Seneca, Letters 7

Ep. 7.7.1Quid tibi vītandum praecipuē exīstimēs, quaeris?

You ask what I think you should especially avoid?

Note. Like all the Moral Letters, this one is addressed to Lucilius. Seneca answers a question as if Lucilius had asked it: quid … existimēs is an indirect question (hence the subjunctive) depending on quaeris. vītandum (esse): gerundive of obligation, 'must be avoided'; tibi is the dative of the person who must do it.

Ep. 7.7.1Turbam.

The crowd.

Note. Turbam: a one-word answer, in the accusative because it answers quid … vītandum. Seneca's style loves such abrupt replies.

Ep. 7.7.1Nōndum illī tūtō committeris.

You cannot yet trust yourself to it safely.

Note. illī: dative, 'to it' (the crowd, feminine). committeris: present passive, 'you are (not yet) entrusted', i.e. you cannot yet trust yourself to it. tūtō is an adverb, 'safely'.

Ep. 7.7.1Ego certē cōnfitēbor inbēcillitātem meam: numquam mōrēs, quōs extulī, referō.

I, at any rate, will confess my weakness: I never bring home the character I took out with me.

Note. cōnfitēbor: future of the deponent cōnfiteor. mōrēs quōs extulī: 'the character which I carried out (of the house)'; extulī is the perfect of efferō. referō: 'I bring back'. The image is of someone who goes out and comes home changed.

Ep. 7.7.1Aliquid ex eō, quod conposuī, turbātur;

Something of what I had set in order is disturbed;

Note. Aliquid ex eō, quod composuī: 'something of what I had set in order'. The two parallel sentences make a neat antithesis: what was calm is disturbed, what was expelled returns.

Ep. 7.7.1aliquid ex iīs, quae fugāvī, redit.

something of what I had driven away comes back.

Note. iīs: = eīs, ablative plural of is. quae fugāvī: 'which I had put to flight' (his vices).

Ep. 7.7.1Quod aegrīs ēvenit, quōs longa inbēcillitās usque eō adfēcit, ut nusquam sine offēnsā prōferantur, hoc accidit nōbīs, quōrum animī ex longō morbō reficiuntur.

What happens to sick people, whom a long illness has weakened so much that they cannot be taken out anywhere without harm, happens to us, whose minds are recovering from a long disease.

Note. Quod aegrīs ēvenit … hoc accidit nōbīs: 'what happens to the sick … this happens to us'. ūsque eō … ut: 'to such an extent that', a result clause. sine offēnsā: 'without harm', i.e. without a relapse. ex longō morbō reficiuntur: the Stoics often spoke of vice as a disease of the soul and philosophy as its cure.

Ep. 7.7.2Inimīca est multōrum conversātiō;

Mixing with the many does us harm;

Note. Inimīca est multōrum conversātiō: 'the company of the many is harmful'. conversātiō here means social intercourse, not 'conversation'.

Ep. 7.7.2nēmō nōn aliquod nōbīs vitium aut commendat aut inprimit aut nescientibus adlinit.

there is no one who does not recommend some vice to us, or stamp it on us, or smear it on us without our knowing.

Note. nēmō nōn: 'nobody does not', i.e. everyone. Three verbs climb in subtlety: commendat (recommends openly), imprimit (stamps on us), nescientibus adlinit ('smears on us without our knowing'); nescientibus is a present participle in the dative, 'on (us) unawares'.

Ep. 7.7.2Utique quō maior est populus, cui miscēmur, hōc perīculī plūs est.

Certainly, the larger the crowd we mingle with, the greater the danger.

Note. quō maior … hōc … plūs: 'the greater … the more', ablatives of degree of difference. perīculī plūs: partitive genitive, 'more of danger'.

Ep. 7.7.2Nihil vērō tam damnōsum bonīs mōribus quam in aliquō spectāculō dēsidēre.

But nothing is so ruinous to good character as sitting idle at some show.

Note. damnōsum bonīs mōribus: 'ruinous to good character', with the dative. dēsidēre: 'to sit idle', the infinitive as the subject being compared. spectāculum: the public shows in the amphitheatre.

