Seneca Epistula LXXIII
Commentary by Tyler Mayo: revised by Jacques Bailly

Text

[1] Errare mihi videntur qui existimant philosophiae fideliter deditos contumaces esse ac refractarios, contemptores magistratuum aut regum eorumve per quos publica administrantur. Ex contrario enim nulli adversus illos gratiores sunt, nec inmerito; nullis enim plus praestant quam quibus frui tranquillo otio licet. [2] Itaque ii quibus multum ad propositum bene vivendi confert securitas publica necesse est auctorem huius boni ut parentem colant, multo quidem magis quam illi inquieti et in medio positi, qui multa principibus debent sed multa et inputant, quibus numquam tam plene occurrere ulla liberalitas potest ut cupiditates illorum, quae crescunt dum implentur, exsatiet. Quisquis autem de accipiendo cogitat oblitus accepti est, nec ullum habet malum cupiditas maius quam quod ingrata est. [3] Adice nunc quod nemo eorum qui in re publica versantur quot vincat, sed a quibus vincatur, aspicit; et illis non tam iucundum est multos post se videre quam grave aliquem ante se. Habet hoc vitium omnis ambitio: non respicit. Nec ambitio tantum instabilis est, verum cupiditas omnis, quia incipit semper a fine. [4] At ille vir sincerus ac purus, qui reliquit et curiam et forum et omnem administrationem rei publicae ut ad ampliora secederet, diligit eos per quos hoc ei facere tuto licet solusque illis gratuitum testimonium reddit et magnam rem nescientibus debet. Quemadmodum praeceptores suos veneratur ac suspicit quorum beneficio illis inviis exit, sic et hos sub quorum tutela positus exercet artes bonas. [5] 'Verum alios quoque rex viribus suis protegit.' Quis negat? Sed quemadmodum Neptuno plus debere se iudicat ex iis qui eadem tranquillitate usi sunt qui plura et pretiosiora illo mari vexit, animosius a mercatore quam a vectore solvitur votum, et ex ipsis mercatoribus effusius gratus est qui odores ac purpuras et auro pensanda portabat quam qui vilissima quaeque et saburrae loco futura congesserat, sic huius pacis beneficium ad omnis pertinentis altius ad eos pervenit qui illa bene utuntur. [6] Multi enim sunt ex his togatis quibus pax operosior bello est: an idem existimas pro pace debere eos qui illam ebrietati aut libidini inpendunt aut aliis vitiis quae vel bello rumpenda sunt? Nisi forte tam iniquum putas esse sapientem ut nihil viritim se debere pro communibus bonis iudicet. Soli lunaeque plurimum debeo, et non uni mihi oriuntur; anno temperantique annum deo privatim obligatus sum, quamvis nihil in meum honorem * * * discripta sint. [7] Stulta avaritia mortalium possessionem proprietatemque discernit nec quicquam suum credit esse quod publicum est; at ille sapiens nihil magis suum iudicat quam cuius illi cum humano genere consortium est. Nec enim essent ista communia, nisi pars illorum pertineret ad singulos; socium efficit etiam quod ex minima portione commune est. [8] Adice nunc quod magna et vera bona non sic dividuntur ut exiguum in singulos cadat: ad unumquemque tota perveniunt. Ex congiario tantum ferunt homines quantum in capita promissum est; epulum et visceratio et quidquid aliud manu capitur discedit in partes: at haec individua bona, pax et libertas, ea tam omnium tota quam singulorum sunt. [9] Cogitat itaque per quem sibi horum usus fructusque contingat, per quem non ad arma illum nec ad servandas vigilias nec ad tuenda moenia et multiplex belli tributum publica necessitas vocet, agitque gubernatori suo gratias. Hoc docet philosophia praecipue, bene debere beneficia, bene solvere; interdum autem solutio est ipsa confessio. [10] Confitebitur ergo multum se debere ei cuius administratione ac providentia contingit illi pingue otium et arbitrium sui temporis et inperturbata publicis occupationibus quies. O Meliboee, deus nobis haec otia fecit; namque erit ille mihi semper deus. [11] Si illa quoque otia multum auctori suo debent quorum munus hoc maximum est, ille meas errare boves, ut cernis, et ipsum ludere quae vellem calamo permisit agresti, quanti aestimamus hoc otium quod inter deos agitur, quod deos facit? [12] Ita dico, Lucili, et te in caelum compendiario voco. Solebat Sextius dicere Iovem plus non posse quam bonum virum. Plura Iuppiter habet quae praestet hominibus, sed inter duos bonos non est melior qui locupletior, non magis quam inter duos quibus par scientia regendi gubernaculum est meliorem dixeris cui maius speciosiusque navigium est. [13] Iuppiter quo antecedit virum bonum? diutius bonus est: sapiens nihilo se minoris aestimat quod virtutes eius spatio breviore cluduntur. Quemadmodum ex duobus sapientibus qui senior decessit non est beatior eo cuius intra pauciores annos terminata virtus est, sic deus non vincit sapientem felicitate, etiam si vincit aetate; non est virtus maior quae longior. [14] Iuppiter omnia habet, sed nempe aliis tradidit habenda: ad ipsum hic unus usus pertinet, quod utendi omnibus causa est: sapiens tam aequo animo omnia apud alios videt contemnitque quam Iuppiter et hoc se magis suspicit quod Iuppiter uti illis non potest, sapiens non vult. [15] Credamus itaque Sextio monstranti pulcherrimum iter et clamanti 'hac itur ad astra, hac secundum frugalitatem, hac secundum temperantiam, hac secundum fortitudinem'. Non sunt dii fastidiosi, non invidi: admittunt et ascendentibus manum porrigunt. [16] Miraris hominem ad deos ire? Deus ad homines venit, immo quod est propius, in homines venit: nulla sine deo mens bona est. Semina in corporibus humanis divina dispersa sunt, quae si bonus cultor excipit, similia origini prodeunt et paria iis ex quibus orta sunt surgunt: si malus, non aliter quam humus sterilis ac palustris necat ac deinde creat purgamenta pro frugibus. Vale.

