1-500 | 501-585
bold = Main text
Caput grey = Comment text
1 I | I. The majority of mortals, Paulinus,1
2 I | Paulinus,1 complain bitterly of the spitefulness of Nature,
3 I | to live. Nor is it merely the common herd and the unthinking
4 I | merely the common herd and the unthinking crowd that bemoan
5 I | deem it, an universal ill; the same feeling has called
6 I | famous. It was this that made the greatest of physicians exclaim
7 I(1) | was praefectus annonae, the official who superintended
8 I(1) | official who superintended the grain supply of Rome, and
9 I(1) | usually identified with the father of a certain Pompeius
10 I(2) | The famous aphorism of Hippocrates
11 I | generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very
12 I | allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if
13 I | very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested.
14 I | good end, forced at last by the ultimate necessity we perceive
15 I | it was passing. So it is—the life we receive is not short,
16 I | moment when it comes into the hands of a bad owner, while
17 II | ambition that always hangs upon the decision of others, another,
18 II | others, another, driven on by the greed of the trader, is
19 II | driven on by the greed of the trader, is led over all
20 II | all lands and all seas by the hope of gain; some are tormented
21 II | thankless attendance upon the great; many are kept busy
22 II | are kept busy either in the pursuit of other men's fortune
23 II | happen that I cannot doubt the truth of that utterance
24 II | of that utterance which the greatest of poets delivered
25 II | poets delivered with all the seeming of an oracle: "The
26 II | the seeming of an oracle: "The part of life we really live
27 II | live is small."5 For all the rest of existence is not
28 II | and lift up our eyes for the discernment of truth, but
29 II | find some release, like the waters of the deep sea which
30 II | release, like the waters of the deep sea which continue
31 II | continue to heave even after the storm is past, they are
32 II | you that I am speaking of the wretches whose evils are
33 II | how many do eloquence and the daily straining to display
34 II | pleasures! To how many does the throng of clients that crowd
35 II | freedom! In short, run through the list of all these men from
36 II | list of all these men from the lowest to the highest—this
37 II | these men from the lowest to the highest—this man desires
38 II(5) | of an unknown poet. Cf. the epitaph quoted by Cassius
39 II | advocate,6 this one answers the call, that one is on trial,
40 II | everyone is wasted for the sake of another. Ask about
41 II | sake of another. Ask about the men whose names are known
42 II | will see that these are the marks that distinguish them:
43 II | And then certain men show the most senseless indignation —
44 II | indignation — they complain of the insolence of their superiors,
45 II | audience! But can anyone have the hardihood to complain of
46 II | hardihood to complain of the pride of another when he
47 II | no matter who you are, the great man does sometimes
48 II(6) | Not one who undertook the actual defense, but one
49 III | III. Though all the brilliant intellects of
50 III | brilliant intellects of the ages were to concentrate
51 III | at this dense darkness of the human mind. Men do not suffer
52 III | and arms if there is even the slightest dispute about
53 III | slightest dispute about the limit of their lands, yet
54 III | closefisted, yet, when it comes to the matter of wasting time,
55 III | matter of wasting time, in the case of the one thing in
56 III | wasting time, in the case of the one thing in which it is
57 III | lay hold upon someone from the company of older men and
58 III | see that you have reached the farthest limit of human
59 III | how much in rushing about the city on social duties. Add
60 III | city on social duties. Add the diseases which we have caused
61 III | our own acts, add, too, the time that has lain idle
62 III | joy, in greedy desire, in the allurements of society,
63 III | season!"7 What, then, is the reason of this? You live
64 III | abundant supply, though all the while that day which you
65 III | your last. You have all the fears of mortals and all
66 III | fears of mortals and all the desires of immortals. You
67 III | reserve for yourself only the remnant of life, and to
68 III | postpone wholesome plans to the fiftieth and sixtieth year,
69 IV | IV. You will see that the most powerful and highly
70 IV | comes crashing down.8 ~ The deified Augustus, to whom
71 IV | deified Augustus, to whom the gods vouchsafed more than
72 IV | hope of leisure. This was the sweet, even if vain, consolation
