For it has ever been thus.
More literally: For that has always been done (or happened).
Nam (particle): for. Ille/illa/ (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Semper (adv.): always. Factum est is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
This man also was with him.
Et (adv.): also; even. /haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one (this man, this woman, etc.); he, she, it. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). is the m/n ablative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Erat is the third person singular imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
Renounce it yourself (f.)!
Ipse/ /ipsum (pron. or adj.): himself/herself/oneself/yourself/etc. ; in person. is the m/f/n dative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Renūntiā is the singular imperative form of renūntiō, renūntiāre, renūntiāvī, renūntiātum (1): to report; renounce (it can take a dative object; here it does).
Everything slips into the same abyss.
Omnia is the neuter nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every; (n. pl. used substantively) all things, everything. In (prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. is the neuter accusative singular form of (adj.): the same. Profundum is the neuter accusative singular form of profundum, profundī (2n): the deep, depth or depths, abyss (a substantive use of profundus/profunda/profundum (1/2): deep). Cadunt is the third person plural form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall.
We have heard the fame of it with our ears.
Auribus is the ablative plural form of auris, auris (3f): ear. Nostrīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Audīvimus is the first person plural perfect form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen to. Fāmam is the accusative singular form of fāma, fāmae (1f): rumor; reputation; fame. is the m/f/n genitive singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.
Not everyone is mad in the same way.
More literally: Madness (is) not the same for all. Or: (There is) not the same madness to all (not everyone has the same madness).
Īnsānia, īnsāniae (1f): madness, insanity. Nōn: not. Omnibus is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every; (m. pl. used substantively) all (people), everyone. Īdem/ /idem (pron. or adj.): the same. (The verb est is implied.)
He has taken all bad things away from them.
(He’s been asked why God lets bad things happen to good people. The answer: God doesn’t; he removes vices from them, which are the only things that are truly bad.) Omnia is the neuter accusative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Mala is the accusative plural form of malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble, misfortune. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Remōvit is the third person singular perfect form of removeō, removēre, remōvī, remōtum (2): to remove, take away.
I seem to have gotten this flaw from you.
is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Vitium is the accusative singular form of vitium, vitiī (2n): vice, fault, flaw, defect, disorder. Ab/ ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Tē is the ablative form of tū: you. Trāxisse is the perfect infinitive form of trahō, trahere, trāxī, tractum (3): to drag, pull, draw; extract, derive, get; attract; draw out, extend, protract, prolong. Videor is the first person singular passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem.
This one I rescue, that one I take pity on.
More literally: This one. . . this one. . .
is the m/f/n dative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Succurrō, succurrere, succurrī, succursum (3): to run to the rescue of; help, rescue (takes a dative object). is the m/f/n genitive singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Misereor is the first person singular passive form of misereō, miserēre, miseruī (or impers. miseritum est) (2): (impersonal third person singular) something causes someone to feel pity or sympathy, there is pity or sympathy, pity or sympathy is felt, one feels pity or sympathy (the person experiencing the feeling goes in the accusative; the object of the feeling goes in the genitive); (personal, in the passive) to pity, feel sympathy for, have mercy on (with genitive); (active and personal, rare) to pity, feel sympathy for, have mercy on (with genitive).
But that kind of merriment does not last long.
More literally: But that merriment is not long-lasting.
Sed (conj.): but. Nōn: not. Est: is. Iste/ /istud (adj.): that. Hilaritās, hilaritātis (3f): merriment. Longus/ longa /longum (1/2): long; of long duration, long-lasting.
If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend.
Alt. : If you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar.
Sī (conj.): if. is the masculine accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one (this man, this woman, etc.); he, she, it. Dīmittis is the second person singular form of dīmittō, dīmittere, dīmīsī, dīmissum (3): to let go, release, dismiss, send away. Nōn: not. Es: you are. Amīcus, amīcī (2m): friend. Caesar, Caesaris (3m): Caesar.
Their bodies are buried in peace.
Alt. : Their bodies were laid to rest.
Corpora is the nominative plural form of corpus, corporis (3n): body. is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (pron.): (he) himself, (she) herself, (it) itself; that very person or thing—in later texts sometimes not very different from the less emphatic is/ea/id (he, she, it). In (prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. Pāce is the ablative singular form of pāx, pācis (3f): peace. Sepulta is the neuter nominative plural form of sepultus/sepulta/sepultum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (buried) of sepeliō, sepelīre, sepelīvī/sepeliī, sepultum (4): to bury, inter. Sunt: (they) are. Sepulta sunt can alternatively be read as the third person neuter plural perfect passive form of sepeliō: they have been buried or they were buried.
He craves as many friends as possible.
More literally: He longs to have these as many as possible.
