Seneca, Letters 47

Ep. 47.47.1Libenter ex īs, quī ā tē veniunt, cognōvī familiāriter tē cum servīs tuīs vīvere.

I was glad to learn from those who come from you that you live on friendly terms with your slaves.

Note. This letter, like all the Moral Letters, is addressed to Lucilius; it is the most famous of them. ex īs: 'from those' (īs = eīs, ablative plural of is). cognōvī … tē … vīvere: indirect statement after cognōvī, 'I learned that you live'. familiāriter: 'on friendly terms', like members of a familia.

Ep. 47.47.1Hoc prūdentiam tuam, hoc ērudītiōnem decet.

This befits your good sense and your education.

Note. Hoc … hoc: anaphora; the subject of decet is hoc (your way of living). decet takes the accusative: 'this befits your good sense'.

Ep. 47.47.1"Servī sunt."

"They are slaves."

Note. The objector's voice, in quotation marks, repeated four times; each time Seneca corrects it with Immō, 'no, rather'.

Ep. 47.47.1Immō hominēs.

No, they are human beings.

Note. Immō hominēs: the key claim of the letter: slaves are first of all human beings.

Ep. 47.47.1"Servī sunt."

"They are slaves."

Ep. 47.47.1Immō contubernālēs.

No, they share your house.

Note. contubernālēs: literally 'tent-mates', those who share a contubernium; here, those who share your house.

Ep. 47.47.1"Servī sunt."

"They are slaves."

Ep. 47.47.1Immō humilēs amīcī.

No, they are humble friends.

Note. humilēs amīcī: 'humble friends', friends of lower station.

Ep. 47.47.1"Servī sunt."

"They are slaves."

Ep. 47.47.1Immō cōnservī, sī cōgitāveris tantundem in utrōsque licēre fortūnae.

No, fellow slaves, if you reflect that fortune has as much power over both of you.

Note. cōnservī: 'fellow slaves', the climax: master and slave are both slaves of fortune. sī cōgitāveris: future perfect in the condition. tantundem in utrōsque licēre fortūnae: indirect statement, 'that fortune has as much power over both'.

Ep. 47.47.2Itaque rīdeō istōs, quī turpe exīstimant cum servō suō cēnāre.

So I laugh at those who think it shameful to dine with their slave.

Note. rīdeō istōs: iste is often contemptuous, 'those people'. turpe: neuter predicate with the infinitive cēnāre as subject: 'that dining … is shameful'.

Ep. 47.47.2Quārē, nisi quia superbissima cōnsuētūdō cēnantī dominō stantium servōrum turbam circumdedit?

Why, except that a most arrogant custom has surrounded the master at dinner with a crowd of standing slaves?

Note. Quārē, nisi quia …?: 'Why, except because …?' superbissima cōnsuētūdō: the subject. cēnantī dominō: dative with circumdedit, 'has put around the dining master'. stantium servōrum turbam: slaves stood while the master reclined.

Ep. 47.47.2Ēst ille plūs quam capit, et ingentī aviditāte onerat distentum ventrem ac dēsuētum iam ventris officiō, ut maiōre operā omnia ēgerat quam ingessit;

He eats more than he can hold, and with enormous greed loads his swollen belly, which has already forgotten how to do a belly's work, so that he throws everything up with more effort than he put it in;

Note. Est: not 'is' but the present of edō, 'eat' (ēst, with a long e, unlike est 'is'). plūs quam capit: 'more than he can hold'. distentum ventrem ac dēsuētum … ventris officiō: 'his swollen belly, unused to doing a belly's job'. ut … ēgerat: present subjunctive of ēgerō, 'so that he brings it all up'. The disgust is deliberate.

Ep. 47.47.3at īnfēlīcibus servīs movēre labra nē in hoc quidem, ut loquantur, licet.

but the unhappy slaves are not allowed to move their lips even to speak.

Note. at: strongly contrasting. īnfēlīcibus servīs … licet: 'it is not allowed to the unhappy slaves'. nē in hoc quidem, ut loquantur: 'not even for this, to speak'.

Ep. 47.47.3Virgā murmur omne conpescitur, et nē fortuīta quidem verberibus excepta sunt, tussis, sternūmenta, singultus.

