat: takes the dative.
Why subjunctive?
leve argumentum: predicate
nominative, "unsure indication," with bonae voluntatis.
grabattus aut pannus:
subject.
apparuit: the subject of apparuit
is the indirect statement aliquem illa (i.e. grabattum
aut pannum) non necessitate pati sed malle.
illa: refers to pannus et grabattus.
necessitate: ablative of
cause.
[12] Ceterum magnae indolis
est ad ista non properare tamquam meliora, sed praeparari tamquam ad
facilia. Et sunt, Lucili, facilia; cum vero multum ante meditatus
accesseris, iucunda quoque; inest enim illis, sine qua nihil est
iucundum, securitas.
ceterum: adverbial, "as for
the rest," "moreover."
magnae indolis: genitive of quality.
ad ista: ista refers
to riches, as the following sentence confirms.
ad ista properare ... sed praeparari ... : these infinitive
phrases are the subject of est.
tamquam meliora: modifies ista.
tamquam ad facilia: Gummere translates, "to practise for them
on the ground that they are thus easy to endure." That seems
a possible translation, but it seems to embellish: a more
straightforward one would merely reflect the idea that riches are
easy, and the next sentences seems to confirm that. And yet, there
is another argument that riches are often corrosive and problematic,
one that is as available in antiquity as today. Perhaps multum
ante meditatus in what follows is intended to cover that
possibility.
multum: adverbial.
meditatus:
deponent participle, modifies subject.
iucunda: sc. sunt.
illis: dative dependent on inest.
Also refers to divitias.
[13] Necessarium ergo iudico
id quod tibi scripsi magnos viros saepe fecisse, aliquos dies
interponere quibus nos imaginaria paupertate exerceamus ad veram;
quod eo magis faciendum est quod deliciis permaduimus et omnia dura
ac difficilia iudicamus. Potius excitandus e somno et vellicandus
est animus admonendusque naturam nobis minimum constituisse. Nemo
nascitur dives; quisquis exit in lucem iussus est lacte et panno
esse contentus: ab his initiis nos regna non capiunt. Vale.
necessarium ... id: double
accusative object of iudico.
fecisse: indirect statement. Remember the tense when
translating.
aliquos dies interponere quibus nos
imaginaria paupertate exerceamus ad veram: in apposition to
id.
imaginaria paupertate:
ablative. Why?
exerceamus: relative clause
of purpose.
veram: fetch a feminine noun
from what precedes for this to modify.
quod: linking relative.
Refers back to the exercise in poverty of the preceding sentence.
faciendum est: passive
periphrastic.
quod: conjunction.
deliciis: why ablative?
omnia dura ac difficilia:
double accusative with iudicamus.
excitandus...vellicandus...admonendus:
passive periphrastics.
minimum: notice that it is
neuter.
constituisse: indirect
statement: remember the tense when translating.
dives: predicate nominative.
capiunt: although it's usual meaning is "seize, grasp," Lewis
& Short sense II is "be large enough for," which fits well here.
Vocabulary
ac (=atque), and
accedo, accedere, accessi, accessus, come near, approach, go to
actio, actionis, f., action, deed
adicio, adicere, adjeci, adjectus, add
admoneo, admonere, admonui, admonitus, remind
aedifico (1), build
aestimo (1), value, assess
alioquin (adv), otherwise
aliquando (adv), finally
aliter (adv), otherwise
alius, alia, aliud (adj), different, other, another
an, whether (introduces indirect question)
appareo, apparere, apparui, apparitus, appear; be clear, be
evident
argumentum, -i, n., indication, evidence
assensio, assensionis, f., agreement, approval
atque (=ac), and
auris, auris, f., ear
beneficium, benefici(i), n., benefit, privilege
cado, cadere, cecidi, casus, fall
capio, capere, cepi, captum, grasp, take, seize: be large enough
for
capto (1), desire, aim for, grasp after
ceno (1), dine
certe (adv), at least, certainly
ceterum (adv), moreover
coepi, coepisse, have begun
cogitatio, -onis, f., thought
color, -is, m., tenor, quality
complector, complecti, complexus sum, embrace, include
concordo (1), harmonize, agree
confero, conferre, contuli, collatus, supply, contribute
consilium, consilii, n., intention
constituo, constituere, constitui, constitutus, decide, set up
contemno, contemnere, contempsi, contemptus, think little of
contentus, -a, -um, satisfied, content
contraho, contrahere, contraxi, contractus, draw together,
contract; constrain, restrict
contrarius, contraria, contrarium (adj), opposite
contubernium, contuberni(i), n., companionship
