De Clementia 5

Clemency, mark of a great soul

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Clem. 1.5.1Longius vidētur recessisse ā prōpositō ōrātiō mea, at mehercules rem ipsam premit.My discourse seems to have strayed rather far from its purpose, but, by Hercules, it is pressing on the very matter. Clem. 1.5.1Nam sī, quod adhūc colligit, tū animus reī pūblicae tuae es, illa corpus tuum, vidēs, ut putō, quam necessāria sit clēmentia;For if, as the argument so far concludes, you are the soul of your commonwealth and it is your body, you see, I think, how necessary clemency is; Clem. 1.5.1tibi enim parcis, cum vidēris alterī parcere.for you are sparing yourself when you seem to spare another. Clem. 1.5.1Parcendum itaque est etiam improbandīs cīvibus nōn aliter quam membrīs languentibus, et, sī quandō missō sanguine opus est, sustinenda est manus, nē ultrā, quam necesse sit, incidat.Even citizens who deserve censure must therefore be spared, just as diseased limbs are, and if ever there is need to let blood, the hand must be held back, lest it cut further than is necessary. Clem. 1.5.2Est ergō, ut dīcēbam, clēmentia omnibus quidem hominibus- secundum nātūram maximē, tamen decōra imperātōribus quantō, plūs habet apud illōs quod, servet quantō, que in maiōre māteriā appāret.Clemency, then, as I was saying, is in accordance with nature for all men, but most becoming for rulers, inasmuch as among them it has more to save and shows itself in a greater field.

Clem. 1.5.2Quantulum enim nocet prīvāta crūdēlitās !For how little harm private cruelty does! Clem. 1.5.2Prīncipum saevitia bellum est.The savagery of princes is war. Clem. 1.5.3Cum autem virtūtibus inter sē sit concordia nec ūlla altera melior aut honestior sit, quaedam tamen quibusdam persōnīs aptior est.But although the virtues are in harmony with one another and none is better or more honourable than another, yet one is more suited to certain persons than to others. Clem. 1.5.3Decet magnanimitās quemlibet mortālem, etiam illum, īnfrā quem nihil est ;Greatness of soul befits any mortal, even one beneath whom there is nothing; Clem. 1.5.3quid enim maius aut fortius quam malam fortūnam retundere ?for what is greater or braver than to beat back ill fortune? Clem. 1.5.3Haec tamen magnanimitās in bonā fortūnā laxiōrem locum habet meliusque in tribūnālī quam in plānō cōnspicitur.Yet this greatness of soul has wider scope in good fortune and is better seen on the tribunal than on level ground. Clem. 1.5.4Clēmentia, in quamcumque domum pervēnerit, eam fēlīcem tranquillamque praestābit, sed in rēgiā, quō rārior, eō mīrābilior.Clemency will make whatever house it enters happy and tranquil, but in a palace it is the more wonderful the rarer it is.

Clem. 1.5.4Quid enim est memorābilius quam eum, cuius īrae nihil obstat, cuius graviōrī sententiae ipsī, quī pereunt, adsentiuntur, quem nēmō interpellātūrus est, immō, sī vehementius excanduit, nē dēprecātūrus est quidem, ipsum sibi manum inicere et potestāte suā in melius placidiusque ūtī hoc ipsum cōgitantem : " Occīdere contrā lēgem nēmō nōn potest, servāre nēmō praeter mē" ?For what is more remarkable than that one whose anger nothing hinders, whose harsher sentence those who perish themselves accept, whom no one will interrupt, nay, if he has blazed up too fiercely, whom no one will even entreat, should lay a restraining hand on himself and use his power for better and gentler ends, thinking just this: 'Anyone can kill in breach of the law; no one but I can save'? Clem. 1.5.5Magnam fortūnam magnus animus decet, quī, nisi sē ad illam extulit et altior stetit, illam quoque īnfrā ad terram dēdūcit ;A great fortune befits a great soul, which, unless it raises itself up to that fortune and stands above it, drags the fortune too down to the ground; Clem. 1.5.5magnī autem animī proprium est placidum esse tranquillumque et iniūriās atque offēnsiōnēs supernē dēspicere.but it is the mark of a great soul to be calm and tranquil and to look down from above on injuries and offences.