Every murmur is checked with the rod, and not even accidental sounds are spared a beating: a cough, a sneeze, a hiccup.

Note. Virgā: 'with the rod'. nē fortuīta quidem: 'not even accidental (noises)'. verberibus excepta sunt: 'are exempted from beatings'. The list tussis, sternūmenta, singultus makes the cruelty concrete.

Ep. 47.47.3Magnō malō ūllā vōce interpellātum silentium luitur.

Any break in the silence by a sound is paid for with a heavy punishment.

Note. Magnō malō … luitur: 'is paid for with a great penalty'. interpellātum silentium: 'silence broken (by any sound)'.

Ep. 47.47.3Nocte tōtā iēiūnī mūtīque perstant.

All night long they stand there, hungry and silent.

Note. Nocte tōtā: ablative of time throughout which. iēiūnī mūtīque: 'hungry and silent'.

Ep. 47.47.4Sīc fit, ut istī dē dominō loquantur, quibus cōram dominō loquī nōn licet.

So it comes about that these men talk about their master, since they are not allowed to talk in their master's presence.

Note. Sīc fit, ut: 'so it happens that'. quibus cōram dominō loquī nōn licet: Seneca's point: forbidding speech makes slaves gossip behind the master's back.

Ep. 47.47.4At illī, quibus nōn tantum cōram dominīs, sed cum ipsīs erat sermō, quōrum ōs nōn cōnsuēbātur, parātī erant prō dominō porrigere cervīcem, perīculum inminēns in caput suum āvertere;

But those slaves who could talk not only in front of their masters but with them, whose mouths were not sewn shut, were ready to stretch out their necks for their master and turn onto their own heads any danger that threatened him;

Note. At illī: the slaves of earlier, simpler times. quibus … erat sermō: 'who had conversation', dative of possession. quōrum ōs nōn cōnsuēbātur: 'whose mouth was not sewn up'. parātī erant … porrigere cervīcem: 'ready to stretch out their neck', i.e. die for their master.

Ep. 47.47.4in convīviīs loquēbantur, sed in tormentīs tacēbant.

they talked at the dinner table, but under torture they kept silent.

Note. A neat antithesis: they talked at dinner, but under torture (when slaves' evidence was taken) they kept silent and did not betray their masters.

Ep. 47.47.5Deinde eiusdem arrogantiae prōverbium iactātur, totidem hostēs esse quot servōs.

Then there is the proverb, a product of the same arrogance, that is bandied about: 'You have as many enemies as you have slaves.'

Note. eiusdem arrogantiae: genitive of quality, 'belonging to the same arrogance'. totidem hostēs esse quot servōs: indirect statement: 'that there are as many enemies as slaves'.

Ep. 47.47.5Nōn habēmus illōs hostēs, sed facimus.

We do not have them as enemies; we make them so.

Note. Nōn habēmus … sed facimus: 'we do not have them as enemies, we make them so'. A characteristic short Senecan reversal.

Ep. 47.47.5Alia interim crūdēlia, inhūmāna praetereō, quod nē tamquam hominibus quidem, sed tamquam iūmentīs abūtimur.

I pass over other cruel and inhuman things for the moment: that we abuse them not even as human beings, but as beasts of burden.

Note. praetereō: praeteritio, 'I pass over', while mentioning anyway. quod … abūtimur: 'that we misuse (them)'; abūtor takes the ablative. tamquam iūmentīs: 'as if (they were) beasts of burden'.

Ep. 47.47.5Cum ad cēnandum discubuimus, alius spūta dētergit, alius reliquiās tēmulentōrum torō subditus colligit.

When we have lain down to dine, one wipes up the spittle, another, crouched under the couch, gathers up what the drunken guests leave behind.

Note. ad cēnandum: gerund of purpose. discubuimus: 'we have lain down (to dine)'; Romans ate reclining. alius … alius: 'one … another'. torō subditus: 'crouching under the couch'.

Ep. 47.47.6Alius pretiōsās avēs scindit;

Another carves expensive birds;

Ep. 47.47.6per pectus et clūnēs certīs ductibus circumferēns ērudītam manum frusta excutit, īnfēlīx, quī huic ūnī reī vīvit, ut altilia decenter secet, nisi quod miserior est, quī hoc voluptātis causā docet quam quī necessitātis discit.

guiding his trained hand in practised strokes around the breast and the rump, he cuts off the slices: unhappy man, who lives for this one thing, to carve fattened fowl gracefully, except that the man who teaches this for pleasure is more wretched than the one who learns it from necessity.