Ep. 7.7.2Tunc enim per voluptātem facilius vitia subrēpunt.

For then vices creep in more easily through pleasure.

Note. per voluptātem: pleasure is the way in; vices 'creep in' (subrēpunt) while we enjoy ourselves.

Ep. 7.7.3Quid mē exīstimās dīcere?

What do you think I mean?

Note. Quid mē exīstimās dīcere?: 'What do you think I mean?' Seneca is about to explain from his own experience.

Ep. 7.7.3Avārior redeō, ambitiōsior, luxuriōsior, immō vērō crūdēlior et inhūmānior, quia inter hominēs fuī.

I come home greedier, more ambitious, more fond of luxury, and indeed crueller and less humane, because I have been among people.

Note. A list of comparatives (avārior, ambitiōsior, luxuriōsior, crūdēlior, inhūmānior), each describing the speaker (masculine nominative singular). immō vērō: 'nay rather', correcting to something stronger. quia inter hominēs fuī: the bitter point is that being 'among human beings' makes one less humane.

Ep. 7.7.3Cāsū in merīdiānum spectāculum incidī lūsūs expectāns et salēs et aliquid laxāmentī, quō hominum oculī ab hūmānō cruōre adquiēscunt;

By chance I went to the midday show, expecting games and wit and some relaxation, by which men's eyes may rest from human blood;

Note. Cāsū: 'by chance'. merīdiānum spectāculum: the midday show, when condemned criminals were made to kill each other while the regular gladiators rested. lūsūs … salēs … aliquid laxāmentī: 'games, wit, some relaxation'; salēs (plural of sāl, 'salt') means witticisms. quō … adquiēscunt: 'by which (men's eyes) may rest'.

Ep. 7.7.3contrā est.

it is the opposite.

Note. Contrā est: 'It is the opposite.' Another abrupt reversal.

Ep. 7.7.3Quicquid ante pugnātum est, misericordia fuit.

Whatever fighting there was before was mercy.

Note. Quicquid ante pugnātum est: 'whatever fighting was done before'; the impersonal passive. misericordia fuit: compared with what followed, the morning's fights were 'mercy'.

Ep. 7.7.3Nunc omissīs nūgīs mera homicīdia sunt.

Now, the trifles set aside, it is pure murder.

Note. omissīs nūgīs: ablative absolute, 'the trifles having been dropped'. mera homicīdia: 'pure murders'; merus means unmixed, like undiluted wine.

Ep. 7.7.3Nihil habent quō tegantur, ad ictum tōtīs corporibus expositī numquam frūstrā manum mittunt.

The men have nothing to protect them; exposed to blows with their whole bodies, they never strike in vain.

Note. quō tegantur: relative clause of purpose or characteristic, 'with which to cover themselves'. ad ictum … expositī: 'exposed to the blow'. numquam frūstrā manum mittunt: every stroke lands.

Ep. 7.7.4Hoc plērīque ōrdināriīs paribus et postulātīciīs praeferunt.

Most people prefer this to the regular pairs and the extra pairs asked for by the crowd.

Note. Hōc … praeferunt: 'prefer this to …', with the dative of what is passed over. ōrdināriīs paribus et postulātīciīs: the regular pairs of gladiators on the programme, and the extra pairs 'demanded' by the crowd.

Ep. 7.7.4Quidnī praeferant?

Why should they not prefer it?

Note. Quidnī praeferant?: deliberative subjunctive, 'Why should they not prefer it?', spoken with heavy irony in the crowd's voice.

Ep. 7.7.4Nōn galeā, nōn scūtō repellitur ferrum.

The sword is not kept off by helmet or shield.

Note. Nōn galeā, nōn scūtō: ablatives of means; repetition of nōn instead of 'neither … nor' adds force.

Ep. 7.7.4Quō mūnīmenta?

What is armour for?

Note. Quō mūnīmenta?: 'To what purpose armour?' Supply sunt. Two short questions in the crowd's voice.

Ep. 7.7.4Quō artēs?

What is skill for?

Note. Quō artēs?: 'What use is skill?' The crowd wants death, not fencing.

Ep. 7.7.4Omnia ista mortis morae sunt.