(He’s talking about the sage, who wants friends but doesn’t require them.) is the masculine accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Cupit is the third person singular form of cupiō, cupere, cupīvī/cupiī, cupītum (3): to desire, long for. Habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Quam plūrimōs: as many as possible— quam (rel. adv.): than; as; how, how much; quam + superlative = as (superlative) as possible; plūrimōs is the masculine accusative plural form of plūrimus/plūrima/plūrimum (1/2): most; very much, very many—the superlative form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many .
This too was sent to him.
(He’s referring to a ladle: trulla, trullae (1f).) Is/ ea /id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Quoque (adv.): too, as well. is the m/f/n dative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Mittitur is the third person singular passive form of mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum (3): to send; throw (a historical present).
No one has power over these hands.
Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Iūs is the accusative singular form of iūs, iūris (3n): law; right; authority. Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. In (prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into; against; for; (in expressions about control, power and the like) over. is the feminine accusative plural form of iste/ista/istud (adj.): that, this. Manūs is the accusative plural form of manus, manūs (4f): hand.
Art deals with things which are known.
More literally: For art is of those things that are known.
(As opposed to rhetoric, which is all opinion.) Ars, artis (3f): art, skill, technique. Enim (particle): for, indeed. is the feminine genitive plural form of is/ea/id (adj.): this, that. Rērum is the genitive plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; fact; circumstance; property. Est: is. Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Sciuntur is the third person plural passive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know.
The men living then were not wise.
More literally: Those were not wise men.
Nōn: not. Erant is the third person plural imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. is the masculine nominative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Sapientēs is the m/f nominative plural form of sapiēns, sapientis (3, adj.): wise. Virī is the nominative plural form of vir, virī (2m): man.
But will you plead all cases in the same manner?
Tū: you. Autem (particle): on the other hand, but; and, moreover. is the m/n ablative singular form of īdem/eadem/idem (adj.): the same. Modō is the ablative singular form of modus, modī (2m): measure; limit; manner, way. Omnīs is the m/f accusative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Causās is the accusative plural form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason; case. Agēs is the second person singular future form of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, cause to move; do, perform, carry out, deal with, engage in; act; plead (a case).
Which of those two is madder?
More literally: . . . of these. . .
Uter /utra/utrum (interrog. pron. , 1/2, irreg.): which (of two)? Est: is. Īnsānior /īnsānior/īnsānius (3): madder, more insane—the comparative form of īnsānus/īnsāna/īnsānum (1/2): mad, insane. is the m/n genitive plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it (although hic/haec/hoc literally means this —or these in the plural— that or those can be a more natural translation in some contexts).
For the Lord fighteth for them against us.
Dominus, dominī (2m): lord, master; owner Enim (particle): for, indeed. Pugnat is the third person singular form of pugnō, pugnāre, pugnāvī, pugnātum (1): to fight. Prō (prep.): before, in front of; for; in exchange for; in place of; in the capacity of; on behalf of; in defense of; in proportion to (takes the ablative). is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Contrā (prep.): against (takes the accusative). Nōs is the accusative form of nōs: we.
For this plague has only recently attacked our nation.
More literally: For this evil has just now entered into this nation.
Modo (adv.): only, just; just now, just lately, recently. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Hic/haec/ hoc (adj.): this. Malum, malī (2n): evil; misfortune, calamity, plague. In (prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. is the feminine accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Rem publicam: state— rem is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; fact; circumstance; property; interest; pūblicam is the feminine accusative singular form of pūblicus/pūblica/pūblicum (1/2): public, of the state. Invāsit is the third person singular perfect form of invādō, invādere, invāsī, invāsum (3): to enter in hostile fashion, attack, invade.
(After a quotation:) So spoke the consul to the Romans.
Alt. : Such were the consul’s words to the Romans.
More literally: These things (did) the consul (speak) among the Romans.
is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Apud (prep.): at, near; with, among; in front of; at the house of; in the works of (takes the accusative). Rōmānōs is the masculine accusative plural form of Rōmānus/Rōmāna/Rōmānum (1/2): Roman. Cōnsul, cōnsulis (3m): consul.
For I remember you writing to me in about the same terms.
Meminī, meminisse, — (3; perfect forms with present meaning): to remember (an accusative-and-infinitive indirect statement depending on this verb can use a present infinitive to refer to something that happened before the time of remembering). Enim (particle): for, indeed. is the m/f/n ablative plural form of īdem/eadem/idem (adj.): the same. Ferē (adv.): approximately, roughly, about; nearly; usually, generally, as a rule. Verbīs is the ablative plural form of verbum, verbī (2n): word, term. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Mē is the accusative form of ego: I. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you. Scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum (3): to write.
For he knows that they are not evils, but only seem to be.
More literally: For he knows them not to be evils, but to seem (so).
Scit is the third person singular form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know; know how (to). Enim (particle): for, indeed. is the neuter accusative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Nōn: not. Esse: to be. Mala is the accusative plural form of malum, malī (2n): evil; misfortune. Sed: but. Vidērī is the passive infinitive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem.
