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Seneca · De Clementia

De Clementia 13

The cruel tyrant and the beloved prince

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Clem. 1.13.1Placidō tranquillōque rēgī fīda sunt auxilia sua, ut quibus ad commūnem salūtem ūtātur, glōriōsusque mīles (pūblicae enim sēcūritātī sē dare operam videt) omnem labōrem libēns patitur ut parentis custōs ;A calm and peaceful king has loyal guards, since he uses them for the common safety, and the soldier, proud (for he sees that he is giving his service to the public security), gladly endures every toil as the guardian of a father; Clem. 1.13.1at illum acerbum et sanguinārium necesse est graventur stīpātōrēs suī.but the harsh and bloodthirsty king must be resented by his own bodyguards. Clem. 1.13.2Nōn potest habēre quisquam bonae ac fīdae voluntātis ministrōs, quibus in tormentīs ut eculeō et ferrāmentīs ad mortem parātīs ūtitur, quibus nōn aliter quam bēstiīs hominēs obiectat, omnibus reīs aerumnōsior ac sollicitior, ut quī hominēs deōsque testēs facinorum ac vindicēs timeat, eō perductus, ut nōn liceat illī mūtāre mōrēs.No one can have servants of good and loyal will whom he uses in tortures, like the rack and the instruments made ready for death, and to whom he throws men as if to beasts, more wretched and anxious than all the accused, since he fears men and gods as witnesses and avengers of his crimes, brought to the point where he is not free to change his ways.

Clem. 1.13.2Hoc enim inter cētera vel pessimum habet crūdēlitās, persevērandum est nec ad meliōra patet regressus ;For among its other evils, cruelty has this as perhaps the worst: one must persevere, and no path back to better things lies open; Clem. 1.13.2scelera enim sceleribus tuenda sunt.for crimes must be protected by crimes. Clem. 1.13.2Quid autem eō īnfēlīcius, cui iam esse malō necesse est ?But what is more unhappy than the man for whom it is now necessary to be wicked? Clem. 1.13.3Ō miserābilem illum, sibi certē!O pitiable man, to himself at least! Clem. 1.13.3Nam cēterīs miserērī eius nefās sit, quī caedibus ac rapīnīs potentiam exercuit, quī suspecta sibi cūncta reddidit tam externa quam domestica, cum arma metuat, ad arma cōnfugiēns, nōn amīcōrum fideī crēdēns, nōn pietātī līberōrum ;For let it be a sin for others to pity him, who has wielded his power in slaughter and plunder, who has made everything suspect to himself, both foreign and domestic, who, while he fears arms, takes refuge in arms, trusting neither the loyalty of friends nor the devotion of his children; Clem. 1.13.3quī, ubi circumspexit, quaeque fēcit quaeque factūrus est, et cōnscientiam suam plēnam sceleribus ac tormentīs adaperuit, saepe mortem timet, saepius optat, invīsior sibi quam servientibus.who, when he has looked around at what he has done and what he is about to do, and laid bare his conscience full of crimes and torments, often fears death, more often wishes for it, more hateful to himself than to those who serve him.

Clem. 1.13.4Ē contrāriō is, cui cūrae sunt ūniversa, quī alia magis, alia minus tuētur, nūllam nōn reī pūblicae partem tamquam suī nūtrit, inclīnātus ad mītiōra, etiam sī ex ūsū est animadvertere, ostendēns quam invītus asperō remediō manūs admoveat, in cuius animō nihil hostīle, nihil efferum est, quī potentiam suam placidē ac salūtāriter exercet approbāre imperia sua cīvibus cupiēns, fēlīx abundē sibi vīsus, sī fortūnam suam pūblicārit, sermōne adfābilis, aditū accessūque facilis, vultū, quī maximē populōs dēmerētur, amābilis, aequīs dēsīderiīs prōpēnsus, etiam inīquīs nōn acerbus, ā tōtā cīvitāte amātur, dēfenditur, colitur.On the other hand, he who cares for the whole, who protects some parts more and others less, but nurtures every part of the commonwealth as part of himself, inclined to the milder course even when it is useful to punish, showing how unwillingly he puts his hand to a harsh remedy, in whose mind there is nothing hostile, nothing savage, who exercises his power calmly and beneficially, eager to win his citizens' approval for his commands, thinking himself abundantly happy if he has shared his fortune with the public, affable in speech, easy of approach and access, lovable in that countenance which most wins the hearts of peoples, well disposed to fair requests and not harsh even to unfair ones: he is loved, defended and revered by the whole state.

