Fortius
parricidium
faciam
si
non
videro
patrem. —
Seneca the Elder, Controversies
7.5.6
I will do my parricide more boldly if I don’t see my father.
Alt. : I will commit a bolder parricide if I don’t see my father.
Fortius could be interpreted as a comparative adjective—fortior/fortior/fortius (3): braver; stronger—agreeing with parricīdium in the neuter accusative singular; or (more likely) it’s a comparative adverb: more strongly, more bravely. Parricīdium is the accusative singular form of parricīdium, parricīdiī (2n): parricide, the murder of one’s father. Faciam is the first person singular future form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Sī (conj.): if. Nōn: not. Vīderō is the first person singular future perfect form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Patrem is the accusative singular form of pater, patris (3m): father.
No servitude is more shameful than the voluntary.
Nūllus/ nūlla /nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any. Servitūs, servitūtis (3f): slavery, servitude. Turpior/ turpior /turpius (3) is the comparative form of turpis/turpis/turpe (3): ugly, shameful, disgraceful, foul. Est: is. Quam (rel. adv.): than; as. Voluntārius/ voluntāria /voluntārium (1/2): voluntary.
Stupider than Coroebus.
Stultior /stultior/stultius (3) is the comparative form of stultus/stulta/stultum (1/2): foolish, stupid. Coroebō is the ablative singular form of Coroebus, Coroebī (2m)—the ablative of comparison. (Coroebus was said to have tried to count the waves of the sea, but to have been unable to go above five. The name Coroebus appears at various points in classical literature; Erasmus wasn’t sure who he was.)
You are younger; what does that matter?
Iuvenior /iuvenior/iuvenius (3) is the comparative form of iuvenis/iuvenis/iuvene (3). (This adjective also has the contracted comparative form iūnior/iūnior/— (3), which is more frequent.) Es: you are. Quid is the neuter accusative form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Rēfert, rēferre, rētulit, — (3, irreg. , impers.): it matters, it is important, it makes a difference.
There is no quicker road to madness.
Nūllus/ nūlla /nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any. Celerior/ celerior /celerius (3) is the comparative form of celer/celeris/celere (3). Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Īnsāniam is the accusative singular form of īnsānia, īnsāniae (1f): madness, insanity. Via, viae (1f): road, way. Est: there is.
And yet this also is incredible—nay, still more incredible.
Atquī (conj.): however, yet, still. Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Quoque (adv.): also, too, as well. Incrēdibilis/incrēdibilis/ incrēdibile (3): incredible. Est: is. Immō (particle): nay, rather, actually (qualifying or contradicting what was just said). Incrēdibilior/incrēdibilior/ incrēdibilius (3) is the comparative form of incrēdibilis/incrēdibilis/incrēdibile (3): incredible.
It belongs to a more fortunate and superior nature.
More literally: It is of a more fortunate and better nature.
(He’s talking about the good, which he says cannot be a property of animals.) Fēlīciōris is the m/f/n genitive singular form of fēlīcior/fēlīcior/fēlīcius (3) is the comparative form of fēlīx, fēlīcis (3, adj.): happy, fortunate. Meliōrisque: meliōris is the m/f/n genitive singular form of melior/melior/melius (3) is the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Est: it is.
At once a vision of greater battle inflames him.
Continuō (adv.): at once, immediately. Pugna, pugnae (1f): battle. Accendit is the third person singular form of accendō, accendere, accendī, accēnsum (3): to kindle, inflame. Maiōris is the m/f/n genitive singular form of maior/maior/maius (3) is the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Imāgō, imāginis (3f): image; vision.
Let us trust the wiser man, let us forgive the more foolish.
(When we seem to be offended by someone.) Prūdentiōrī is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of prūdentior/prūdentior/prūdentius (3) is the comparative form of prūdēns, prūdentis (3, adj.): wise. Crēdāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to entrust; trust; believe (a hortatory subjunctive). Stultiōrī is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of stultior/stultior/stultius (3) is the comparative form of stultus/stulta/stultum (1/2): stupid. Remittāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of remittō, remittere, remīsī, remissum (3): to send back; forgive (another hortatory subjunctive). (Both verbs take dative objects in the senses in which they’re used here.)
Oftentimes a reverse has but made room for more prosperous fortune.
Alt. : Damage has often made room for greater prosperity.
