Chapter 10: Adversity

Ut (rel. adv.): as. Vōbīs: to you—the dative form of vōs: you (pl.). Inquit is the third person singular form of inquam (irreg. and defective): to say (inquit = he/she/it says or said). Vidētur is the third person singular passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem. Praebēbit is the third person singular future form of praebeō, praebēre, praebuī, praebitum (2): to put forward, present, offer; expose; provide, give. Sē: himself—the accusative form of the reflexive pronoun. Perīculīs is the dative plural form of perīculum, perīculī (2n): experiment; danger. Fortis /fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. (As it seems to you, he says, the brave (man) will expose himself to dangers.)

Minimē (adv.): least; not at all, by no means. Nōn: not. Timēbit is the third person singular future form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid. Illa is the neuter accusative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it them. Sed (conj.): but. Vītābit is the third person singular future form of vītō, vītāre, vītāvī, vītātum (1): to avoid. (By no means; he will not fear them, but will avoid (them).)

Cautiō, cautiōnis (3f): caution. Illum is the masculine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she it. Decet, decēre, decuit, — (2, third person only): it is suitable, it is proper, it is fitting, it is becoming, it suits, it befits. Timor, timōris (3m): fear, dread. Nōn: not. (Caution befits him, fear does not befit (him).)

Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Mīrēmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of mīror, mīrārī, mīrātus sum (1, deponent): to be surprised, marvel, wonder (at); admire (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Eōrum is the m/n genitive plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Quae is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Nātī sumus is the first person masculine plural perfect form of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born; spring forth. (Let us wonder at nothing of those things to which we have been born. . .)

Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Ideō (adv.): therefore, for that reason, for this reason, for the reason (that. . . ; here the reason is introduced by quia below). Nūllī is the m/f/n dative singular form of nūllus/nūlla/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any, none; (m. sg. used substantively) no one—the dative of agent, used with the passive periphrastic to come. Querenda is the neuter nominative plural form of querendus/querenda/querendum (1/2), the gerundive (to be complained about) of queror, querī, questus sum (3, deponent): to complain. (Sunt is implied from the next clause.) (. . . which (are) to be/should be complained about by nobody for this reason. . .)

Quia (conj.): because, (for the reason) that. Paria is the neuter nominative plural form of pār, paris (3, adj.): equal; like, similar. Sunt: they are. Omnibus is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): every; all. (. . . that they are equal for all.)

Ita (adv.): so, thus; yes. Dīco, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Paria sunt: they are equal (see above). (I say so/yes, I say: they are equal.)

Nam (particle): for, because. Etiam (particle): still; even; also, too, as well. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Effūgit is the third person singular perfect form of effugiō, effugere, effūgī, effugitum (3, –iō): to escape. Aliquis /aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something; anyone, anything. Patior, patī, passus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to undergo, suffer, endure; allow. Potuit is the third person singular perfect form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. (For even what someone has escaped, he was able to suffer—i.e., he could have suffered.)

Aequus/aequa/ aequum (1/2): equal; just, fair, impartial. Autem (particle): but, however; and, moreover, and indeed. Iūs, iūris (3n): law, right, authority. Est: is. Nōn: not. Quō is the m/n ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Omnēs is the m/f nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Ūsī sunt is the third person masculine plural perfect form of ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum (3, deponent): to use, manage; experience; it usually takes an ablative object—here, quō. (And indeed an equal law is not (one/a law) which all have experienced. . .)

Sed (conj.): but. Quī/quae/ quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Omnibus is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): every; all. Lātum est is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (3, irreg.): to carry, bring forth; produce; endure; propose or pass (a law). (. . . but (one) which has been passed for all.)

Imperētur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of imperō, imperāre, imperāvī, imperātum (1): to command; rule (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Aequitās, aequitātis (3f): evenness; equanimity; equity. Animō is the dative singular form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul; will, intention. (Let equanimity be commanded to the mind. . .) Et (conj.): and. Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Querellā is the ablative singular form of querella, querellae (1f): complaint. Mortālitās, mortālitātis (3f): mortality; mankind. Tribūta is the accusative plural form of tribūtum, tribūtī (2n): tax, tribute—originally the neuter form of tribūtus/tribūta/tribūtum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of tribuō, tribuere, tribuī, tribūtum (3): to share out; bestow; allocate; ascribe. Pendāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of pendō, pendere, pependī, pēnsum (3): to suspend, hang; pay out (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). (. . . and without complaint let us pay the taxes of mortality.) (Notice that he uses the language of law and government— aequum iūs, imperō, tribūtum —to suggest the regime imposed by nature.)