corona, coronae, f., crowd (circle of men)
corrumpo, corrumpere, corrupi, corruptus, spoil
cotidie, daily
cupiditas, -atis, f., desire
curo (1), arrange
damno (1), find fault with, condemn
decerno, decernere, decrevi, decretus, decide
declamo (1), make speeches
decretum, see decerno
definitio, -onis, f., precise description, definition
delicia, -ae, f., (usually plural), luxury, toy, ornament,
delicacy
deminutio, deminutionis, f., decrease, reduction
demitto, demittere, demisi, demissum, send deep down
dependo, dependere, dependi, depensus, pay over, pay down (a debt)
desero, deserere, deserui, desertus, leave, desert
desierit, alternate form of desiverit (desino)
desino, desinere, desivi/desii, desitus, stop
detineo, detinere, detinui, detentus, detain, retain, occupy
dignus, ,a, ,um (adj), worthy, deserving
dilato (1), enlarge, extend
discedo, discedere, discessi, discessus, scatter, withdraw, depart
disputatio, disputationis, f., argument, discussion
dissensio, dissensionis, f., disagreement
dissentio, dissentire, dissensi, dissensus, disagree
dissimilitudo, dissimilitudinis, f., inconsistency; unlikeness
diu, for a long time
diversitas, -atis, f., inconsistency, contradictory state
dives, divitis, wealthy, rich
divitiae, -arum, f., riches (pl.), wealth
doceo, docere, docui, doctum, teach
durus, ,a, ,um (adj), hard
eo, there, to that place
eo, ire, ivi(ii), itus, go, advance
exaequo (1), equalize, make equal
exceptiuncula, exceptiunculae, f., little proviso, small exception
excito (1), wake up
exeo, exire, exivi(ii), exitus, come out, emerge
exerceo, exercere, exercui, exercitus, exercise, practice
exigo, exigere, exegi, exactus, require, demand
experimentum, experimenti, n., proof
extendo, extendere, extendi, extensus, stretch
extraho, extrahere, extraxi, extractus, drag out
familiaris, -e, familiar, acquaintance, friend
fio, fieri, factus sum, become
firmitas, firmitatis, f., firmness
fluctuo (1), be tossed on waves, float
foris (adv.), outside, outdoors; out of one's house
fortasse, perhaps
forum, fori, n., forum
frugaliter (adv), simply, cheaply
gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus sum, rejoice
grabattus, grabatti, m., cot
gradus, gradus, m., step; position
honos, honoris, m., esteem, honor
hortor (1), encourage
huc (adv), to this point, here
imus, -a, -um, inmost, deepest
imaginarius, imaginaria, imaginarium, imaginary
incido, incidere, incidi, incasum, fall into, chance into
inconstantia, inconstantiae, f., fickleness, inconsistency
incubo (1), lie in (+ dative)
indicium, indici(i), n., evidence, indication
indoles, indolis, f., inborn character
indulgeo, indulgere, indulsi, indultus, give way to, indulge; take
pleasure in; give free play to; look favorably upon
inest, see insum
ingens, ingentis, vast
initium, initi(i), n., beginning
inquam, I say (inquis, you say; inquit, he/she says; inquimus, we
say; inquiunt, they say)
inspiciendumque
insum, inesse, infui, infuturus, belong to (+dat. or abl.)
inter se, (idiom) mutually
interpono, interponere, interposui, interpositus, insert
invideo, invidere, invidi, invisus, look askance at, regard with
ill will, envy
istinc (adv), thence, from there
itaque (adv), therefore
iturum, see eo
iucundus, ,a, ,um (adj), pleasant
iuvenis, iuvenis, m., youth, young man
lac, lactis, n., milk
laturus, fut. participle of fero
levis, leve, levior ,or –us (adj), light; lightweight; frivolous
lex, legis, f., law
libens, libentis, willing, glad; cheerful, glad
liberalis, liberalis, liberale (adj), honorable, noble; generous,
liberal
licet (adv), it is all right, one may, although (with subjunctive)
lusus, lusus, m., game
luxuriosus, luxuriosa, luxuriosum (adj), luxurious
magnificentior , –ius (adj), (comparative of magnificus) splendid
malo, malle, malui, prefer
meditor (1), consider, think about
mentior, mentiri, mentitus sum, lie
modus, -i, m., manner, fashion, way
momentum, -i, n., instant
muto (1), change
nascor, nasci, natus sum, be born
necessarius, necessaria, necessarium (adj), necessary, essential
nescio, nescire, nescivi, nescitum, not know
nolo, nolle, nolui, refuse
nondum (adv), not yet
nudus, -a, -um, nude, naked, bare
numquid (adv), (introduces a question expecting a negative
answer), can it be that, is it possible that
observo (1), observe
officium, offici(i), n., duty
opto (1), choose
oratio, -onis, f., speech, words
ostendo, ostendere, ostendi, ostentus, reveal
otiosus, otiosa ,um, idle
pannus, panni, m., rags (sing.)