Introduction

This letter deals with Seneca's thoughts on the proper relationship between philosopher and ruler.  Philosophers should be grateful to the rulers who afford them leisure and peace: but philosophers disdain everything but their inner virtue, and so are like gods in that they need nothing. Perhaps there is a tension there: if philosophers need nothing, then why be grateful for peace? There are interesting comments here about the nature of common goods, whether they are owned entire by everyone, or only partially. This letter is also quite interesting when read in the context of Seneca's life.  In the public eye, a former teach of and now under Nero the dictator whose power was absolute and whose judgment suspect, Seneca must have felt quite a bit of sympathy with his hypothetical sapiens wishing to be rid of the political life.
 
A-G = Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar
B-A = Bradley's Arnold Latin Prose Composition
OCD = Oxford Classical Dictionary


[1] Errare mihi videntur qui existimant philosophiae fideliter deditos contumaces esse ac refractarios, contemptores magistratuum aut regum eorumve per quos publica administrantur. Ex contrario enim nulli adversus illos gratiores sunt, nec inmerito; nullis enim plus praestant quam quibus frui tranquillo otio licet.


Seneca Lucilio suo salutem: the usual opening to Seneca's epistles to Lucilius; one should supply either dat or dicit. 
| videntur: personal construction of seeming cf. B-A 43 n. 2
 | contemptores: in apposition to philosophiae fideliter deditos; ancient philosophers were known for being at odds with the authority of the state.  The trial of Socrates is probably the best example of this, but the story of Alexander and Diogenes the Cynic (cf. Plutarch, Alexander 14) well illustrates philosophical contempt for authority. | aut...eorumve: the postpositive -ve is used instead of the expected aut...aut. | per quos: common usage in this letter, approximately "through whose power."
| Ex contrario: lit. "from the contrary thing"; idiomatically "on the contrary."
 | adversus: preposition; not fourth principle part of adverto. | illos: i.e. philosophiae fideliter deditos. | plus: n. acc. direct object. | quam: comparative conjunction. | 
quibus: i.e. those who are philosophiae fideliter deditos
. | tranquillo otio: abl. w. frui , "to enjoy." | 
licet: impersonal verb w. dat. quibus.


2.  People who think about what they can get are neither mindful of nor thankful for what they have got.


[2] Itaque ii quibus multum ad propositum bene vivendi confert securitas publica necesse est auctorem huius boni ut parentem colant, multo quidem magis quam illi inquieti et in medio positi, qui multa principibus debent sed multa et inputant, quibus numquam tam plene occurrere ulla liberalitas potest ut cupiditates illorum, quae crescunt dum implentur, exsatiet. Quisquis autem de accipiendo cogitat oblitus accepti est, nec ullum habet malum cupiditas maius quam quod ingrata est.



Itaque ii ... necesse est ... colant: the main clause of the sentence is necesse est, on which ii ... colant depends as a semi-independent subjunctive clause (called "semi-independent" because it is not introduced by a subordinating conjunction). | quibus...confert: confert "to profit", an intransitive use which necessitates the use of the dat. (cf. B-A 5) quibus. | ad "as regards." | 
multum: adverbial acc. B-A 238 1
 | bene vivendi: gerund in the genitive, dependent on propositum. | multo magis: adverbial phrase modifying colant. | ut parentem: ut is a relative adverb of manner "as", not the introduction to a subjunctive clause. | et 
imputant: et "also" rather than "and." | in medio positi: idiom, "placed in the middle of things" or "placed in the public eye."
 | tam plene occurrere...ut: ut introduces a result clause (cupiditates exsatiet) dependant on tam. occurrere takes dative quibus. | 
crescunt: intransitive, instead of transitive augeo. | accipiendo: gerund.


3.  Ambition and desire always look forward, never content.


[3] Adice nunc quod nemo eorum qui in re publica versantur quot vincat, sed a quibus vincatur, aspicit; et illis non tam iucundum est multos post se videre quam grave aliquem ante se. Habet hoc vitium omnis ambitio: non respicit. Nec ambitio tantum instabilis est, verum cupiditas omnis, quia incipit semper a fine.