Moral rectitude does not accept such a union.
More literally: Honor does not accept that union.
Nōn: not. Recipit is the third person singular form of recipiō, recipere, recēpī, receptum (3, –iō): to get back, recover; receive; accept. is the feminine accusative singular form of iste/ista/istud (adj.): that, this. Coniūnctiōnem is the accusative singular form of coniūnctiō, coniūnctiōnis (3f): union; combination. Honestās, honestātis (3f): honor, honorable character.
Listen to him who has four ears.
More literally: Heed him to whom there are four ears.
(Erasmus puzzled over the meaning of this saying, and concluded that it probably referred to those who had learned a lot in their lives.) is the masculine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Auscultā is the singular imperative form of auscultō, auscultāre, auscultāvī, auscultātum (4): to listen (to); heed. Cui is the m/f/n dative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what (to whom/for whom—the dative of possession). Quātuor (or quattuor; indeclinable): four. Sunt: there are. Aurēs is the nominative plural form of auris, auris (3f): ear.
There is great danger if we go astray in these matters.
More literally: We err in these things with great risk.
In (prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. is the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Magnō is the m/n ablative singular form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great. Perīculō is the ablative singular form of perīculum, perīculī (2n): danger, risk; experiment. Errāmus is the first person plural form of errō, errāre, errāvī, erratum (1): to err; wander; go astray.
Though there’s this in the same author:
More literally: Though there is in (the works of) the same:
Etsī (conj.): even if, although, though. Est: there is. Apud (prep.): at, near; with, among; in front of; at the house of; in the works of (takes the accusative). is the masculine accusative singular form of īdem/eadem/idem (pron.): the same.
Who brought these sheep here?
Quis /quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? is the feminine accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Hūc (adv.): here (with motion), to this place, hither. Ovīs is the accusative plural form of ovis, ovis (3f): sheep. Adēgit is the third person singular perfect form of adigō, adigere, adēgī, adāctum (3): to drive (cattle or the like) to a place; drive, force or impel.
These are the treatments for the most severe wounds.
is the feminine nominative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Gravissimōrum is the m/n genitive plural form of gravissimus/gravissima/gravissimum (1/2): most severe—the superlative form of gravis/gravis/grave (3): heavy; serious; hard, painful, grievous, severe. Vulnerum is the genitive plural form of vulnus, vulneris (3n): wound, injury. Cūrātiōnēs is the nominative plural form of cūrātiō, cūrātiōnis (3f): the taking charge of a thing, administration; charge; treatment. Sunt: (they) are.
I scarcely call these things our own.
Alt. : I barely call them ours.
(I’m just a steward of them—a motto in many noble families. In the original, it’s Ulysses speaking of his ancestors and things done by them.) Vix (adv.): barely, hardly, scarcely; with difficulty. is the neuter accusative plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Nostra is the neuter accusative plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours, our own. Vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum (1): to call.
The army despises him.
Exercitus, exercitūs (4m): army. Contemnit is the third person singular form of contemnō, contemnere, contempsī, contemptum (3): to scorn, despise. is the masculine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it.
In this cause words will fail even Cicero.
In (prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. is the feminine ablative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Causā is the ablative singular form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason; case. Etiam (particle): still; also, too, as well; even. Cicerōnem is the accusative singular form of the proper name Cicerō, Cicerōnis (3m). Verba is the nominative plural form of verbum, verbī (2n): word. Dēficient is the third person plural future form of dēficiō, dēficere, dēfēcī, dēfectum (3, –iō): to run out; fail.
Where are they (f.)?
Ubi (interrog. adv.): where? is the feminine nominative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Sunt: are (they).
She has left you two daughters and the children of these.
(The subject is Fortune, who took away Marcia’s son but left her her daughters and grandchildren.) Duās is the feminine accusative form of duo/duae/duo (irreg.): two. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Relīquit is the third person singular perfect form of relinquō, relinquere, relīquī, relictum (3): to leave, relinquish, leave behind. Fīliās is the accusative plural form of fīlia, fīliae (1f): daughter. Et (conj.): and. is the feminine genitive plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Nepōtēs is the accusative plural form of nepōs, nepōtis (3m/f): grandson; grandchild; descendant.
Delete that too.
is the neuter accusative singular form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Quoque (adv.): too, as well. Dēlē is the singular imperative form of dēleō, dēlēre, dēlēvī, dēlētum (2): to delete; destroy.
In our folly we aspire to the sky itself.
Caelum is the accusative singular form of caelum, caelī (2n): sky, heaven; climate. is the m/n accusative singular form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/oneself/yourself/etc. ; in person; the very. Petimus is the first person plural form of petō, petere, petīvī/petiī, petītum (3): to make for; seek, aspire to; attack; ask for. Stultitiā is the ablative singular form of stultitia, stultitiae (1f): folly, stupidity.