73 IV | In a letter addressed to the senate, in which he had
74 IV | promises. Nevertheless, since the joyful reality is still
75 IV | forestall some of its delight by the pleasure of words." So desirable
76 IV | himself alone, who determined the fortune of individuals and
77 IV | all countries he followed the path of battle, and when
78 IV | While he was pacifying the Alpine regions, and subduing
79 IV | Alpine regions, and subduing the enemies planted in the midst
80 IV | subduing the enemies planted in the midst of a peaceful empire,
81 IV | extending its bounds even beyond the Rhine and the Euphrates
82 IV | even beyond the Rhine and the Euphrates and the Danube,
83 IV | Rhine and the Euphrates and the Danube, in Rome itself the
84 IV | the Danube, in Rome itself the swords of Murena, Caepio,
85 IV(8) | The idea is that greatness sinks
86 IV | when his daughter9 and all the noble youths who were bound
87 IV | Paulus, and a second time the need to fear a woman in
88 IV(9) | The notorious Julia, who was
89 IV(9) | banished by Augustus to the island of Pandataria. ~~
90 IV(10) | Antonius, younger son of the triumvir, was sentenced
91 IV(10) | reason of his intrigue with the elder Julia. ~~
92 IV | these ulcers11 together with the limbs themselves, others
93 IV | he longed for leisure, in the hope and thought of which
94 IV | for his labours. This was the prayer of one who was able
95 IV | one who was able to answer the prayers of mankind. ~
96 IV(11) | The language is reminiscent
97 V | tossed to and fro along with the state and seeks to keep
98 V | without reason! How tearful the words he uses in a letter12
99 V | to Atticus, when Pompey the elder had been conquered,
100 V | had been conquered, and the son was still trying to
101 V | former life and complains of the present and despairs of
102 V | present and despairs of the future. Cicero said that
103 V | in very truth, never will the wise man resort to so lowly
104 VI | energetic man, had with the support of a huge crowd
105 VI | Italy proposed new laws and the evil measures of the Gracchi,
106 VI | and the evil measures of the Gracchi, seeing no way out
107 VI | complained bitterly against the life of unrest he had had
108 VI | of unrest he had had from the cradle, and to have exclaimed
109 VI | have exclaimed that he was the only person who had never
110 VI | still a ward and wearing the dress of a boy, he had had
111 VI | dress of a boy, he had had the courage to commend to the
112 VI | the courage to commend to the favour of a jury those who
113 VI | make his influence felt in the law-courts, so powerfully,
114 VI | trouble-maker and a nuisance in the forum. It is a question
115 VI | though others deemed them the happiest of men, have expressed
116 VI | though they should pass the limit of a thousand years,
117 VI | years, will shrink into the merest span; your vices
118 VI | swallow up any amount of time. The space you have, which reason
119 VI | back, nor impose delay upon the swiftest thing in the world,
120 VI | upon the swiftest thing in the world, but you allow it
121 VI(13) | proposed a corn law and the granting of citizenship
122 VI(13) | granting of citizenship to the Italians. ~~
123 VII | VII. But among the worst I count also those
124 VII | shameful engrossments.14 The others, even if they are
125 VII | if they are possessed by the empty dream of glory, nevertheless
126 VII | though you should cite to me the men who are avaricious,
127 VII | men who are avaricious, the men who are wrathful, whether
128 VII | those who are plunged into the pleasures of the belly and
129 VII | plunged into the pleasures of the belly and into lust bear
130 VII | dishonourable. Search into the hours of all these people,15
131 VII(14) | Throughout the essay occupati, "the engrossed,"
132 VII(14) | Throughout the essay occupati, "the engrossed," is a technical
133 VII(14) | those who are so absorbed in the interests of life that they
134 VII | things—eloquence cannot, nor the liberal studies—since the
135 VII | the liberal studies—since the mind, when its interests
136 VII | into it. There is nothing the busy man is less busied
137 VII | that is harder to learn. Of the other arts there are many
138 VII | that they could even play the master. It takes the whole
139 VII | play the master. It takes the whole of life to learn how
140 VII | you wonder more—it takes the whole of life to learn how
141 VII | made it their one aim up to the very end of life to know
142 VII | to know how to live; yet the greater number of them have
143 VII | him, and it follows that the life of such a man is very
144 VII | idle; none of it was under the control of another, for,
145 VII | of much of their life by the public, have necessarily
