Seneca, Letter 4

Freedom from the fear of death

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Ep. 4.1Persevērā ut coepistī et quantum potes properā, quō diūtius fruī ēmendātō animō et conpositō possīs.Persevere as you have begun, and hasten as much as you can, so that you may enjoy the longer a mind corrected and well ordered. Ep. 4.1Fruēris quidem etiam dum ēmendās, etiam dum conpōnis;You will enjoy it, indeed, even while you are correcting it, even while you are ordering it; Ep. 4.1alia tamen illa voluptās est, quae percipitur ex contemplātiōne mentis ab omnī lābe pūrae et splendidae.yet different is that pleasure which is gained from contemplating a mind pure and shining, free of every stain. Ep. 4.2Tenēs utique memoriā, quantum sēnserīs gaudium, cum praetextā positā sūmpsistī virīlem togam et in forum dēductus es;You certainly remember how much joy you felt when you laid aside the bordered gown, put on the toga of manhood and were escorted into the forum; Ep. 4.2maius expectā, cum puerīlem animum dēposueris et tē in virōs philosophia trānsscrīpserit.expect a greater one when you have laid aside the mind of a boy and philosophy has enrolled you among men. Ep. 4.2Adhūc enim nōn pueritia sed, quod est gravius, puerīlitās remanet.For up to now there remains in us not boyhood but, what is more serious, boyishness.

Ep. 4.2Et hoc quidem peior est, quod auctōritātem habēmus senum, vitia puerōrum, nec puerōrum tantum sed īnfantum.And this indeed is the worse because we have the authority of old men, the faults of boys, and not only of boys but of infants. Ep. 4.2Illī levia, hī falsa formīdant, nōs utraque.Boys fear trifles, infants fear phantoms, we fear both. Ep. 4.3Prōfice modo;Only make progress; Ep. 4.3intellegēs quaedam ideō minus timenda, quia multum metūs adferunt.you will understand that some things are to be feared less for the very reason that they bring much fear. Ep. 4.3Nūllum malum est magnum, quod extrēmum est.No evil is great which is the last. Ep. 4.3Mors ad tē venit;Death comes to you; Ep. 4.3timenda erat, sī tēcum esse posset;it would be something to fear if it could remain with you; Ep. 4.3sed necesse est aut nōn perveniat aut trānseat.but it must either not arrive or pass on. Ep. 4.4"Difficile est," inquis, "animum perdūcere ad contemptiōnem animae."'It is difficult,' you say, 'to bring the mind to a contempt for life.' Ep. 4.4Nōn vidēs, quam ex frīvolīs causīs contemnātur?Do you not see for what trivial reasons it is despised?

Ep. 4.4Alius ante amīcae forēs laqueō pependit, alius sē praecipitāvit ē tēctō, nē dominum stomachantem diūtius audīret, alius nē redūcerētur ē fugā, ferrum adēgit in viscera.One man hanged himself with a noose before his mistress's door, another threw himself from the roof so as not to hear his master's ill temper any longer, another, so as not to be brought back from flight, drove a sword into his vitals. Ep. 4.4Nōn putās virtūtem hoc effectūram, quod efficit nimia formīdō?Do you not think that virtue will accomplish what excessive fear accomplishes? Ep. 4.4Nūllī potest sēcūra vīta contingere, quī dē prōdūcendā nimis cōgitat, quī inter magna bona multōs cōnsulēs numerat.No one can have a life free from care who thinks too much about prolonging it, who counts living through many consuls among the great goods. Ep. 4.5Hoc cōtīdiē meditāre, ut possīs aequō animō vītam relinquere, quam multī sīc conplectuntur et tenent, quōmodo quī aquā torrente rapiuntur spīnās et aspera.Rehearse this every day, so that you may be able to leave life with a calm mind, a life which many embrace and cling to as those swept away by a torrent cling to brambles and rough rocks.

