Chapter 9: Emotion

Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Prīmum can be understood as the m/n accusative singular form of prīmus/prīma/prīmum: (1/2): first; or it can be read as an adverb (prīmum (adv.): first). Philosophia, philosophiae (1f): philosophy. Prōmittit is the third person singular form of prōmittō, prōmittere, prōmīsī, prōmissum (3): to promise. (This first philosophy promises. . .)

Sēnsum is the accusative singular form of sēnsus, sēnsūs (4m): feeling, capability of feeling; sense. Commūnem is the m/f accusative singular form of commūnis/commūnis/commūne (3): of or for the community or public, for all; shared, common, universal, general; commonplace. Hūmānitātem is the accusative singular form of hūmānitās, hūmānitātis (3f): human nature or character, humanity; humaneness, kindness; civilization. Et (conj.): and. Congregātiōnem is the accusative singular form of congregātiō, congregātiōnis (3f): association, society, union. (. . . a common feeling, humanity and union.)

Plūrēs/plūrēs/ plūra (3): more numerous, more (in number); many. Sunt: (they) are, there are. Lūcīlī is the masculine vocative singular form of the family name Lūcīlius/Lūcīlia/Lūcīlium (1/2): a common plebeian Roman name; in this case it’s Lucilius Junior, a Roman governor of Sicily who is best known for his friendship with Seneca. Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Nōs is the accusative form of nōs: we (us). Terrent is the third person plural form of terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum (2): to frighten, terrify, alarm. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Premunt is the third person plural form of premō, premere, pressī, pressum (3): to press; pursue, burden, oppress, bear down on, afflict. (There are more things, Lucilius, that frighten us than that afflict us—or: The things that frighten us, Lucilius, are more numerous than those that afflict us. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Saepius (adv.): more often—the comparative form of saepe (adv.): often. Opīniōne is the ablative singular form of opīniō, opīniōnis (3f): opinion, conjecture, imagination. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Rē is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; reality, truth, fact. Labōrāmus is the first person plural form of labōrō, labōrāre, labōrāvī, labōrātum (1): to toil; strive; suffer. (. . . and we suffer more often from opinion than from reality.)

Aut (conj.): or (aut. . . aut = either. . . or). Augēmus is the first person plural form of augeō, augēre, auxī, auctum (2): to increase, augment; enlarge, expand. Dolōrem is the accusative singular form of dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, suffering, sorrow, grief. Aut (conj.): or. Fingimus is the first person plural form of fingō, fingere, fīnxī, fictum (3): to shape, fashion, make; make up, invent, imagine. Praecipimus is the first person plural form of praecipiō, praecipere, praecēpī, praeceptum (3, –iō): to take in advance; anticipate; order, command; advise. (We either increase, or imagine, or anticipate sorrow.)

Et (conj.): and (et. . . et = both. . . and). Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Praeteriērunt is the third person plural perfect form of praetereō, praeterīre, praeteriī/praeterīvī, praeteritum (irreg.): to pass by; neglect. Et (conj.): and. Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Futūra is the neuter nominative plural form of futūrus/futūra/futūrum (1/2), the future active participle (about to be) of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Sunt: (they) are. Absunt is the third person plural form of absum, abesse, āfuī, āfutūrus (irreg.): to be absent, away, distant. Neutra is the neuter accusative plural form of neuter/neutra/neutrum (1/2, irreg.): neither. Sentīmus is the first person plural form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; perceive, notice; think. (Both those things which have passed by and those that are about to be are absent. We feel neither.)

Nōn: not. Est: there is. Autem (particle): but, however; and, moreover. Nisi (conj.): unless, if not; except. Ex /ē (prep.): from, out of (takes the ablative). Eō is the m/n ablative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Sentiās is the second person singular subjunctive form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; perceive, notice; think (it’s in the potential subjunctive because the subject is a general you). Dolor, dolōris (3m): pain; grief. (And there is not (any) pain except from that which you feel.)

Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Spem is the accusative singular form of spēs, speī (5f): hope, expectation. Atque/ ac (conj.): and. Metum is the accusative singular form of metus, metūs (4m): fear. Exāminā is the singular imperative form of exāminō, exāmināre, exāmināvī, exāminātum (1): to weigh, balance; consider, examine. (Therefore weigh hope and fear. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Quotiēns (rel. adv.): as often as, whenever. Incerta is the neuter nominative plural form of incertus/incerta/incertum (1/2): uncertain, doubtful, not known. Erunt is the third person plural future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Omnia is the neuter nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): every; all: (n. pl. used substantively) all things, everything. (. . . and whenever all things will be uncertain. . .)

Tibi is the dative form of tū: you (used reflexively: yourself). Favē is the singular imperative form of faveō, favēre, fāvī, fautum (2): to favor, support, promote (takes a dative object). Crēde is the singular imperative form of crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum (3): to entrust; trust; believe. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Māvīs is the second person singular form of mālō, mālle, māluī, — (irreg.): to prefer. (. . . favor yourself; believe what you prefer.)

Sī (conj.): if. Plūrēs is the m/f accusative plural form of plūrēs/plūrēs/plūra (3): more numerous, more (in number); many. Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Sententiās is the accusative plural form of sententia, sententiae (1f): opinion, thought, feeling; vote. Metus, metūs (4m): fear. (If fear has more votes. . .)

Nihilōminus (adv.): nevertheless. In (prep.): (with ablative) in, on; (with accusative) into, toward, to. Hanc is the feminine accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Partem is the accusative singular form of pars, partis (3f): part; function; party, faction, side. Potius (adv.): rather. Inclīnā is the singular imperative form of inclīnō, inclīnāre, inclīnāvī, inclīnātum (1): to bend, bow, tilt. (. . . nevertheless bend rather to this side/party. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Perturbō, perturbāre, perturbāvī, perturbātum (1): to throw into disorder; perturb, trouble, alarm. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you (used reflexively: yourself). Dēsine is the singular imperative form of dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī/dēsīvī, dēsitum (3): to cease, stop. (. . . and cease to trouble yourself.)

Illud is the neuter accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it; the former. # that% Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Praecipiō, praecipere, praecēpī, praeceptum (3, –iō): to take beforehand; teach, advise. (I advise that/this to you. . .)

Ne (conj.): that not. Sīs is the second person singular subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s an indirect command). Miser /misera/miserum (1/2): wretched, miserable. Ante (prep.): before; in front of (takes the accusative). Tempus is the accusative singular form of tempus, temporis (3n): time. (. . . that you not be miserable before the time. . .)

Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Illa is the neuter nominative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Quae is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Velut (adv.): as, just as; as if. Imminentia is the neuter accusative plural form of imminēns, imminentis (3), the present active participle (impending) of immineō, imminēre, —, — (2): to overhang; impend, threaten, be imminent. Expāvistī is the second person singular perfect form of expavēscō, expavēscere, expāvī, — (3): to become greatly terrified, take fright (at). (. . . since those things that you have taken fright at as if impending. . .)

Fortasse (adv.): perhaps. Numquam (adv.): never. Ventūra is the neuter nominative plural form of ventūrus/ventūra/ventūrum (1/2), the future active participle (going to come) of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Sint is the third person plural subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it's in a causal cum clause). (. . . perhaps are never going to come. . .)

Certē (adv.): certainly; at any rate. Nōn: not. Vēnerint is the third person plural perfect subjunctive form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come (subjunctive because it’s in a causal cum clause). (. . . (or) at any rate have not come.)

Quaedam is the neuter nominative plural form of quīdam/quaedam/quiddam (pron.): someone, something, a certain person or thing. Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Nōs is the accusative form of nōs: we (us). Magis (adv.): more. Torquent is the third person plural form of torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortum (2): to twist; torment, torture. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Dēbent is the third person plural form of dēbeō, dēbēre, dēbuī, dēbitum (2): to owe; ought. Ante (adv.): before, earlier, sooner, previously. Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Omnīnō (adv.): entirely, at all. Nōn: not. Dēbeant is the same, but subjunctive (because it’s in an adversative cum clause). (Some things, then, torment us more than they ought; some things torment before—earlier than—they ought; some things torment, when they ought not at all.)

Alius /alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Dīcat is the third person singular subjunctive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Fortasse (adv.): perhaps. Nōn: not. Veniet is the third person singular future form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. (Let another say: Perhaps it will not come.)