Note. certīs ductibus: 'with practised strokes'. ērudītam manum: 'his trained hand'. īnfēlīx, quī … vīvit: 'unhappy man, who lives for this one thing'. altilia: 'fattened birds'. nisi quod miserior est: 'except that (the master) is more wretched', who teaches carving for pleasure, compared with the slave who learns it from necessity.

Ep. 47.47.7Alius vīnī minister in muliebrem modum ōrnātus cum aetāte luctātur;

Another, the wine-server, dressed up like a woman, struggles with his age;

Note. vīnī minister: the cup-bearer. in muliebrem modum ōrnātus: 'dressed up in a womanish way'. cum aetāte luctātur: 'struggles with his age': he is no longer a boy, but must look like one.

Ep. 47.47.7nōn potest effugere pueritiam, retrahitur, iamque mīlitārī habitū glaber retrītīs pilīs aut penitus ēvulsīs tōtā nocte pervigilat, quam inter ēbrietātem dominī ac libīdinem dīvidit et in cubiculō vir, in convīviō puer est.

he cannot escape boyhood, he is dragged back to it; and now, though he has the build of a soldier, he is kept smooth, his hair rubbed away or pulled out by the roots, and he stays awake all night, which he divides between his master's drunkenness and his lust, a man in the bedroom and a boy at the dinner table.

Note. nōn potest effugere pueritiam, retrahitur: short clauses for the slave's helplessness. glaber: 'smooth', kept hairless. retrītīs pilīs aut penitus ēvulsīs: ablative absolute. quam … dīvidit: the night is shared between the master's drinking and his lust. in cubiculō vir, in convīviō puer: Seneca names the sexual exploitation plainly but briefly.

Ep. 47.47.8Alius, cui convīvārum cēnsūra permissa est, perstat īnfēlīx et exspectat, quōs adūlātiō et intemperantia aut gulae aut linguae revocet in crāstinum.

Another, who has been given the job of assessing the guests, stands there, poor wretch, watching to see whose flattery and lack of restraint in appetite or in tongue will get them invited back tomorrow.

Note. cui convīvārum cēnsūra permissa est: 'to whom the judging of the guests has been entrusted'. quōs adūlātiō … revocet in crāstinum: indirect question, 'whom flattery and lack of restraint, of appetite or of tongue, will call back for tomorrow'.

Ep. 47.47.8Adice obsōnātōrēs, quibus dominicī palātī nōtitia subtīlis est, quī sciunt, cuius illum reī sapor excitet, cuius dēlectet aspectus, cuius novitāte nauseābundus ērigī possit, quid iam ipsā satietāte fastīdiat, quid illō diē ēsuriat.

Add the caterers, who have a precise knowledge of their master's palate, who know what flavour will excite him, what appearance will delight him, what novelty can rouse him when he is queasy, what he now loathes from sheer surfeit, what he has an appetite for that day.

Note. Adice: imperative of adiciō, 'add'. obsōnātōrēs: slaves who bought the food. quibus … nōtitia subtīlis est: dative of possession. The four indirect questions (cuius … excitet, cuius … aspectus, cuius novitāte … ērigī possit, quid … fastīdiat, quid … ēsuriat) satirise the master's jaded appetite. nauseābundus: 'feeling sick'.

Ep. 47.47.8Cum hīs cēnāre nōn sustinet et maiestātis suae dēminūtiōnem putat ad eandem mēnsam cum servō suō accēdere.

With these he cannot bear to dine, and he thinks it a loss of his dignity to come to the same table as his slave.

Note. Cum hīs cēnāre nōn sustinet: 'he cannot bear to dine with these men'. maiestātis suae dēminūtiōnem: 'a lessening of his dignity'.

Ep. 47.47.8Dī melius!

Heaven forbid!

Note. Dī melius!: short for 'may the gods (grant something) better', i.e. 'Heaven forbid!'

Ep. 47.47.9Quot ex istīs dominōs habet!

How many masters he has among these very slaves!

