de senectuce 5

3. Sed de ceteris et diximus multa et saepe dicemus; hunc

librum ad te de senectute misimus. Omnem autem sermonem
tribuimus non Tithono, ut Aristo Cius, (parum enim esset
auctoritatis in Iabula), sed M. Catoni seni, quo maiorem
auctoritatem haberet oratio; apud quem Laelium et Scipionem
Iacimus admirantes quod is tam Iacile senectutem Ierat,
eisque eum respondentem. Qui si eruditius videbitur disputare
quam consuevit ipse in suis libris, attribuito litteris Graecis,
quarum constat eum perstudiosum Iuisse in senectute. Sed
quid opus est plura? Iam enim ipsius Catonis sermo explicabit
nostram omnem de senectute sententiam.
5
10
admror (1) to wonder at
Arist, nis Cius, m Aristo oI
Chios, a philosopher
attribu, ere, u, tum to attribute
cnsusc, ere, v, tum to become
used to
disput (1) to discuss
rudi (4) to educate, teach
explic (1) to unIold
Graecus, a, um adf Greek
perstudisus, a, um adf very
scholarly
senects, ttis f old age
Tthnus, m Thithonus
tribu, ere, u, tum to grant
1. multa this is leIt out with dicemus
3. esset there would be
4. auctrittis partitive genitive with
parum
qu ablative oI means
6. Iacimus royal we, actually just
Cicero
Iacimus |Laelium et Scipinem|
admrants quod I represent
|Laelius and Scipio| wondering
how.
is Cato
esque Laelius and Scipio
eum Cato, as direct object Iollowing
Iacimus
8. quam cnsuvit supply disputre
Irom the previous clause
attribut 2s Iut. imperative
9. qurum goes with perstudisus
cnstat it is known, introduces
indirect speech
11. sententiam Cicero Iinishes his
introduction here
6 de senectute
II. 4. Scipio. Saepe numero admirari soleo cum hoc C. Laelio
cum ceterarum rerum tuam excellentem, M. Cato,
perIectamque sapientiam, tum vel maxime quod numquam
tibi senectutem gravem esse senserim, quae plerisque senibus
sic odiosa est, ut onus se Aetna gravius dicant sustinere. 5
admror (1) to wonder at
Aetna, ae f Mt. Etna in Sicily
excellns, entis adf excellent
odisus, a, um adf hateIul
perIici, ere, Ic, Iectum to Iinish
plrusque, aque, umque adf most
oI
senects, ttis f old age
1. Saepe numer very oIten;
sometimes one word,
saepenumer
cum this is the preposition
2. cum this is the conjunction
3. vel really; vel superlative serves
as an intensiIier
quod because; not the relative
pronoun
snserim I should sense; perIect
subjunctive shows present
potential.
quae reIers to senecttem
plrsque senibus dative oI
possession
5. ut starts result clause
Aetn than Etna; ablative oI
comparison
de senectuce 7
Cato. Rem haud sane diIIicilem, Scipio et Laeli, admirari
videmini. Quibus enim nihil est in ipsis opis ad bene beateque
vivendum, eis omnis aetas gravis est; qui autem omnia bona a
se ipsi petunt, eis nihil malum potest videri quod naturae
necessitas adIerat. Quo in genere est in primis senectus, quam
ut adipiscantur omnes optant, eandem accusant adeptam; tanta
est stultitiae inconstantia atque perversitas. Obrepere aiunt
eam citius, quam putassent. Primum quis coegit eos Ialsum
putare? Qui enim citius adulescentiae senectus quam pueritiae
adulescentia obrepit? Deinde qui minus gravis esset eis
senectus, si octingentesimum annum agerent quam si
octogesimum? Praeterita enim aetas quamvis longa cum
eIIluxisset, nulla consolatio permulcere posset stultam
senectutem.
10
15
accs (1) to blame, call to account
adipscor, sc, adeptus sum to obtain
admror (1) to wonder at
adulscentia, ae f youth
cg, ere, cog, coctum to Iorce
cnslti, nis f comIort
eIIlu, ere, Ilx to Ilow out, escape
incnstantia, ae f Iickleness
obrp, ere, ps, ptum to sneak in
octingentsimus, a, um adf 800th
octgsimus, a, um adf 80th
permulce, re, s, sum to soothe
perversits, ttis f perversity
praetere, re, v, tum to pass by
pueritia, ae f childhood
quod conf because
senects, ttis f old age
stultus, a, um adf stupid
stultitia, ae f stupidity
6. diIIicilem supply esse it iI helps.
