Chapter 3: Perspective

Prōpōne is the singular imperative form of prōpōnō, prōpōnere, prōposuī, prōpositum (3): to place before; expose to view, exhibit; propose, suggest; place before one’s inner eye, imagine. Tempus, temporis (3n): time. Profundī is the m/n genitive singular form of profundus/profunda/profundum (1/2): deep; bottomless; boundless. Vastitātem is the accusative singular form of vastitās, vastitātis (3f): desolation; desert; immensity, vastness. Et (conj.): and. Ūniversum is the m/n accusative singular form of ūniversus/ūniversa/ūniversum (1/2): all (together); universal. Complectere is the singular imperative form of complectō, complectere, complectī, complexum (3): to embrace, grasp; comprehend as a whole. (Place before (you) the vastness of deep time and comprehend (it) all. . .)

Deinde (adv.): then, afterwards. Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Aetātem is the accusative singular form of aetās, aetātis (3f): age, era; lifetime; period of a life. Vocāmus is the first person plural form of vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum (1): to call; summon. Hūmānam is the feminine accusative singular form of hūmānus/hūmāna/hūmānum (1/2): human. Conparā is the singular imperative form of conparō, conparāre, conparāvī, conparātum (1—also comparō): to compare, match. Immēnsō is the m/n (here n) dative singular form of immēnsus/immēnsa/immēnsum (1/2): immeasurable, boundless, immense. (. . . then compare this, what we call a human life, to the immeasurable. . .)

Vidēbis is the second person singular future form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Quam (interrog. adv.): how (much)? to what degree? Exiguus/exigua/ exiguum (1/2): small, scanty. Sit is the third person singular subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Optāmus is the first person plural form of optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum (1): to choose; wish for. Extendimus is the first person plural form of extendō, extendere, extendī, extentum/extēnsum (3): to extend, prolong. (You will see how scanty is that which we wish for, that which we prolong.)

Septem (indeclinable): seven. Illa is the neuter nominative plural form of ille/illa/illud (adj.): that (sometimes, like here, implying that great/famous. . .). Mīrācula is the nominative plural form of mīrāculum, mīrāculī (2n): wonder; miracle. Et (conj.): and. Sī (conj.): if. Qua is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/qua/quod (indef. pron.): (in certain types of clauses, especially after sī, nisi, num and nē) any. Hīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it (than these—the ablative of comparison). Multō (adv.): much, by far. Mīrābiliōra is the neuter accusative plural form of mīrābilior/mīrābilior/mīrābilius (3): more wonderful, more marvelous—the comparative form of mīrābilis/mīrābilis/mīrābile (3): wonderful, marvelous. Sequentium is the m/f/n genitive plural form of sequēns, sequentis (3), the present active participle (following) of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow, pursue; succeed in time. Annōrum is the genitive plural form of annus, annī (2m): year. Extrūxit is the third person singular perfect form of extruō, extruere, extrūxī, extructum (3—also exstruō): to heap up; construct. Ambitiō, ambitiōnis (3f): ambition, desire for favor. (Those seven wonders, and if the ambition of succeeding years has constructed any much more wonderful than these. . .)

Aliquandō (adv): sometimes; someday; finally. Solō is the dative singular form of solum, solī (2n): foundation; bottom; ground; soil. Aequāta is the neuter nominative plural form of aequātus/aequāta/aequātum (1/2), the perfect passive participle (leveled) of aequō, aequāre, aequāvī, aequātum (1): to equalize; level; liken. Vīsentur is the third person plural future passive form of vīsō, vīsere, vīsī, — (3): to go and see, visit; look at, view. (. . . someday will be seen leveled to the ground.)

Ita (adv.): so, thus. Est: it is. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun): nothing. Perpetuus/perpetua/ perpetuum (1/2): perpetual, constant. Pauca is the neuter nominative plural form of paucus/pauca/paucum (1/2): (in sg. , rare) little; (in pl. , the more frequent usage) few. Diuturna is the neuter nominative plural form of diuturnus/diuturna/diuturnum (1/2): long-lasting. Sunt: (they) are. (So it is: nothing (is) perpetual; few things are long-lasting.)

