Seneca, Letter 48

Philosophy should help, not play games

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Ep. 48.1Ad epistulam, quam mihi ex itinere mīsistī, tam longam quam ipsum iter fuit, posteā rescrībam.To the letter which you sent me from your journey, as long as the journey itself was, I shall reply later. Ep. 48.1Sēdūcere mē dēbeō et quid suādeam circumspicere.I ought to withdraw and consider what to advise. Ep. 48.1Nam tū quoque, quī cōnsulis, diū an cōnsulerēs cōgitāstī;For you too, who ask for advice, considered for a long time whether to ask for it; Ep. 48.1quantō magis hoc mihi faciendum est, cum longiōre morā opus sit, ut solvās quaestiōnem quam ut prōpōnās proponas?how much more must I do this, since there is need of longer delay to solve a question than to pose one? Ep. 48.1Utique cum aliud tibi expediat, aliud mihi.Especially since one thing is to your advantage, another to mine. Ep. 48.1Iterum ego tamquam Epicūrēus loquor?Am I talking like an Epicurean again? Ep. 48.2Mihi vērō idem expedit, quod tibi;No, the same thing is to my advantage as to yours; Ep. 48.2aut nōn sum amīcus, nisi quicquid agitur ad tē pertinēns, meum est.or else I am no friend, unless whatever is done that concerns you is my own concern.

Ep. 48.2Cōnsortium rērum omnium inter nōs facit amīcitia.Friendship makes a partnership in all things between us. Ep. 48.2Nec secundī quicquam singulīs est nec adversī;Neither good fortune nor bad belongs to either of us singly; Ep. 48.2in commūne vīvitur.we live in common. Ep. 48.2Nec potest quisquam beātē dēgere, quī sē tantum intuētur, quī omnia ad ūtilitātēs suās convertit;Nor can anyone live happily who regards only himself, who turns everything to his own advantage; Ep. 48.2alterī vīvās oportet, sī vīs tibi vīvere.you must live for another if you wish to live for yourself. Ep. 48.3Haec societās dīligenter et sāncte observāta, quae nōs hominēs hominibus miscet et iūdicat aliquod esse commūne iūs generis hūmānī, plūrimum ad illam quoque, dē quā loquēbar, interiōrem societātem amīcitiae colendam prōficit.This fellowship, carefully and scrupulously observed, which joins us as men with men and holds that there is a law common to the human race, helps greatly also in cultivating that more intimate fellowship of friendship of which I was speaking. Ep. 48.3Omnia enim cum amīcō commūnia habēbit, quī multa cum homine.For he will have everything in common with a friend who has much in common with a human being.

Ep. 48.4Hoc, Lūcīlī virōrum optime, mihi ab istīs subtīlibus praecipī mālō, quid amīcō praestāre dēbeam, quid hominī, quam quot modīs amīcus dīcātur, et homō quam multa significet.This, Lucilius, best of men, is what I would rather those subtle thinkers taught me: what I owe to a friend, what to a human being, rather than in how many senses 'friend' is used and how many things 'man' means. Ep. 48.4In dīversum ecce sapientia et stultitia discēdunt;Look, wisdom and folly part in opposite directions; Ep. 48.4cui accēdō?which shall I join? Ep. 48.4In utram īre partem iubēs?Which way do you bid me go? Ep. 48.4Illī homō prō amīcō est, huic amīcus nōn est prō homine.For the one, every man stands for a friend; for the other, a friend does not stand for a man. Ep. 48.4Ille amīcum sibi parat, hic sē amīcō.The one procures a friend for himself, the other procures himself for a friend. Ep. 48.4Tū mihi verba distorquēs et syllabās dīgeris.You twist words about for me and pull syllables apart. Ep. 48.5Scīlicet nisi interrogātiōnēs vaferrimās strūxerō et conclūsiōne falsā ā vērō nāscēns mendācium adstrīnxerō, nōn poterō ā fugiendīs petenda sēcernere.No doubt unless I construct the craftiest questions and, by a false conclusion, bind fast a lie sprung from the truth, I shall not be able to separate what is to be sought from what is to be shunned.