146 VII | prosperity cry out at times in the midst of their throngs of
147 VII(15) | i.e., the various types of occupati
148 VII(15) | been sketchily presented. The looseness of the structure
149 VII(15) | presented. The looseness of the structure has led some editors
150 VII(15) | led some editors to doubt the integrity of the passage. ~~
151 VII(15) | to doubt the integrity of the passage. ~~
152 VII | is shamming sickness for the purpose of exciting the
153 VII | the purpose of exciting the greed of the legacy-hunters?
154 VII | of exciting the greed of the legacy-hunters? Of how many
155 VII | has you and your like on the list, not of his friends,
156 VII | Check off, I say, and review the days of your life; you will
157 VII | that very few, and those the refuse. have been left for
158 VII | That man who had prayed for the fasces,17 when he attains
159 VII(16) | i.e., she has become the prey of legacy-hunters. ~~
160 VII(17) | The rods that were the symbol
161 VII(17) | The rods that were the symbol of high office. ~~
162 VII | setting great value on gaining the chance to give them, now
163 VII | advocate is lionized throughout the whole forum, and fills all
164 VII | whole forum, and fills all the place with a great crowd
165 VII | suffers from a yearning for the future and a weariness of
166 VII | future and a weariness of the present. But he who bestows
167 VII | neither longs for nor fears the morrow. For what new pleasure
168 VII | all have been enjoyed to the full. Mistress Fortune may
169 VII | Mistress Fortune may deal out the rest as she likes; his life
170 VII | will take any addition as the man who is satisfied and
171 VII | satisfied and filled takes the food which he does not desire
172 VII | driven in a circle around the same course? Not much voyaging
173 VII(18) | At this time the management of the public
174 VII(18) | this time the management of the public games was committed
175 VII(18) | public games was committed to the praetors. ~~
176 VIII | I see some men demanding the time of others and those
177 VIII | of them fix their eyes on the object of the request for
178 VIII | their eyes on the object of the request for time, neither
179 VIII | time, neither of them on the time itself; just as if
180 VIII | nothing. Men trifle with the most precious thing in the
181 VIII | the most precious thing in the world; but they are blind
182 VIII | it does not come beneath the sight of the eyes, and for
183 VIII | come beneath the sight of the eyes, and for this reason
184 VIII | these same people clasp the knees of physicians if they
185 VIII | physicians if they fall ill and the danger of death draws nearer,
186 VIII | order to live! So great is the inconsistency of their feelings.
187 VIII | But if each one could have the number of his future years
188 VIII | before him as is possible in the case of the years that have
189 VIII | possible in the case of the years that have passed,
190 VIII | without realizing it; but the result of their giving is
191 VIII | suffer loss without adding to the years of their dear ones.
192 VIII | of their dear ones. But the very thing they do not know
193 VIII | suffering loss; therefore, the removal of something that
194 VIII | Yet no one will bring back the years, no one will bestow
195 VIII | yourself. Life will follow the path it started upon, and
196 VIII | will not prolong itself at the command of a king, or at
197 VIII | command of a king, or at the applause of the populace.
198 VIII | king, or at the applause of the populace. Just as it was
199 VIII | delay. And what will be the result? You have been engrossed,
200 IX | anything be sillier than the point of view of certain
201 IX | purposes with a view to the distant future; yet postponement
202 IX | future; yet postponement is the greatest waste of life;
203 IX | comes, it snatches from them the present by promising something
204 IX | promising something hereafter. The greatest hindrance to living
205 IX | expectancy, which depends upon the morrow and wastes to-day.
206 IX | dispose of that which lies in the hands of Fortune, you let
207 IX | live straightway! See how the greatest of bards cries
208 IX | divine utterance, sings the saving strain: ~The fairest
209 IX | sings the saving strain: ~The fairest day in hapless mortals'
210 IX | you idle? Unless you seize the day, it flees." Even though
211 IX | with time's swiftness in the speed of using it, and,
212 IX | drink quickly. And, too, the utterance of the bard is
213 IX | And, too, the utterance of the bard is most admirably worded
214 IX | delay, in that he says, not "the fairest age," but "the fairest
215 IX | the fairest age," but "the fairest day." Why, to whatever
216 IX | though time flies so fast? The poet speaks to you about
