Why do many adversities come to good men?
Quārē (interrog. adv.): why? Multa is the neuter nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Bonīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. is the dative plural form of vir, virī (2m): man. Adversa is the neuter nominative plural form of adversus/adversa/adversus (1/2): turned toward; opposite; adverse—originally the perfect passive participle of advertō, advertere, advertī, adversum (3): to turn toward. The neuter plural is used substantively to mean adverse things, adversity (or adversities). Ēveniunt is the third person plural form of ēveniō, ēvenīre, ēvēnī, ēventum (4): to happen, befall (takes the dative).
A man disinherited his son.
More literally: Someone disinherited (his) son.
Abdicāvit is the third person singular perfect form of abdicō, abdicāre, abdicāvī, abdicātum (3): to deny, reject; resign; renounce; disinherit. Quīdam /quaedam/quiddam (pron.): a certain one, somebody, something. is the accusative singular form of fīlius, fīliī (2m): son.
To make the leash from the bull’s own hide.
More literally: To take reins from the bull itself.
Ex /ē (prep.): out of, from (takes the ablative). # from% Ipsō is the m/n ablative singular form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/myself/etc. ; in person; the very. Bove is the ablative singular form of bōs, bovis (3m/f): cow; bull; ox. is the accusative plural form of lōrum, lōrī (2n): a leather strap, thong; (in plural) reins. Sūmō, sūmere, sūmpsī, sūmptum (3): to take, take up.
I was safe with my javelin.
Tūtus /tūta/tūtum (1/2): safe, secure, protected. Eram is the first person singular imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. is the ablative singular form of iaculum, iaculī (2n): javelin, dart.
Even a child can see it.
More literally: It is clear even to a child.
Et (adv.): even; also. is the dative singular form of puer, puerī (2m): boy; child. Perspicuus/perspicua/ perspicuum (1/2): clear, evident. Est: it is.
The other women have found themselves respectable husbands.
Cēterae is the feminine nominative plural form of cēterus/cētera/cēterum (1/2): (all) the others, the rest. Honestōs is the masculine accusative plural form of honestus/honesta/honestum (1/2): respectable, honorable, virtuous, noble. Invēnērunt is the third person plural perfect form of inveniō, invenīre, invēnī, inventum (4): to find. Sibi is the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. is the accusative plural form of vir, virī (2m): man; husband.
All wicked men therefore are slaves.
(Sunt is implied.) Igitur (conj.): therefore, then. Omnēs is the m/f nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. # all% Improbī is the masculine nominative plural form of improbus/improba/improbum (1/2): immoral, wicked, vile; excessive, immoderate, persistent. is the nominative plural form of servus, servī (2m): slave, servant.
When I say “I,” I mean “you,” Brutus.
Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Mē is the accusative form of ego. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you. is the vocative singular form of Brūtus, Brūtī (2m, proper noun): Brutus. Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.
I will willingly pay all my taxes.
More literally: I will pay no tax unwilling(ly).
(He’s talking metaphorically about putting up with misfortunes—the taxes that go with life.) Nūllum is the m/n accusative singular form of nūllus/nūlla/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, none, not any; insignificant. is the accusative singular form of tribūtum, tribūtī (2n): tax, tribute. Invītus /invīta/invītum (1/2): unwilling. Cōnferam is the first person singular future form of cōnferō, cōnferre, contulī, collātum (3, irreg.): to gather, connect; contribute, confer, bestow; compare.
Vices are never genuinely tamed.
More literally: Vices never grow tame in good faith.
Numquam (adv.): never. Bonā is the feminine ablative singular form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Fidē is the ablative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): faith; reliance; loyalty. is the nominative plural form of vitium, vitiī (2n): vice, fault. Mānsuēscunt is the third person plural form of mānsuēscō, mānsuēscere, mānsuēvī, mānsuētum (3): to grow tame.
From the smoke to the fire.