Ep. 48.5Pudet mē;I am ashamed; Ep. 48.5in rē tam sēriā senēs lūdimus.in a matter so serious, we old men play games. Ep. 48.6"Mūs syllaba est.'"Mouse" is a syllable. Ep. 48.6Mūs autem cāseum rōdit;But a mouse nibbles cheese; Ep. 48.6syllaba ergō cāseum rōdit."therefore a syllable nibbles cheese.' Ep. 48.6Putā nunc mē istuc nōn posse solvere.Suppose now that I cannot solve that. Ep. 48.6Quod mihi ex istā īnscientiā perīculum inminet?What danger threatens me from such ignorance? Ep. 48.6Quod incommodum?What inconvenience? Ep. 48.6Sine dubiō verendum est, nē quandō in mūscipulō syllabās capiam aut nē quandō, sī neglegentior fuerō, cāseum līber comedat.No doubt I must fear that some day I may catch syllables in a mousetrap, or that some day, if I am rather careless, a book may eat my cheese. Ep. 48.6Nisi forte illa acūtior est collēctiō: "Mūs syllaba est.Unless perhaps the following syllogism is sharper: '"Mouse" is a syllable. Ep. 48.6Syllaba autem cāseum nōn rōdit;But a syllable does not nibble cheese; Ep. 48.6mūs ergō cāseum nōn rōdit."therefore a mouse does not nibble cheese.' Ep. 48.7Ō puerīlēs ineptiās!What childish nonsense! Ep. 48.7In hoc supercilia subdūximus?Is it for this that we have knitted our brows?

Ep. 48.7In hoc barbam dēmīsimus?For this that we have let our beards grow? Ep. 48.7Hoc est, quod trīstēs docēmus et pallidī?Is this what we teach, gloomy and pale? Ep. 48.7Vīs scīre, quid philosophia prōmittat generī hūmānō?Do you want to know what philosophy promises the human race? Ep. 48.7Cōnsilium.Counsel. Ep. 48.7Alium mors vocat, alium paupertās ūrit, alium dīvitiae vel aliēnae torquent vel suae.One man death summons, another poverty chafes, another is tormented by riches, whether other men's or his own. Ep. 48.7Ille malam fortūnam horret, hic sē fēlīcitātī suae subdūcere cupit.This man shudders at ill fortune, that one longs to escape from his own prosperity. Ep. 48.7Hunc hominēs male habent, illum dī.This one is ill treated by men, that one by the gods. Ep. 48.8Quid mihi lūsōria ista conpōnis?Why do you devise these games for me? Ep. 48.8Nōn est iocandī locus;This is no place for jesting; Ep. 48.8ad miserōs advocātus es.you have been called in to help the wretched. Ep. 48.8Opem lātūrum tē naufragīs, captīs, aegrīs, egentibus, intentae secūrī subiectum praestantibus caput pollicitus es.You promised to bring aid to the shipwrecked, the captive, the sick, the needy, and those who are placing their heads beneath the poised axe.

Ep. 48.8Quō diverteris?Where are you turning aside? Ep. 48.8Quid agis?What are you doing? Ep. 48.8Hic, cum quō lūdis, timet;This man with whom you are playing is afraid; Ep. 48.8succurre, quidquid laquetī rēs pendentium pēnīs.help him; what good are snares to those whose punishments hang over them? Ep. 48.8Omnēs undique ad tē manūs tendunt, perditae vītae peritūraeque auxilium aliquod inplōrant, in tē spēs opēsque sunt.From all sides all men stretch out their hands to you; they implore some help for lives ruined or about to be ruined; in you are their hope and their resources. Ep. 48.8Rogant, ut ex tantā illōs volūtātiōne extrahās, ut disiectīs et errantibus clārum vēritātis lūmen ostendās.They ask you to drag them out of such great turmoil, to show the clear light of truth to them in their scattered wandering. Ep. 48.9Dīc, quid nātūra necessārium fēcerit, quid supervacuum, quam facilēs lēgēs posuerit, quam iūcunda sit vīta, quam expedīta illās sequentibus, quam acerba et inplicita eōrum, quī opīniōnī plūs quam nātūrae crēdidērunt.Tell them what nature has made necessary and what superfluous, how easy are the laws she has laid down, how pleasant and unencumbered life is for those who follow them, how bitter and entangled for those who have trusted opinion more than nature.