Inveniēs is the second person singular future form of inveniō, invenīre, invēnī, inventum (4): to find. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Quōlibet is the m/n ablative singular form of quīlibet/quaelibet/quodlibet (adj.): any (you like). Genere is the ablative singular form of genus, generis (3n): kind, type. Vīta, vītae (1f): Oblectāmenta is the accusative plural form of oblectāmentum, oblectāmentī (2n): delight, pleasure, amusement. Et (conj.): and. Remissiōnēs is the accusative plural form of remissiō, remissiōnis (3f): release; relaxation, recreation. Et (conj.): and. Voluptātēs is the accusative plural form of voluptās, voluptātis (3f): pleasure. (You will find amusements, recreations, and pleasures in any type of life. . .)

Sī (conj.): if. Volueris is the second person singular future perfect form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want, wish; be willing. Mala is the accusative plural form of malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble, misfortune. Putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to think, suppose, regard (as). Levia is the neuter accusative plural form of levis/levis/leve (3): light; trivial, trifling. (. . . if you are willing to regard evils (as) trifling/light. . .)

Potius (adv.): rather. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Invidiōsa is the neuter accusative plural form of invidiōsus/invidiōsa/invidiōsum (1/2): hostile, hateful; envious. Faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. (. . . rather than to make (them) hateful.)

Ignis, ignis (3m): fire. Aurum is the accusative singular form of aurum, aurī (2n): gold. Probat is the third person singular form of probō, probāre, probāvī, probātum (1): to prove; test. Miseria, miseriae (1f): misfortune, misery, distress. Fortēs is the m/f accusative plural form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. Virōs is the accusative plural form of vir, virī (2m): man; husband. (Fire tests gold, misfortune brave men.)

Saepe (adv.): often. . Maiōrī is the m/f/n dative singular form of maior/maior/maius (3): larger, greater—the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): large, great. Fortūnae is the dative singular form of fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune; luck; prosperity. 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, wrong; damage. (Damage has often made room for greater prosperity.)

Multa is the neuter nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Cecidērunt is the third person plural perfect form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall. Ut (conj.): that, so that, in order to. Altius (adv.): higher—the comparative form of altē (adv.): high. Surgerent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of surgō, surgere, surrēxī, surrēctum (3): to rise, get up (subjunctive because it’s a purpose or result clause). (Many things have fallen that they might rise higher.)

Tīmāgenēs, Tīmāgenis (3m): Timagenes, an Alexandrian rhetorician who was a slave at Rome. Fēlīcitātī is the dative singular form of fēlīcitās, fēlīcitātis (3f): happiness, good fortune. Urbs, urbis (3f): city. Inimīcus /inimīca/inimīcum (1/2): unfriendly. Aiēbat is the third person singular imperfect form of aiō (3, defective): to say, affirm. (Timagenes, unfriendly to the happiness of the city, said. . .)

Rōma, Rōmae (1f): Rome; or it could be the locative (at Rome). Sibi: to/for him(self)—the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. Incendia is the accusative plural form of incendium, incendiī (2n): fire. Ob (prep.): because of; towards, against (takes the accusative). Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Ūnum is the m/n accusative singular form of ūnus/ūna/ūnum (1/2, irreg.): one; alone; only, sole, single. Dolōrī is the dative singular form of dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, grief, sorrow; an object or cause of grief. Esse: to be. Sibi. . . dolōrī is a double-dative construction; see Chapter 27 of The Latin Tamer. (. . . the fires of/at Rome to be a cause of grief for himself on account of this one thing. . .)

Quod (conj.): that; the fact that; in that; because. Scīret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know; know how to (subjunctive because it’s part of indirect speech). Meliōra is the neuter accusative plural form of melior/melior/melius (3): better—the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Surrēctūra is the neuter accusative plural form of surrēctūrus/surrēctūra/surrēctūrum (1/2), the future active participle (going to rise) of surgō, surgere, surrēxī, surrēctum (3): to rise, get up. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Ārsissent is the third person plural pluperfect subjunctive form of ārdeō, ārdēre, ārsī, ārsum (2): to burn, be on fire (subjunctive because it’s part of indirect speech). (. . . because he knew better things (to be) going to rise than had burned.)