Note. Quot ex istīs dominōs habet!: Seneca turns the tables: among his slaves the master may find his future masters, since slaves could become rich and powerful freedmen.

Ep. 47.47.9Stāre ante līmen Callistī dominum suum vīdī et eum, quī illī inpēgerat titulum, quī inter rēicula mancipia prōdūxerat, aliīs intrantibus exclūdī.

I have seen Callistus' former master standing at Callistus' door, and shut out while others went in: the master who had hung a sale ticket on him and put him up for sale among the worthless slaves.

Note. Callistus: a freedman who became powerful under Caligula and Claudius. dominum suum: 'his (Callistus') former master'. quī illī impēgerat titulum: 'who had stuck a sale-ticket on him'. inter rēicula mancipia: 'among the worthless slaves' set aside at an auction.

Ep. 47.47.9Rettulit illī grātiam servus ille in prīmam decuriam coniectus, in quā vōcem praecō experītur;

That slave, who had been thrown into the first lot, on which the auctioneer tries out his voice, paid him back;

Note. Rettulit illī grātiam: ironic, 'paid him back'. in prīmam decuriam: 'into the first batch' of slaves at auction, used by the auctioneer to warm up his voice: the least valuable lot.

Ep. 47.47.9et ipse illum invicem apologāvit, et ipse nōn iūdicāvit domō suā dignum.

he in his turn rejected him, and he in his turn judged him unworthy of his house.

Note. invicem: 'in turn'. apologāvit: a Greek word, 'rejected'.

Ep. 47.47.9Dominus Callistum vēndidit;

The master sold Callistus;

Ep. 47.47.9sed dominō quam multa Callistus!

but how much Callistus has made the master pay!

Note. domino quam multa Callistus!: supply 'made (him pay)' or 'did (to him)'; the sentence breaks off for effect.

Ep. 47.47.10Vīs tū cōgitāre istum, quem servum tuum vocās, ex īsdem sēminibus ortum eōdem fruī caelō, aequē spīrāre, aequē vīvere, aequē morī!

Please consider that the man you call your slave was born of the same seeds, enjoys the same sky, and breathes, lives and dies just as you do!

Note. Vīs tū cōgitāre: 'please consider'; vīs with an infinitive is a polite request. istum … ex īsdem sēminibus ortum: 'that he was born from the same seeds'. aequē … aequē … aequē: a tricolon in anaphora: he breathes, lives and dies just as you do.

Ep. 47.47.10tam tū illum vidēre ingenuum potes quam ille tē servum.

You can as easily see him as a free man as he can see you as a slave.

Note. tam … quam: 'as … as'. ingenuum: 'free-born'.

Ep. 47.47.10Mariānā clāde multōs splendidissimē nātōs, senātōrium per mīlitiam auspicantēs gradum, fortūna dēpressit, alium ex illīs pāstōrem, alium custōdem casae fēcit;

In the disaster of Marius' time, fortune brought down many men of the most distinguished birth, who were beginning their way to the senate through army service; one of them she made a shepherd, another the keeper of a cottage;

Note. Mariāna clāde: 'in the disaster of Marius' time' (many editors print Variāna, Varus' defeat in Germany in AD 9, when well-born young men were enslaved). splendidissimē nātōs: 'most nobly born'. senātōrium per mīlitiam auspicantēs gradum: 'beginning (their way to) senatorial rank through army service'. alium … pāstōrem, alium custōdem casae: one a shepherd, another a cottage-keeper.

Ep. 47.47.10contemne nunc eius fortūnae hominem, in quam trānsīre, dum contemnis, potes.

despise, then, a man of that fortune, into which you may pass while you despise him.

Note. contemne nunc: ironic imperative, 'go on, despise …'. in quam trānsīre, dum contemnis, potes: 'into which you can pass even while you despise it'.

Ep. 47.47.11Nōlō in ingentem mē locum inmittere et dē ūsū servōrum disputāre, in quōs superbissimī, crūdēlissimī, contumēliōsissimī sumus.

I do not want to throw myself into a vast subject and discuss the treatment of slaves, towards whom we are most arrogant, most cruel and most insulting.

Note. Nōlō … mē immittere: 'I do not want to throw myself into'. in quōs: 'towards whom'. Three superlatives for the masters' behaviour.