All these things merely delay death.

Note. mortis morae: 'delays of death', i.e. things that only postpone it.

Ep. 7.7.4Māne leōnibus et ursīs hominēs, merīdiē spectātōribus suīs obiciuntur.

In the morning men are thrown to lions and bears, at midday to their spectators.

Note. Māne … merīdiē: 'in the morning … at midday'. In the morning criminals were exposed to beasts; at midday, Seneca says bitterly, to 'their own spectators'.

Ep. 7.7.4Interfectōrēs interfectūrīs iubent obicī et victōrem in aliam dētinent caedem.

They order the killers to be thrown to men who will kill them, and they keep the victor back for another slaughter.

Note. Interfectōrēs interfectūrīs iubent obicī: 'they order the killers to be thrown to men who will kill them'. interfectūrīs is the future participle in the dative. The winner does not go free but is kept for another fight.

Ep. 7.7.4Exitus pugnantium mors est;

The way out for the fighters is death;

Note. Exitus pugnantium: 'the way out (or end) for those who fight'. pugnantium is the present participle used as a noun.

Ep. 7.7.4ferrō et igne rēs geritur.

the business is done with sword and fire.

Note. ferrō et igne rēs geritur: hot irons were used to drive reluctant fighters on.

Ep. 7.7.4Haec fīunt, dum vacat harēna.

This goes on while the arena is empty.

Note. dum vacat harēna: 'while the arena is free', i.e. during the interval between the main events.

Ep. 7.7.5"Sed latrōcinium fēcit aliquis, occīdit hominem."

"But he committed robbery, he killed a man."

Note. Seneca imagines an objection from a spectator, in quotation marks: the man is a robber and a murderer, so he deserves it.

Ep. 7.7.5Quid ergō?

What of it?

Note. Quid ergō?: 'So what?' Seneca's reply follows.

Ep. 7.7.5Quia occīdit ille, meruit ut hoc paterētur;

Because he killed, he deserved to suffer this;

Note. meruit ut hoc paterētur: 'he deserved to suffer this'; mereor/mereō with ut and the subjunctive.

Ep. 7.7.5tū quid meruistī miser, ut hoc spectēs?

what did you do, poor wretch, to deserve to watch it?

Note. tū quid meruistī, miser, ut hoc spectēs?: the brilliant turn: whatever the criminal deserved, what crime did the spectator commit to deserve the punishment of watching?

Ep. 7.7.5"Occīde, verberā, ūre!

"Kill him, flog him, burn him!

Note. Occīde, verberā, ūre!: three imperatives shouted by the crowd at the editor or the fighters.

Ep. 7.7.5Quārē tam timidē incurrit in ferrum?

Why does he run on the sword so timidly?

Note. incurrit in ferrum: 'runs onto the sword'. The crowd complains that the victim does not die bravely enough.

Ep. 7.7.5Quārē parum audācter occīdit?

Why does he kill so feebly?

Note. parum audācter: 'too little boldly', i.e. not boldly enough. Here occīdit is present, 'he kills'.

Ep. 7.7.5Quārē parum libenter moritur?

Why does he die so unwillingly?

Note. moritur: present of the deponent morior.

Ep. 7.7.5Plāgīs agātur in vulnera, mūtuōs ictūs nūdīs et obviīs pectoribus excipiant."

Let him be driven to his wounds with whips; let them take blow for blow on bare and exposed chests."

Note. Plāgīs agātur in vulnera: jussive subjunctive, 'let him be driven by whips onto wounds'. mūtuōs ictūs … excipiant: 'let them receive blows in turn' on bare chests.

Ep. 7.7.5Intermissum est spectāculum: "interim iugulentur hominēs, nē nihil agātur."

The show has an interval: "Meanwhile, let men have their throats cut, so that something is happening."

Note. Intermissum est spectāculum: 'the show has been interrupted' (for the lunch break). The crowd's voice again: iugulentur hominēs, nē nihil agātur, 'let men be butchered, so that there's not nothing going on'.

Ep. 7.7.5Age, nē hoc quidem intellegitis, mala exempla in eōs redundāre, quī faciunt?