Adice nunc quod: Imperative sc.  "to the previous argument": quod = "the fact that."
 | versantur: lit. "are turned", idiomatically "busy themselves," "are involved." | 
quot...vincat...vincatur: subjunctives in indirect question, two antithetical alternatives. | 
illis: dat. of reference cf. A-G 378. | 
post...ante: post = “behind” in terms of relative rank, i.e. lower, ante = “before” or "lower" from the top of the chain of command: Seneca loves antithesis. | videre: used nominally, subject of iucundum est. | 
respicit: lit. "look back", also "consider." The word retains the literal meaning's flavor since ambition is so blindly future-oriented.
 | tantum ... verum: both are adverbial. | cupiditas omnis: sc. instabilis est.


4.  But the philosopher who extracts himself from those bothersome practical affairs adores his rulers.


[4] At ille vir sincerus ac purus, qui reliquit et curiam et forum et omnem administrationem rei publicae ut ad ampliora secederet, diligit eos per quos hoc ei facere tuto licet solusque illis gratuitum testimonium reddit et magnam rem nescientibus debet. Quemadmodum praeceptores suos veneratur ac suspicit quorum beneficio illis inviis exit, sic et hos sub quorum tutela positus exercet artes bonas.


curiam et forum: metonymy for public duties. | 
ut...secederet: purpose clause
. | 
per quos: cf. per quos = "through whom," as in paragraph 1. | 

tuto: agrees w. ei, can be translated adverbially i.e. "to do...safely." | 

licet: impersonal verb w. dat. ei
. | 
nescientibus: agrees w. illis. | 

quaemadmodum...sic: correlative "just as...thus"
. | 
veneratur ac suspicit: subject is ille vir sincerus ac purus. | 

beneficio: abl. of means. | 

illis inviis: abl. of separation w. exeo (exit) B-A 264. | 

sub quorum tutela: tutela is object of sub and is the antecedent of quorum. | 

hos: acc. object of omitted veneratur ac suspicit, understood from previous clause. | 

exercet: subject is still ille vir sincerus ac purus. 



5.  An unnamed speaker, called an adversarius, appears here to help Seneca's ideas along. Just as the merchant who carries more valuable wares thanks his benefactor Neptune more, thus he who uses the fruits of peace provided by a ruler more thanks the ruler more.


[5] 'Verum alios quoque rex viribus suis protegit.' Quis negat? Sed quemadmodum Neptuno plus debere se iudicat ex iis qui eadem tranquillitate usi sunt qui plura et pretiosiora illo mari vexit, animosius a mercatore quam a vectore solvitur votum, et ex ipsis mercatoribus effusius gratus est qui odores ac purpuras et auro pensanda portabat quam qui vilissima quaeque et saburrae loco futura congesserat, sic huius pacis beneficium ad omnis pertinentis altius ad eos pervenit qui illa bene utuntur.


ex iis: i.e. one "out of the group of...". | 

tranquilitate: "calm," "good weather," not the more generalized sense
. | 
usi sunt: takes abl. object. | 

qui...vexit: qui refers to the implied subject of main verb iudicat, perhaps an understood mercator
. | 
odores ac purpuras: perfumes and purple dye (or perhaps fabric dyed purple) from the murex shell were luxury items in the Roman world and fetched very high prices
. | 
auro: abl. of price B-A 280 "things that are to be paid ..."
. | 
saburrae loco: loco is a local abl. B-A 272, saburrae, a collective singular.  Sand for the ballast (a container filled up with sand in the bottom of the ship to stabilize it) was proverbial for large quantities and therefore cheap cf. Liv. 37.14
. | 
ad omnis: alternate acc. form instead of omnes
. | 
utuntur: takes abl. illa
, which modifies an understood pace.

6. Seneca affirms that one owes an individual debt for common goods, even though everyone enjoys them and they are not created for that individual's sole benefit.

[6] Multi enim sunt ex his togatis quibus pax operosior bello est: an idem existimas pro pace debere eos qui illam ebrietati aut libidini inpendunt aut aliis vitiis quae vel bello rumpenda sunt? Nisi forte tam iniquum putas esse sapientem ut nihil viritim se debere pro communibus bonis iudicet. Soli lunaeque plurimum debeo, et non uni mihi oriuntur; anno temperantique annum deo privatim obligatus sum, quamvis nihil in meum honorem * * * discripta sint.



bello: abl. of comparison B-A 276. | 
idem ... pro pace debere eos: indirect statement dependent on existimas. | 
ebrietati aut libidini aut aliis vitiis: dat. of purpose A-G 382
. | 

vel bello: vel used adverbially, "even," to convey the idea that some things must be disrupted even by the horrible means of war.
 | 
ut nihil ...: result clause dependant on tam iniquum, cf. paragraph 2
. | 
viritim: "as an individual
." Note the contrast between communibus and viritim. | 
uni mihi: dat. of reference, and more specifically of advantage A-G 376
. | 
anno...privatim: anno lit. year, but in this context the agricultural year or "seasons", privatim "as a private citizen" refers to the Roman conception of the idealized citizen-farmer-landowner. | 
honorem discripta: there is a break in the text here, Gummere suggests tempora after honorem
.