Tū: you. Dīc is the singular imperative form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Quis/quis/ quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? # what% Porrō (adv.): forward; further; furthermore, moreover, again, besides. . Sī (conj.): if. Veniet: it will come/it comes (in the future; see above). (Say you: Besides, what if it will come?)

Vidēbimus is the first person plural future form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Uter /utra/utrum (interrog. pron. , 1/2, irreg.): which (of two)? Vincat is the third person singular subjunctive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to win; conquer (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). (We will see which wins.)

Fortasse (adv.): perhaps. Prō (prep.): in front of; for; in exchange for; instead of; for the benefit of (takes the ablative). # for the benefit of% Mē is the ablative form of ego: I (me). Venit is the third person singular form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. (Perhaps it comes for my benefit, . . .)

Et (conj.): and. Mors, mortis (3f): death. Iste/ ista /istud (adj.): that. Vītam is the accusative singular form of vīta, vītae (1f): life. Honestābit is the third person singular future form of honestō, honestāre, honestāvī, honestātum (1): to honor, dignify. (. . . and that death will dignify (my) life.)

Ingēns, ingentis (3, adj.): huge, great. Īra, īrae (1f): anger. Exitus, exitūs (4m): exit; conclusion; outcome, result. Furor, furōris (3m): madness; rage. Est: is. (The result of great anger is madness. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Ideō (adv.): for that reason, therefore. Īra, īrae (1f): anger. Vītandus/ vītanda /vītandum (1/2) is the gerundive (to be avoided) of vītō, vītāre, vītāvī, vītātum (1): to avoid. Est: is. Vītanda est is a passive periphrastic construction: must be avoided, we should avoid. (. . . and therefore anger is to be avoided. . .)

Nōn: not. Moderātiō, moderātiōnis (3f): moderation, self-control. Causā is the ablative singular form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason; (in abl. preceded by a genitive word) for the sake of. Sed (conj.): but. Sānitās, sānitātis (3f): health; sanity, soundness of mind. (. . . for the sake not of moderation but of sanity.)

Tamen (adv.): nevertheless, yet, still. Tū: you. Indignāris is the second person singular form of indignor, indignārī, indignātus sum (1, deponent): to be indignant (at), take offense (at), resent. Aliquid is the neuter accusative singular form of aliquis/aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something. Aut (conj.): or. Quereris is the second person singular form of queror, querī, questus sum (3, deponent): to complain. (Still you are indignant at something or you complain. . .)

Et (conj.): and. Nōn: not. Intellegis is the second person singular form of intellegō, intellegere, intellēxī, intellēctum (3): to understand, realize. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Esse: to be. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Istīs: those things—the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that (of yours); he, she, it. Malum, malī (2n): a bad thing; evil; trouble, misfortune. (. . . and you do not understand nothing of evil to be in those things. . .)

Nisi (conj.): unless, if not; except. 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. Quod (conj.): that; the fact that; in that; because. Indignāris: you are indignant (see above). Et (conj.): and. Quereris: you complain (see above). (. . . except this one thing, that you are indignant and complain.)

Nōs: we; as the verb already tells us who performs the action of this verb, the pronoun comes across as emphatic. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Praecipimus is the first person plural form of praecipiō, praecipere, praecēpī, praeceptum (3, –iō): to take in advance; teach, advise. Honestus/honesta/ honestum (1/2): honorable, virtuous, noble. Est: is. (What we teach is honorable. . .)

Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Aliquid is the neuter accusative singular form of aliquis/aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something. Lacrimārum is the genitive plural form of lacrima, lacrimae (1f): tear (from crying). Adfectus, adfectūs (4m—also affectus): emotion, feeling. Effūderit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of effundō, effundere, effūdī, effūsum (3): to shed, discharge, pour out (subjunctive because it’s part of indirect speech, though it could also possibly be read as future perfect as there is some leeway with this and the form would be identical; the same applies to dēspūmāverit below). Et (conj.): and. Ut (conj.): that, so that. Ita (adv.): so, thus. Dīcam is the first person singular future form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say, speak (subjunctive because it’s in a purpose clause). Ut ita dīcam = so to speak. Dēspūmāverit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of dēspūmō, dēspūmāre, dēspūmāvī, dēspūmātum (1): to stop frothing. (. . . when emotion has discharged something of tears and, so that I may say (it) thus—i.e., so to speak—stopped frothing. . .)