Clem. 1.13.6Eadem dē illō hominēs sēcrētō loquuntur quae palam.Men say the same things about him in private as in public. Clem. 1.13.6Tollere fīliōs cupiunt et pūblicīs malīs sterilitās indicta reclūditur;They long to raise children, and the barrenness imposed by public calamities is ended; Clem. 1.13.6bene sē meritūrum dē līberīs suīs quisque nōn dubitat, quibus tāle saeculum ostenderit.each man has no doubt that he will deserve well of his children by having shown them such an age. Clem. 1.13.6Hic prīnceps suō beneficiō tūtus nihil praesidiīs eget, arma ōrnāmentī causā habet.This prince, safe through his own kindness, needs no guards; he keeps arms for ornament.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×2

Latin vocabulary for this passage (203 words)
placidus, -a, -umcalm, gentle
tranquillus, -a, -umcalm
que, enclitic conj.and
rēx, rēgis, m.king
fīdus, -a, -umfaithful, loyal, trustworthy
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
auxilium, -ī, n.help, aid
suus, -a, -umhis, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
commūnis, -ecommon, shared, public
salūs, salūtis, f.safety, deliverance, escape
ūtor, ūtī, ūsususe
glōriōsus, -a, -umglorious; boastful
mīles, mīlitis, m.soldier
pūblicus, -a, -umpublic, of the state (rēs pūblica: the state)
enim, conj.for
sēcūritās, -ātis f.freedom from care, composure
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
dō, dare, dedī, datusgive
opera, -ae, f.effort, work, labor
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsussee; pass., seem
omnis, -eall, every
labor, -ōris, m.labor, toil
libēns (lubēns), -entiswilling, glad; (as adv.) gladly
patior, patī, passus, bearsuffer, allow
parēns, -entis m./f.parent
custōs, -ōdis m.guard
at, conj.but
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
acerbus, -a, -umbitter, harsh, painful
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
sanguinārius, -a, -umbloodthirsty, savage
necesse, indecl. adj.necessary
gravō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusweigh down, make heavy
stīpātor, -ōris m.attendant, bodyguard; (pl.) a retinue
nōn, adv.not
possum, posse, potuībe able, have power, can
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itushave, hold; consider
quisquam, quicquam, indef. pron.any one, anything
bonus, -a, -umgood
atque, ac (conj.)and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
voluntās, -tātis, f.wish, will
minister, -trī m.servant, attendant, helper
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
tormentum, -ī n.artillery, siege engine
eculeus (equuleus), -ī m.the 'little horse', a rack for torture
ferrāmentum, -ī n.iron tool
mors, mortīs, f.death
parō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusmake ready, prepare
aliter, adv.in another way, otherwise, differently
quam, adv.how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
bestia, -ae f.beast, wild animal
homō, hominis, m.man
obiectō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusthrow in the way, expose
reus, -ī m.defendant, the accused
aerumnōsus, -a, -umfull of trouble, wretched, afflicted
sollicitus, -a, -umtroubled, anxious
deus, -ī, m.god
testis, -is m./f.witness
facinus, facinoris, n.deed, crime
vindex, -icis m.avenger, punisher; protector
timeō, -ēre, -uīfear
eō (adv.)to that place, thither; to that point (usque eō); (with comparatives) by so much, all the (more)
perdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductuslead or bring through, lead, bring
licet, -ēre, -uit or -itum est, impers.is lawful or permitted
mūtō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuschange
mōs, mōris, m.way, manner, habit, custom
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
inter, prep, with acc.among, between
cēterī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.the other, the remaining, the rest of
velor; vel … vel: either … or
malus, -a, -umbad
crūdēlitās, -ātis f.cruelty
persevērō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumpersist
neque or nec, conj.and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
pateō, -ēre, -uīlie open; extend, stretch
regredior, -gredī, -gressusgo back, return
scelus, sceleris, n.wickedness, crime
tueor, -ērī, tuitus sumwatch over, protect, defend
quis, quid, interrog. pron.who? which? what?
autem, conj.moreover; but, however; now
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
īnfēlīx, -fēlīcis, adj.unhappy, unfortunate
iam, adv.now, already
ō (interj.)O! oh!
miserābilis, -epitiable, wretched
certē (adv.)certainly, surely; at any rate
nam, conj.for
misereor, -ērī, miseritus sumpity, have mercy on (+ gen.)
nefās n. (indecl.)a sin, a wrong; something forbidden by divine law
caedēs, -is, f.cutting down, killing, slaughter
rapīna, -ae f.plundering
potentia, -ae f.power, influence
exerceō, -ercēre, -ercuī, -ercitusexercise
suspectus, -a, -umsuspected, mistrusted
cūnctus, -a, -umall, the whole