Ep. 47.47.11Haec tamen praeceptī meī summa est: sīc cum īnferiōre vīvās, quemadmodum tēcum superiōrem velīs vīvere.

But this is the sum of my advice: live with your inferior as you would want your superior to live with you.

Note. praeceptī meī summa: 'the sum of my advice'. sīc cum īnferiōre vīvās, quemadmodum tēcum superiōrem velīs vīvere: the letter's golden rule, in jussive subjunctive. Note the balance of īnferiōre and superiōrem.

Ep. 47.47.11Quotiēns in mentem vēnerit, quantum tibi in servum liceat, veniat in mentem tantundem in tē dominō tuō licēre.

Whenever it comes into your mind how much power you have over your slave, let it come into your mind that your master has just as much over you.

Note. Quotiēns in mentem vēnerit: 'whenever it comes into your mind'. quantum tibi in servum liceat: indirect question. veniat in mentem: jussive. tantundem in tē dominō tuō licēre: 'that your master has just as much power over you', i.e. fortune, or the emperor.

Ep. 47.47.12"At ego," inquis, "nūllum habeō dominum."

"But I," you say, "have no master."

Note. inquis: 'you say', Lucilius' objection.

Ep. 47.47.12Bona aetās est;

You are still young;

Note. Bona aetās est: 'you are still young', literally 'it is a good age'.

Ep. 47.47.12forsitan habēbis.

perhaps you will have one.

Ep. 47.47.12Nescīs, quā aetāte Hecuba servīre coeperit, quā Croesus, quā Dārēī māter, quā Platōn, quā Diogenēs?

Do you not know at what age Hecuba became a slave, or Croesus, or the mother of Darius, or Plato, or Diogenes?

Note. quā aetāte: 'at what age'; quā is interrogative, repeated with each name. Hecuba (queen of Troy), Croesus (king of Lydia), the mother of Darius (captured by Alexander), Plato (sold into slavery, the story goes, in Aegina) and Diogenes the Cynic (captured by pirates): famous people who became slaves.

Ep. 47.47.13Vīve cum servō clēmenter, cōmiter quoque, et in sermōnem illum admitte et in cōnsilium et in convīctum.

Live with your slave kindly, even courteously; let him into your conversation, your counsels and your company.

Note. Vīve … clēmenter, cōmiter quoque: 'kindly, even courteously'. in sermōnem … in cōnsilium … in convīctum: 'into your conversation, your counsel, your company'.

Ep. 47.47.13Hōc locō adclāmābit mihi tōta manus dēlicātōrum: "Nihil hāc rē humilius, nihil turpius."

At this point the whole crowd of pampered men will shout at me: "Nothing is more degrading than this, nothing more shameful."

Note. Hōc locō: 'at this point'. tōta manus dēlicātōrum: 'the whole band of fastidious people'. Nihil hāc rē humilius: 'nothing (is) more degrading than this'; hāc rē is the ablative of comparison.

Ep. 47.47.13Hōs ego eōsdem dēprehendam aliēnōrum servōrum ōsculantēs manum.

These same men I shall catch kissing the hands of other people's slaves.

Note. Hōs … eōsdem: 'these same men'. dēprehendam: future, 'I shall catch'. aliēnōrum servōrum ōsculantēs manum: kissing the hand of another man's powerful slave to win favour.

Ep. 47.47.14Nē illud quidem vidētis, quam omnem invidiam maiōrēs nostrī dominīs, omnem contumēliam servīs dētrāxerint?

Do you not even see how our ancestors took all odium away from masters and all humiliation away from slaves?

Note. Nē illud quidem: 'not even that'. quam … dētrāxerint: indirect question: 'how completely our ancestors removed all odium from masters and all humiliation from slaves'.

Ep. 47.47.14Dominum patrem familiae appellāvērunt, servōs, quod etiam in mīmīs adhūc dūrat, familiārēs.

They called the master 'father of the household', and the slaves 'members of the household', a usage that still survives in the mimes.

Note. patrem familiae: 'father of the household' (paterfamiliās). familiārēs: 'members of the household'. quod etiam in mīmīs adhūc dūrat: 'something that still survives in the mimes', popular farces that preserved old usages.