7. Quibus For who; dat oI posession
ops alternate dative Iorm oI opus
8. es antecedent oI quibus, again
dative oI possession
qu autem who on the other hand;
Cicero is setting up contrast here.
es note the parallel structure
10. Qu in genere In which people
in prms especially; literally, in Iirst
things.
quam goes with optant
11. ut goes with adipiscantur
omns note how Cicero lets this go
with both verbs.
eandem reIers to quam
12. Obrpere indirect speech
13. eam subject oI indirect speech
putassent syncopated Iorm oI
putvissent
Ialsum a Ialse thing; substantive adj
14. qu how
adulscentiae senets supply obrepit
Irom the other halI oI this parallel
construction.
15. qu how (much)
16. agerent they live
quam s than iI; supply agerent
18. eIIlxisset drawn to subjunctive
by posset
posset could; contrary to Iact
8 de senectute
5. Quocirca si sapientiam meam admirari soletis (quae utinam
digna esset opinione vestra nostroque cognomine!), in hoc
sumus sapientes, quod naturam optimam ducem tamquam
deum sequimur eique paremus; a qua non veri simile est, cum
ceterae partes aetatis bene descriptae sint, extremum actum
tamquam ab inerti poeta esse neglectum. Sed tamen necesse
Iuit esse aliquid extremum et, tamquam in arborum bacis
terraeque Iructibus maturitate tempestiva quasi vietum et
caducum, quod Ierendum est molliter sapienti. Quid est enim
aliud Gigantum modo bellare cum dis nisi naturae repugnare?
5
10
actus, s m part in a play
admror (1) to wonder at
bca, ae f berry
bell (1) to make war
cadcus, a, um adf Iallen
cgnmen, minis n cognomen
dscrb, ere, ps, ptum to describe
Gigs, antis m giant
iners, ertis adf unskilled
mtrits, ttis f ripeness
negleg, ere, lex, lectum to neglect
opini, nis f reputation
qucirc conf on account oI which
quod conf because
repugn (1) to Iight back, resist
tempestvus, a, um adf in season
utinam adv iI only (subjunctive)
vitus, a, um adf wrinkled
1. utinam triggers subjunctive;
imperIect indicates that it should
be happening right now
2. cgnmine Cato's cognomen is
Sapiens.
4. parmus takes dative complement,
ei(que).
qu ntr; Irom which.
vr simile probable; literally, like
the truth; simile can take gen.
cum since
6. tamquam opens a similie
esse neglectum indirect speech
Iollowing nn veri simile est.
6. necesse Iuit supply homini (Ior
man) to be in parallel with the
other dative oI possessions that
Iollow.
7. arborum gen pl
8. terrae gen sg
matritte tempestv with a
maturity in season
quas just like
quod reIers to vietum et cadcum
Ierendum est it is to be carried;
passive periphrastic
sapient dative oI agent
10. aliud other than to
Gigantum genitive plural with mod.
cum ds with the gods; deus shows
some irregularities in the dative
and ablative plural.
nisi iI not; nisi can be tricky.
repugnre can take a dative
compliment.
de senectuce 9
6. Laelius. Atqui, Cato, gratissimum nobis, ut etiam pro
Scipione pollicear, Ieceris, si, quoniam speramus, volumus
quidem certe senes Iieri, multo ante a te didicerimus, quibus
Iacillime rationibus ingravescentem aetatem Ierre possimus.
Cato. Faciam vero, Laeli, praesertim si utrique vestrum, ut
dicis, gratum Iuturum est.
Laelius. Volumus sane, nisi molestum est, Cato, tamquam
longam aliquam viam conIeceris, quam nobis quoque
ingrediendum sit, istuc, quo pervenisti videre quale sit.