Saepe (adv.): often. Maiōrī is the m/f/n dative singular form of maior/maior/maius (3) is the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): large, great. Fortūnae is the dative singular form of fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune. Locum is the accusative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place; room. Fēcit is the third person singular perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Iniūria, iniūriae (1f): injury, damage; wrong, injustice.
Make me more brave, more just, more self-controlled.
Fortiōrem is the m/f accusative singular form of fortior/fortior/fortius (3) is the comparative form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. Fac is the singular imperative form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Mē is the accusative form of ego. Iūstiōrem is the m/f accusative singular form of iūstior/iūstior/iūstius (3) is the comparative form of iūstus/iūsta/iūstum (1/2): just. Temperantiōrem is the m/f accusative singular form of temperantior/temperantior/temperantius (3) is the comparative form of temperāns, temperantis (3, adj.): restrained, moderate.
He feared lest the man’s last agony should give utterance to some speech too frank.
More literally: He feared lest the last pain should let loose any utterance too free.
Timuit is the third person singular perfect form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid. Nē (conj.): in order that not, lest; that (a feared thing will happen). Quam is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/qua/quod (indef. adj.): any. Līberiōrem is the m/f accusative singular form of līberior/līberior/līberius (3) is the comparative form of līber/lībera/līberum (1/2): free. Vōcem is the accusative singular form of vōx, vōcis (3f): voice; word; utterance, speech. Extrēmus /extrēma/extrēmum (1/2): at the end or edge; last; extreme. Dolor, dolōris (3m): pain. Mitteret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum (3): to send; throw; let loose, send out (subjunctive because it’s in a fear clause).
You have a worse fault.
Vitium is the accusative singular form of vitium, vitiī (2n): vice, fault. Peius is the neuter accusative singular form of peior/peior/peius (3) is the comparative form of malus/mala/malum (1/2): bad. Habēs is the second person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.
Run a long way from a bigger man.
(Beware of tangling with people more powerful than you.) Fuge is the singular imperative form of fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus (3, –iō): to flee. Procul (adv.): far away; from afar. Ab/ ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Virō is the ablative singular form of vir, virī (2m): man. Maiōre is the m/f/n ablative singular form of maior/maior/maius (3) is the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2).
I am less put off by a more honest slut.
Offendor is the first person singular passive form of offendō, offendere, offendī, offēnsum (3): to strike; offend. Moechā is the ablative singular form of moecha, moechae (1f): adulteress (informal and insulting). Simpliciōre is the m/f/n ablative singular form of simplicior/simplicior/simplicius (3) is the comparative form of simplex, simplicis (3, adj.): simple, honest. Minus (adv.): less.
I needed a longer time.
More literally: There was need for a longer time.
Longiōre is the m/f/n ablative singular form of longior/longior/longius (3) is the comparative form of longus/longa/longum (1/2): long. Tempore is the ablative singular form of tempus, temporis (3n): time. Opus, operis (3n): work; need (it takes a noun in the ablative case to refer to the thing needed). Erat is the third person singular imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
They are more cautious than they are bold.
(He’s talking about the Stoics.) Cautiōrēs is the m/f nominative plural form of cautior/cautior/cautius (3) is the comparative form of cautus/cauta/cautum (1/2): cautious, wary. Quam (rel. adv.): than; as. Fortiōrēs is the m/f nominative plural form of fortior/fortior/fortius (3) is the comparative form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. Sunt: they are. (When two adjectives are being compared, the second is put into the comparative form, too.)
And so let us be more kindly toward one another.
Alt. : And so we should be gentler with one another.
Placidiōrēs is the m/f nominative plural form of placidior/placidior/placidius (3) is the comparative form of placidus/placida/placidum (1/2): gentle, peaceful. Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Invicem (adv.): in turn; mutually, (to/with) each other, (to/with) one another. Sīmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (a hortatory subjunctive).
The good flies past and the bad takes its place.
More literally: Better things fly past; worse things succeed (them).
Meliōra is the neuter nominative plural form of melior/melior/melius (3) is the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Praetervolant is the third person plural form of praetervolō, praetervolāre, praetervolāvī, praetervolātum (1): to fly past. Dēteriōra is the neuter nominative plural form of dēterior/dēterior/dēterius (3): worse (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Succēdunt is the third person plural form of succēdō, succēdere, successī, successum (3): to move up (to); succeed (to), follow, take the place of.
They complain of the insolence of their superiors.