Ep. 47.47.14Īnstituērunt diem fēstum, nōn quō sōlō cum servīs dominī vēscerentur, sed quō utique;

They established a holiday, not as the only day on which masters ate with their slaves, but as one on which they certainly did;

Note. diem fēstum: the Saturnalia, in December, when masters served their slaves. nōn quō sōlō … sed quō utique: 'not as the only day on which … but as one on which, at any rate'.

Ep. 47.47.14honōrēs illīs in domō gerere, iūs dīcere permīsērunt et domum pusillam rem pūblicam esse iūdicāvērunt.

they allowed them to hold offices in the household and to give judgments, and they considered the household a small commonwealth.

Note. honōrēs … gerere, iūs dīcere: 'hold offices and give judgments' within the household. pusillam rem pūblicam: 'a little commonwealth'.

Ep. 47.47.15"Quid ergō?

"What then?

Note. Lucilius' (or an objector's) question.

Ep. 47.47.15Omnēs servōs admovēbō mēnsae meae?"

Shall I bring all my slaves to my table?"

Note. admovēbō mēnsae meae: 'shall I bring (them) to my table?' with the dative.

Ep. 47.47.15Nōn magis quam omnēs līberōs.

No more than all free men.

Note. Nōn magis quam omnēs līberōs: 'no more than all free men', i.e. you do not invite every free man either.

Ep. 47.47.15Errās, sī exīstimās mē quōsdam quasi sordidiōris operae rēiectūrum, ut puta illum mūliōnem et illum bubulcum;

You are wrong if you think I would reject some as being of too menial a job, for example that mule-driver or that ox-herd;

Note. quōsdam quasi sordidiōris operae: 'some as being of a lowlier job'; genitive of quality. rēiectūrum (esse): future infinitive. ut puta: 'for example'.

Ep. 47.47.15nōn ministeriīs illōs aestimābō, sed mōribus.

I shall value them not by their jobs but by their character.

Note. nōn ministeriīs … sed mōribus: ablatives of respect: 'not by their jobs, but by their character'.

Ep. 47.47.15Sibi quisque dat mōrēs, ministeria cāsus adsignat.

Each man gives himself his character; chance assigns his job.

Note. Sibi quisque dat mōrēs, ministeria cāsus adsignat: a famous antithesis in chiasmus: character is our own doing, our station is chance.

Ep. 47.47.15Quīdam cēnent tēcum, quia dignī sunt, quīdam, ut sint.

Let some dine with you because they are worthy, others so that they may become worthy.

Note. Quīdam cēnent tēcum: jussive subjunctive, 'let some dine with you'. ut sint (dignī): 'so that they may become worthy'.

Ep. 47.47.15Sī quid enim in illīs, ex sordidā conversātiōne servīle est, honestiōrum convīctus excutiet.

For if there is anything slavish in them from low company, association with better men will shake it out.

Note. Sī quid … servīle est: 'if there is anything slavish'; quid is indefinite after sī. honestiōrum convīctus: 'living with better men'.

Ep. 47.47.16Nōn est, mī Lūcīlī, quod amīcum tantum in forō et in cūriā quaerās;

You need not, my Lucilius, look for a friend only in the forum and the senate house;

Note. Nōn est … quod … quaerās: 'there is no reason for you to look'. in forō et in cūriā: the places of public life.

Ep. 47.47.16sī dīligenter adtenderis, et domī inveniēs.

if you pay close attention, you will find one at home too.

Note. et domī inveniēs: 'you will find (a friend) at home too'. domī is the locative.

Ep. 47.47.16Saepe bona māteria cessat sine artifice;

Good material often lies idle for lack of a craftsman;

Note. bona māteria cessat sine artifice: 'good material lies idle without a craftsman'. Seneca thinks of the slave as raw material for a friend.

Ep. 47.47.16temptā, et experiēre.

try, and you will find out.

Note. experiēre: future of the deponent experior, 'you will find out'.

Ep. 47.47.16Quemadmodum stultus est, quī equum ēmptūrus nōn ipsum īnspicit, sed strātum eius ac frēnōs, sīc stultissimus est, quī hominem aut ex veste aut ex condiciōne, quae vestis modō nōbīs circumdata est, aestimat.