5
atqu conf but, yet
ingravsc, ere to grow heavy, grow
weary
istc adv to there (by you)
molestus, a, um adf bothersome
perveni, re, vn, ventum to arrive
polliceor, r, itus to promise
praesertim adv especially
1. grtissimum adjective being used
as a noun
2. pollicear try 'I speak instead oI
'I promise
3. sens in nominative because it
agrees with the subject
mult ante earlier by much
5. utrque vestrum either oI the two
oI you
6. Iutrum est it will be
8. nbs dative oI agent with
ingrediendum
9. qule sit subjunctive with indirect
question
10 de senectute
III. 7. Cato. Faciam, ut potero, Laeli. Saepe enim interIui
querellis aequalium meorumpares autem, vetere proverbio,
cum paribus Iacillime congreganturquae C. Salinator, quae
Sp. Albinus, homines consulares nostri Iere aequales,
deplorare solebant, tum quod voluptatibus carerent sine
quibus vitam nullam putarent, tum quod spernerentur ab eis, a
quibus essent coli soliti. Qui mihi non id videbantur accusare,
quod esset accusandum. Nam si id culpa senectutis accideret,
eadem mihi usu venirent reliquisque omnibus maioribus natu,
quorum ego multorum cognovi senectutem sine querella, qui
se et libidinum vinculis laxatos esse non moleste Ierrent nec a
suis despicerentur. Sed omnium istius modi querellarum in
moribus est culpa, non in aetate. Moderati enim et nec
diIIiciles nec inhumani senes tolerabilem senectutem agunt;
importunitas autem et inhumanitas omni aetati molesta est.
5
10
15
accs (1) to blame, call to account
aequlis, -e adf level, equal
C. Salntor, -ris m Gaius
Salinator
congreg (1) to gather together
cnsulris, -e adf consular
dplr (1) to complain (about)
dspici, -ere, x, -ectum to look
down on
importnits, -ttis f rudeness
inhmnus, a, um adf savage, rude
inhmnits, -ttis f inhumanity
lax (1) to relax, loosen
modertus, a, um adf moderate
molestus, a, um adf bothersome
proverbium, - n saying
querella, -ae f complaint
senects, ttis f old age
Sp. Albnus, - m Spurius Albinus
spern, -ere, -v, -tum to reject
tolerbilis, -e adf tolerable
2. pars.congregantus birds oI a
Ieather Ilock together in English
3. quae.quae acc, pl, n
C Salntor. Sp. Albnus consuls in
188 and 186 BC
5. volupttibus ablative compliment
oI carerent
7. essent solt sole is semi-
deponent, pluperIect active
col passive inIinitive
id. quod id is the antecedent oI
quod

8. esset imperIect subjunctive due to
videbantur in previous clause.
9. mairibus nt older
10. qurum. multrum partitive
genetive, many oI whom
12. omnium istus mod querellrum
chiasmus; oI all complaints oI
this sort
sed.in moribus, nn in aette
Cicero sets up a contrasting pair
15. omn abl, sing, Iem
de senectuce 11
8. Laelius. Est, ut dicis, Cato; sed Iortasse dixerit quispiam
tibi propter opes et copias et dignitatem tuam tolerabiliorem
senectutem videri, id autem non posse multis contingere.
Cato. Est istuc quidem, Laeli, aliquid, sed nequaquam in isto
sunt omnia. Ut Themistocles Iertur Seriphio cuidam in iurgio
respondisse, cum ille dixisset non eum sua, sed patriae gloria
splendorem adsecutum: 'Nec hercule,' inquit, 'si ego Seriphius
essem, nec tu, si Atheniensis clarus umquam Iuisses.' Quod
eodem modo de senectute dici potest. Nec enim in summa
inopia levis esse senectus potest ne sapienti quidem, nec
insipienti etiam in summa copia non gravis.