Clem. 1.5.5Muliebre est furere in īrā, ferārum vērō nec generōsārum quidem praemordēre- et urguēre prōiectōs proiectos.It is womanish to rage in anger, and the mark of wild beasts, and not even noble ones, to bite and worry the fallen. Clem. 1.5.5Elephantī leōnēsque trānseunt, quae impulērunt;Elephants and lions pass over what they have struck down; Clem. 1.5.5ignōbilis bēstiae pertinācia- est est.persistence is the mark of an ignoble beast. Clem. 1.5.6Nōn decet rēgem saeva nec inexōrābilis īra, nōn multum enim suprā eum ēminet, cui sē īrāscendō exaequat ;Savage and inexorable anger does not befit a king, for he does not rise far above the man to whom he makes himself equal by being angry; Clem. 1.5.6at sī dat vītam, sī dat dignitātem perīclitantibus et meritīs āmittere, facit, quod nūllī nisi rērum potentī licet ;but if he grants life, if he grants rank to those who are in peril and deserve to lose it, he does what is permitted to none but the master of affairs; Clem. 1.5.6vīta enim etiam superiōrī ēripitur, numquam nisi īnferiōrī datur.for life can be taken even from a superior, but is never given except to an inferior.

Clem. 1.5.7Servāre proprium est excellentis fortūnae, quae numquam magis suspicī dēbet, quam cum illī contigit idem posse quod dīs, quōrum beneficiō in lūcem ēdimur tam bonī quam malī.To save is the special mark of an exalted fortune, which ought never to be more looked up to than when it has been granted the same power as the gods, by whose kindness we are brought into the light, good and bad alike. Clem. 1.5.7Deōrum itaque sibi animum adserēns prīnceps aliōs ex cīvibus suīs, quia ūtilēs bonīque sunt, libēns videat, aliōs in numerum relinquat ;So let a prince, claiming for himself the mind of the gods, look gladly on some of his citizens because they are useful and good, and leave others to make up the number; Clem. 1.5.7quōsdam esse gaudeat, quōsdam patiātur.let him rejoice that some exist, and endure others.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×4, indirect statement ×1

Latin vocabulary for this passage (221 words)