217 IX | poet speaks to you about the day, and about this very
218 IX | for men who are engrossed, the fairest day is ever the
219 IX | the fairest day is ever the first to flee? Old age surprises
220 IX | on some subject beguiles the traveller, and he finds
221 IX | finds that he has reached the end of his journey before
222 IX | of life, which we make at the same pace whether waking
223 IX | become aware of it only at the end. ~
224 X | philosophers of to-day, but one of the genuine and old-fashioned
225 X | that we must fight against the passions with main force,
226 X | with artifice, and that the battle-line must be turned
227 X | is not serviceable, for the passions must be, not nipped,
228 X | crushed. Yet, in order that the victims of them nay be censured,
229 X | which will be. Of these the present time is short, the
230 X | the present time is short, the future is doubtful, the
231 X | the future is doubtful, the past is certain. For the
232 X | the past is certain. For the last is the one over which
233 X | certain. For the last is the one over which Fortune has
234 X | Fortune has lost control, is the one which cannot be brought
235 X | no time to look back upon the past, and even if they should
236 X | become obvious if they review the past, even the vices which
237 X | they review the past, even the vices which were disguised
238 X | momentary pleasure, do not have the courage to revert to those
239 X | turns his thought back to the past, unless all his acts
240 X | acts have been submitted to the censorship of his conscience,
241 X | memory. And yet this is the part of our time that is
242 X | and set apart, put beyond the reach of all human mishaps,
243 X | mishaps, and removed from the dominion of Fortune, the
244 X | the dominion of Fortune, the part which is disquieted
245 X | and unanxious possession. The present offers only one
246 X | each by minutes; but all the days of past time will appear
247 X | engrossed have no time to do. The mind that is untroubled
248 X | untroubled and tranquil has the power to roam into all the
249 X | the power to roam into all the parts of its life; but the
250 X | the parts of its life; but the minds of the engrossed,
251 X | its life; but the minds of the engrossed, just as if weighted
252 X | upon, it passes out through the chinks and holes of the
253 X | the chinks and holes of the mind. Present time is very
254 X | no more brook delay than the firmament or the stars,
255 X | delay than the firmament or the stars, whose ever unresting
256 X | never lets them abide in the same track. The engrossed,
257 X | abide in the same track. The engrossed, therefore, are
258 X(21) | An allusion to the fate of the Danaids, who
259 X(21) | allusion to the fate of the Danaids, who in Hades forever
260 XI | beg in their prayers for the addition of a few more years;
261 XI | if they deceived Fate at the same time. But when at last
262 XI | giving, none of it is unused; the whole of it, so to speak,
263 XI | income. And so, however small the amount of it, it is abundantly
264 XI | his last day shall come, the wise man will not hesitate
265 XII | you ask whom I would call "the engrossed "? There is no
266 XII | that I mean only those whom the dogs22 that have at length
267 XII | been let in drive out from the law-court, those whom you
268 XII | someone else's doors, or whom the praetor's hammer23 keeps
269 XII(22) | at nightfall, and caught the engrossed lawyer still at
270 XII | will one day fester. Even the leisure of some men is engrossed;
271 XII | villa or on their couch, in the midst of solitude, although
272 XII | others, they are themselves the source of their own worry;
273 XII(23) | spear," which was stuck in the ground as the sign of a
274 XII(23) | was stuck in the ground as the sign of a public auction
275 XII | Corinthian bronzes, that the mania of a few makes costly,
276 XII | makes costly, and spends the greater part of each day
277 XII | not even Roman) watching the wrangling of lads? Who sorts
278 XII | wrangling of lads? Who sorts out the herds of his pack-mules
279 XII | pack-mules into pairs of the same age and colour? Who
280 XII | and colour? Who feeds all the newest athletes? Tell me,
281 XII | leisure who pass many hours at the barber's while they are
282 XII | stripped of whatever grew out the night before? while a solemn
283 XII | this side and that toward the forehead? How angry they
284 XII | forehead? How angry they get if the barber has been a bit too
285 XII | these would not rather have the state disordered than his
286 XII | leisure who are occupied with the comb and the mirror? And
287 XII | occupied with the comb and the mirror? And what of those
288 XII | songs, while they twist the voice, whose best and simplest