Ideō (adv.): therefore, for that reason. Sapiēns, sapientis (3m): wise man, sage. Adsuēscit is the third person singular form of adsuēscō, adsuēscere, adsuēvī, adsuētum (3—also assuēscō): to get used to, grow familiar with. Futūrīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of futūrus/futūra/futūrum (1/2), the future active participle (about to be, going to be) of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Malīs is the dative plural form of malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble. (Therefore the wise person gets used to evils to come. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Quae is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what (what things, the things that). Aliī is the masculine nominative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Diū (adv.): long, for a long time. Patiendō is the ablative gerund (by enduring) of patior, patī, passus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to undergo, suffer, endure; allow. Levia is the neuter accusative plural form of levis/levis/leve (3): light; trifling. Faciunt is the third person plural form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. (. . . and the things that others make light by enduring a long time. . .)

Hic /haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Levia: light (see above). Facit is the third person singular form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Diū (adv.): long, for a long time. Cōgitandō is the ablative a gerund (by thinking) of cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think, reflect (on). (. . . he makes light by thinking (about them) a long time.)

Audīmus is the first person plural form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear. Aliquandō (adv.): sometimes; sometime; eventually. Vōcēs is the accusative plural form of vōx, vōcis (3f): voice. Imperītōrum is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of imperītus/imperīta/imperītum (1/2): inexperienced, ignorant. Dīcentium is the m/f/n genitive plural form of dīcēns, dīcentis (3), the present active participle (saying) of dīco, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. (Sometimes we hear the voices of the inexperienced saying. . .)

Sciēbam is the first person singular imperfect form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Mihi is the dative form of ego: I (for me). Restō, restāre, restitī, — (1): to remain; resist; await, be in store. (I knew this to be in store for me.)

Sapiēns, sapientis (3m): wise man, sage. Scit is the third person singular form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Sibi: for him(self)—the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. Omnia is the neuter accusative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every; (n. pl. used substantively) all things, everything. Restāre: to be in store (see above). (The wise man knows everything to be in store for himself.)

Quisquis/ quicquid (rel. pron. ; the neuter form is also spelled quidquid): whoever, whatever. Factum est is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make; (in the perfect passive) to have happened. Dīcit is the third person singular form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Sciēbam: I knew (see above). (Whatever happens—literally has happened, because this action is completed before the other—he says: I knew.)

Is/ea/ id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Quidem (particle): at any rate; indeed, certainly, in fact. Nōn: not. Dubius/dubia/ dubium (1/2): doubtful. (This at any rate (is) not doubtful. . .)

Quīn (conj.): a word with many uses; in combination with a negated word expressing doubt (like nōn dubium here) it translates as but that or simply that, and is followed by a subjunctive verb. Omnia is the neuter nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): every; all. Quae is the neuter nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Mala is the nominative plural form of malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble, misfortune. Putentur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to suppose, think; clean (subjunctive because it’s part of indirect speech). Sint is the third person plural subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive with quīn). Imprōvīsa is the neuter nominative plural form of imprōvīsus/imprōvīsa/imprōvīsum (1/2): unforeseen, unexpected. Graviōra is the neuter nominative plural form of gravior/gravior/gravius (3): heavier; more painful, more troublesome—the comparative form of gravis/gravis/grave (3): heavy; painful, troublesome. (. . . that all things that are thought evils are more painful unforeseen. . .) His/ haec /hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Est: is. Ille/ illa /illud (adj.): that. Praestāns, praestantis (3): excellent, outstanding—originally the present active participle (excelling) of praestō, praestāre, praestitī/praestāvī, praestātum (1): to excel; offer; provide; fulfill. Et (conj.): and. Dīvīnus/ dīvīna /dīvīnum (1/2): divine. Sapientia, sapientiae (1f): wisdom. (This is that excellent and divine wisdom. . .)

Et (conj.): and (et. . . et = both. . . and). Perceptās is the feminine accusative plural form of perceptus/percepta/perceptum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (perceived) of percipiō, percipere, percēpī, perceptum (3, –iō): to take, reap, harvest; perceive; seize; grasp, understand. Penitus (adv.): inwardly, deeply; thoroughly. Et (conj.): and. Pertractātās is the feminine accusative plural form of pertractātus/pertractāta/pertractātum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (studied in detail) of pertractō, pertractāre, pertractāvī, pertractātum (1): to touch all over; handle; investigate thoroughly, study in detail. Rēs is the accusative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Hūmānās is the feminine accusative plural form of hūmānus/hūmāna/hūmānum (1/2): human. Habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. (. . . to have human affairs both perceived deeply and studied in detail. . .)

Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Admīror, admīrārī, admīrātus sum (1, deponent): to be surprised or astonished, wonder, marvel (at); admire. Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Acciderit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of accidō, accidere, accidī, — (3): to happen, befall (subjunctive because it’s a potential). (. . . to marvel at nothing when it has happened. . .)

Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Ante (adv.): before, earlier, sooner, previously. Quam (rel. adv.): than (ante quam = earlier than; i.e., before (as a conjunction)): Ēvēnerit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of ēveniō, ēvenīre, ēvēnī, ēventum (4): to happen, occur (subjunctive because it’s a potential). Nōn: not. Ēveniō, ēvenīre, ēvēnī, ēventum (4): to happen, occur. Possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Arbitror, arbitrārī, arbitrātus sum (1, deponent): to observe; think, suppose. (. . . to think that nothing, before it has happened, is not able to happen.)

Nōlī is the singular imperative form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to be unwilling, refuse, not want; it’s used with an infinitive to create a negative command (do not). Mala is the accusative plural form of malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble, misfortune. Tua is the neuter accusative plural form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make (completing “do not make” phrase with nōlī). Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Ipse /ipsa/ipsum (pron. or adj.): himself/herself/itself/yourself/etc. ; the very. Graviōra is the neuter accusative plural form of gravior/gravior/gravius (3): heavier; more painful, more troublesome—the comparative form of gravis/gravis/grave (3): heavy; painful, troublesome. (Do not yourself make your evils heavier for yourself. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you. Querellīs is the ablative plural form of querella, querellae (1f): complaint. Onerō, onerāre, onerāvī, onerātum (1): to burden (also completing a phrase with nōlī). (. . . and burden yourself with complaints.)

Levis /levis/leve (3): light; slight; fickle; trivial. Est: is. Dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, grief, sorrow. Sī (conj.): if. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Illī is the m/f/n dative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Opīniō, opīniōnis (3f): opinion, belief. Adiēcerit is the third person singular future perfect form of adiciō, adicere, adiēcī, adiectum (3, –iō): to throw (at); attach; add. (Pain is trivial if opinion will have added nothing to it.)

Contrā (adv.): on the opposite side; on the contrary; on the other hand; in response. Sī (conj.): if. Exhortor, exhortārī, exhortātus sum (1, deponent): to exhort, encourage. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you. Coeperis is the second person singular future perfect form of coepī, coepisse, coeptum (irreg. —no present forms): began. Atque/ ac (conj.): and. Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. (On the contrary, if you will have started to encourage yourself and to say. . .)

Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun): nothing. Est: it is. Aut (conj.): or. Certē (adv.): certainly; at any rate. Exiguus/exigua/ exiguum (1/2): small, scanty, little. Dūrēmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of dūrō, dūrāre, dūrāvī, dūrātum (1): to harden; endure (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Iam (adv.): already; now; soon; anymore. Dēsinet is the third person singular future form of dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī/dēsīvī, dēsitum (3): to end, cease. (. . . It is nothing, or at any rate it is little; let us endure; soon it will end. . .)

Levem is the m/f accusative singular form of levis/levis/leve (3): light; slight; trifling, trivial. Illum is the masculine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she it. Dum (conj.): while, so long as; provided that; until. Putās is the second person singular form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to think, regard, suppose. Faciēs is the second person singular future form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. (. . . you will make it light while you think (it so).)

Magnus/ magna /magnum (1/2): great, large; important. Autem (particle): and, moreover; but, however. # moreover% Pars, partis (3f): part, share; party. Est: is. Apud (prep.): with, at, by, near; at the house of (takes the accusative). Imperītōs is the masculine accusative plural form of imperītus/imperīta/imperītum (1/2): inexperienced, ignorant. Malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble, misfortune. Novitās, novitātis (3f): novelty, newness. (Moreover, a great part of evil, with the inexperienced, is novelty.)

Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Ut (conj.): that, so that. Sciās is the second person singular subjunctive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know (subjunctive because it’s in a purpose clause). (That you may know this. . .)

Ea is the neuter accusative plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Quae is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Putāverant is the third person plural pluperfect form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to think, suppose. Aspera is the neuter accusative plural form of asper/aspera/asperum (1/2): rough; harsh, bitter. (. . . those things which they had supposed harsh. . .)

Fortius (adv.): more bravely; more strongly—the comparative form of fortiter (adv.): bravely; strongly. Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Adsuēvēre (variant of adsuēvērunt) is the third person plural perfect form of adsuēscō, adsuēscere, adsuēvī, adsuētum (3—also assuēscō): to get used to/accustomed to. Patiuntur is the third person plural form of patior, patī, passus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to undergo, suffer, endure; allow. (. . . they bear more bravely when they have gotten used (to them).)