Come now, do you not even understand this, that bad examples recoil on those who set them?

Note. Age: 'come now', a common interjection. nē hoc quidem: 'not even this'. mala exempla in eōs redundāre: indirect statement, 'that bad examples flow back onto those who set them'.

Ep. 7.7.5Agite dīs inmortālibus grātiās, quod eum docētis esse crūdēlem, quī nōn potest discere.

Thank the immortal gods that you are teaching cruelty to a man who cannot learn it.

Note. Agite dīs immortālibus grātiās: the usual phrase grātiās agere, 'give thanks'. dīs = deīs. quod eum docētis esse crūdēlem: 'that you are teaching (a man) to be cruel who cannot learn it'. Seneca addresses the crowd with heavy sarcasm: if the victim cannot learn cruelty, the real pupils are the spectators.

Ep. 7.7.6Subdūcendus populō est tener animus et parum tenāx rēctī;

A tender mind, with too weak a hold on what is right, must be withdrawn from the crowd;

Note. Subdūcendus … est: gerundive of obligation, 'must be withdrawn'. populō is dative of separation, 'from the people'. parum tenāx rēctī: 'with too weak a hold on what is right'; rēctī is the substantival genitive with tenāx.

Ep. 7.7.6facile trānsitur ad plūrēs.

it easily goes over to the majority.

Note. facile trānsītur ad plūrēs: an impersonal passive, 'one easily goes over to the majority'.

Ep. 7.7.6Sōcratī et Catōnī et Laeliō excutere mōrem suum dissimilis multitūdō potuisset;

Even Socrates, Cato and Laelius could have been shaken out of their character by a crowd unlike them;

Note. Sōcratī et Catōnī et Laeliō: datives of disadvantage with excutere, 'to shake (their character) out of Socrates, Cato and Laelius'. Seneca's three models of virtue: Socrates, Cato (probably the younger Cato, the Stoic hero) and Laelius 'the Wise'. potuisset: pluperfect subjunctive, 'could have'.

Ep. 7.7.6adeō nēmō nostrum, quī cum maximē concinnāmus ingenium, ferre impetum vitiōrum tam magnō comitātū venientium potest.

so true is it that none of us, even at the very moment we are putting our character in order, can withstand the attack of vices that come with so great a following.

Note. adeō: 'so true is it that'. nēmō nostrum: 'none of us'; nostrum is the partitive genitive of nōs. cum maximē: 'at the very moment when', 'even while'. concinnāmus ingenium: 'we are putting our character in order'. vitiōrum … venientium: 'of vices coming with so great a retinue'.

Ep. 7.7.7Ūnum exemplum luxuriae aut avāritiae multum malī facit;

A single example of luxury or greed does a great deal of harm;

Note. Ūnum exemplum: one example is enough; multum malī is 'much (of) harm', partitive genitive.

Ep. 7.7.7convīctor dēlicātus paulātim ēnervat et ēmollit, vīcīnus dīves cupiditātem inrītat, malignus comes quamvīs candidō et simplicī rūbīginem suam adfricuit.

a pampered companion gradually weakens and softens us, a rich neighbour stirs up our desires, a spiteful friend rubs his own rust on us, however pure and simple we are.

Note. Three examples, each a small sentence: convīctor dēlicātus (a pampered table-companion), vīcīnus dīves (a rich neighbour), malignus comes (a spiteful friend). quamvīs candidō et simplicī: 'onto (a man) however pure and simple'; the datives go with adfricuit. rūbīginem suam: 'his own rust', the corruption rubbing off like rust.

Ep. 7.7.7Quid tū accidere hīs mōribus crēdis, in quōs pūblicē factus est impetus?

What do you think happens to a character that is attacked by the public at large?

Note. Quid … accidere his mōribus crēdis: 'what do you think happens to a character'. in quōs pūblicē factus est impetus: 'against which an attack has been made by the public as a whole'.

Ep. 7.7.7Necesse est aut imitēris aut ōderīs.

You must either imitate them or hate them.

Note. Necesse est aut imitēris aut ōderis: necesse est followed by the subjunctive without ut, 'you must either imitate or hate'. ōderis is the perfect subjunctive of ōdī, which has present meaning.