Queruntur is the third person plural form of queror, querī, questus sum (3, deponent): to complain. Dē (prep.): from, down from; about, concerning (takes the ablative). Superiōrum is the m/f/n (here m) genitive plural form of superior/superior/superius (3) of the comparative form of superus/supera/superum (1/2): above; higher. Fastīdiō is the ablative singular form of fastīdium, fastīdiī (2n): disgust, squeamishness; haughtiness, pride.
E
e
There is no remembrance of former things.
Nōn: not. Est: there is. Priōrum is the m/f/n (here n) genitive plural form of prior/prior/prius (3): former, previous (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Memoria, memoriae (1f): memory.
Let him rise before his elders.
Maiōribus is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of maior/maior/maius (3) is the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Adsurgat is the third person singular subjunctive form of adsurgō, adsurgere, adsurrēxī, adsurrēctum (3—also assurgō): to rise up, stand up; stand up before someone—mentioned in the dative—as a sign of respect; e. g. , when a superior enters a room (subjunctive because it’s jussive).
Therefore let the lower serve the higher.
Alt. : So let the inferior parts serve the better.
(He’s talking about putting material things into the service of the soul, rather than the other way around.) Serviant is the third person plural subjunctive form of serviō, servīre, servīvī/serviī, servītum (4): to serve; be a slave; it takes a dative object (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Dēteriōra is the neuter nominative plural form of dēterior/dēterior/dēterius (3): worse (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Meliōribus is the m/f/n (here n) dative plural form of melior/melior/melius (3) is the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good.
Subsequent laws repeal former conflicting ones.
Lēgēs is the nominative plural form of lēx, lēgis (3f): law. Posteriōrēs is the m/f nominative plural form of posterior/posterior/posterius (3) is the comparative form of posterus/postera/posterum (1/2): following. Priōrēs is the m/f accusative plural form of prior/prior/prius (3): previous, former (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Contrāriās is the feminine accusative plural form of contrārius/contrāria/contrārium (1/2): opposite; conflicting. Abrogant is the third person plural form of abrogō, abrogāre, abrogāvī, abrogātum (1): to abolish, repeal.
Race of Venus, dismiss graver fears from your hearts.
Solvite is the plural imperative form of solvō, solvere, solvī, solūtum (3): to loosen; free, release; pay. Gēns is the vocative singular form of gēns, gentis (3f): nation; race; family. Venus, Veneris (3f): Venus, goddess of love; love, sexual love. Graviōrīs is the m/f accusative plural form of gravior/gravior/gravius (3) is the comparative form of gravis/gravis/grave (3): heavy, grave, serious. Corde is the ablative singular form of cor, cordis (3n): heart. Timōrēs is the accusative plural form of timor, timōris (3m): fear.
Let greater men sing greater things.
Maiōrēs is the m/f nominative plural form of maior/maior/maius (3), the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Maiōra is the neuter accusative plural form of maior/maior/maius (3), the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Sonent is the third person plural subjunctive form of sonō, sonāre, sonuī, sonitum (1): to sound, make a noise; sing (subjunctive because it’s jussive).
Let him learn the same from smaller numbers.
Breviōribus is the m/f/n ablative plural form of brevior/brevior/brevius (3) is the comparative form of brevis/brevis/breve (3): short, brief; (of amounts) small. Numerīs is the ablative plural form of numerus, numerī (2m): number. Idem is the neuter accusative singular form of īdem/eadem/idem (pron.): the same. Discat is the third person singular subjunctive form of discō, discere, didicī, discitūrus (3): to learn (a jussive subjunctive).
It is painful to be surpassed in office by worse people than oneself.
Gravis/gravis/ grave (3): heavy; serious; hard, painful, grievous. Est: it is. Ab/ ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Dēteriōribus is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of dēterior/dēterior/dēterius (3): worse (it has no noncomparative or “positive” form). Honōre is the ablative singular form of honor, honōris (3m): honor; office. Anteīrī is the passive infinitive form of anteeō, anteīre, anteīvī/anteiī, anteitum (irreg.): to go before, precede; surpass.
Enjoy a better fate.
Meliōribus is the m/f/n ablative plural form of melior/melior/melius (3) is the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Ūtere is the singular imperative form of ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum (3, deponent): to use; enjoy (takes an ablative object). Fātīs is the ablative plural form of fātum, fātī (2n): fate.