289 XII | be straightforward, into the meanderings of some indolent
290 XII | how diligently they tie up the tunics of their pretty slave-boys,
291 XII | watch to see in what style the wild boar issues from the
292 XII | the wild boar issues from the hands of the cook, with
293 XII | issues from the hands of the cook, with what speed at
294 XII | duties, with what skill the birds are carved into portions
295 XII | unhappy little lads wipe up the spittle of drunkards. By
296 XII | By such means they seek the reputation of being fastidious
297 XII | evils follow them into all the privacies of life that they
298 XII | would not count these among the leisured class either—the
299 XII | the leisured class either—the men who have themselves
300 XII | litter, and are punctual at the hours for their rides as
301 XII | so enfeebled are they by the excessive lassitude of a
302 XII | it pampering to unlearn the habits of human life—when
303 XII | been lifted by hands from the bath and placed in his sedan-chair,
304 XII | their prosperity; it seems the part of a man who is very
305 XII | After this imagine that the mimes26 fabricate many things
306 XII(25) | For the technical meaning of otiosi, "
307 XII(25) | technical meaning of otiosi, "the leisured," see Seneca's
308 XII(25) | see Seneca's definition at the beginning of chap. 14. ~~
309 XII | that by now we can charge the mimes with neglect. To think
310 XII | in order that he may know the postures of his own body,
311 XII | to tell him—how can he be the master of any of his time? ~
312 XII(26) | Actors in the popular mimes, or low farces,
313 XIII | be tedious to mention all the different men who have spent
314 XIII | different men who have spent the whole of their life over
315 XIII | life over chess or ball or the practice of baking their
316 XIII | of baking their bodies in the sun. They are not unoccupied
317 XIII | problems, of whom even among the Romans there is now a great
318 XIII | once a foible confined to the Greeks to inquire into what
319 XIII | rowers Ulysses had, whether the Iliad or the Odyssey was
320 XIII | had, whether the Iliad or the Odyssey was written first,
321 XIII | moreover they belong to the same author, and various
322 XIII | useless things has assailed the Romans also. In the last
323 XIII | assailed the Romans also. In the last few days I heard someone
324 XIII | someone telling who was the first Roman general to do
325 XIII | this or that; Duilius was the first who won a naval battle,
326 XIII | battle, Curius Dentatus was the first who had elephants
327 XIII | with signal services to the state; there will be no
328 XIII | our attention by reason of the attractiveness of an empty
329 XIII | into this—who first induced the Romans to go on board ship.
330 XIII | was Claudius, and this was the very reason he was surnamed
331 XIII | surnamed Caudex, because among the ancients a structure formed
332 XIII | called a caudex, whence also the Tables of the Law are called
333 XIII | whence also the Tables of the Law are called codices,27
334 XIII | called codices,27 and, in the ancient fashion, boats that
335 XIII | that carry provisions up the Tiber are even to-day called
336 XIII | too may have some point—the fact that Valerius Corvinus
337 XIII | that Valerius Corvinus was the first to conquer Messana,
338 XIII | conquer Messana, and was the first of the family of the
339 XIII | Messana, and was the first of the family of the Valerii to
340 XIII | the first of the family of the Valerii to bear the surname
341 XIII | family of the Valerii to bear the surname Messana because
342 XIII | because be had transferred the name of the conquered city
343 XIII | transferred the name of the conquered city to himself,
344 XIII | later called Messala after the gradual corruption of the
345 XIII | the gradual corruption of the name in the popular speech.
346 XIII | corruption of the name in the popular speech. Perhaps
347 XIII | interested also in this—the fact that Lucius Sulla was
348 XIII | fact that Lucius Sulla was the first to exhibit loosed
349 XIII | exhibit loosed lions in the Circus, though at other
350 XIII | to know that Pompey was the first to exhibit the slaughter
351 XIII | was the first to exhibit the slaughter of eighteen elephants
352 XIII | of eighteen elephants in the Circus, pitting criminals
353 XIII | battle? He, a leader of the state and one who, according
354 XIII | report, was conspicuous among the leaders28 of old for the
355 XIII(27) | The ancient codex was made of
356 XIII | the leaders28 of old for the kindness of his heart, thought
357 XIII | fashion. Do they fight to the death? That is not enough!
358 XIII | shedding so much blood before the eyes of the Roman people,