(As when someone moves from a dangerous situation to a disastrous one; similar to out of the frying pan, into the fire.) Dē (prep.): from, down from; about, concerning (takes the ablative). is the ablative singular form of fūmus, fūmī (2m): smoke. Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Flammam is the accusative singular form of flamma, flammae (1f): flame, fire.
If that son has a bad case, I have a good one.
Sī (conj.): if. Ille /illa/illud (adj.): that. , fīliī (2m): son. Malam is the feminine accusative singular form of malus/mala/malum (1/2): bad. Causam is the accusative singular form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason; case. Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Ego: I. Bonam is the feminine accusative singular form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.
Art thou one of ours, or of our adversaries?
Noster /nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Es: are you. An (interrog. particle): whether; or (in a question); it can also start a direct question. is the genitive plural form of adversārius, adversāriī (2m): adversary, enemy.
Learn virtue from me, my son, and true toil.
Disce is the singular imperative form of discō, discere, didicī, discitūrus (3): to learn. is the vocative singular form of puer, puerī (2m): boy; son. Virtūtem is the accusative singular form of virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; courage; strength; power. Ex /ē (prep.): from, out of (takes the ablative). Mē is the ablative form of ego. Vērumque is the m/n accusative singular form of vērus/vēra/vērum (1/2): true, real; proper; right; the enclitic conjunction – que adds and. Labōrem is the accusative singular form of labor, labōris (3m): work, labor, toil.
He said to his servants:
Dīxit is the third person singular perfect form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. is the dative plural form of servus, servī (2m): slave, servant. Suīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of suus/sua/suum.
He vetoed their plan.
Is /ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. is the dative singular form of cōnsilium, cōnsiliī (2n): plan. Their is inferred from context. Intercessit is the third person singular perfect form of intercēdō, intercēdere, intercessī, intercessum (3): to intervene; interrupt; veto (takes a dative object).
Where are those big words of the mighty hero?
More literally: Where are the big words of the great man?
Ubi (interrog. adv.): where? Sunt: are (they). Ingentia is the neuter nominative plural form of ingēns, ingentis (3): huge, great, (very) big; remarkable; powerful. Magnī is the m/n genitive singular form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large; important. is the nominative plural form of verbum, verbī (2n): word. Vir, (2m): man.
Men call it the street of crime.
More literally: They call it criminal street.
Scelerātum is the m/n accusative singular form of scelerātus/scelerāta/scelerātum (1/2): cursed; criminal; atrocious. is the accusative singular form of vīcus, vīcī (2m): village; street; neighborhood. Vocant is the third person plural form of vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum (1): to call.
To his own master he stands or falls.
is the dative singular form of dominus, dominī (2m): master, lord, ruler. Suō is the m/n dative singular form of suus/sua/suum (1/2). Stat is the third person singular form of stō, stāre, stetī, statum (1): to stand. Aut (conj.): or. Cadit is the third person singular form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall.
Some boast of their faults.
Alt. : Some people glory in their faults.
Quīdam is the masculine nominative plural form of quīdam/quaedam/quiddam (pron.): a certain one, somebody, something. is the ablative plural form of vitium, vitiī (2n): vice, fault. Glōriantur is the third person plural form of glōrior, glōriārī, glōriātus sum (1, deponent): to boast, glory.
Alt. : Do that, dear Lucilius: assert your own freedom.
More literally: Do so, my Lucilius: claim yourself for yourself.
(The first line of the Epistles. ) Ita (adv.): so, thus, in such manner. Fac is the singular imperative form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Mī is the masculine vocative singular form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. is the masculine vocative singular form of the family name Lūcīlius/Lūcīlia/Lūcīlium (1/2). Vindicā is the singular imperative form of vindicō, vindicāre, vindicāvī, vindicātum (1): to lay claim to, claim as one’s property (sometimes idiomatically accompanied by a reflexive indirect object, like tibi here); assert the freedom of; free, liberate; protect; avenge. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you (used reflexively: yourself). Tibi is the dative form of tū: you (used reflexively: yourself).