Ep. 48.9Ad hōrum mala levanda valēre lūsōria ista crēdiderim, sī prius docueris, quam partem eōrum levātūra sint.I would believe that those games of yours had some power to lighten these men's ills, if you first taught me what part of them they would lighten. Ep. 48.9Quid istōrum cupiditātēs dēmit?Which of them removes desires? Ep. 48.9Quid temperat?Which moderates them? Ep. 48.9Utinam tantum nōn prōdessent!Would that they were merely of no use! Ep. 48.9Nocent.They do harm. Ep. 48.9Hoc tibi, cum volēs, manifestissimum faciam, comminuī et dēbilitārī generōsam indolem in istās argūtiās coniectam.I shall make this perfectly clear to you whenever you wish: that a noble nature, once thrown into such subtleties, is weakened and enfeebled. Ep. 48.10Pudet dīcere, contrā fortūnam mīlitātūrīs quae porrigant tēla, quemadmodum illōs subōrnent.I am ashamed to say what weapons they hand to those who are about to do battle with fortune, how they equip them. Ep. 48.10Hāc ad summum bonum itur?Is this the way to the highest good? Ep. 48.10Per istud philosophia "sīve nive" et turpēs īnfāmēsque etiam ad album sedentibus exceptiōnēs?Is it through that 'if or if not' of philosophy, and through pleas that are base and disreputable even for those who sit studying the praetor's edict?

Ep. 48.10Quid enim aliud agitis, cum eum, quem interrogātis, scientēs in fraudem indūcitis, quam ut fōrmulā cecidisse videātur?For what else are you doing, when you knowingly lead the man you are questioning into a trap, than making it seem that he has lost his case on a point of form? Ep. 48.10Sed quemadmodum illōs praetor, sīc hōs philosophia in integrum restituit.But just as the praetor restores those men to their former state, so philosophy restores these. Ep. 48.11Quid discēditis ab ingentibus prōmissīs et grandia locūtī, effectūrōs vōs, ut nōn magis aurī fulgor quam gladiī praestringat oculōs meōs, ut ingentī cōnstantiā et quod omnēs optant et quod omnēs timent calcem, ad grammaticōrum elementa dēscenditis?Why do you depart from your enormous promises and, after speaking grandly about how you will bring it about that the glitter of gold dazzles my eyes no more than the glitter of a sword, that with great steadfastness I trample on both what all men desire and what all men fear, why do you descend to the schoolmasters' ABC? Ep. 48.11Quid dīcitis?What do you say?

Ep. 48.11"Sīc itur ad astra?"'Is this the way to the stars?' Ep. 48.11Hoc enim est, quod mihi philosophia prōmittit, ut parem deō faciat.For this is what philosophy promises me: to make me equal to a god. Ep. 48.11Ad hoc invītātus sum, ad hoc vēnī;To this I have been invited, for this I have come; Ep. 48.11fidem praestā.keep your word. Ep. 48.12Quantum potes ergō, mī Lūcīlī, redūc tē ab istīs exceptiōnibus et praescrīptiōnibus philosophōrum.As far as you can, then, my Lucilius, draw yourself back from these objections and pleas of the philosophers. Ep. 48.12Aperta decent et simplicia bonitātem.Plain and simple things befit goodness. Ep. 48.12Etiam sī multum superesset aetātis, parcē dispēnsandum erat, ut sufficeret necessāriīs;Even if a great deal of life remained, it would have to be spent sparingly, so that there might be enough for necessary things; Ep. 48.12nunc quae dēmentia est supervacua discere in tantā temporis egestāte?as it is, what madness is it to learn superfluous things in so great a scarcity of time? Ep. 48.12Valē.Farewell.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×8, purpose clauses ×5, indirect statement ×6

