Epistula IV: de Mortis Metu Brief IV: Über die Angst vor dem Tod Epistle IV: on the Fear of Death Épître IV : sur la peur de la mort

IV.

SENECA LUCILIO SUO SALUTEM LUCILIO ON HIS HEALTH [de mortis metu] [about the fear of death]

[1] Persevera ut coepisti et quantum potes propera, quo diutius frui emendato animo et composito possis. [1] Continue as you have begun, and hasten as much as you can, the longer you can enjoy an improved and composed mind.

Frueris quidem etiam dum emendas, etiam dum componis: alia tamen illa voluptas est quae percipitur ex contemplatione mentis ab omni labe purae et splendidae. But quite even while it is being bought, even while they were making it up; but the others, nevertheless, that the pleasure that comes from the contemplation of the mind, which is perceived from every stain that it shines. quo = ut quo = as

emendato = correcto = aucto

quae percipitur = qua frueris that is perceived that enjoy =

ab omni labe purae = immaculatae

[2] Tenes utique memoria quantum senseris gaudium cum praetexta posita sumpsisti virilem togam et in forum deductus es: maius expecta cum puerilem animum deposueris et te in viros philosophia transscripserit. [2] holds memory of course much joy you feel when you laid donned a toga and escorted to the forum, you may look for when you childhood aside the mind of men.

Adhuc enim non pueritia sed, quod est gravius, puerilitas remanet; et hoc quidem peior est, quod auctoritatem habemus senum, vitia puerorum, nec puerorum tantum sed infantum: illi levia, hi falsa formidant, nos utraque. For it is not childhood, but, what is worse, boyishness; and this, indeed, is a greater evil, that we possess the authority of the old men, the follies of boyhood,, even the follies of infancy: they were trifles, children fear shadows, we fear both. utique = omnino <> neutiquam praetexta posita = togā praetextā depositā pretexta posita = toga pretexta deposited

te in viros philosophia transscripserit = te in numero virorum philosophia posuerit

*Ut pueritia puerilitati, eodem modo senectus sapientiae; illae sunt aetates, hae qualitates. * To childhood childishness, so the old wisdom; those of age, these qualities.

habemus = censemus

formidant = timent = metuunt = verentur

[3] Profice modo: intelleges quaedam ideo minus timenda quia multum metus afferunt. [3] Just go ahead: you will understand that certain things are therefore less to be feared because they bring much fear.

Nullum malum magnum quod extremum est. Mors ad te venit: timenda erat si tecum esse posset: necesse est aut non perveniat aut transeat. profice = proficiscere

ideo = idcirco = igitur

extremum = ultimum vitae

esse = remanere

[4] 'Difficile est' inquis 'animum perducere ad contemptionem animae.

Non vides quam ex frivolis causis contemnatur? Do you not see than from the frivolous reasons, be set at naught? Alius ante amicae fores laqueo pependit, alius se praecipitavit e tecto ne dominum stomachantem diutius audiret, alius ne reduceretur e fuga ferrum adegit in viscera: non putas virtutem hoc effecturam quod efficit nimia formido? Nulli potest secura vita contingere qui de producenda nimis cogitat, qui inter magna bona multos consules numerat. No man can have a carefree life to men who thinks too much about, telleth the number of the consuls, who is a great blessing for many. animae = vitae of life =

fores = ianua = ostium

stomachantem = furentem

ferrum = ensis, gladius [figura rhetorica = denominatio = metonymia]

non putas…formido = certe quanto efficit formido, tanto magisque virtus [= genus disputandi quod dicitur “a fortiori”] I think ... Terror = certainly make much fear, much more power [= kind of discussion that is "stronger"]

contingere = tangere contact touch =

de producenda: sc. about lengthening: se.

vita = de in longius vita ducenda concerned about the life of a longer life in order to = consules = consulatus multos = consulates were many

[5] Hoc cotidie meditare, ut possis aequo animo vitam relinquere, quam multi sic complectuntur et tenent quomodo qui aqua torrente rapiuntur spinas et aspera. [5] every day, that are able to life than how many men hold the water stream clutch bushes and rough.

Plerique inter mortis metum et vitae tormenta miseri fluctuantur et vivere nolunt, mori nesciunt. The majority of the torments of the wretched men ebb and flow of life, and they refuse to live among the a fear of death, know how to die. meditare ut = meditare quomodo

aequo animo = quiete in peace with peace of mind =

complectuntur: sc.

vitam life quomodo = velut

rapiuntur = rapiunt

aspera: sc. rough, so.

saxa [6] Fac itaque tibi iucundam vitam omnem pro illa sollicitudinem deponendo. [6] Make sure you have an enjoyable life and therefore all worry about it.