Ep. 4.5Plērīque inter mortis metum et vītae tormenta miserī flūctuantur et vīvere nōlunt, morī nesciunt.Most men toss wretchedly between the fear of death and the torments of life, and do not want to live, yet do not know how to die. Ep. 4.6Fac itaque tibi iūcundam vītam omnem prō illā sollicitūdinem dēpōnendō.Make your whole life pleasant, then, by laying aside all anxiety about it. Ep. 4.6Nūllum bonum adiuvat habentem, nisi ad cuius āmissiōnem praeparātus est animus;No good thing helps its possessor unless the mind is prepared for its loss; Ep. 4.6nūllīus autem reī facilior āmissiō est, quam quae dēsīderārī āmissa nōn potest.and the loss of nothing is easier than of that which, once lost, cannot be missed. Ep. 4.6Ergō adversus haec, quae incidere possunt etiam potentissimīs, adhortāre tē et indūrā.So against these things, which can befall even the most powerful, encourage and harden yourself. Ep. 4.7Dē Pompēī capite pūpillus et spadō tulēre sententiam, dē Crassō crūdēlis et īnsolēns Parthus;On the head of Pompey a ward and a eunuch passed sentence, on Crassus a cruel and insolent Parthian; Ep. 4.7Gāius Caesar iussit Lepidum Dextrō tribūnō praebēre cervīcem, ipse Chaereae praestitit.Gaius Caesar ordered Lepidus to offer his neck to the tribune Dexter, and offered his own to Chaerea.

Ep. 4.7Nēminem eō fortūna prōvexit, ut nōn tantum illī minārētur, quantum permīserat.Fortune has raised no one so high that she did not threaten him as much as she had allowed him. Ep. 4.7Nōlī huic tranquillitātī cōnfīdere;Do not trust this calm; Ep. 4.7mōmentō mare ēvertitur.in a moment the sea is overturned. Ep. 4.7Eōdem diē ubi lūsērunt nāvigia, sorbentur.On the same day that ships have sported, they are swallowed up. Ep. 4.8Cōgitā posse et latrōnem et hostem admovēre iugulō tuō gladium: Ut potestās maior absit, nēmō nōn servus habet in tē vītae necisque arbitrium.Reflect that both a robber and an enemy can put a sword to your throat: even if a greater power is lacking, there is no slave who does not hold over you the power of life and death. Ep. 4.8Ita dīcō: quisquis vītam suam contempsit, tuae dominus est.This is what I say: whoever has despised his own life is master of yours. Ep. 4.8Recognōsce exempla eōrum, quī domesticīs īnsidiīs periērunt, aut apertā vī aut dolō;Review the examples of those who have perished through plots in their own household, either by open force or by guile; Ep. 4.8intellegēs nōn pauciōrēs servōrum īrā cecidisse quam rēgum.you will understand that no fewer have fallen through the anger of slaves than through that of kings.

Ep. 4.8Quid ad tē itaque, quam potēns sit quem timēs, cum id, propter quod timēs, nēmō nōn possit?So what does it matter to you how powerful the man you fear may be, when the thing for which you fear him is in anyone's power? Ep. 4.9At sī forte in manūs hostium incideris, victor tē dūcī iubēbit;But if perhaps you fall into the hands of enemies, the victor will order you to be led away; Ep. 4.9eō nempe, quō dūceris.to the very place, of course, to which you are being led already. Ep. 4.9Quid tē ipse dēcipis et hoc nunc prīmum, quod ōlim patiēbāris, intellegis?Why do you deceive yourself and only now for the first time realise this, which you have long been undergoing? Ep. 4.9Ita dīcō: ex quō nātus es, dūceris.This is what I say: from the moment you were born, you are being led there. Ep. 4.9Haec et eiusmodī versanda in animō sunt, sī volumus ultimam illam hōram placidī expectāre, cuius metus omnēs aliās inquiētās facit.These and such thoughts must be turned over in the mind, if we wish to await calmly that last hour, the fear of which makes all the others restless.