Ep. 7.7.8Utrumque autem dēvītandum est;

But both must be avoided;

Note. Utrumque … dēvītandum est: 'both must be avoided'.

Ep. 7.7.8nēve similis malīs fīās, quia multī sunt, nēve inimīcus multīs, quia dissimilēs sunt.

you must not become like the bad because they are many, nor hostile to the many because they are unlike you.

Note. nēve … fīās … nēve (fīās) inimīcus: 'you must not become … nor (become) hostile'. A neat chiasmus: similis malīs because they are multī; inimīcus multīs because they are dissimilēs.

Ep. 7.7.8Recēde in tē ipsum, quantum potes.

Withdraw into yourself as far as you can.

Note. Recēde in tē ipsum: the central Stoic advice of the letter: withdraw into yourself. quantum potes: 'as far as you can'.

Ep. 7.7.8Cum hīs versāre, quī tē meliōrem factūrī sunt.

Spend your time with those who will make you better.

Note. versāre: present imperative of the deponent versor, 'spend time, keep company'. facturī sunt: future participle with sum, 'are going to make'.

Ep. 7.7.8Illōs admitte, quōs tū potes facere meliōrēs.

Let in those whom you can make better.

Note. quōs tū potes facere meliōrēs: the reverse of the previous sentence: associate with those who will improve you, and admit those you can improve.

Ep. 7.7.8Mūtuō ista fīunt, et hominēs, dum docent, discunt.

This works both ways: people learn while they teach.

Note. Mūtuō: adverb, 'mutually'. hominēs, dum docent, discunt: a famous saying: 'people learn while they teach'.

Ep. 7.7.9Nōn est quod tē glōria pūblicandī ingeniī prōdūcat in medium, ut recitāre istīs velīs aut disputāre;

There is no reason why the glory of showing off your talent should bring you out into public, so that you want to give readings or lectures to these people;

Note. Nōn est quod: 'there is no reason why', followed by the subjunctive. glōria pūblicandī ingeniī: 'the glory of publishing (displaying) your talent'; pūblicandī is a gerundive agreeing with ingeniī. in medium: 'into the open'. ut recitāre istīs velīs: 'so that you want to give readings to those people'; public readings of one's writing were a fashionable activity.

Ep. 7.7.9quod facere tē vellem, sī habērēs istī populō idōneam mercem;

I would want you to do it if you had wares suitable for this crowd;

Note. quod facere tē vellem: 'which I would want you to do'; vellem is the imperfect subjunctive of volō, in an unreal condition. sī habērēs … idōneam mercem: 'if you had wares fit for (this) people'. The image is commercial: the crowd wants cheap goods.

Ep. 7.7.9nēmō est, quī intellegere tē possit.

there is no one who could understand you.

Note. quī intellegere tē possit: relative clause of characteristic, 'who could understand you'.

Ep. 7.7.9Aliquis fortasse, ūnus aut alter incidet, et hic ipse fōrmandus tibi erit īnstituendusque ad intellēctum tuī.

Perhaps one or two will come your way, and even he will have to be shaped and trained by you to understand you.

Note. ūnus aut alter: 'one or two'. formandus … īnstituendusque: gerundives of obligation with the dative of agent tibi, 'will have to be shaped and trained by you'. ad intellēctum tuī: 'to the understanding of you'; tuī is the objective genitive of tū.

Ep. 7.7.9"Cui ergō ista didicī?"

"For whom, then, did I learn all this?"

Note. Lucilius' imagined objection: 'For whom, then, did I learn these things?' cui is interrogative.

Ep. 7.7.9Nōn est quod timeās, nē operam perdiderīs;

There is no reason for you to fear that you have wasted your effort;

Note. Nōn est quod timeās, nē … perdiderīs: 'there is no reason for you to fear that you have lost your effort'. After verbs of fearing, nē means 'that'.

Ep. 7.7.9tibi didicistī.

you learned it for yourself.

Note. tibi didicistī: 'you learned for yourself': the true audience of philosophy is the self.