longē, adv.	far
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
recēdō, -ere, -cessī, -cessum	go back, withdraw, retire
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
prōpositum, -ī n.	plan, purpose; the point being made, theme
ōrātiō, -ōnis, f.	speech; ōrātiōnem habēre, to deliver an oration, speak
meus, -a, -um	my, mine
at, conj.	but
mehercule, mehercle (interj.)	by Hercules!, so help me, truly
rēs, reī, f.	thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
premō, premere, pressī, pressus	press, check, restrain
nam, conj.	for
sī, conj.	if
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
adhūc, adv.	to this point, up to this time, yet, still
colligō, -ere, -lēgī, -lēctum	gather, collect (sē colligere: recover oneself)
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
animus, -ī, m.	mind; heart; spirit, courage
pūblicus, -a, -um	public, of the state (rēs pūblica: the state)
tuus, -a, -um	thy, thine, your
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
corpus, corporis, n.	body
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
putō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	think
quam, adv.	how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
necessārius, -a, -um; as noun, -ī m.	necessary, critical; (noun) close friend, relative
clēmentia, -ae, f.	mercy, kindness
enim, conj.	for
parcō, -ere, pepercī, parsūrus	spare, show mercy to (+ dat.)
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
alter, -era, -erum	one or the other (of two); another, second
itaque, adv.	and so, accordingly, therefore
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
improbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	disapprove of, reject
cīvis, -is, m. and f.	citizen, fellow-citizen, subject
nōn, adv.	not
aliter, adv.	in another way, otherwise, differently
membrum, -ī, n.	limb, member
langueō, -ēre, languī	be faint, be sick
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
quandō (adv.)	when; (after sī) ever
mittō, mittere, mīsī, missus	send
sanguis, sanguinis, m.	blood
opus, operis, n.	work, task
sustineō, -tinēre, -tinuī, -tentus	hold or bear up, sustain, withstand
manus, -ūs, f.	hand
nē, adv.	not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
ultrā (prep. + acc.)	beyond
necesse, indecl. adj.	necessary
incidō, -cidere, -cidī	fall into or upon
ergō (adv.)	therefore, then; quid ergō? what then?
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
omnis, -e	all, every
quidem, adv.	in fact, indeed, certainly; nē ... quidem, not ... even
homō, hominis, m.	man
secundum (prep. + acc.)	after, besides; along
nātūra, -ae, f.	nature, character
maximē, adv.	very greatly, exceedingly, especially
tamen, adv.	however, yet, nevertheless
decōrus, -a, -um	handsome, fine, splendid
imperātor, -ōris, m.	commander, general
quantus, -a, -um	how great or much?
plūs (adv.)	more
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	have, hold; consider
apud, prep, with acc.	among, with
servō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	save, preserve
que, enclitic conj.	and
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
māteria, -ae f.	timber, material
appāreō, -ēre, -uī, -itum	appear, come into view, show oneself
quantulus, -a, -um	how small, how little
noceō, -ēre, nocuī, nocitum (+ dat.)	harm, hurt
prīvātus, -a, -um	private
crūdēlitās, -ātis f.	cruelty
prīnceps, -ipis	first, chief; as noun: leader
saevitia, -ae f.	fierceness, cruelty
bellum, -ī, n.	war
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
virtūs, -tūtis, f.	manliness, courage, bravery
inter, prep, with acc.	among, between
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.	himself, herself, itself, themselves
concordia, -ae f.	agreement, harmony
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
ūllus, -a, -um	any
bonus, -a, -um	good
aut, conj.	or; aut ... aut, either ... or
honestus, -a, -um	respected, honourable
quīdam, quaedam, quoddam, indef. pron.	a certain, certain
persōna, -ae f.	mask; character, role; personal standing
aptus, -a, -um	fit, suited
decet, decēre, decuit (impers.)	it is fitting, it is proper
magnanimitās, -ātis f.	greatness of spirit, magnanimity
quīlibet, quaelibet, quodlibet	any you please, any at all
mortālis, -e	mortal
īnfrā (adv. and prep. + acc.)	below, further down
nihil, n., indecl.	nothing
quis, quid, interrog. pron.	who? which? what?
fortis, -e	brave
malus, -a, -um	bad
fortūna, -ae, f.	fortune
retundō, -ere, rettudī, retūsus	beat back, blunt
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
laxus, -a, -um	loose, slack
locus, -ī, m., plur. loca, -orum, n.	place, situation
bene, adv.	well; successfully
tribūnal, -ālis n.	platform, tribunal (where a magistrate sat to judge)
plānus, -a, -um	flat, level
cōnspiciō, -spicere, -spēxī, -spectus	behold, perceive, see
quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque	whoever, whatever
domus, -ūs, f.	house, home
perveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventus	come through, come, arrive, reach
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
fēlīx, -īcis	fortunate, lucky, happy
tranquillus, -a, -um	calm
praestō, -stāre, -stitī, -stitus	stand in front; show