Ep. 4.10Sed ut fīnem epistulae inpōnam, accipe, quod mihi hodiernō diē placuit.But to put an end to this letter, take what has pleased me today. Ep. 4.10Et hoc quoque ex aliēnīs hortulīs sūmptum est.And this too has been taken from another man's gardens. Ep. 4.10"Magnae dīvitiae sunt lēge nātūrae composita paupertās."'Poverty brought into line with the law of nature is great wealth.' Ep. 4.10Lēx autem illa nātūrae scīs quōs nōbīs terminōs statuat?And do you know what limits that law of nature sets for us? Ep. 4.10Nōn ēsurīre, nōn sitīre, nōn algēre.Not to hunger, not to thirst, not to be cold. Ep. 4.10Ut famem sitimque dēpellās, nōn est necesse superbīs adsidēre līminibus nec supercilium grave et contumēliōsam etiam hūmānitātem patī, nōn est necesse maria temptāre nec sequī castra;To drive off hunger and thirst, it is not necessary to sit at haughty thresholds or to endure a heavy frown and even insulting condescension, nor is it necessary to brave the seas or follow the camp; Ep. 4.10parābile est, quod nātūra dēsīderat, et adpositum.what nature requires is easy to obtain, and close at hand. Ep. 4.11Ad supervacua sūdātur.It is for superfluous things that men sweat.

Ep. 4.11Illa sunt, quae togam conterunt, quae nōs senēscere sub tentōriō cōgunt, quae in aliēna lītora inpingunt.It is these that wear out the toga, that force us to grow old under canvas, that dash us on foreign shores. Ep. 4.11Ad manum est, quod sat est.What is enough is ready to hand. Ep. 4.11Cui cum paupertāte bene convenit, dīves est.He who is on good terms with poverty is rich. Ep. 4.11Valē.Farewell.

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Grammar in this passage: purpose clauses ×3, ablative absolute ×2, gerunds and gerundives ×5, indirect statement ×2

Latin vocabulary for this passage (313 words)