7.  There is a difference between simple possession and ownership; foolish greed thinks it owns only the things to itself, the philosopher thinks he owns things held in common the most.


[7] Stulta avaritia mortalium possessionem proprietatemque discernit nec quicquam suum credit esse quod publicum est; at ille sapiens nihil magis suum iudicat quam cuius illi cum humano genere consortium est. Nec enim essent ista communia, nisi pars illorum pertineret ad singulos; socium efficit etiam quod ex minima portione commune est.


nihil magis suum: sc. esse
. | 
illi: dat. of reference expressing ownership, dependent on consortium est, refers to ille sapiens. | 

consortium: nom. subj. of est. | 

essent ... pertineret: present contrary-to-fact condition
. | 
communia...individua: antithetical statement (cf. Summers lxxxviii ff.)
. | 
socium: not so much "ally" as "associate", again an ironic use of business terminology, obj. of efficit
, whose subject is the omitted antecedent of the relative pronoun quod. 


8.  These common goods are not divisible; each owns them as a whole. They are different from things like a distribution of grain or meat from a sacrifice, a kind of good that is divided and individuals receive and own only a part.

[8] Adice nunc quod magna et vera bona non sic dividuntur ut exiguum in singulos cadat: ad unumquemque tota perveniunt. Ex congiario tantum ferunt homines quantum in capita promissum est; epulum et visceratio et quidquid aliud manu capitur discedit in partes: at haec individua bona, pax et libertas, ea tam omnium tota quam singulorum sunt.


Adice nunc: cf. paragraph 3
. | sic ... ut ... cadat: sic prepares for the result clause. | 
tantum...quantum: correlatives "as much...as"
. | 
in capita: synedoche for an entire person, roughly equivalent to in singulos earlier; the idiom survives in English, e.g., "ten head of cattle" or "per capita." | 
individua: not "individual" but "indivisible" i.e. these goods are atomic in the ancient sense
. | 
et tam omnium tota quam singulorum: both omnium and singulorum are posessive gen. (A-G 343), quam is adverbial "as", tota agrees with individua bona.  These are goods which cannot be divided in parts to each person, but belong simultaneously to each individual and the group as wholes.
 


9.  The philosopher therefore esteems the one who makes the philosophical life possible, a life free of tasks for the state.  Philosophy teaches both reaping and paying back the benefits given to the philosopher.


[9] Cogitat itaque per quem sibi horum usus fructusque contingat, per quem non ad arma illum nec ad servandas vigilias nec ad tuenda moenia et multiplex belli tributum publica necessitas vocet, agitque gubernatori suo gratias. Hoc docet philosophia praecipue, bene debere beneficia, bene solvere; interdum autem solutio est ipsa confessio.

per quem...contingat, per quem...vocet: subjunctives in indirect question; for per quem cf.  paragraph 1 and 4
. | 
horum: refers to individua bona. | 

ad servandas vigilas nec ad tuenda moenia: gerundives are used in agreement w. a noun, often to express an idea which in English would be conveyed by an abstract noun B-A 388
. | 
et multiplex belli tributum: still governed by the previous preposition ad. | 
gubernatori: lit. "helmsman", but idiomatic for any political leader.  Connected to the famous "ship-of-state" analogy, cf. Plat. Rep VI and perhaps Hor. Odes 1.14
. | 
debere...bene solvere:  both infinitives are used nominally in apposition to hoc
.

10.  Again, the philosopher owes much to he who makes his leisure possible; Vergil's Eclogue I is quoted in support: the shepherd Tityrus tells Meliboeus that the one who affords him the leisure and goods in his life will always be a god to him.


[10] Confitebitur ergo multum se debere ei cuius administratione ac providentia contingit illi pingue otium et arbitrium sui temporis et inperturbata publicis occupationibus quies. "O Meliboee, deus nobis haec otia fecit; namque erit ille mihi semper deus."


administratione ac providentia: abl. of means A-G 409
. | O Meliboee...semper deus = Verg. Eclogues I 6-7
. | 
ille mihi: dat. of reference, but more specifically a dat. of the person in "whose point of view an opinion is stated" A-G 378.
 


11.  The ruler is especially to be respected since he allows the philosopher to philosophize, i.e. to become near divine himself!



[11] Si illa quoque otia multum auctori suo debent quorum munus hoc maximum est, "ille meas errare boves, ut cernis, et ipsum ludere quae vellem calamo permisit agresti," quanti aestimamus hoc otium quod inter deos agitur, quod deos facit?


ille...agresti = Verg. Eclogues I 9-10. | 

quae vellem: subj. in a relative clause of characteristic. | 
quanti: gen. of value B-A 305 cf. A-G 417. | 

quod deos facit: sc. nos understood from aestimamus. facit takes double acc. "to make x (into) y."
 


12.  Humans can equal the gods. Jupiter can give more gifts to men, but the one with more to give is not necessarily better.



[12] Ita dico, Lucili, et te in caelum compendiario voco. Solebat Sextius dicere Iovem plus non posse quam bonum virum. Plura Iuppiter habet quae praestet hominibus, sed inter duos bonos non est melior qui locupletior, non magis quam inter duos quibus par scientia regendi gubernaculum est meliorem dixeris cui maius speciosiusque navigium est.