Nullum bonum adiuvat habentem nisi ad cuius amissionem praeparatus est animus; nullius autem rei facilior amissio est quam quae desiderari amissa non potest. No good thing renders its possessor happy, unless his mind is reconciled to the possibility of loss; nothing, however, can be lost with less than that which, when lost, can not. Ergo adversus haec quae incidere possunt etiam potentissimis adhortare te et indura. Therefore, these things can happen to even the most powerful, encourage and toughen. [7] De Pompei capite pupillus et spado tulere sententiam, de Crasso crudelis et insolens Parthus; Gaius Caesar iussit Lepidum Dextro tribuno praebere cervicem, ipse Chaereae praestitit; neminem eo fortuna provexit ut non tantum illi minaretur quantum permiserat. [7] The Pompey head boy and a eunuch, that of Crassus by a cruel and insolent Parthian The chief captain, Gaius Caesar ordered Lepidus to bare his neck for the ax; could have no one as much as he was threatening to him, so that not only allowed a Fortune advanced.

Noli huic tranquillitati confidere: momento mare evertitur; eodem die ubi luserunt navigia sorbentur. Do not trust this peace of mind: a moment of the sea, it is overturned; When they played on the same day boats sorbet. capite = fato = exitu

pupillus = puer parvulus

spado = eunuchus

ipse…praestitit = Caligula ipse Chaereae se praebet ... showed that Caligula would provide for the ax

provexit = auxit

minaretur = periculum intenderet

[8] Cogita posse et latronem et hostem admovere iugulo tuo gladium; ut potestas maior absit, nemo non servus habet in te vitae necisque arbitrium. [8] Reflect that a highwayman or an enemy your throat; so that a greater power is God forbid, no one is not the slave of life and death over you has in his.

Ita dico: quisquis vitam suam contempsit tuae dominus est. So I say: he is the master of your life that scorns it. Recognosce exempla eorum qui domesticis insidiis perierunt, aut aperta vi aut dolo: intelleges non pauciores servorum ira cecidisse quam regum. Quid ad te itaque quam potens sit quem times, cum id propter quod times nemo non possit? What is that to thee with whom thou art afraid, therefore, how he may be able, when this will be because no one can not be certain that the fear? ut = quamquam

Quid ad te? What are you?

= Num tuā refert? = Num does it make? [9] At si forte in manus hostium incideris, victor te duci iubebit - eo nempe quo duceris. [9] And if by chance into the hands of the enemy, the winner will be led provide - the obligation voluntarily.

Quid te ipse decipis et hoc nunc primum quod olim patiebaris intellegis? What do you deceive yourself now, and this is the first long been laboring under? Ita dico: ex quo natus es, duceris. Yes, I say: 'Since you were born, you shalt be led away. Haec et eiusmodi versanda in animo sunt si volumus ultimam illam horam placidi exspectare cuius metus omnes alias inquietas facit. nempe = scilicet = videlicet = quippe = nimirum = certe Since namely = = = = is clearly equal to at least

eo nempe quo duceris = ad eundem locum quo iam ducebaris But they were led to the same place as to where to go, namely, whither it be led away =

olim hic = tam diu

alias: sc.

horas [10] Sed ut finem epistulae imponam, accipe quod mihi hodierno die placuit - et hoc quoque ex alienis hortulis sumptum est: 'magnae divitiae sunt lege naturae composita paupertas'.

Lex autem illa naturae scis quos nobis terminos statuat? Non esurire, non sitire, non algere. Ut famem sitimque depellas non est necesse superbis assidere liminibus nec supercilium grave et contumeliosam etiam humanitatem pati, non est necesse maria temptare nec sequi castra: parabile est quod natura desiderat et appositum. magnae…paupertas = paupertas secundum legem naturae est abundantia

esurire = famem sentire

sitire = sitem sentire

algere = frigore affici = stopped cold affected

superbis…liminibus = visitare aedes potentium ... visit the house of the strong sets thresholds =

supercilium = linea capillorum super oculos straight hair, eyes, eyebrows =

contumeliosam… = hum.

ab eo qui de humanitate sua se iactat by his humanity from him, he does, he who was of the appositum = ante oculos et facile sumptu = placed on the eyes and easy expense

[11] Ad supervacua sudatur; illa sunt quae togam conterunt, quae nos senescere sub tentorio cogunt, quae in aliena litora impingunt: ad manum est quod sat est. [11] easy to reach; She had to wear what we grow old in camp that the foreign shores dash to the hand is sufficient.

Cui cum paupertate bene convenit dives est. Which fit well with poverty is rich. Vale. sudatur = guttae aquae salsae ob laborem emittuntur

supervacua = superflua

sub tentorio = in castris Under a tent in the camp =

impingunt = incutiunt = strike impact