reddō, -dere, -didī, -ditusgive back, return, restore; render
tam, adv.so
externus, -a, -umoutside, foreign
domesticus, -a, -umof one's own home, domestic
cum, conj.when, while, after; since; although
arma, -ōrum, n. plur.arms, weapons
metuō, -ere, metuīfear, be afraid of
cōnfugiō, -fugere, -fūgīflee for refuge
amīcus, -ī, m.friend
fidēs, -eī f.faith, trust; pledge
crēdō, -dere, -didī, -ditusbelieve
pietās, -ātis f.dutifulness, devotion to family and gods
līberī, -ōrum, m. plur.children
ubi, adv.where; conj., when
circumspiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectuslook around; look around for, consider
faciō, facere, fēcī, factusmake, do; iter facere, see iter
cōnscientia, -ae f.awareness; consciousness of guilt, guilty conscience
plēnus, -a, -umfull
adaperiō, -īre, -aperuī, -apertusopen wide; adaperīre (passive imperative): be opened
saepe, adv.often, frequently
optō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuswish for, desire; pray for
invīsus, -a, -umhated, hateful (to: dat.)
serviō, -ire, -īvī, -ītusbe subject to, serve
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
contrārius, -a, -umopposite, facing
cūra, -ae f.care, concern (cūrae esse: to be a concern)
ūniversus, -a, -umall together, whole, entire, all
alius, -a, -udanother, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
magis, comp. adv.more, rather
minus, comp. adv.less
nūllus, -a, -umnot any, none, no
rēs, reī, f.thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
pars, partis, f.part, side, direction
tamquam (adv., conj.)as, just as; as if
nūtriō, -īre, -īvī, -ītusnourish, feed; nurse (a baby)
inclīnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusbend, lean; incline, tend
mītis, -emild, gentle (adv. mītissimē: as gently as possible)
etiam, adv.and now, also, too, even
sī, conj.if
ūsus, -ūs, m.use; experience
animadvertō, -vertere, -vertī, -versusturn the mind to, observe
ostendō, -tendere, -tendī, -tentusstretch out before, show, explain
invītus, -a, -umunwilling
asper, -era, -erumrough, harsh; difficult
remedium, -ī, n.remedy
manus, -ūs, f.hand
admoveō, -ēre, -mōvī, -mōtusmove up, bring near
animus, -ī, m.mind; heart; spirit, courage
nihil, n., indecl.nothing
hostīlis, -eof the enemy, hostile
efferus, -a, -umwild, savage, frantic
placidē (adv.)quietly, calmly
salūtāriter (adv.)beneficially, wholesomely
approbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusapprove, agree with
imperium, -ī, n.command; sway, rule
cīvis, -is, m. and f.citizen, fellow-citizen, subject
cupiō, -ere, -īvī, -ītusdesire, long for, wish
fēlīx, -īcisfortunate, lucky, happy
abundē (adv.)in plenty, more than enough
fortūna, -ae, f.fortune
pūblicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusconfiscate, make public property
sermō, -ōnis, m.conversation, talk, speech
affābilis (adfābilis), -eeasy to speak to, approachable, courteous
aditus, -ūs, m.approach, entrance
accessus, -ūs m.approach, access
facilis, -e (comp. facilior)easy
vultus, -ūs m.face, expression
maximē, adv.very greatly, exceedingly, especially
populus, -ī m.people, nation
dēmō, -ere, dēmpsī, dēmptustake away, remove
amābilis, -elovable, lovely, delightful
aequus, -a, -umlevel; equal; fair
dēsīderium, -ī, n.desire, longing
prōpēnsus, -a, -uminclined, disposed, willing; eager
inīquus, -a, -umuneven; unfair
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
tōtus, -a, -umall the, the whole or entire
cīvitās, -tātis, f.state
amō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuslove
dēfendō, -fendere, -fendī, -fēnsusward off; defend
colō, colere, coluī, cultustill, cultivate; inhabit; worship
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
dē, prep, with abl.down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
sēcrētō (adv.)privately, in secret
loquor, loquī, locūtusspeak
palam (adv.)openly, publicly
tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātuslift, raise; take away, remove; ancorās tollere, to weigh anchor
fīlius, -ī, m.son
malum, -ī, n.evil, mischief
sterilitās, -ātis f.barrenness, infertility; bad harvest, scarcity
indīcō, -ere, -dīxī, -dictumproclaim, call (a meeting)
reclūdō, -ere, -clūsī, -clūsumopen up, disclose; uncover
bene, adv.well; successfully
mereor, -ērī, meritus sumdeserve; (dē) do service to
quisque, quaeque, quidque, indef. pron.each
dubitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusdoubt, hesitate
tālis, -esuch
saeculum, -ī n.generation, age; century
prīnceps, -ipisfirst, chief; as noun: leader
beneficium, -ī, n.well-doing, kindness, service, benefit
tūtus, -a, -umsafe
praesidium, -ī, n.protection; guard, escort
egeō, -ēre, eguī (+ abl. or gen.)need, lack, be in want of
ōrnāmentum, -ī n.honour, distinction; ornament
causa, -ae, f.cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
Seneca, De Clementia. Latin text: J. W. Basore, Seneca: Moral Essays I (Loeb, 1928), public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.