Sextius: Quintus Sextius, Augustan era philosopher who blended Stoicism and Neopythagoreanism in a characteristically Roman way.  He is often quoted by Seneca
. | 

plus non posse: posse in the sense of having power or ability in general. | 

Plura Iuppiter ... navigium est: a long sentence with 3 coordinate clauses, each with a subordinate relative clause (or two), perhaps best outlined:
quam: comparative conjunction. | 
prastet: an independent potential subjunctive (cf. A-G 445). | 

hominibus: dat. indirect object w. praestet
. | 
est melior qui locupletior: sc. est, implied antecedent of qui is the subject of previous main verb est. | 

quibus...gubernaculum est: quibus is dat. of possession (A-G 373)
. | 
regendi gubernaculum: cf. paragraph 9, gen. gerund with acc. object contrary to the guideline of B-A 395.1. | 

dixeris: potential subjunctive (the "perfect" refers to immediate future no less than the present in this usage) cf. A-G 445-6. Here, dixeris takes meliorem as an object and means "call", but just as "to call someone a good person" takes two objects (viz. "someone" and "person"), so dixeris here takes two objects, but one is the unexpressed antecedent of cui. Another way to think about it is that dixeris here means "you could say" and has an accusative with infinitive with predicate accusative, as in the English equivalent, "I say that that the dog is happy": both "happy" and "dog" would be accusative, and "is" would be infinitive. Thus the full expression in Latin would be dixeris eum meliorem esse cui ... . Both ways to read the sentence amount to the same thing in terms of meaning, and both would be good Latin.


13. Juppiter is wise for longer, but length of time being wise does not make one better.

[13] Iuppiter quo antecedit virum bonum? diutius bonus est: sapiens nihilo se minoris aestimat quod virtutes eius spatio breviore cluduntur. Quemadmodum ex duobus sapientibus qui senior decessit non est beatior eo cuius intra pauciores annos terminata virtus est, sic deus non vincit sapientem felicitate, etiam si vincit aetate; non est virtus maior quae longior.


quo: adverbial "how," "in what (manner)." | 
bonus est: sc. Iuppiter
. | 
nihilo: abl. of degree of difference cf. A-G 414, not abl. of comparison w. minoris due to context
. | 
minoris: gen. of value. | 

quod: conj.
 | 
eo: abl. of comparison B-A 276. | 

cuius: depends on virtus. | 

terminata virtus est: terminata...est is split i.e. virtus terminata est
. | 
felicitate...aetate: abl. of respect B-A 274
. | 
quae longior: sc. est.


14. Jupiter gives things away since he has no use for them, but the wise man does not want to use them, although he could.



[14] Iuppiter omnia habet, sed nempe aliis tradidit habenda: ad ipsum hic unus usus pertinet, quod utendi omnibus causa est: sapiens tam aequo animo omnia apud alios videt contemnitque quam Iuppiter et hoc se magis suspicit quod Iuppiter uti illis non potest, sapiens non vult. 


habenda: neut. pl. gerundive used nominally
. | 
utendi: gerund, used to express verbal noun, takes abl. omnibus. | 

aequo animo: almost adverbial in force, "calmly." | 
tam...quam: correlatives. | 

hoc: abl. of comparison, referring to Iuppiter. | 
suspicit: the subject is still sapiens, not Iuppiter
. | 
quod: conj. "because." | 
illis: i.e. omnia from a previous clause.
 


15.  Become divine by thrift and courage: gods won't begrudge anyone.


[15] Credamus itaque Sextio monstranti pulcherrimum iter et clamanti 'hac itur ad astra, hac secundum frugalitatem, hac secundum temperantiam, hac secundum fortitudinem'. Non sunt dii fastidiosi, non invidi: admittunt et ascendentibus manum porrigunt.


Credamus: hortatory subj. A-G 439
. | 
Sextio monstranti...clamanti: dat. w. credamus
. | 
itur ad astra is from Verg. Aeneid IX 641, but the rest of the quotation is Sextius' own words. | 
secundum frugalitatem, hac secundum termperantiam, hac secundum fortitudinem: since secundum does not agree in gender w. frugalitatem, temperantiam, or fortitudine, it is the preposition w. acc. | 

invidi: sc. sunt
.

16.  There are divine elements in humans which come to fruit if tended by a good gardener.

 Seneca is saying that the divinity in all humans is only potential and must be developed rather than being always already present, complete and perfect (which is often the stoic position).