359 XIII | blood before the eyes of the Roman people, who itself
360 XIII | believed that he was beyond the power of Nature. But later
361 XIII | treachery, offered himself to the dagger of the vilest slave,
362 XIII | himself to the dagger of the vilest slave, and then at
363 XIII(29) | viii. 21) reports that the people were so moved by
364 XIII(29) | Cicero's impressions of the occasion are recorded in
365 XIII | was. ~ But to return to the point from which I have
366 XIII | upon these same matters—the man I mentioned related
367 XIII | triumphed after his victory over the Carthaginians in Sicily,
368 XIII | Carthaginians in Sicily, was the only one of all the Romans
369 XIII | was the only one of all the Romans who had caused a
370 XIII | his car; that Sulla was the last of the Roman's who
371 XIII | that Sulla was the last of the Roman's who extended the
372 XIII | the Roman's who extended the pomerium,31 which in old
373 XIII | customary to extend after the acquisition of Italian but
374 XIII | according to him, is outside the pomerium for one of two
375 XIII | either because that was the place to which the plebeians
376 XIII | that was the place to which the plebeians had seceded, or
377 XIII | had seceded, or because the birds had not been favourable
378 XIII | with falsehood or are of the same sort? For though you
379 XIII | they pledge themselves for the truth of what they write,
380 XIII(31) | to Livy, i. 44) without the city wall. The right of
381 XIII(31) | without the city wall. The right of extending it belonged
382 XIII(31) | it belonged originally to the king who had added territory
383 XIV | ever age to their own; all the years that have gone ore
384 XIV | s labours we are led to the sight of things most beautiful
385 XIV | of mind, to pass beyond the narrow limits of human weakness,
386 XIV | overcome human nature with the Stoics, exceed it with the
387 XIV | the Stoics, exceed it with the Cynics. Since Nature allows
388 XIV | ourselves with all our soul to the past, which is boundless,
389 XIV | Those who rush about in the performance of social duties,
390 XIV | scarcely lifting their lips in the midst of a most insolent
391 XIV(32) | The New Academy taught that
392 XIV | wait on that of another, the right name only after it
393 XIV | they alone are engaged in the true duties of life who
394 XIV | Pythagoras, Democritus, and all the other high priests of liberal
395 XIV(33) | The salutatio was held in the
396 XIV(33) | The salutatio was held in the early morning. ~~
397 XV | these will bring you peril, the friendship of none will
398 XV | will endanger your life, the courting of none will tax
399 XV | theirs if you do not draw the utmost that you can desire.
400 XV | not in our power to choose the parents who fell to our
401 XV | by chance; yet we may be the sons of whomsoever we will.
402 XV | noblest intellects; choose the one into which you wish
403 XV | mean or niggardly spirit; the more persons you share it
404 XV | persons you share it with, the greater it will become.
405 XV | These will open to you the path to immortality, and
406 XV | one is cast down. This is the only way of prolonging mortality—
407 XV | ruin; there is nothing that the lapse of time does not tear
408 XV | tear down and remove. But the works which philosophy has
409 XV | them, no age reduce them; the following and each succeeding
410 XV | succeeding age will but increase the reverence for them, since
411 XV | are more free to admire. The life of the philosopher,
412 XV | free to admire. The life of the philosopher, therefore,
413 XV | and he is not confined by the same bounds that shut others
414 XV | He alone is freed from the limitations of the human
415 XV | from the limitations of the human race; all ages serve
416 XVI | XVI. But those who forget the past, neglect the present,
417 XVI | forget the past, neglect the present, and fear for the
418 XVI | the present, and fear for the future have a life that
419 XVI | when they have reached the end of it, the poor wretches
420 XVI | have reached the end of it, the poor wretches perceive too
421 XVI | emotions which rush them into the very things they dread;
422 XVI | they are living a long time—the fact that the day often
423 XVI | long time—the fact that the day often seems to them
424 XVI | often seems to them long, the fact that they complain
425 XVI | that they complain that the hours pass slowly until
426 XVI | hours pass slowly until the time set for dinner arrives;
427 XVI | their leisure or to drag out the time. And so they strive
428 XVI | to occupy them, and all the intervening time is irksome;
429 XVI | when they are waiting for the appointed time of some other