Just as a man is a fool who, when he is going to buy a horse, does not examine the horse itself but its saddle-cloth and bridle, so he is the greatest fool who values a man by his clothes or by his status, which is wrapped around us like a garment.

Note. Quemadmodum … sīc: 'just as … so'. equum ēmptūrus: 'about to buy a horse'. strātum … ac frēnōs: 'the saddle-cloth and bridle'. condiciōne, quae vestis modō nōbīs circumdata est: social status is just a garment wrapped around us.

Ep. 47.47.17"Servus est."

"He is a slave."

Note. The objector again.

Ep. 47.47.17Sed fortasse līber animō.

But perhaps free in spirit.

Note. līber animō: 'free in spirit'; animō is the ablative of respect.

Ep. 47.47.17"Servus est."

"He is a slave."

Ep. 47.47.17Hoc illī nocēbit?

Will that harm him?

Note. Hoc illī nocēbit?: 'will that harm him?', a rhetorical question expecting 'no'.

Ep. 47.47.17Ostende, quis nōn sit;

Show me who is not;

Note. Ostende, quis nōn sit: 'show me who is not (a slave)'.

Ep. 47.47.17alius libīdinī servit, alius avāritiae, alius ambitiōnī, omnēs timōrī.

one is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition, all to fear.

Note. A Stoic commonplace: we are all slaves of our passions. Note the datives with servit: libīdinī, avāritiae, ambitiōnī, timōrī.

Ep. 47.47.17Dabō cōnsulārem aniculae servientem, dabō ancillulae dīvitem, ostendam nōbilissimōs iuvenēs mancipia pantomīmōrum!

I will show you a former consul who is slave to an old woman, a rich man who is slave to a servant girl; I will show you young men of the noblest birth who are the slaves of pantomime dancers!

Note. Dabō: 'I will show you'. cōnsulārem aniculae servientem: a former consul enslaved to an old woman (for her legacy). nōbilissimōs iuvenēs mancipia pantomīmōrum: young nobles who are the 'property' of ballet-dancers, through infatuation.

Ep. 47.47.17Nūlla servitūs turpior est quam voluntāria.

No slavery is more shameful than voluntary slavery.

Note. Nūlla servitūs turpior est quam voluntāria: the climax of the argument.

Ep. 47.47.17Quārē nōn est quod fastīdiōsī istī tē dēterreant, quō minus servīs tuīs hilarem tē praestēs et nōn superbē superiōrem;

So there is no reason why these fastidious people should deter you from showing yourself cheerful to your slaves and not arrogantly superior;

Note. nōn est quod … tē dēterreant, quō minus … praestēs: 'there is no reason why they should deter you from showing yourself …'. quō minus introduces the clause after a verb of preventing.

Ep. 47.47.17colant potius tē quam timeant.

let them respect you rather than fear you.

Note. colant potius tē quam timeant: jussive subjunctives: 'let them respect you rather than fear you'.

Ep. 47.47.18Dīcet aliquis nunc mē vocāre ad pilleum servōs et dominōs dē fastīgiō suō dēicere, quod dīxī: colant potius dominum quam timeant.

Someone will say now that I am calling slaves to the cap of freedom and toppling masters from their high position, because I said: let them respect their master rather than fear him.

Note. ad pilleum vocāre: 'to call to the cap of freedom'. A freed slave wore the pilleus, a felt cap; so Seneca is accused of inciting slaves to freedom. dē fastīgiō suō dēicere: 'to throw down from their height'.

Ep. 47.47.18"Ita inquit prōrsus: colant tamquam clientēs, tamquam salūtātōrēs?"

"Is that exactly what he says: let them respect him like clients, like visitors paying a morning call?"

Note. The objector quotes Seneca sarcastically: should slaves treat their master the way clients and morning callers do?

Ep. 47.47.18Hoc quī dīxerit, oblīvīscētur id dominīs parum nōn esse, quod deō sat est.

Whoever says this will forget that what is enough for a god is not too little for masters.

Note. id dominīs parum nōn esse, quod deō sat est: 'that what is enough for a god is not too little for masters': we only ask respect of the gods, so masters should be content with it too.

Ep. 47.47.18Quī colitur, et amātur;

A man who is respected is also loved;

Note. Quī colitur, et amātur: et means 'also'.