[16] Miraris hominem ad deos ire? Deus ad homines venit, immo quod est propius, in homines venit: nulla sine deo mens bona est. Semina in corporibus humanis divina dispersa sunt, quae si bonus cultor excipit, similia origini prodeunt et paria iis ex quibus orta sunt surgunt: si malus, non aliter quam humus sterilis ac palustris necat ac deinde creat purgamenta pro frugibus. Vale.


immo quod est propius: parenthetical, signaling that Seneca is about to refine the previous statement
: the antecedent of quod is the clause following (in homines venit). | 
Semina...cultor excipit: Seneca often uses illustrations from various fields cf. Summers lxxiii
. | 
origini: dat. w. adjective of likeness (similia) A-G 384
. | 
iis: dat w. adjective of likeness (paria) A-G 384. | 

quibus: abl. of source A-G 403
. | 
malus: sc. cultor
. | 
pro: i.e. "instead of"

Vocabulary
 
Nouns are given with the genitive form while adjectives are given with the comparative and superlative or the positive, masculine, feminine and neuter).  I have tried to given the closest definition to Seneca's usage in the letter, but one should refer to the commentary or to a fuller dictionary for finer points of usage.

a – prep. by (w. abl.)
ac – conj. and
accipio, accipere, accepi, acceptus –  to take, to grasp
ad – prep. to (w. acc.)
adicio, adicere, adieci, adiectus – to add
administratio, adminstrationis – f. administration
administro, administrare, administravi, administratus – to manage
admitto, admittere, admisi, admissus – to permit, to admit
adversus – prep. opposite to (w. acc.)
aequus, aequior, aequissimus – equal
aestimo, aestimare, aestimavi, aestimatus – to value
aetatas, aetatis – f. age
ago, agere, egi, actus – to do, to drive
agrestis, agrestis, agreste – rustic
aliquis, aliquid – anyone, anything
aliter – adv. otherwise
alius, alia, aliud – other
altus, altior, altissimus – high, tall
ambitio, ambitionis – f. ambition (in a pejorative sense)
amplus, amplior, apmlissimus – great, large
an – conj. or
animose, animosius, animosissime – adv. energetically
animus, animi – m. soul
annus, anni – m. year
ante – prep. before (w. acc.)
antecedo, antecedere, antecessi, antecessus – to come before
apud – prep. at (w. acc.)
arbitrium, arbitrii – n. judgement
armum, armi – n. weapon
ars, artis – f. art, knowledge
ascendo, ascendere, ascendi, ascensus – to rise
aspicio, aspicere, aspexi, aspectus – to look at
astrum, astra – n. star
at – conj. but
auctor, auctoris – m. originator
aurum, auri – n. gold
aut – conj. or
autem – conj. but (postpositive)
avaritia, avaritiae – f. greed
beatus, beatior, beatissimus – blessed
bellum, belli – n. war
bene – adv. well
beneficium, beneficii – n. kindness, favor
bonus, melior, optimus – good
bovis, bovis – m/f. cow
brevis, brevior, brevissimus – short
cado, cadere, cecedi, casus – to fall
caelum, caeli – n. sky
calamus, calami – m. reed
capio, capere, cepi, captus – to seize
caput, capitis – n. head
causa, causae – f. cause, for the sake of (w. gen.)
cerno, cernere, crevi, cretus – to discern
clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatus – to proclaim
cludo, cludere, clusi, clusus (alternate form of claudo)– confine, enclose, limit
cogito, cogitare, cogitavi, cogitatus – to consider
colo, colere, colui, cultus – to cherish
communis, communis – common
compendiarium, compendiarii – n. short-cut
confero, conferre, contulli, collatus – to bring together
confessio, confessionis – f. confession
confiteor, confiteri, confessus – to confess
congiarium, congiarii – n. measure of grain given to the poor
consortium, consortii – n. sharing, partnership
contemno, contemnere, contempsi, contemptus – to think little of
contemptor, contemptoris – m. despiser
contingo, contingere, contingit, contactus est – it happens (impersonal)
contrarium, contrarii – n. opposite
contumax, contumacior, contumacissimus – disobedient
corpus, corporis – n. body
credo, credere, credidi, creditus – to trust
creo, creare, creavi, creatus – to create
cresco, crescere, crevi, cretus – to add
cultor, cultoris – m. planter
cupiditas, cupiditatis – f. desire
curia, curiae – f. meeting house for the Senate
de – prep. concerning (w. abl.)
debeo, debere, debui, debitus – to owe
decedo, decedere, decessi, decessus – to go away, to pass away
deditus, deditior, deditissimus – devoted
deinde – adv. next
deus – m. god
dico, dicere, dixi, dictus – to say
diligo, diligere, dilexi, dilectus – to hold dear
discedo, discedere, discessi, discessus – to depart
discerno, discernere, discrevi, discretus – to see, to discern
discribo, discribere, discripsi, discriptus – to divide
dispergo, dispergere, dispersi, dispersus – to scatter
diu, diutius, diutissime – adv. for a long time
divido, dividere, divisi, divisus – to divide
divinus, divinior, divinissimus – divine
doceo, docere, docui, doctus – to teach
dum – conj. while
