Clem. 1.7.1Quoniam deōrum fēcī mentiōnem, optimē hoc exemplum prīncipī cōnstituam, ad quod fōrmētur, ut sē tālem esse cīvibus, quālēs sibi deōs velit.Since I have mentioned the gods, I shall best set up this example for a prince, by which he may shape himself: that he should be to his citizens such as he would wish the gods to be to him. Clem. 1.7.1Expedit ergō habēre inexōrābilia peccātīs atque errōribus nūmina, expedit ūsque ad ultimam īnfesta perniciem ?Is it to our advantage, then, to have deities inexorable towards sins and errors, to our advantage that they be hostile even to the point of final destruction? Clem. 1.7.1Et quis rēgum erit tūtus, cuius nōn membra haruspicēs colligant ?And what king will be safe, and not have his limbs gathered up by the soothsayers? Clem. 1.7.2Quod sī dī plācābilēs et aequī dēlicta potentium nōn statim fulminibus persequuntur, quantō aequius est hominem hominibus praepositum mītī animō exercēre imperium et cōgitāre, uter mundī status grātior oculīs pulchriorque sit, serēnō et pūrō diē, an cum fragōribus crēbrīs omnia quatiuntur et ignēs hinc atque illinc micant !But if the gods, merciful and just, do not at once pursue the offences of the powerful with thunderbolts, how much more just is it for a man set over men to exercise his rule with a gentle mind, and to consider which state of the world is more pleasing to the eyes and more beautiful, on a calm and clear day, or when everything is shaken by repeated crashes and fires flash on this side and that!
Clem. 1.7.2Atquī nōn alia faciēs est quiētī mōrātīque imperiī quam serēnī caelī et nitentis.And yet the face of a peaceful and well-ordered rule is no different from that of a calm and shining sky. Clem. 1.7.3Crūdēle regnum turbidum tenebrīsque obscūrum est, inter trementēs et ad repentīnum sonitum expavēscentēs nē eō quidem, quī omnia perturbat, inconcussō.A cruel reign is turbulent and dark with shadows, among men who tremble and start in terror at a sudden sound, while not even he who throws everything into turmoil is unshaken. Clem. 1.7.3Facilius prīvātīs ignōscitur pertināciter sē vindicantibus ;Private persons are more readily pardoned for avenging themselves stubbornly; Clem. 1.7.3possunt enim laedī, dolorque eōrum ab iniūriā venit ;for they can be hurt, and their resentment comes from an injury; Clem. 1.7.3timent praetereā contemptum, et nōn rettulisse laedentibus grātiam īnfirmitās vidētur, nōn clēmentia ;besides, they fear contempt, and not to have repaid those who hurt them looks like weakness, not clemency; Clem. 1.7.3at cui ultiō in facilī est, is omissā eā certam laudem mānsuētūdinis- cōnsequitur consequitur.but he for whom vengeance is easy wins sure praise for gentleness by forgoing it. Clem. 1.7.4Humilī locō positīs exercēre manum, lītigāre, in rixam prōcurrere ac mōrem īrae suae gerere līberius est ;Those placed in a humble station are freer to use their fists, to go to law, to rush into a brawl and to indulge their anger; Clem. 1.7.4levēs inter paria ictūs sunt ;blows between equals are light; Clem. 1.7.4rēgī vōciferātiō quoque verbōrumque intemperantia nōn ex maiestāte est.for a king even shouting and intemperate language are beneath his majesty.