5
10
adsequor, qu, adsectus sum to
pursue
Athninsis, e adf Irom Athens
hercule interf by Hercules!
inopia, ae f lack
nsipins, entis adf Ioolish
irgium, n dispute
n interf truly, indeed
nququam adv not at all
quispiam, quaepiam, quidpiam pron
someone/thing, anyone/thing
senects, ttis f old age
Serphius, m an inhabitant oI the
island Seriphus
splendor, ris m brightness
Themistocls, is m Themistocles
tolerbilis, e adf tolerable
1. dxerit Iuture perIect tense, starts
indirect speech
2. tolerbilirem senecttem vidr
the Iirst is the predicate oI the
second, as allowed by videri
3. id. contingere indirect speech
continues
mults dative, treat as noun 'Ior
many people
4. aliquid. omnia Cicero is making
a contrast here
5. Iertur it is reported that.
6. ille the Seriphian
eum Themistocles
7. adsectum |Themistocles| having
pursued, the 'esse is leIt Ior the
reader to assume
7. inquit Themistocles is speaking
here
8. essem present contrary to Iact set
oII by si, 'II I were., supply
nec clarus essem which is leIt to
be assumed by the reader aIter
the next clause
nec t nor would you
Iuisss past contrary to Iact, 'iI you
had been.
9. dc passive inIinitive oI dic
10. n 'not even; this is not the ne
that is a conjunction and
introduces subjunctive
sapient. nsipient both dative
11. nn gravis supply potest esse
Irom previous clause
12 de senectute
9. Aptissima omnino sunt, Scipio et Laeli, arma senectutis
artes exercitationesque virtutum, quae in omni aetate cultae,
cum diu multumque vixeris, miriIicos ecIerunt Iructus, non
solum quia numquam deserunt, ne extremo quidem tempore
aetatis (quamquam id quidem maximum est), verum etiam
quia conscientia bene actae vitae multorumque bene Iactorum
recordatio iucundissima est.
5
cnscientia, ae f conscience, joint
knowledge
ecIer, Ierre, extul, ltum to carry
out/away
exercitti, nis f training,
discipline
icundus, a, um adf pleasant
n interf truly, indeed
mriIicus, a, um adf extraordinary
omnn adv completely
recordati, nis f recollection
senects, ttis f old age
1. aptissima. arma the adjective
and noun are split here
2. virtutum genitive plural
omn ablative singular
3. Iructs this word means Iruits, but
quite oIten in the sense oI 'Iruits
oI one's labor
4. n 'not even; this is not the ne
that is a conjunction and
introduces subjunctive
67. cnscientia. recortti
iucundissima note the chiasmus
(ABBA) oI the elements in this
phrase
64 de senectute
57. Quid de pratorum viriditate aut arborum ordinibus aut
vinearum olivetorumve specie plura dicam? Brevi praecidam:
agro bene culto nihil potest esse nec usu uberius nec specie
ornatius; ad quem Iruendum non modo non retardat, verum
etiam invitat atque adlectat senectus. Ubi enim potest illa
aetas aut calescere vel apricatione melius vel igni, aut
vicissim umbris aquisve reIrigerari salubrius?
5
adlect (1) to entice
aprcti, nis f basking in the sun
calsc, ere to grow warm or hot
invt (1) to invite
olvtum, n olive yard
orntus, a, um adf decorated,
beautiIul
praecd, ere, cd, csum to cut oII
prtum, n meadow
reIrger (1) to make cold
retard (1) to delay
salber, bris, bre adf healthIul
senects, ttis f old age
ber, eris adf abundant, Iertile
umbra, ae f shadow
sus, s m use
vicissim adv in turn
vnea, ae f vineyard
viridits, ttis f greenness
12. Quid.plra slight number
mismatch, just roll with it.
d.speci all one prepositional
phrase; also note the diIIerence
between aut and -ve
2. brev treat like an adverb
agr bene cult abl oI comparison,
so look Ior comparative adv and
adj; more than a Iield well
cultivated
4. ad quem Iruendum to its
enjoyment
45. nn modo.vrum etiam not
only. but also
5. illa aets that age, i.e. old age
6. vel.vel. either.or.
de senectuce 65
58. Sibi habeant igitur arma, sibi equos, sibi hastas, sibi
clavam et pilam, sibi natationes atque cursus, nobis senibus ex
lusionibus multis talos relinquant et tesseras, id ipsum ut
lubebit, quoniam sine eis beata esse senectus potest.
clva, ae f bat, club
hasta, -ae f spear
lubet, re, uit to be pleasing
lsi, nis f playing
natti, nis f swimming
pila, ae I ball
senects, ttis f old age
tlus, n knucklebone
tessera, ae f tile
1. habeant supply adulescentes or
iuvenes as the subject.