duo – two
e – prep. from (w. abl.)
ebrietas, ebrietatis – f. drunkenness
efficio, efficere, effeci, effectus – to bring about
effuse, effusius, effusissime – adv. excessively
ego – I
enim – conj. for (postpositive)
eo, ire, ivi, itus – to go
epulum, epuli – n. feast for a sacred function
ergo – adv. therefore
erro, errare, erravi, erratus – to wander
et – conj. and
etiam – conj. and also
ex – prep. out of (w. abl.)
excipio, excipere, excepi, exceptus – to take out
exeo, exire, exivii, exitus – to go out
exerceo, exercere, exercui, exercitus – to train
exiguus, exiguior, exiguissimus – small
existimo, existimare, existimavi, existimatus – to value
exsatio, exsatiare, exsatiavi, exsatiatus – to satisfy
facio, facere, feci, factus – to do
fastidiosus, fastidiosior, fastidiosissimus – squeamish
felicitas, felicitatis – f. happiness, good luck
fero, ferre, tuli, latus – to bear
fideliter – adv. faithfully
finis, finis – f. end
forte – adv. by chance
fortitudo, fortitudinis – f. strength, courage
forum, fori – n. forum, law court
fructus, fructus – m. fruit
frugalitas, frugalitatis – f. thrift
fruor, frui, fructus – to enjoy, to profit by (w. abl.)
frux, frugis – f. crops
futurus, futurior, futurissimus – future
genus, generis – n. race
gratia, gratiae – f. thanks
gratuitus, gratuitior, gratuitissimus – free
gratus, gratior, gratissimus – pleasing
gravis, gravior, gravissimus – heavy, serious
gubernaculum, gubernaculi – n. rudder
gubernator, gubernatoris – m. helmsman
habeo, habere, habui, habitus – to have
hac – adv. here
hic, haec, hoc – this
homo, hominis – m. human being
humus, humi – f. ground
ille, illa, illud – that
immerito – adv. unjustly
immo – adv. no indeed
impendo, impendere, impendi, impensus – to devote
imperturbatus, imperturbata, imperturbatum – undisturbed
impleo, implere, implevi, impletus – to fill up
imputo, imputare, imputavi, imputatus – to charge
in – prep. into (w. acc.), in (w. abl.)
incipio, incipere, incepi, inceptus – to begin
individuus, individua, individuum – undividable
ingratus, ingratior, ingratissimus – thankless, ungrateful
iniquus, iniquior, iniquissimus – unjust
inputo (1), see imputo
inquietus, inquietior,inquietissimus – restless
instabilis, instabilior, instabilissimus – shaky
inter – prep. among (w. acc.)
interdum – adv. sometimes
intra – prep. within (w. acc.)
invidus, invidior, invidissimus – hateful
invius, inviior, inviissimus – impassable
ipse, ipsa, ipsum – -self, same
iste, ista, istud – that one (more immediate than ille)
ita – adv. thus
itaque – conj. and so
iter, itineris – n. path
iucundus, iucundior, iucundissimus – pleasant
iudico, iudicare, iudcavi, iudicatus – to judge
liberalitas, liberalitatis – f. kindness, generosity
libertas, libertatis – f. freedom
libidio, libidinis – f. desire
licet – it is permitted (impersonal)
locuples, locupletior, locupletissimus – wealthy
locus, loci – m. place
longus, longior, longissimus – long
ludo, ludere, lusi, lusus – to play
luna, lunae – f. moon
magis – adv. more
magistratuum, magistratui – n. civil office, magistracy
magnus, maior, maximus – large
malus, peior, pessimus – bad
manus, manus – f. hand
maris, maris – f. sea
medius, media, medium – middle
mens, mentis – f. mind
mercator, mercatoris – m. merchant
meus, mea, meum – my
miror, mirari, miratus – to be amazed
moene, moenis – n. defensive wall
monstro, monstrare, monstravi, monstratus – to show
mortalium
multiplex – having many turns, complex
multus, plus, plurimus – much,  many
munus, muneris – n. duty
namque – conj. for indeed
navigium, navigii – n. ship
nec – conj. and not, nor
necesse est – it is necessary
necessitas, necessitatis – f. necessity
neco, necare, necavi, necatus – to die
nego, negare, negavi, negatus – to deny
nemo – no one
nempe – conj. truly
nescio, nescire, nescivi, nescitus – to be ignorant
nihil –nothing
nisi – conj. if not
non – adv. not
nos – we
nullus, nulla, nullum – no
numquam – adv. never
nunc – adv. now
O – interjection O!
obligo, obligare, obligavi, obligatus – to bind
obliviscor, oblivisci, oblitus – to forget
occupatio, occupationis – f. occupation
occurro, occurrere, occurri, occursus (+dative) – meet; reach, attain
odor, odoris – m. perfume
omnis, omnis, omne – every, all
origo, originis – f. source
orior, oriri, ortus – to rise
otium, otii – n. leisure
paluster, palustris, palustre – marshy
par, ---, parentissimus – equal
parens, parentis – m/f. parent
pars, partis – f. part
parvus, minor, minimus – small
paucus, paucior, paucissimus – little, few
pax, pacis – f. peace
penso, pensare, pensavi, pensatus – to weigh
per – prep. through (w. acc.)
permitto, permittere, permisi, permissus – to allow
pertineo, pertinere, pertinui, pertentus – to extend, to bear on
pervenio, pervenire, perveni, perventus – to arrive
philosophia, philosophiae – f. philosophy
pinguis, pinguior, pinguissimus – fat, rich
