Clem. 1.16.1Ō dignum, quem in cōnsilium patrēs advocārent !O worthy to be called by fathers into their councils! Clem. 1.16.1Ō dignum, quem cohērēdem innocentibus līberīs scrīberent!O worthy to be written down as joint heir with innocent children! Clem. 1.16.1Haec clēmentia prīncipem decet;This is the clemency that befits a prince; Clem. 1.16.1quōcumque vēnerit, mānsuētiōra omnia faciat.wherever he comes, let him make everything gentler. Clem. 1.16.1Nēmō rēgī tam vīlis sit, ut illum perīre nōn sentiat, quāliscumque pars imperiī est.Let no one be so worthless to a king that he does not feel his loss; whatever he is, he is part of the empire. Clem. 1.16.2In magna imperia ex minōribus petāmus exemplum.For great powers let us seek an example from lesser ones. Clem. 1.16.2Nōn ūnum est imperandī genus ;There is not just one kind of rule; Clem. 1.16.2imperat prīnceps cīvibus suīs, pater līberīs, praeceptor discentibus, tribūnus vel centuriō mīlitibus.the prince rules his citizens, the father his children, the teacher his pupils, the tribune or centurion his soldiers. Clem. 1.16.3Nōnne pessimus pater vidēbitur, quī adsiduīs plagīs līberōs etiam ex levissimīs causīs compescet ?Will he not seem the worst of fathers who restrains his children with constant blows even for the slightest reasons?
Clem. 1.16.3Uter autem praeceptor līberālibus- studiīs dignior quī, excarnificābit discipulōs sī, memoria illīs nōn cōnstiterit aut sī parum agilis in legendō oculus haeserit an, quī monitiōnibus et verēcundiā ēmendāre ac docēre mālit malit ?And which teacher is more worthy of liberal studies, one who will torture his pupils if their memory has failed or if an eye not quick enough in reading has stumbled, or one who prefers to correct and teach by advice and by appeal to their sense of shame? Clem. 1.16.3Tribūnum centuriōnemque dā saevum : dēsertōrēs faciet, quibus tamen ignōscitur.Give me a savage tribune or centurion: he will make deserters, and they are nonetheless pardoned. Clem. 1.16.4Numquidnam aequum est gravius hominī et dūrius imperārī, quam imperātur animālibus mūtīs ?Is it right, then, that a man should be ruled more harshly and severely than dumb animals are ruled? Clem. 1.16.4Atquī equum nōn crēbrīs verberibus exterret domandī perītus magister;Yet a master skilled in breaking horses does not frighten a horse with frequent blows; Clem. 1.16.4fīet enim formīdolōsus et contumāx, nisi eum blandiente tāctū permulseris.for it will become timid and stubborn unless you soothe it with a coaxing touch.
Clem. 1.16.5Idem facit ille vēnātor, quique īnstituit catulōs vestīgia sequī quique iam exercitātīs ūtitur ad excitandās vel persequendās ferās : nec crēbrō illīs minātur (contundet enim animōs et, quidquid- est indolis comminuētur, trepidātiōne dēgenerī nec) licentiam vagandī errandī que passim concēdit.The huntsman does the same, both the one who teaches puppies to follow tracks and the one who uses dogs already trained to rouse or pursue wild beasts: he neither threatens them often (for he will crush their spirit, and whatever natural quality they have will be broken by degenerate fear) nor allows them freedom to stray and wander everywhere. Clem. 1.16.5Adiciās hīs licet tardiōra agentēs iūmenta, quae, cum ad contumēliam et miseriās nāta sint, nimiā saevitiā cōgantur iugum dētractāre.You may add to these the beasts of burden that are slower in their work, which, though they are born to insult and misery, are driven by excessive cruelty to refuse the yoke.