2. clvam et pilam club and ball or
sword with a ball covering the
point, depending on whose
commentary you want to Iollow
3. tls knucklebones, a dice game
played with sheep talus, also
called astragalus, bones.
tessers dice, the usual translation,
but any game piece
id ipsum ut lubbit supply cape Ior
something like 'take it, whatever
you like
4. sine es without them, the
knucklebones and dice
de senectuce 87
XXII. 79. Apud Xenophontem autem moriens Cyrus maior
haec dicit: 'Nolite arbitrari, O mihi carissimi Iilii, me, cum a
vobis discessero, nusquam aut nullum Iore. Nec enim, dum
eram vobiscum, animum meum videbatis, sed eum esse in hoc
corpore ex eis rebus quas gerebam intellegebatis. Eundem
igitur esse creditote, etiamsi nullum videbitis.
5
Crus, m king oI Persia
etiams conf even iI
nusquam adv nowhere
Xenophn, ontis m Xenophon
1. Apud in the writings oI
haec these things
2. Nlte Don't; negative imperative
mihi dative oI possession in vocative
phrase
m.Iore indirect statment
3. Iore to be going to be; alternate
Iorm Ior futrum esse, Iuture
inIinitive
5. gerbam I was undertaking
eundem the same (thing), his soul
6. crditte Iuture imperative, 2nd
person plural; note that videbitis
is plural in the next clause.
88 de senectute
80. 'Nec vero clarorum virorum post mortem honores
permanerent, si nihil eorum ipsorum animi eIIicerent, quo
diutius memoriam sui teneremus. Mihi quidem numquam
persuaderi potuit animos, dum in corporibus essent
mortalibus, vivere, cum excessissent ex eis, emori, nec vero
tum animum esse insipientem, cum ex insipienti corpore
evasisset, sed cum omni admixtione corporis liberatus purus
et integer esse coepisset, tum esse sapientem. Atque etiam
cum hominis natura morte dissolvitur, ceterarum rerum
perspicuum est quo quaeque discedat; abeunt enim illuc
omnia, unde orta sunt, animus autem solus nec cum adest nec
cum discedit, apparet. Iam vero videtis nihil esse morti tam
simile quam somnum.
5
10
admixti, nis f mixture
dissolv, ere, lv, ltum to dissolve
ditius adv (Ior a) longer (time)
morior, , mortuus sum to die
vd, ere, vs, vsum to avoid
excd, ere, cess, cessum to leave
nsipins, entis adf Ioolish
integer, gra, grum adf intact
lber (1) to Iree
mortlis, e adf mortal
permane, re, mns, mnsum to
keep on staying, persist
perspicuus, a, um adf clear,
apparent
persude, re, sus, susum dat
to persuade
prus, a, um adf pure, clean
1. clrrum virrum goes with
mortem or/and honres, both
interpretations give slightly
diIIerent, though similar readings
2. qu by which; reIers to the whole
preceding clause
3. su reIers to the clri, who aren't
the subject Ior this reIlexive
4. numquam persudr potuit It
never was able to persuade;
passive inIinitive is actually
impersonal.
48. All oI subjunctive verbs that
Iollow in these lines are in
clauses subordinate to the indirect
speech.
anims subject oI indirect speech
aIter persuderi
5. mor the verb oI the indirect
speech
6. animum esse still indirect speech
8. esse sapientem ends the indirect
speech
Atque etiam cum And even when.
9. ceterrum rrum Among other
things; seems to be some sort oI
genitive oI quality
10. qu where to
12. mort goes with simile in 13
de senectuce 89
81. 'Atqui dormientium animi maxime declarant divinitatem
suam; multa enim, cum remissi et liberi sunt, Iutura
prospiciunt. Ex quo intellegitur quales Iuturi sint, cum se
plane corporis vinculis relaxaverint. Qua re, si haec ita sunt,
sic me colitote, inquit, 'ut deum; sin una est interiturus
animus cum corpore, vos tamen, deos verentes, qui hanc
omnem pulchritudinem tuentur et regunt, memoriam nostri
pie inviolateque servabitis.