persevērō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	persist
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
coepī, coepisse, coeptus (used in tenses of completed action)	have begun, began
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
quantum, adv.	how much? how?
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
properō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	hasten
quō, adv.	to what place? whither? to which place, whither; for which reason, wherefore, therefore; quō ūsque, till when? how long?
diū, adv.	for a long time, a long time or while, long; comp
fruor, -ī, frūctus sum (+ abl.)	enjoy
ēmendō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	correct, make good, remove faults
animus, -ī, m.	mind; heart; spirit, courage
compōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positum	put together; mend, set in order
quidem, adv.	in fact, indeed, certainly; nē ... quidem, not ... even
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
dum, conj.	while, as; as long as; until
alius, -a, -ud	another, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
tamen, adv.	however, yet, nevertheless
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
voluptās, -tātis, f.	pleasure
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
percipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	feel
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)	out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
contemplātiō, -ōnis f.	contemplation, viewing, study
mēns, mentis f.	mind, spirit
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
omnis, -e	all, every
lābēs, -is f.	fall; stain, disgrace; the first slip into ruin
pūrus, -a, -um	clean, pure; (of land) clear, unbuilt
splendidus, -a, -um	bright, magnificent
teneō, -ēre, -uī, -tus	hold, keep; hold back, restrain, stop
utique (adv.)	certainly, by all means; yes indeed
memoria, -ae, f.	memory
quantus, -a, -um	how great or much?
sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsus	perceive, feel
gaudium, -ī, n.	gladness, joy
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
praetexta, -ae f.	the purple-bordered toga worn by boys (and magistrates); in praetextā: as a boy
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positus	place, put; pōnī with in and abl., to be placed in, rest or depend on
sūmō, sūmere, sūmpsī, sūmptus	take under or up, take; poenam sūmere, to exact or inflict punishment
virīlis, -e	of a man, male; n. pl. as noun: a man's private parts
toga, -ae f.	toga, the Roman citizen's garment of peace
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
forum, -ī n.	market place, public square
dēdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead down or away, bring; nāvem dēdūcere, to draw down or launch a ship
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
exspectō, -spectāre, -spectāvī, -spectātus	look out for, wait for, await, expect; wait
puerīlis, -e	of a boy, of childhood
dēpōnō, -pōnere, -posuī, -positus	put down, deposit; lay aside, give up; ē memoriā dēpōnere, to forget
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
vir, virī, m.	man
philosophia, -ae f.	philosophy
trānscrībō, -ere, -scrīpsī, -scrīptus	transfer, enrol elsewhere; copy out; make over to
adhūc, adv.	to this point, up to this time, yet, still
enim, conj.	for
nōn, adv.	not
pueritia, -ae, f.	boyhood
sed, conj.	but
gravis, -e	heavy; severe, grievous, serious
puerīlitās, -ātis f.	childishness
remaneō, -ēre, -mānsī	stay behind, remain
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
malus, -a, -um	bad
quod, conj.	that, in that, because
auctōritās, -tātis f.	influence, authority, prestige
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	have, hold; consider
senex, senis, m.	old man
vitium, -ī n.	fault, vice
puer, puerī, m.	boy
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
tantum, adv.	so much or far, only
īnfāns, -fantis, m. and f.	infant, babe
levis, -e	light, slight
falsus, -a, -um	feigned, pretended, false
formīdō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	be afraid, dread
nōs	plur. of ego
uterque, utraque, utrumque	each, either, both
prōficiō, -ere, -fēcī, -fectum	accomplish, make progress
modo, adv.	only
intellegō, -legere, -lēxī, -lēctus	perceive, understand
quīdam, quaedam, quoddam, indef. pron.	a certain, certain
ideō (adv.)	for that reason, therefore
minus, comp. adv.	less
timeō, -ēre, -uī	fear
quia (conj.)	because
multus, -a, -um	much, great; plur., many
metus, -ūs m.	fear, dread
afferō, afferre, attulī, allātum	bring, bring to; cause
nūllus, -a, -um	not any, none, no
malum, -ī, n.	evil, mischief
extrēmus, -a, -um	last, extreme, furthest
mors, mortīs, f.	death
ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventus	come
sī, conj.	if
necesse, indecl. adj.	necessary
aut, conj.	or; aut ... aut, either ... or
perveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventus	come through, come, arrive, reach
trānseō, -īre, -iī, -itus	go across or over, cross
difficilis, -e	not easy, difficult
inquam, inquis, inquit, defective verb	I say, you say, he says
perdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead or bring through, lead, bring
contemptiō, -ōnis f.	contempt (in contemptiōnem venīre: become despised)