Latin vocabulary for this passage (344 words)

ad, prep. with acc.	to, toward; at, near; for
epistula, -ae f.	letter
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)	out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
iter, itineris, n.	a going, journey, march; iter facere, to journey, march
mittō, mittere, mīsī, missus	send
tam, adv.	so
longus, -a, -um	long; tedious
quam, adv.	how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
posteā, adv.	after this, afterwards
rescrībō, -ere, -scrīpsī, -scrīptum	write again; transfer, enrol (in another unit)
sēdūcō, -ere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead astray, deceive
dēbeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	owe; with infin., ought
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
quis, quid, interrog. pron.	who? which? what?
suādeō, -ēre, suāsī, suāsus	advise, urge
circumspiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectus	look around; look around for, consider
nam, conj.	for
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
quoque, adv.	also
cōnsulō, -ere, -uī, -tus	consult
diū, adv.	for a long time, a long time or while, long; comp
an, conj.	or (in questions)
cōgitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	consider, think over
quantus, -a, -um	how great or much?
magis, comp. adv.	more, rather
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
mora, -ae, f.	delay
opus, operis, n.	work, task
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
solvō, solvere, solvī, solūtus	loosen, unbind, release; pay; with or without nāvem, cast off, set sail, put to sea
quaestiō, -ōnis f.	inquiry, examination
prōpōnō, -pōnere, -posuī, -positus	put or set before, offer, propose; set forth, say
utique (adv.)	certainly, by all means; yes indeed
alius, -a, -ud	another, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
expediō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	free, set clear; get ready; arrange, settle
iterum, adv.	again, a second time
tamquam (adv., conj.)	as, just as; as if
Epicūrēus, -a, -um	Epicurean; (as noun) a follower of Epicurus
loquor, loquī, locūtus	speak
vērō, adv.	in truth, indeed; however
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.	the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
aut, conj.	or; aut ... aut, either ... or
nōn, adv.	not
amīcus, -ī, m.	friend
nisi, conj.	if not, unless
quisquis, quidquid (quicquid)	whoever, whatever
agō, agere, ēgī, āctus	drive; do; pass, lead; grātiās agere, see grātia
pertineō, -ēre, -uī	extend, reach; tend toward, concern
meus, -a, -um	my, mine
cōnsortium, -ī n.	partnership, sharing, fellowship
rēs, reī, f.	thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
omnis, -e	all, every
inter, prep, with acc.	among, between
nōs	plur. of ego
amīcitia, -ae f.	friendship, alliance
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
secundus, -a, -um	following, favorable
quisquam, quicquam, indef. pron.	any one, anything
singulī, -ae, -a	one at a time, single
adversus, -a, -um	facing; unfavourable, unsuccessful
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
commūnis, -e	common, shared, public
vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctus	live
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
beātē (adv.)	happily, blessedly
dēgō, -ere, dēgī	spend (time), live
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.	himself, herself, itself, themselves
tantum, adv.	so much or far, only
intueor, -tuērī, -tuitus	look upon, behold
ūtilitās, -ātis f.	usefulness, advantage
suus, -a, -um	his, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
convertō, -vertere, -vertī, -versus	turn round, turn, change; in fugam convertere, to put to flight
alter, -era, -erum	one or the other (of two); another, second
oportet, -ēre, oportuit (impersonal)	it is right, it is necessary
sī, conj.	if
volō, velle, voluī	wish
societās, -ātis f.	alliance, partnership
dīligenter, adv.	carefully, diligently
sānctus, -a, -um	consecrated, sacred
observō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	watch; keep, respect
homō, hominis, m.	man
misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mīxtus	mix, mingle
iūdicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	judge, decide
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.	some, any
iūs, iūris, n.	right, justice, law; iūs dīcere, to pronounce judgment; iūs iūrandum, iūris iūrandī, oath
genus, generis, n.	kind, nature
hūmānus, -a, -um	of man, human
plūrimum (adv.)	most, very much (plūrimum posse: be most powerful)
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
dē, prep, with abl.	down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
interior, -ius, adj.	interior, inner
colō, colere, coluī, cultus	till, cultivate; inhabit; worship
prōficiō, -ere, -fēcī, -fectum	accomplish, make progress
enim, conj.	for
cum, prep, with abl.	with
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus	have, hold; consider
multus, -a, -um	much, great; plur., many
vir, virī, m.	man
bonus, -a, -um	good
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)	away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
iste, ista, istud, dem. pron.	that of yours, that
subtīlis, -e	fine, delicate; precise, discriminating
praecipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take beforehand, anticipate; order, charge
mālō, mālle, māluī	wish rather, prefer
praestō, -stāre, -stitī, -stitus	stand in front; show
quot (indecl.)	how many
modus, -ī, m.	way, manner
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictus	say, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
significō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	show, indicate, signal
dīversus, -a, -um	turned different ways, opposite, contrary, different
ecce (interj.)	look! see! here is
sapientia, -ae f.	wisdom, good sense
stultitia, -ae f.	folly, foolishness
discēdō, -cēdere, -cessī, -cessus	go apart, withdraw, depart
accēdō, -ere, accessī, accessum	come near, approach; be added
uter, utra, utrum	which? of two
eō, īre, iī, itus	go
pars, partis, f.	part, side, direction
iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussus	bid, order, command
prō, prep. with abl.	before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
parō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	make ready, prepare
verbum, -ī, n.	word
distorqueō, -ēre, -torsī, -tortus	twist, distort
syllaba, -ae f.	syllable
dīgerō, -ere, -gessī, -gestus	distribute, arrange; interpret
scīlicet, adv.	of course, naturally, evidently
interrogātiō, -ōnis f.	questioning, examination
vafer, vafra, vafrum	sly, cunning, crafty
struō, -ere, strūxī, strūctus	build, construct; arrange
conclūsiō, -ōnis f.	shutting in, blockade
falsus, -a, -um	feigned, pretended, false
vērum (conj.)	but, but in fact; nōn modo ... vērum etiam: not only ... but also
nāscor, -ī, nātus sum	be born; rise, begin
mendācium, -ī n.	lie, falsehood
astringō (adstringō), -ere, -strīnxī, -strictus	bind fast, tie up; (of a sword) hold tight
fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus	flee, run away
petō, -ere, -īvī or -iī, -ītus	seek, ask; attack
sēcernō, -cernere, -crēvī, -crētus	separate, set apart
pudet, -ēre, puduit (impers.)	it shames, one is ashamed
sērius, -a, -um	serious; (n. pl. as noun) serious matters
senex, senis, m.	old man
lūdō, -ere, lūsī, lūsum	play; mock, deceive
mūs, mūris m.	mouse, rat
autem, conj.	moreover; but, however; now
cāseus, -ī m.	cheese
rōdō, -ere, rōsī, rōsus	gnaw, nibble
ergō (adv.)	therefore, then; quid ergō? what then?
putō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	think
nunc, adv.	now
quī, quae, quod, interrog. pron. adj.	what?
īnscientia, -ae f.	ignorance
perīculum, -ī, n.	danger, peril, risk
immineō, -ēre	hang over; threaten, be close at hand
incommodum, -ī, n.	inconvenience
sine, prep. with abl.	without
dubium, -ī n.	doubt; sine dubiō: without doubt
vereor, -ērī, -itus	fear
nē, adv.	not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
quandō (adv.)	when; (after sī) ever
mūscipulum, -ī n.	mousetrap
capiō, capere, cēpī, captus	take, catch, seize; receive, suffer; adopt
neglegēns, -entis	careless, negligent
līber, lībera, līberum	free
comedō, -ere (-esse), -ēdī, -ēsus	eat, eat up
forte, adv.	by chance, accidentally
acūtus, -a, -um	sharp, pointed
collēctiō, -ōnis f.	collecting; syllogism, logical inference
ō (interj.)	O! oh!