5
atqu conf but, yet
dclr (1) to announce, declare
dvnits, ttis f divinity
intere, re, v, tum to die
invioltus, a, um adf unhurt
pius, a, um adf IaithIul
pln adv obviously
prspici, ere, ex, ectum to look
Iorward to
pulchritd, dinis f beauty
relax (1) to loosen
remitt, ere, ms, missum to send
back, relax, let go back
sn conf but iI
tueor, r, tuitus sum to guard, be
saIe
1. dormientium gen pl
2. multa.Iutra many things to be;
all modiIied by the cum clause
between
remiss et lber animi is the subject
3. intellegitur it is understood;
impersonal 3rd sg passive
quls Iutr what sort (they) will be;
still the animi
s reIers to the anim
5. colitte you shall worship; Iuture 2
pl imperative oI col
ut like
n together
intertrus to be dying; Iuture active
participle
6. verents agrees with vs; des is
the direct object
qu the gods
nostr oI us; gen pl oI ns; royal we
!"# %&' ()*&*"&+ , ()-(*+./.*& *) 0*&1"&0/.*&2
Preposition Confunction
mcum nbscum
tcum vbscum
scum
qucum/qucum quibuscum
cum m cum nbs
cum t cum vbs
cum s
cum qu/qu cum quibus
The preposition cum is oIten an enclitic postposition with this set oI pronouns.
90 de senectute
XXIII. 82. Cyrus quidem haec moriens; nos, si placet, nostra
videamus. Nemo umquam mihi, Scipio, persuadebit aut
patrem tuum Paulum, aut duos avos, Paulum et AIricanum,
aut AIricani patrem, aut patruum, aut multos praestantis viros
quos enumerare non est necesse, tanta esse conatos, quae ad
posteritatis memoriam pertinerent, nisi animo cernerent
posteritatem ad se ipsos pertinere. Anne censes, ut de me ipse
aliquid more senum glorier, me tantos labores diurnos
nocturnosque domi militiaeque suscepturum Iuisse, si eisdem
Iinibus gloriam meam, quibus vitam, essem terminaturus?
5
10
Iricnus, m Scipio's grandIather
avus, m grandIather
Crus, m king oI Persia
diurnus, a, um adj daily, pertaining
to daytime
numer (1) to count up
glrior (1) to brag, boast
inmortlis, e adf immortal
mlitia, ae f military service
nocturnus, a, um adf nocturnal
patruus, m paternal uncle
Paulus, m Scipio's Iather and
grandIather
persude, re, sus, susum dat
to persuade
posterits, tatis f posterity
praestns, ntis adf outstanding
termin (1) to mark the limits
1. haec supply dixit to make sense oI
this
nostra our things; adjective as a noun
mihi dative complement oI
persudebit
aut begins indirect speech
5. qus numerre non est necesse
who it is not necessary to
number; necesse is impersonal
and thus qus is the object oI
enumerre.
7. ad s ipss to they themselves
8. aliquid direct object oI glrier
9. dom mlitiaeque at home and in
the military; domi is locative;
militiaeque is probably doing
some odd locative thing too,
which it shouldn't.
susceptrum Iuisse to have been
about to take up; inIintive in
indirect speech.
10. glriam meam. vtam objects oI
termintrus
essem terminturus I should come to
mark the ends oI
de senectuce 91
Nonne melius multo Iuisset otiosam et quietam aetatem sine
ullo labore et contentione traducere? Sed nescio quo modo
animus erigens se posteritatem ita semper prospiciebat, quasi,
cum excessisset e vita, tum denique victurus esset. Quod
quidem ni ita se haberet, ut animi inmortales essent, haud
optimi cuiusque animus maxime ad inmortalitatem et gloriam
niteretur.
15
contenti, onis f eIIort, exertion
rig, ere, rx, rctum to stir up,
straighten out
excd, ere, cess, cessum to leave
inmortlis, e adf immortal
inmortlits, ttis f immortality
ntor, , nsus sum to work at
tisus, a, um adf at leisure
posterits, tatis f posterity
prspici, ere, ex, ectum to look
Iorward to
quitus, a, um adf calm, peaceIul
quod conf because
trdc, ere, dx, ductum to lead
away
11. melius mult better by Iar; mult
is abl oI comparison
14. victrus esset it should be alive;
not Irom vinc
15. n ita s habret were it not to be
so.
haud goes with maxime in 16
17. ntertur it should strive
92 de senectute
83. Quid, quod sapientissimus quisque aequissimo animo
moritur, stultissimus iniquissimo, nonne vobis videtur is
animus qui plus cernat et longius, videre se ad meliora
proIicisci, ille autem cuius obtusior sit acies, non videre?