anima, -ae, f.	breath, soul, life
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
quam, adv.	how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
frīvolus, -a, -um	trifling, worthless, frivolous
causa, -ae, f.	cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
contemnō, -ere, -tempsī, -temptus	despise, scorn, think little of
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.	before
amīca, -ae f.	friend (a woman); girlfriend, mistress
forēs, -ium f. pl.	door, double door; entrance
laqueus, -ī, m.	noose
pendeō, -ēre, pependī	hang, be suspended; hover
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.	himself, herself, itself, themselves
praecipitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	throw headlong; sē praecipitāre: hurl oneself
tēctum, -ī n.	roof; house
nē, adv.	not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
dominus, -ī m.	master, owner
stomachor, -ārī, -ātus sum	be annoyed, fume, lose one's temper
audiō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	hear; listen or attend to
redūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead or bring back; restore
fuga, -ae, f.	flight
ferrum, -ī n.	iron; iron point, sword
adigō, -ere, adēgī, adāctum	drive, hurl (a weapon) to
viscus, -eris n. (usu. pl. viscera)	inner organs, vitals; the heart, the core
putō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	think
virtūs, -tūtis, f.	manliness, courage, bravery
efficiō, -ficere, -fēcī, -fectus	make or work out, accomplish, effect
nimius, -a, -um	excessive, too great
formīdō, -inis f.	fear, dread; something to be dreaded
sēcūrus, -a, -um	free from care, untroubled; careless (of: gen.)
vīta, -ae, f.	life
contingō, -ere, -tigī, -tāctum	touch, reach
dē, prep, with abl.	down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
prōdūcō, -ere, -dūxī, -ductum	lead out, bring out
nimis (adv.)	too much, too
cōgitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	consider, think over
inter, prep, with acc.	among, between
bonum, -ī n.	a good thing, advantage; (pl.) goods
cōnsul, -ulis m.	consul (one of Rome's two chief magistrates)
numerō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	count, number; reckon, count as
cottīdiē, adv.	daily, every day
meditor, -ārī, -ātus sum	think over, plan; practise, train for
aequus, -a, -um	level; equal; fair
relinquō, -linquere, -līquī, -lictus	leave behind, leave
sīc, adv.	so, thus
complector, -plectī, -plexus	embrace
quōmodo (adv.)	how; in what way
aqua, -ae, f.	water
torreō, -ēre, torruī, tostus	parch, scorch, roast
rapiō, -ere, -uī, -tus	seize, snatch
spīna, -ae f.	thorn, thornbush
asper, -era, -erum	rough, harsh; difficult
plērīque, plēraeque, plēraque	most, very many
tormentum, -ī n.	artillery, siege engine
miser, misera, miserum	wretched, unhappy
flūctuō, -āre, -āvī	move like waves; waver, hesitate
vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctus	live
nōlō, nōlle, nōluī	not wish, be unwilling
morior, morī, mortuus	die
nesciō, -scīre, -scīvī	not know, be ignorant; nesciō quis, I know not who, some one or other (nesciō is thus used with other interrogative words also)
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
itaque, adv.	and so, accordingly, therefore
iūcundus, -a, -um	sweet, pleasant
prō, prep. with abl.	before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
sollicitūdō, -tūdinis, f.	anxiety, care, apprehension
adiuvō, -āre, adiūvī, adiūtum	help, assist
nisi, conj.	if not, unless
āmissiō, -ōnis f.	loss
praeparō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	prepare beforehand
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
rēs, reī, f.	thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
facilis, -e (comp. facilior)	easy
dēsīderō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	long for, miss; require
āmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missus	send away, lose
ergō (adv.)	therefore, then; quid ergō? what then?
adversum (prep. + acc.; also adversus)	against, opposite
incidō, -cidere, -cidī	fall into or upon
potēns, -entis	powerful
adhortor, -ārī, -ātus sum	encourage, urge on
indūrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	make hard, harden
caput, capitis, n.	head
pūpillus, -ī m.	orphan, ward
spadō, -ōnis m.	eunuch
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātus	bear, bring
sententia, -ae, f.	opinion; purpose
crūdēlis, -e	cruel
īnsolēns, -entis	unaccustomed (to: gen.); excessive, arrogant
iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussus	bid, order, command
tribūnus, -ī m.	tribune (tribūnus mīlitum: senior officer of a legion)
praebeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	hold forth, supply, furnish, give; show, present, exhibit
cervīx, -īcis f.	neck (often pl.)
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
praestō, -stāre, -stitī, -stitus	stand in front; show
nēmō, nēminis, m. and f.	no one, nobody
eō (adv.)	to that place, thither; to that point (usque eō); (with comparatives) by so much, all the (more)
fortūna, -ae, f.	fortune
prōvehō, -vehere, -vexī, -vectus	carry forward
minor, -ārī, -ātus sum	threaten (someone: dat.; with something: abl.)
permittō, -ere, -mīsī, -missum	allow, permit; entrust
tranquillitās, -tātis, f.	calm
cōnfīdō, -ere, cōnfīsus sum	trust, be confident