puerīlis, -e	of a boy, of childhood
ineptiae, -ārum f. pl.	silliness, absurdities, trifles, nonsense
supercilium, -ī n.	eyebrow; a frown, a nod
subdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	draw up, beach
barba, -ae f.	beard
dēmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missus	send down, let fall; animōs dēmittere, to lose courage
quod, conj.	that, in that, because
trīstis, -e	sad, gloomy
doceo, -ēre, -uī, -tus	teach, explain
pallidus, -a, -um	pale, pallid
sciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	know
philosophia, -ae f.	philosophy
prōmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missus	send or put forth, promise
cōnsilium, -ī, n.	advice; plan, design, purpose; prudence
mors, mortīs, f.	death
vocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	call, summon
paupertās, -ātis f.	poverty, small means
ūrō, ūrere, ussī, ūstus	burn
dīvitiae, -ārum f. pl.	riches, wealth
vel	or; vel … vel: either … or
aliēnus, -a, -um	belonging to another, out of place
torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortus	turn
malus, -a, -um	bad
fortūna, -ae, f.	fortune
horreō, -ēre, horruī	shudder at, dread
fēlīcitās, -ātis f.	good fortune, luck
cupiō, -ere, -īvī, -ītus	desire, long for, wish
male, adv.	badly, ill
deus, -ī, m.	god
lūsōrius, -a, -um	for play; trifling, frivolous
compōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positum	put together; mend, set in order
iocor, -ārī, -ātus sum	joke, jest, play
locus, -ī, m., plur. loca, -orum, n.	place, situation
miser, misera, miserum	wretched, unhappy
advocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	call, summon (contiōnem advocāre: call an assembly)
ops, opis f.; pl. opēs, -um	help; (pl.) resources, wealth, power
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātus	bear, bring
naufragus, -ī m.	shipwrecked man; ruined man
aeger, -gra, -grum	sick, ill; as noun, a sick man
egeō, -ēre, eguī (+ abl. or gen.)	need, lack, be in want of
intentus, -a, -um	attentive, alert, watchful
secūris, -is f.	axe (the axes in the fasces, sign of Roman power)
subiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus	throw or place under
caput, capitis, n.	head
polliceor, -licērī, -licitus	promise
quō, adv.	to what place? whither? to which place, whither; for which reason, wherefore, therefore; quō ūsque, till when? how long?
dēvertō, -vertere, -vertī	turn away or aside
timeō, -ēre, -uī	fear
succurrō, -ere, -currī, -cursum	run to help, aid
laqueus, -ī, m.	noose
pendeō, -ēre, pependī	hang, be suspended; hover
poena, -ae, f.	penalty, punishment
undique, adv.	from or on all sides
manus, -ūs, f.	hand
tendō, -ere, tetendī, tentum	stretch out; hold out
perditus, -a, -um	abandoned, desperate
vīta, -ae, f.	life
pereō, -īre, -ii, -itūrus	pass away, perish
que, enclitic conj.	and
auxilium, -ī, n.	help, aid
implōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	beg for, appeal for
spēs, speī, f.	hope
rogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	ask
tantus, -a, -um	so great or much
volūtātiō, -ōnis f.	rolling, wallowing; restless turmoil
extrahō, -trahere, -trāxī, -trāctus	draw or drag out, release, rescue
disiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus	throw apart, scatter
errō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	wander, stray; be mistaken
clārus, -a, -um	clear, loud; famous
vēritās, -ātis f.	truth
lūmen, -minis, n.	light
ostendō, -tendere, -tendī, -tentus	stretch out before, show, explain
nātūra, -ae, f.	nature, character
necessārius, -a, -um; as noun, -ī m.	necessary, critical; (noun) close friend, relative
supervacuus, -a, -um	superfluous, unnecessary, needless
facilis, -e (comp. facilior)	easy
lēx, lēgis f.	law
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positus	place, put; pōnī with in and abl., to be placed in, rest or depend on
iūcundus, -a, -um	sweet, pleasant
expedītus, -a, -um	unobstructed, easy; lightly equipped
sequor, sequī, secūtus	follow
acerbus, -a, -um	bitter, harsh, painful
implicitus, -a, -um	entangled, complicated, involved
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
opīniō, -ōnis, f.	opinion, expectation; reputation
plūs (adv.)	more
crēdō, -dere, -didī, -ditus	believe