plene – adv. fully
pono, ponere, posui, positus – to place
porrigo, porrigere, porrexi, porrectus – to stretch out
portio, portionis – f. portion
porto, portare, portavi, portatus – to carry
possesio, possesionis – f. posession
possum, posse, potui, --- – to be able
post – prep. after (w. acc.)
praeceptor, praeceptoris – m. teacher
praecipue – adv. especially
praesto, praestare, praestiti, praestatus – furnish, offer, present
pretiosus, pretiosior, prestiosissimus – expensive
princeps, principis – m. leader, Emperor
privatim – adv. as a private citizen
pro – prep. for (w. abl.)
prodeo, prodire, prodivi, proditus – to go forth
promitto, promittere, promisi, promissus – to promise
prope, propius, proxime – adv. near
propositum, propositi – n. way of life, proposition
proprietas, proprietatis – f. ownership
protego, protegere, protexi, protectus – to protect
providentia, providentiae – f. foresight, providence
publicus, publica, publicum – public
pulcher, pulchrior, pulcherissimus – beautiful
purgamentum, purgamenti – n. garbage, filth
purpura, purpurae – f. purple dye, purple cloth
purus, purior, purissimus – pure (in a moral sense)
puto, putare, putavi, putatus – to think
quam – conj. than
quamvis – conj. although
quantus, quanta, quantum – as great as (quantum...tantum = as much...as)
que – and (postpositive)
quemadmodum – adv. in what way
qui, quae, quod – who
quia – conj. because
quicquam – anything
quidem – adv. indeed, certain
quidquid – whatever
quies, quietis – f. calm, rest
quis, quid – who ?
quisquis – whoever
quod – conj. because
quot – how many
reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditus – to return
refractarius, refractaria, refractarium – obstinate
rego, regere, rexi, rectus – to rule
reliquus, reliqua, reliquum – remaining
reor, reri, ratus – to think
res publica, rei publicae – f. government (not simply Republic)
res, rei – f. thing, matter
respicio, respicere, respexi, respectus – gaze back at
rex, regis – m. king
rumpo, rumpere, rupi, ruptus – to break
saburra, saburrae – f. sand for ballast tank of ship
salus, salutis – f. greetings
sapiens, sapientior, sapientissimus – wise
scientia, scientiae – f. knowledge
secedo, secedere, secessi, secessus – to withdraw
secundum – prep. after, following (w. acc)
securitas, securitatis – f. security, safety 
sed – conj. but
semen, seminis – n. seed
semper – adv. always
senex, senior, --- – old
servo, servare, servavi, servatus – to watch over
si – conj. if
sic – adv. thus
similis, similior, similissimus – similar
sincerus, sincerior, sincerissimus – unsoiled (in moral sense)
sine – prep. without (w. abl.)
singulus, singula, singulum  – one (apiece)
socium, socii – n. ally, partner
sol, solis – m. sun
soleo, solere, solitus – to be accustomed
solus, sola, solum – only, alone
solutio, solutionis – f. payment
solvo, solvere, solvi, solitus – to pay back
spatium, spatii – n. space
speciosus, speciosior, sepciosissimus – appealing, impressive
sterilis, sterilis, sterile – barren
stultus, stultior, stultissimus – foolish
sub – prep. under (w. acc.)
surgo, surgere, surrexi, surrectus – to grow
suspicio, suspicire, suspexi, suspectus – to look up to
suus, sua, suum – one’s own
tam – adv. so
tantum – only
tantus, tanta, tantum – so great (quantum...tantum = as much...as)
temperantia, temperantiae – f. restraint, self-control
tempus, temporis – n. time
termino, terminare, terminavi, terminatus – to conclude
testimonium, testimonii – n. testimony
togatus, togata, togatum – wearing a toga, Roman (i.e. of Roman citzens)
totus, tota, totum – whole, all
trado, tradare, tradidi, traditus – to give over, to deliver
tranquillitas, tranquillitatis – f. quiet, stillness
tranquillus, tranquilla, tranquillum – calm, quiet
tributum, tributi – n. duty
tu – you
tueor, tueri, tuitus – to watch over
tutela, tutelae – f. guardianship
tutus, tutior, tutissimus – safe
ullus, ulla, ullum – any
unus, una, unum – one
unusquisque – each and every one
usus, usus – m. use
ut – conj. in order that, as
utor, uti, usus – to use, to enjoy (w. abl.)
vale – interjection farewell
ve – or (postpositive)
vector, vectoris – m. passenger, transporter
veho, vehere, vexi, vectus – to carry
vel – conj. or
veneror, venerari, veneratus – to revere
venio, venire, veni, ventus – to come, go
verto, vertere, verti, versus – to turn, pass. to be busied
verum, but; truly
verus, vera, verum – true
video, videre, vidi, visus – to see, pass. to seem
vigilia, vigiliae – f. watch
vilis, vilior, vilissimus – cheap
vinco, vincere, vici, victus – to conquer
vir, viris – m. man
viritim – adv. individually
virtus, virtutis – f. virtue
visceratio, viscerationis – f. feast following a sacrifice
vitium, vitii – n. sin
vivo, vivere, vixi, victus – to live
voco, vocare, vocavi, vocatus – to call
volo, velle, volui, --- – to wish, want
votum, voti – n. vow; prayer, votive