mōmentum, -ī n.	weight, importance; levī mōmentō: as a slight matter
mare, maris, n.	sea
ēvertō, -vertere, -vertī, -versus	overturn, overthrow, destroy
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.	the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.	day
ubi, adv.	where; conj., when
lūdō, -ere, lūsī, lūsum	play; mock, deceive
nāvigium, -ī n.	vessel, ship
sorbeō, -ēre, -uī	suck in, swallow up
latrō, -ōnis, m.	robber
hostis, -is, m. and f.	enemy, foe
admoveō, -ēre, -mōvī, -mōtus	move up, bring near
iugulum, -ī n.	throat
tuus, -a, -um	thy, thine, your
gladius, -ī, m.	sword
potestās, -ātis f.	power, authority
absum, abesse, āfuī, āfutūrus	be away, be absent, be distant; be wanting
servus, -ī, m.	slave, servant
nex, necis f.	death, killing
que, enclitic conj.	and
arbitrium, -ī n.	judgment, will, pleasure
ita, adv.	in this manner, thus, so; ita ut, as
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
quisquis, quidquid (quicquid)	whoever, whatever
suus, -a, -um	his, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
recognōscō, -ere, -gnōvī, -gnitus	go over again, review, recall
exemplum, -ī n.	example, precedent
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
domesticus, -a, -um	of one's own home, domestic
īnsidiae, -ārum, f. plur.	ambush; plot, stratagem
pereō, -īre, -ii, -itūrus	pass away, perish
apertus, -a, -um	open
vīs, vīs, f.	violence, force; virtue, potency, efficacy; plur. vīrēs, -ium, strength; omnibus vīribus, with all one's strength, with might and main
dolus, -ī, m.	trick, craft
paucī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.	few
īra, -ae, f.	anger, wrath
cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsūrus	fall
rēx, rēgis, m.	king
quis, quid, interrog. pron.	who? which? what?
propter, prep. with acc.	on account of, because of
at, conj.	but
forte, adv.	by chance, accidentally
manus, -ūs, f.	hand
victor, -ōris m.	conqueror, victor
dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductus	lead; make, dig; with or without in mātrimōnium, marry
nempe (adv.)	of course, surely, to be sure
dēcipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	catch, deceive
nunc, adv.	now
prīmum, adv.	first, in the first place
ōlim, adv.	once upon a time, once, formerly, of old
patior, patī, passus, bear	suffer, allow
nāscor, -ī, nātus sum	be born; rise, begin
eiusmodī (adv.)	of that kind, such
versō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	turn about; (pass. or reflexive) move about, be engaged
volō, velle, voluī	wish
ultimus, -a, -um	farthest, last
hōra, -ae, f.	hour
placidus, -a, -um	calm, gentle
inquiētus, -a, -um	restless
fīnis, -is, m.	end, boundary; plur., borders, territory, country
epistula, -ae f.	letter
impōnō, -pōnere, -posuī, -positus	place or lay upon, impose; embark
accipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take to oneself, receive, accept; hear; suffer
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
hodiernus, -a, -um	of today; hodiernō diē, today
placeō, -ēre, placuī, placitum (+ dat.)	please (placuit eī: he decided)
quoque, adv.	also
aliēnus, -a, -um	belonging to another, out of place
hortulus, -ī m.	little garden; pl. pleasure gardens, (Epicurus') Garden
dīvitiae, -ārum f. pl.	riches, wealth
lēx, lēgis f.	law
nātūra, -ae, f.	nature, character
paupertās, -ātis f.	poverty, small means
sciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	know
quī, quae, quod, interrog. pron. adj.	what?
terminus, -ī m.	boundary, limit
statuō, statuere, statuī, statūtus	cause to stand; decide, resolve
ēsuriō, -īre, -īvī, -ītum	be hungry
sitiō, -īre, -īvī	be thirsty, thirst
algeō, -ēre, alsī	be cold, feel cold
famēs, -is, abl. famē, f.	hunger
sitis, -is f.	thirst
dēpellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsus	drive off or away, drive
superbus, -a, -um	proud, arrogant, haughty
adsideō, -sidēre, -sēdī, -sessum	sit down (by), take one's seat
līmen, -minis, n.	threshold; door
supercilium, -ī n.	eyebrow; a frown, a nod
contumēliōsus, -a, -um	insulting, abusive, outrageous
hūmānitās, -tātis f.	culture, refinement
temptō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	try, attempt
sequor, sequī, secūtus	follow
castra, -ōrum, n. plur.	camp
parābilis, -e	easily obtained, available
appōnō, -pōnere, -posuī, -positus	put to or near, set before, serve
supervacuus, -a, -um	superfluous, unnecessary, needless
sūdō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	sweat, perspire; ooze, exude; toil
conterō, -ere, -trīvī, -trītus	crush, grind, bruise
senēscō, -ere, senuī	grow old
sub, prep. with acc. and abl.	under; sub vesperum, towards evening
tentōrium, -ī n.	tent
cōgō, cōgere, coēgī, coāctus	drive together, collect; compel
lītus, lītoris, n.	shore
impingō, -ere, -pēgī, -pāctus	dash against, drive into
sat (indecl.)	enough (= satis)
cum, prep, with abl.	with
bene, adv.	well; successfully
conveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventus	come together, assemble
dīves, dīvitis (superl. dītissimus)	rich
valeō, -ēre, -uī, -itūrus	be strong or effectual, have effect, prevail

Seneca, Epistulae Morales 2–52. Latin text: R. M. Gummere, Seneca: Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales (Loeb, 1917–25), 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.