Alius/alia/ aliud (1/2, irreg.): another, other. Aliō is the m/n ablative singular form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): another, other. Modō is the ablative singular form of modus, modī (2m): measure; manner, method. Fragilis/fragilis/ fragile (3): fragile, easily broken; perishable. Est: is. (Another thing is perishable in another way—i.e., one thing is perishable in one way, another in another.)

Rērum is the genitive plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Exitūs is the nominative plural form of exitus, exitūs (4m): exit; departure; end. Variantur is the third person plural passive form of variō, variāre, variāvī, variātum (1): to variegate; vary, diversify; change (a reflexive passive). (The endings of things vary. . .)

Cēterum (adv.): for the rest; moreover; yet, still. Quisquis/ quicquid (rel. pron. —the neuter form is also spelled quidquid): whoever, whatever. Coepit is the third person singular perfect form of coepī, coepisse, coeptum (irreg. , no present tense): to begin. Et (adv.): also; even. Dēsinit is the third person singular form of dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī/dēsīvī, dēsitum (3): to leave off, stop, end, cease. (. . . for the rest, whatever began also ends.)

Eat is the third person singular subjunctive form of eō, īre, iī/īvī, itum (irreg.): to go (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Nunc (adv.): now. Eat with nunc is a “formula introducing an ironical command which, in the face of what has just been said, is held to be absurd or unreasonable.” (OLD.) Here Seneca has just said the universe will one day dissolve into chaos; so in effect eat is something like ironically saying go for it! to people who would complain about individual deaths. Aliquis /aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something; anyone, anything. Et (conj.): and. Singulās is the feminine accusative plural form of singulus/singula/singulum (1/2): single; (in pl.) one each, all one by one, one at a time. Complōret is the third person singular subjunctive form of complōrō, complōrāre, complōrāvī, complōrātum (1): to lament, mourn for (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Animās is the accusative plural form of anima, animae (1f): breath; life; soul, spirit. (Now let someone go and mourn for all the souls one by one. . .)

Carthāgō, Carthāginis (3f): Carthage. Atque/ ac (conj.): and. Numantia, Numantiae (1f): Numantia, a town in northern Spain. Corinthīque: Corinthus, Corinthīque (2f): Corinth (Carthage and Corinth were both destroyed by Rome in the same year, 146 BC, a fact that was widely referenced by ancient authors; Numantia was obliterated a few years later by the destroyer of Carthage, Scipio Aemilianus) (the enclitic conjunction –que adds and). Cinerem is the accusative singular form of cinis, cineris (3m/f): ash or ashes. Et (conj.): and. Sī (conj.): if. Quis/qua/ quid (indef. pron.): (in certain types of clauses, especially after sī, nisi, num and nē) someone, something; anyone, anything. Alius/alia/ aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Altius (adv.): higher; from a greater height; deeper—the comparative form of altē (adv.): high; from a great height; deep/deeply. Cecidit is the third person singular perfect form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall. Lāmentētur is the third person singular subjunctive form of lāmentor, lāmentārī, lāmentātus sum (1, deponent): to lament, weep over (subjunctive because it’s jussive). (. . . and let (him) weep over the ashes of Carthage and Numantia and Corinth and if anything else has fallen from a greater height. . .)

Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Etiam (particle): still; even; also. Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Quī/quae/ quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Nōn: not. Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Quō (rel. adv.): where (with motion), whither, (a place) to which. Cadat is the third person singular subjunctive form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall (subjunctive because it’s in a relative clause of purpose or characteristic). Sit is the third person singular subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an adversative cum clause). Interitūrus/interitūra/ interitūrum (1/2) is the future active participle (going to perish) of intereō, interīre, interiī, interitum (irreg.): to perish; be ruined. (. . . when even this (universe), which does not have a place where it might fall, is going to perish.)