par, paris, equal
parvus, -a, -um, small
pasco, pascere, pavi, pastus, feed
patior, pati, passus sum, suffer, endure
pauci, paucae, pauca, pl., few
pauper, -is, poor
paupertas, paupertatis, f., poverty
perduco, perducere, perduxi, perductus, lead through, lead
permadesco, permadescere, permadui, become thoroughly wet, be
soaked; become soft
persevero (1), persist
pertineo, pertinere, pertinui, pertentus, reach, pertain
placeo, placere, placui, placitus, please, satisfy (+ dative)
plerusque, pleraque, plerumque, (adj), the majority, the greater
part, the greater number, most
potius (adv), rather
praeceptor, praeceptoris, m., teacher
praecordium, praecordi(i), n., breast, vitals
praeparo (1), prepare
praesto, praestare, praestiti, praestatum, exhibit, show forth;
fulfil, apply
premo, premere, pressi, pressum, exert a steady force, press;
press hard in pursuit of
prendo, prendere, prendi, prensus, catch, take hold of
probo (1), prove, certify
profectus, profectus, m., progress
prope, near; nearly
propero (1), hurry
propior (adj), (comparative of prope)
propono, proponere, proposui, propositus, display; propose,
suggest
propositum, -i, n., intention, objective; subject, theme, point
quando (adv), when
quanto (adv), how much
qui (adv), whereby, in what way
quidni (adv), why not, why . . . not
quisque, quaeque, quidque (pron), m., each
quisquis, quidquid, anyone, everyone, whoever
quod (conj), as, just as, because
quomodo (adv), how, in what manner
quoque, also, too
rectus, -a, -um, right, correct, upright
redeo, redire, redivi(ii), reditus, return; refer back; concede,
grant
redigo, redigere, redegi, redactum, reduce, bring down to; drive
back, return
regnum, -i, n., kingdom
regula, regulae, f., standard, norm, ruler
relinquo, relinquere, reliqui, relictus, leave behind; omit
remitto, remittere, remisi, remisus, return
res, rei, f., deed, act
res familiaris, f., property, fortune
retineo, retinere, retinui, retentum, retain, keep
revolvo, revolvere, revolvi, revolutus, return, throw back
rideo, ridere, risi, risus, laugh at, make fun of, make light ot
saepe (adv), often
securitas, securitatis, f., security, freedom from care
semel (adv), adv. answers ‘how often’
sequor, sequi, secutus sum, follow
sermo, sermonis, m., words, conversation
sinus, sinus, m., lap, fold
somnus, -i, sleep
sordidus, ,a, ,um (adj), mean, unkind, ignoble, base
statim (adv), immediately
stramentum, stramenti, n., litter, trash
summum, summi, n., top, summit
tamquam (conj), as if, just as if
tantum (adv), only; so much
temet, te + -met (-met is intensive)
tendo, tendere, tetendi, tensum/tentum, direct, aim, strive
tenor, tenoris, m., sustained or even course, "even keel"; course,
way of proceeding
testis, testis, m. or f., witness
transilio, transilire, transilui, jump across
tributum, -i, n., contribution, offering
turba, -ae, f., crowd
ubi (adv), where, whereby
ubique, everywhere
uterque, utraque, utrumque, each (of two)
vacillo (1), waver, stagger
vale, farewell (from valeo)
valeo, valere, valui, valitus, be healthy, be well
vario (1), change
varius, varia, varium (adj), various, varied
vel (conj), or; even
vellico (1) , pinch
verto, vertere, verti, versus, change
vestis, vestis, f., garment, clothes (sing.)
vetero (1), make old
vitium, viti(i), n., fault
vivo, vivere, vixi, victum, live
volo, velle, volui, wish
volubilis, -e, readily flowing, fluent (of speeches)
voluntas, voluntatis, f., desire, purpose, will
votum, voti, n., vow, pledge