Ep. 7.7.10Sed nē sōlī mihi hodiē didicerim, commūnicābō tēcum, quae occurrērunt mihi ēgregiē dicta circā eundem ferē sēnsum tria;

But so that I may not have learned today for myself alone, I will share with you three excellent sayings I came across on roughly the same idea;

Note. nē sōlī mihi … didicerim: purpose clause, 'so that I may not have learned for myself alone'. Seneca usually ends a letter with a quotation as a small gift; here he gives three. egregiē dicta: 'excellent sayings'. circā eundem ferē sēnsum: 'on roughly the same idea'.

Ep. 7.7.10ex quibus ūnum haec epistula in dēbitum solvet, duo in antecessum accipe.

this letter will pay one of them as what I owe; take the other two in advance.

Note. The metaphor is of a debt: ūnum haec epistula in dēbitum solvet, 'this letter will pay one as what is owed', duo in antecessum accipe, 'take two in advance'.

Ep. 7.7.10Dēmocritus ait: "Ūnus mihi prō populō est, et populus prō ūnō."

Democritus says: "One man is a people to me, and a people one man."

Note. Dēmocritus: the philosopher from Abdera. Ūnus mihi prō populō est: 'one man counts for a whole people with me', and a whole people for one.

Ep. 7.7.11Bene et ille, quisquis fuit, ambigitur enim dē auctōre, cum quaererētur ab illō, quō tanta dīligentia artis spectāret ad paucissimōs perventūrae, "Satis sunt," inquit, "mihi paucī, satis est ūnus, satis est nūllus."

Well said too by the man, whoever he was (for the author is disputed), who, when he was asked to what end he devoted such care to an art that would reach very few, replied: "A few are enough for me, one is enough, none is enough."

Note. Bene et ille (dīxit): 'he also (spoke) well'. quisquis fuit: 'whoever he was'. ambigitur … dē auctōre: 'there is doubt about the author'. quō … spectāret: 'to what end he aimed'. artis ad paucissimōs perventūrae: 'an art that would reach very few'; perventūrae is the future participle. Satis est nūllus: the climax: 'none is enough'.

Ep. 7.7.11Ēgregiē hoc tertium Epicūrus, cum ūnī ex cōnsortibus studiōrum suōrum scrīberet: "Haec," inquit, "ego nōn multīs, sed tibi;

The third, an excellent one, is Epicurus', when he was writing to one of his partners in study: "I say this not to the many, but to you;

Note. Egregiē hoc tertium Epicūrus (dīxit): Seneca often quotes Epicurus in the early letters, though he was a Stoic: good sayings belong to everyone. cōnsortibus studiōrum: 'partners in study'.

Ep. 7.7.11satis enim magnum alter alterī theātrum sumus."

for we are a big enough audience for each other."

Note. alter alterī: 'each to the other'. theātrum: 'audience', literally 'theatre'.

Ep. 7.7.12Ista, mī Lūcīlī, condenda in animum sunt, ut contemnās voluptātem ex plūrium adsēnsiōne venientem.

These sayings, my Lucilius, must be stored in your mind, so that you may despise the pleasure that comes from the approval of the many.

Note. Ista … condenda in animum sunt: 'these sayings must be stored away in your mind'; condenda is a gerundive of obligation. ex plūrium adsēnsiōne: 'from the approval of the many'.

Ep. 7.7.12Multī tē laudant.

Many people praise you.

Note. Multī tē laudant: a short statement before the challenge.

Ep. 7.7.12Ecquid habēs, cūr placeās tibi, sī is es, quem intellegant multī?

Have you any reason to be pleased with yourself, if you are the sort of man the many understand?

Note. Ecquid habēs cūr placeās tibi: 'have you any reason to be pleased with yourself'. sī is es quem intellegant multī: 'if you are the kind of man the many understand'; the subjunctive marks a relative clause of characteristic. To be understood by the crowd is no compliment.

Ep. 7.7.12Intrōrsus bona tua spectent.

Let your good qualities face inward.

Note. Intrōrsus bona tua spectent: 'let your good things face inward': your virtues should be for yourself, not for display. A pointed closing sentence.

Ep. 7.7.12Valē.

Farewell.

Note. Valē: 'farewell', the usual close.