430 XVI | they want to skip over the days that lie between. All
431 XVI | seems long to them. Yet the time which they enjoy is
432 XVI | them, but hateful; yet, on the other hand, how scanty seem
433 XVI | other hand, how scanty seem the nights which they spend
434 XVI | nights which they spend in the arms of a harlot or in wine!
435 XVI | this also that accounts for the madness of poets in fostering
436 XVI | fostering human frailties by the tales in which they represent
437 XVI | represent that Jupiter under the enticement of the pleasures
438 XVI | under the enticement of the pleasures of a lover doubled
439 XVI | pleasures of a lover doubled the length of the night. For
440 XVI | lover doubled the length of the night. For what is it but
441 XVI | inflame our vices to inscribe the name of the gods as their
442 XVI | to inscribe the name of the gods as their sponsors,
443 XVI | sponsors, and to present the excused indulgence of divinity
444 XVI | to our own weakness? Can the nights which they pay for
445 XVI | to these men? They lose the day in expectation of the
446 XVI | the day in expectation of the night, and the night in
447 XVI | expectation of the night, and the night in fear of the dawn. ~
448 XVI | and the night in fear of the dawn. ~
449 XVII | XVII. The very pleasures of such men
450 XVII | of various sorts, and at the very moment of rejoicing
451 XVII | very moment of rejoicing the anxious thought comes over
452 XVII | has led kings to weep over the power they possessed, and
453 XVII | not so much delighted in the greatness of their fortune,
454 XVII | have viewed with terror the end to which it must some
455 XVII | must some time come. When the King of Persia,34 in all
456 XVII | King of Persia,34 in all the insolence of his pride,
457 XVII | pride, spread his army over the vast plains and could not
458 XVII(35) | On the plain of Doriscus in Thrace
459 XVII(35) | plain of Doriscus in Thrace the huge land force was estimated
460 XVII(35) | was estimated by counting the number of times a space
461 XVII | give some to their doom on the sea, some on the land, some
462 XVII | doom on the sea, some on the land, some in battle, some
463 XVII | are wretched, since even the joys by which they are exalted
464 XVII | are by no means pure? All the greatest blessings are a
465 XVII | prosperity, and in behalf of the prayers that have turned
466 XVII | chance is unstable, and the higher it rises, the more
467 XVII | and the higher it rises, the more liable it is to fall.
468 XVII | and not merely short, must the life of those be who work
469 XVII | return. New engrossments take the place of the old, hope leads
470 XVII | engrossments take the place of the old, hope leads to new hope,
471 XVII | wretchedness, but change the cause. Have we been tormented
472 XVII | others. Have we got rid of the troubles of a prosecutor?
473 XVII | become infirm in managing the property of others at a
474 XVII | for his own wealth. Have the barracks37 set Marius free?
475 XVII(36) | Herodotus, vii. 45, 46 tells the story. ~~
476 XVII | barracks37 set Marius free? The consulship keeps him busy.
477 XVII(37) | Caliga, the boot of the common soldier,
478 XVII(37) | Caliga, the boot of the common soldier, is here
479 XVII(37) | synonymous with service in the army. ~~
480 XVII | Quintius38 hasten to get to the end of his dictatorship?
481 XVII | be called back to it from the plough. Scipio will go against
482 XVII | Scipio will go against the Carthaginians before he
483 XVII | victorious over Antiochus, the glory of his own consulship,
484 XVII | glory of his own consulship, the surety for his brother's,
485 XVII | be set beside Jove39; but the discord of civilians will
486 XVII | honours that rivalled those of the gods, at length, when he
487 XVII(39) | his statue to be placed in the Capitol. ~~
488 XVIII | tear yourself away from the crowd, and, too much storm-tossed
489 XVIII | too much storm-tossed for the time you have lived, at
490 XVIII | encountered, how many storms, on the one hand, you have sustained
491 XVIII | private life, how many, on the other, you have brought
492 XVIII | will behave in leisure. The greater part of your life,
493 XVIII | of your life, certainly the better part of it, has been
494 XVIII | of it, has been given to the state; take now some part
495 XVIII | native energy in slumbers and the pleasures that are dear
496 XVIII | pleasures that are dear to the crowd. That is not to rest;
497 XVIII | energetically, to occupy you in the midst of your release and
498 XVIII | retirement. You, I know, manage the accounts of the whole world
499 XVIII | manage the accounts of the whole world as honestly
500 XVIII | conscientiously as you would the state's. You win love in
1-500 | 501-585 |