Equidem eIIeror studio patres vestros, quos colui et dilexi
videndi, neque vero eos solos convenire aveo quos ipse
cognovi, sed illos etiam de quibus audivi et legi et ipse
conscripsi; quo quidem me proIiciscentem haud sane quid
Iacile retraxerit, nec tamquam Peliam recoxerit. Et si quis
deus mihi largiatur, ut ex hac aetate repuerascam et in cunis
vagiam, valde recusem, nec vero velim quasi decurso spatio
ad carceres a calce revocari.
5
10
ave, re, u to desire, be eager Ior
calx, cis f chalk, start/goal line
carcer, eris m prison
cnscrb, ere, ps, ptum write down
cnae, rum f pl crib, cradle
dcurr, ere, (cu)curr, cursum to run
down
eIIer, Ierre, extul, ltum to carry
out/away
equidem adv indeed, truly
inquus, a, um adf unequal, uneven
largior (4) to bestow giIts
obtsus, a um adf dull
Pelias, ae m Pelias, king oI
Thessaly
recoqu, ere, x, ctum to reheat
recs (1) to reIuse
repuersc, ere to become a boy
again
retrah, ere, trx, tractum to drag
back
sn adv obviously
stultus, a, um adf stupid
vgi (4) to cry (like a baby)
vald adv very
1. quid Cicero sets up a two parallel
questions Irom here to line 4.
2. stultissimus iniquissim supply
quod.quisque.anim moritur
Irom the previous bit
nnne vbs vidtur the core oI the
question
is reIers back to animo aequissim
3. ille reIers to [anim] iniquissim
vidre introduces indirect speech
4. sit subj oI est
nn vidre supply se ad melira
proficisci to Iinish the parallel
5. studi.vidend studi takes gen,
gerund takes acc objects
6. nec vero es sols.sed ills etiam
not only those alone. but also
those
8. quid anything
9. Iacile adv, easily
Peliam he met a grisly end cut up
into a stew
quis [ali]quis
s largitur.repuerscam.vgiam.
velim pres subj, Iuture less
vivid condition
11. ad carcers a calce to the starting
line Irom the Iinish line;
idiomatic meaning Ior the words

de senectuce 93
84. Quid habet enim vita commodi? Quid non potius laboris?
Sed habeat sane, habet certe tamen aut satietatem aut modum.
Non lubet enim mihi deplorare vitam, quod multi, et ei docti,
saepe Iecerunt, neque me vixisse paenitet, quoniam ita vixi, ut
non Irustra me natum existimem, ut ex vita ita discedo tamquam
ex hospitio, non tamquam e domo. Commorandi enim natura
devorsorium nobis, non habitandi dedit.
5
commodum, n opportunity
commoror (1) to hang out
dplr (1) to complain (about)
dvorsrium, n inn
Irstr adv in vain
habit (1) to live (somewhere)
hospitium, n hospitality
lubet, re, uit to be pleasing
paenitet, re to give regret (acc
gen/inI)
potius adv rather
quod conf because
respect (1) to look back
sn adv obviously
satiets, tatis f abundance
1. commod paritive gen with quid
labris partitive gen with quid
2. habeat it may have; potential
subjunctive
3. e the
neque m vxisse paenitet nor am I
sorry to have lived; acc is who is
sorry, inIinitive is why.
4. ut nn negative result clause
tamquam.nn tamquam note the
parallel structure
6. Commorand goes with
deversrium
67. Commorand.dedit two
sentences that are highly
elliptical. Drop the nn habitandi
to Iind the Iirst. Drop the
commorandi to Iind the second.