Ep. 47.47.18nōn potest amor cum timōre miscērī.

love cannot be mixed with fear.

Note. nōn potest amor cum timōre miscērī: 'love cannot be mixed with fear', a central maxim.

Ep. 47.47.19Rēctissimē ergō facere tē iūdicō, quod timērī ā servīs tuīs nōn vīs, quod verbōrum castīgātiōne ūteris;

So I think you are acting very rightly in not wishing to be feared by your slaves, and in using the punishment of words;

Note. Rēctissimē: superlative adverb. quod … nōn vīs … quod … ūteris: 'in that you do not want … in that you use …'. verbōrum castīgātiōne: 'the reproof of words', i.e. scolding rather than beating.

Ep. 47.47.19verberibus mūta admonentur.

it is dumb animals that are corrected with blows.

Note. verberibus mūta admonentur: 'dumb animals are corrected with blows': whipping treats slaves like beasts.

Ep. 47.47.19Nōn quicquid nōs offendit, et laedit.

Not everything that offends us also hurts us.

Note. Nōn quicquid nōs offendit, et laedit: 'not whatever offends us also hurts us': annoyance is not injury, a Stoic distinction.

Ep. 47.47.19Sed ad rabiem nōs cōgunt pervenīre dēliciae, ut quicquid nōn ex voluntāte respondit, īram ēvocet.

But our luxuries drive us to madness, so that whatever does not answer to our wishes calls up our anger.

Note. dēliciae: 'luxuries, pampering' (plural noun). ut quicquid nōn ex voluntāte respondit, īram ēvocet: result clause: whatever does not go as we wish provokes our anger.

Ep. 47.47.20Rēgum nōbīs induimus animōs.

We put on the temper of kings.

Note. Rēgum nōbīs induimus animōs: 'we put on the temper of kings'.

Ep. 47.47.20Nam illī quoque oblītī et suārum vīrium et inbēcillitātis aliēnae sīc excandēscunt, sīc saeviunt, quasi iniūriam accēperint, ā cuius reī perīculō illōs fortūnae suae magnitūdō tūtissimōs praestat.

For they too, forgetting both their own strength and the weakness of others, blaze up and rage as if they had received an injury, when the greatness of their fortune keeps them perfectly safe from any danger of that.

Note. oblītī … et suārum vīrium et imbēcillitātis aliēnae: oblīvīscor takes the genitive. quasi iniūriam accēperint: 'as if they had suffered an injury'. ā cuius reī perīculō: 'from the danger of which thing' (the injury), connecting relative. tūtissimōs praestat: 'keeps (them) completely safe'.

Ep. 47.47.20Nec hoc ignōrant, sed occāsiōnem nocendī captant querendō;

Nor are they unaware of this, but by complaining they hunt for an opportunity to do harm;

Note. occāsiōnem nocendī: 'an opportunity of doing harm'; nocendī is the gerund. querendō: ablative of the gerund, 'by complaining'.

Ep. 47.47.20accēpērunt iniūriam ut facerent.

they have received an injury so that they may inflict one.

Note. accēpērunt iniūriam ut facerent: 'they received an injury so that they might do one': a pointed final sentence.

Ep. 47.47.21Diūtius tē morārī nōlō;

I do not want to keep you any longer;

Note. Diūtius: comparative of diū, 'longer'. tē morārī: 'to delay you'.

Ep. 47.47.21nōn est enim tibi exhortātiōne opus.

for you have no need of encouragement.

Note. nōn est … tibi exhortātiōne opus: 'you have no need of encouragement'; opus est takes the ablative of the thing needed.

Ep. 47.47.21Hoc habent inter cētera bonī mōrēs: placent sibi, permanent.

Good character has this among its other qualities: it is content with itself and it lasts.

Note. Hoc habent … bonī mōrēs: 'good character has this (advantage)'. placent sibi, permanent: two short verbs: it is content with itself and it lasts.

Ep. 47.47.21Levis est malitia, saepe mūtātur, nōn in melius, sed in aliud.

Wickedness is fickle and changes often, not for the better but to something else.

Note. Levis est malitia: 'wickedness is fickle'. in melius … in aliud: 'for the better … into something else'.

Ep. 47.47.21Valē.

Farewell.

Note. Valē: 'farewell'.