malum, -ī, n.	evil, mischief
levō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	lift; lighten, relieve
valeō, -ēre, -uī, -itūrus	be strong or effectual, have effect, prevail
prius, adv.	before, first
cupiditās, -tātis, f.	desire, longing, eagerness
dēmō, -ere, dēmpsī, dēmptus	take away, remove
temperō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum (ab + abl.)	refrain (from)
utinam (adv.)	if only, would that (with subjunctive)
prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī	be of advantage, profit, avail, assist
noceō, -ēre, nocuī, nocitum (+ dat.)	harm, hurt
manifestus, -a, -um	plain, clear; caught in the act
comminuō, -ere, -minuī, -minūtus	break in pieces, smash
dēbilitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	weaken, cripple, unnerve
generōsus, -a, -um	of good family, well-born
indolēs, -is f.	natural character, nature, spirit
argūtia, -ae f.	subtlety, quibble; (pl.) hair-splitting
coniciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus	throw together; throw, cast, hurl
contrā, prep, with acc.	against, contrary to
mīlitō, -āre, -āvī	serve as a soldier
porrigō, -ere, -rēxī, -rēctus	stretch out, hold out, hand
tēlum, -ī, n.	missile, spear, weapon
quemadmodum (adv.)	how, in what way; just as
subōrnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	incite secretly, suborn; equip, furnish
summus, -a, -um	uppermost, highest, greatest
bonum, -ī n.	a good thing, advantage; (pl.) goods
per, prep, with ace.	through, by means of
sīve or seu, conj.	or if; sīve ... sīve, whether ... or
nix, nivis, f.	snow
turpis, -e	disgraceful
īnfāmis, -e	of ill repute, notorious
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
album, -ī n.	white board for public notices
sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessus	sit
exceptiō, -ōnis f.	exception, reservation, restriction
interrogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	ask, question
fraus, fraudis, f.	deception, fraud
indūcō, -dūcere, dūxī, -ductus	lead in or on, move, excite
fōrmula, -ae f.	fixed form of words, formula
cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsūrus	fall
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
sed, conj.	but
praetor, -ōris m.	praetor (legātus prō praetōre: officer with a praetor's powers)
sīc, adv.	so, thus
integer, -gra, -grum	untouched, fresh, whole
restituō, -stituere, -stituī, -stitūtus	set up again, put back, restore
ingēns, -gentis, adj.	huge, vast
prōmissum, -ī n.	promise
grandis, -e	large, big
efficiō, -ficere, -fēcī, -fectus	make or work out, accomplish, effect
vōs	plur. of tū
aurum, -ī, n.	gold
fulgor, -ōris m.	flash, glare, brightness
gladius, -ī, m.	sword
praestringō, -ere, -strīnxī, -strictus	outshine, eclipse; dazzle, blunt; bind tight
oculus, -ī, m.	eye
cōnstantia, -ae f.	steadiness, firmness
optō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	wish for, desire; pray for
calx, calcis f.	heel; calcibus, with kicks
grammaticus, -a, -um	of grammar or literature; as noun, teacher of literature, scholar, critic
elementum, -ī n.	element, first principle; (pl.) beginnings, rudiments
dēscendō, -scendere, -scendī, -scēnsus	climb down, descend
astrum, -ī n.	star; (pl.) the heavens
pār, paris	equal
invītō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	invite
veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventus	come
fidēs, -eī f.	faith, trust; pledge
quantum, adv.	how much? how?
redūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus	lead or bring back; restore
praescrīptiō, -ōnis f.	heading, title; pretext, excuse
philosophus, -ī m.	philosopher
apertus, -a, -um	open
decet, decēre, decuit (impers.)	it is fitting, it is proper
simplex, -icis	simple, unmixed, pure
bonitās, -ātis f.	goodness, fertility (of land)
supersum, -esse, -fuī	be over or left, remain
aetās, -tātis, f.	age
parcē (adv.)	sparingly, frugally
dispēnsō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	distribute, arrange, regulate
sufficiō, -ere, -fēcī, -fectus	be enough, hold out; supply
dēmentia, -ae f.	madness, folly
discō, discere, didicī	learn
tempus, temporis, n.	time, season
egestās, -ātis f.	want, poverty

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.