7. habitand goes with deversrium
94 de senectute
O praeclarum diem, cum in illud divinum animorum concilium
coetumque proIiciscar cumque ex hac turba et conluvione
discedam! ProIiciscar enim non ad eos solum viros, de quibus
ante dixi, verum etiam ad Catonem meum, quo nemo vir melior
natus est, nemo pietate praestantior; cuius a me corpus est
crematum, quod contra decuit ab illo meum, animus vero, non
me deserens sed respectans, in ea proIecto loca discessit, quo
mihi ipsi cernebat esse veniendum. Quem ego meum casum
Iortiter Ierre visus sum, non quo aequo animo Ierrem, sed me
ipse consolabar existimans non longinquum inter nos digressum
et discessum Iore.
5
10
coetus, s m meeting
concilium, n gathering
conluvi, nis f Iilth, pollution
cnslor (1) to console
crem (1) to burn up
dgredior, , gressus sum to leave
dvnus, a, um adf divine
longinquus, a, um adf Iar oII
interf oh
praeclrus, a, um adf quite bright
praestns, ntis adf outstanding
proIect adv actually
quod conf because
respect (1) to look back
1. praeclrum diem acc oI
exclamation.
4. qu.melior better than whom;
abl oI comparison
Catnem meum Cato's son
nm vir no man
5. cuius goes with corpus
6. quod supply corpus, this whole
clause is in parallel with the
previous clause (and thus very
elliptical).
7. in ea.loca locus becomes neuter
in the plural
mihi ips Ior me myselI; dative oI
agent with the passive
periphrastic esse veniendum.
9. visus sum I seemed
qu aequ anim with Iorebearance;
ablative oI manner; aequus and
animus oIten go together.
Ierrem that I bore; imperIect
subjunctive oI fer.
10. ipse intensive pronoun reIerring
to Cato
11. Iore Iuture inIinitive oI esse
which is usually associated with
past participles; inIinitive in
indirect speech aIter existimns.
de senectuce 95
85. His mihi rebus, Scipio (id enim te cum Laelio admirari
solere dixisti), levis est senectus, nec solum non molesta sed
etiam iucunda. Quod si in hoc erro, qui animos hominum
inmortalis esse credam, libenter erro; nec mihi hunc errorem,
quo delector, dum vivo, extorqueri volo; sin mortuus, ut
quidam minuti philosophi censent, nihil sentiam, non vereor,
ne hunc errorem meum philosophi mortui irrideant. Quod si
non sumus inmortales Iuturi, tamen exstingui homini suo
tempore optabile est. Nam habet natura, ut aliarum omnium
rerum, sic vivendi modum. Senectus autem aetatis est peractio
tamquam Iabulae, cuius deIatigationem Iugere debemus,
praesertim adiuncta satietate. Haec habui, de senectute quae
dicerem, ad quam utinam perveniatis, ut ea, quae ex me
audistis, re experti probare possitis.
5
10
adiung, ere, inx, iunctum to join
together
admror (1) to wonder at
dIatgti, nis f exhaustion
dlect (1) to delight
exstingu, ere, nx, nctum to
quench, exstinguish
extorque, re, ors, orsum to twist
inmortlis, e adf immortal
irrde, re, rs, rsum to mock
icundus, a, um adf pleasant
lbenter adv Ireely
mintus, a, um adf insigniIicant
molestus, a, um adf bothersome
optbilis, e adf desireable
peracti, nis f completion
philosophus, m philosopher
praesertim adv especially
quod conf because
satiets, tatis f abundance
senects, ttis f old age
sn conf but iI
utinam adv iI only (subj)
vereor, r, veritus sum to Iear
1. Hs.rbus ablative oI means
mihi dative oI reIerence
id.solre indirect speech; te is the
subject, solere the main verb
2. nec slum.sed etiam not only.
but also
3. qu reIers to Cato
4. mihi dative oI separation
5. qu reIers back to errrem
extorqu passive inIinitive
qudam some; this is dismissive on
Cato's part.
7. n has opposite meaning aIter
verbs oI Iearing.
mortu when they are dead.
8. Iutr going to be; Iuture active
participle.
exstingu passive inIinite as subject
oI the sentence.
9. alirum omnium rrum in
apposition with vivendi.
10. aettis in apposition with Ibulae.
11. cuius reIers to aettis.
12. adiuncta things joined together
habu I held; as in 'we hold these
truths.
13. ad quam reIers to senecte.
ea, quae these things which.