sed, conj.	but
rēgia, -ae, f.	palace
quō, adv.	to what place? whither? to which place, whither; for which reason, wherefore, therefore; quō ūsque, till when? how long?
rārus, -a, -um	scattered, few
eō (adv.)	to that place, thither; to that point (usque eō); (with comparatives) by so much, all the (more)
mīrābilis, -e	wonderful, marvellous
memorābilis, -e	worth telling, memorable
īra, -ae, f.	anger, wrath
obstō, -stāre, -stitī	stand in the way, block, oppose (+ dat.)
gravis, -e	heavy; severe, grievous, serious
sententia, -ae, f.	opinion; purpose
pereō, -īre, -ii, -itūrus	pass away, perish
assentior (adsentior), -īrī, -sēnsus sum	agree, assent (to: dat.)
nēmō, nēminis, m. and f.	no one, nobody
interpellō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	interrupt, hinder
immō (adv.)	no rather, on the contrary; immō vērō: no, indeed, even
vehementer, adv.	violently, vehemently; earnestly; exceedingly, greatly
excandēscō, -candēscere, -canduī	grow hot; flare up, blaze with anger
dēprecor, -ārī, -ātus sum	beg to be spared, plead
iniciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus	throw in or upon; cause, inspire
potestās, -ātis f.	power, authority
suus, -a, -um	his, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
placidus, -a, -um	calm, gentle
ūtor, ūtī, ūsus	use
cōgitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	consider, think over
occīdō, -cīdere, -cīdī, -cīsus	cut down, kill
contrā, prep, with acc.	against, contrary to
lēx, lēgis f.	law
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
praeter, prep. with acc.	before, past, by; besides, except
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
nisi, conj.	if not, unless
ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
efferō, -ferre, extulī, ēlātum	carry out, bring out
altus, -a, -um	high, deep; altum, -ī, n., the deep
stō, stāre, stetī, status	stand
quoque, adv.	also
terra, -ae, f.	land, earth
dēdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead down or away, bring; nāvem dēdūcere, to draw down or launch a ship
proprius, -a, -um	one's own, private; characteristic (of)
iniūria, -ae, f.	injury, wrong, hurt, harm
atque, ac (conj.)	and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
offēnsiō, -ōnis f.	offence, hurt feelings
supernē, adv.	from above, downwards from above
dēspiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectum	look down on, despise
muliebris, -e	of a woman, womanly; (n. pl.) a woman's part
furō, -ere	rage, rave, be mad
fera, -ae, f.	wild animal, beast
vērō, adv.	in truth, indeed; however
generōsus, -a, -um	of good family, well-born
praemordeō, -ēre, -mordī, -morsus	bite off, bite at the front; snap at
urgeō, -ēre, ursī	press hard
prōiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus	throw forth or down, cast away, throw
elephantus, -ī m.	elephant
leō, -ōnis, m.	lion
trānseō, -īre, -iī, -itus	go across or over, cross
impellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsus	drive or urge on, incite, urge
ignōbilis, -e	unknown, obscure; of low birth
bestia, -ae f.	beast, wild animal
pertinācia, -ae f.	stubbornness
rēx, rēgis, m.	king
saevus, -a, -um	fierce, savage
inexōrābilis, -e	relentless, not to be moved by entreaty
multum, -ī, n.	much
suprā, adv. and prep. with acc.	above, before
ēmineō, -ēre, -uī	stand out, project
īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus	be angry
exaequō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	make equal, level
dō, dare, dedī, datus	give
vīta, -ae, f.	life
dignitās, -ātis f.	rank, standing, prestige
perīclitor, -ārī, -ātus sum	try, put to the test
mereor, -ērī, meritus sum	deserve; (dē) do service to
āmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missus	send away, lose
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
nūllus, -a, -um	not any, none, no
potēns, -entis	powerful
licet, -ēre, -uit or -itum est, impers.	is lawful or permitted
superior, -ius, adj.	higher; former, previous, preceding
ēripiō, -ripere, -ripuī, -reptus	snatch out or away, rescue
numquam, adv.	never
īnferior, -ius	lower
excellēns, -entis	outstanding, excellent
magis, comp. adv.	more, rather
suspiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectus	look up (at); admire
dēbeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	owe; with infin., ought
contingō, -ere, -tigī, -tāctum	touch, reach
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.	the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
deus, -ī, m.	god
beneficium, -ī, n.	well-doing, kindness, service, benefit
lūx, lūcis, f.	light
ēdō, -dere, -didī, -ditus	put forth, give out, utter
tam, adv.	so
assero (adserō), -ere, -seruī, -sertum	lay claim to, claim
alius, -a, -ud	another, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)	out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
quia (conj.)	because
ūtilis, -e	useful, advantageous
libēns (lubēns), -entis	willing, glad; (as adv.) gladly
numerus, -ī, m.	number
relinquō, -linquere, -līquī, -lictus	leave behind, leave
gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus	be glad, rejoice
patior, patī, passus, bear	suffer, allow

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.