Nōn: not. Esse: to be. Trādendum is the m/n accusative singular form of trādendus/trādenda/trādendum (1/2), the gerundive (to be surrendered, given over) of trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum (3): to hand over, deliver; give over, surrender; hand down, pass on (esse trādendum is the passive periphrastic). Animum is the accusative singular form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul. Dolōrī is the dative singular form of dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, grief. (. . . the mind not to be to be given over to grief—i.e., (when emotion. . . has stopped frothing) the mind is not to be given over to grief.)

Ille/illa/ illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Quoque (adv.): also, too; even. Tē is the accusative form of tū: you. Nōn: not. Minimum (adv.): least, in the least degree, to the least extent (nōn minimum = not least; considerably). Adiūverit is the third person singular future perfect form of adiuvō, adiuvāre, adiūvī, adiūtum (1): to help, assist. (That/this/it—refers to the clause that follows—too will have helped you not least. . .)

Sī (conj.): if. Cōgitāveris is the second person singular future perfect form of cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think, reflect. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing; (used adverbially) not at all, in no respect. Prōfutūrum is the m/n accusative singular form of prōfutūrus/prōfutūra/prōfutūrum (1/2), the future active participle (about to benefit) of prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī, prōfutūrus (irreg.): to be useful, do good, benefit, avail (esse is implied; this is an indirect statement). Dolōrem is the accusative singular form of dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, grief, sorrow. Tuum is the m/n accusative singular form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Neque/ nec (conj.): and not, nor; (adv.): not; neither, not either, not even (nec. . . nec: neither. . . nor). Illī: for that (one)—the m/f/n dative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Quem: whom—the masculine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Dēsīderās is the second person singular form of dēsīderō, dēsīderāre, dēsīderāvī, dēsīderātum (1): to miss, lack; need; desire. Neque/ nec (conj.): and not, nor. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you (for you). (. . . if you have thought your grief (to be) going to be useful in no respect—neither for him whom you miss, nor for you.)

Nōlēs is the second person singular future form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to be unwilling, refuse, not want. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Longum is the m/n accusative singular form of longus/longa/longum (1/2): long; far off. Esse: to be. Quī/quae/ quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. what. Irritus/irrita/ irritum (1/2): not ratified, invalid; useless. Est: is. (. . . for you will not want what is useless to be long.)

Quis/quis/ quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Est: there is. Autem (particle): and, moreover; but, however. Quī/quae/ quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Plūs (adv.): more. Valeat is the third person singular subjunctive form of valeō, valēre, valuī, valitum (2): to be in good health, be well; be strong, be effective (subjunctive because it’s in a relative clause of characteristic). Ad (prep.): to, toward; for (takes the accusative). Pōnendum is the m/n accusative singular form of pōnendus/pōnenda/pōnendum (1/2), the gerundive (to be laid aside or given up) of pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum (3): to place, put; lay aside, put down; drop, give up, abandon. Dolōrem is the accusative singular form of dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, grief, sorrow. Ad pōnendum dolōrem = toward/for laying sorrow aside (a noun-plus-gerundive phrase used instead of a gerund with direct object). (What, moreover, is there that is more effective for laying sorrow aside. . .).

Quam (rel. adv.): than. Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Est intellēctum is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of intellegō, intellegere, intellēxī, intellēctum (3): to understand, realize. Nihil (indeclinable neuter noun, here accusative): nothing. Prōficī is the passive infinitive form of prōficiō, prōficere, prōfēcī, prōfectum (3, –iō): to advance; benefit; accomplish. Et (conj.): and. Frūstrā (adv.): in vain, uselessly, for nothing; mistakenly. Esse susceptum is the perfect passive infinitive of suscipiō, suscipere, suscēpī, susceptum (3, –iō): to take up, submit to, accept (the participle susceptum is masculine, accusative and singular in agreement with an implied dolōrem). (. . . than when it has been understood nothing to be achieved and (it) to have been taken up in vain—i.e., that nothing is being achieved and that it (pain) was taken up in vain.)