Eat aliquis et: let someone go and (see above). Fāta is the accusative plural form of fātum fātī (2n): fate. Tantum is the m/n accusative singular form of tantus/tanta/tantum (1/2): so great, such great, so much. Aliquandō (adv.): sometimes; someday; finally. Nefās (indeclinable neuter noun occurring only as nom. sg. or acc. sg. ; here it’s acc.): sacrilege, wrong, crime. Ausūra is the neuter accusative plural form of ausūrus/ausūra/ausūrum (1/2), the future active participle (going to dare) of audeō, audēre, ausus sum (2, semi-deponent): to dare, risk. Sibi: (to) himself—the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. Nōn: not. Pepercisse is the perfect infinitive form of parcō, parcere, pepercī/parsī, parsum (3): to forbear, be lenient, spare (takes the dative). Conquerātur is the third person singular subjunctive form of conqueror, conquerī, conquestus sum (3, deponent): to complain, deplore (subjunctive because it’s jussive). (Let someone go and complain that the fates, going to dare so great a crime someday, have not spared himself.)

Esset is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (it would be); it’s imperfect subjunctive because it is in the apodosis of a present contrary-to-fact conditional statement (note the sī— if —later in the sentence). Aliquī/aliqua/ aliquod (adj.): some. Inbēcillitās, inbēcillitātis (3f—also imbēcillitās): weakness, feebleness. Nostrae is the feminine genitive singular form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Sōlācium, sōlāciī (2n): solace, relief, comfort. Rērumque: rērum is the genitive plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; deed; circumstance (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Nostrārum is the feminine genitive plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. (It would be some relief of our and our things’feebleness. . .)

Sī (conj.): if. Tam (adv.): so (much), as. Tardē (adv.): slowly. Perīrent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of pereō, perīre, periī, peritum (irreg.): to be lost or destroyed; disappear: perish, die (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact; see above). Cūncta is the neuter nominative plural form of cūnctus/cūncta/cūnctum (1/2): all (collectively). Quam (rel. adv.): as (tam. . . quam = as. . . as). Fīunt is the third person plural form of fīō, fierī, —, — (irreg.): to be made; become; happen; come into being. (. . . if all things perished as slowly as they come into being.)

Nunc (adv.): now; as it is. Incrēmenta is the nominative plural form of incrēmentum, incrēmentī (2n): increase, growth. Lentē (adv.): slowly. Exeunt is the third person plural form of exeō, exīre, exiī/exīvī, exitum (irreg.): to exit, go out; rise, grow, develop. Festīnātur is the third person singular passive form of festīnō, festīnāre, festīnāvī, festīnātum (1): to hurry, hasten; pass swiftly (used here impersonally). In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into, toward (and into). Damnum is the accusative singular form of damnum, damnī (2n): injury, loss. (As it is, growth rises slowly, it is hastened—i.e., there is a hastening —toward loss.)

Ubi (rel. adv.): where; when. Stabilītus/ stabilīta /stabilītum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle (stabilized) of stabiliō, stabilīre, stabilīvī, stabilītum (4): to stabilize, make firm, make steadfast. Mēns, mentis (3f): mind; intention. Scit is the third person singular form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Intersum, interesse, interfuī, interfutūrus (irreg.): to be between, lie between; differ, constitute a difference; (impersonally) matter, make a difference. Inter (prep.): among; between; during. Diem is the accusative singular form of diēs, diēī (5 m/f): day. Et (conj.): and. Saeculum is the accusative singular form of saeculum, saeculī (2n): generation, lifetime, age, century. (When the stabilized mind knows nothing to differ—i.e., that nothing differs, that there is no difference—between a day and an age. . .)

Quisquis/ quicquid (rel. pron. ; the neuter form is also spelled quidquid): whoever, whatever. Deinceps (adv.): in succession, in turn; after this or that, next, hereafter, thereafter. Diērum is the genitive plural form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Rērumque: rērum is the genitive plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; event (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Ventūrus/ventūra/ ventūrum (1/2) is the future active participle (about to come) of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Est: is. (. . . whatever of days and events is to come in turn. . .)

Ex /ē (prep.): from, out of (takes the ablative). Altō is the ablative singular form of altum, altī (2n): the open sea, the deep; depth or depths; a high place or position. Prōspicit is the third person singular form of prōspiciō, prōspicere, prōspexī, prōspectum (3, –iō): to see or look before one (at), watch, survey, look ahead. Et (conj.): and. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Multō is the m/n ablative singular form multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Rīsū is the ablative singular form of rīsus, rīsūs (4m): laughter. Seriem is the accusative singular form of seriēs, seriēī (5f): succession, series. Temporum is the genitive plural form of tempus, temporis (3n): time. Cōgitat is the third person singular form of cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think, reflect (on). (. . . it watches from a high position and reflects with much laughter on the series of the times.)

Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Ego: I. Admīrāns, admīrantis (3) is the present active participle (admiring) of admīror, admīrārī, admīrātus sum (1, deponent): to regard with wonder; be astonished; admire. Referēbam is the first person singular imperfect form of referō, referre, rettulī, relātum (3, irreg.): to bring back; turn back. Tamen (adv.): nevertheless, yet, still. Oculōs is the accusative plural form of oculus, oculi (2m): eye. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Terram is the accusative singular form of terra, terrae (1f): land; earth. Identidem (adv.): repeatedly, often, again and again; now and then. (Marveling at these things, I still was repeatedly turning (my) eyes back to earth.)

Tum (adv.): then, at that time. Āfricānus, Āfricānī (2m): “the African”, a name earned by two members of the aristocratic Scipio family for their role in fighting the Carthaginians. This is the older of the two, P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus—addressing the younger, P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus, his cousin and adoptive son. Sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; perceive; think. Inquit is the third person singular form of inquam (irreg. and defective): to say. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you. Sēdem is the accusative singular form of sēdēs, sēdis (3f): seat; place, abode, habitation. Etiam (particle): still; even; also. Nunc (adv.): now; as it is. Hominum is the genitive plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. Atque/ ac (conj.): and. Domum is the accusative singular form of domus, domūs (2/4f): house, home. Contemplor, contemplārī, contemplātus sum (1, deponent): to look at, gaze upon, contemplate. (Then Africanus: “I perceive,” he said, “you even now to contemplate the habitation and home of men. . .”)

Quī/ quae /quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Sī (conj.): if. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you (to you). Parvus/ parva /parvum (1/2): small; unimportant. Ut (rel. adv.): as. Est: it is. Ita (adv.): so, thus, in the same way. Vidētur is the third person singular passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem. (which if seems—i.e., if it seems; quae is a connective relative— small to you in the same way as it is. . .)

Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Caelestia is the neuter accusative plural form of caelestis/caelestis/caeleste (3): celestial. Semper (adv.): always. Spectātō is the singular future imperative form of spectō, spectāre, spectāvī, spectātum (1): to watch, look at; aim at; consider. Illa is the neuter accusative plural form of ille/illa/illud (adj.): that. Hūmāna is the neuter accusative plural form of hūmānus/hūmāna/hūmānum (1/2): human. Contemnitō is the singular future imperative form of contemnō, contemnere, contempsī, contemptum (3): to despise. (. . . always look at these celestial things, despise those human ones.)

Tū: you. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Quam is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? Celebritātem is the accusative singular form of celebritās, celebritātis (3f): crowdedness; frequency; fame, celebrity, renown. Sermō, sermōnis (3m): conversation, talk, speech. Hominum: of men (see above). Aut (conj.): or. Expetendam is the feminine accusative singular form of expetendus/expetenda/expetendum (1/2), the gerundive (to be desired) of expetō, expetere, expetīvī/expetiī, expetītum (3): to ask for; seek after; desire. Cōnsequor, cōnsequī, cōnsecūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow; catch up with; attain. Glōriam is the accusative singular form of glōria, glōriae (1f): glory. Potes is the second person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. (For what renown of the conversation of men, or what glory to be desired, can you attain?)

Magna is the neuter accusative plural form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great. Ista is neuter accusative plural form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that, this; he, she, it. Quia (conj.): because. Parvī is the masculine nominative plural form of parvus/parva/parvum (1/2): small, puny. Sumus: we are. Crēdimus is the first person plural form of crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to believe. (We believe those things great because we are small.)