Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §12.7.1

Preparing Body and Soul for Death and Time's Infinity

Passage 458 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Urges deep reflection on the state of body and soul in which one should face death, as well as the brevity of life, the infinity of time, and the fragility of all matter.

§12.7.1Ὁποῖον δεῖ καταληφθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ θανάτου καὶ σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ· τὴν βραχύτητα τοῦ βίου· τὴν ἀχάνειαν τοῦ ὀπίσω καὶ πρόσω αἰῶνος· τὴν ἀσθένειαν πάσης ὕλης.
[Consider] in what state a person ought to be overtaken by death, both in body and soul; the shortness of life; the boundless abyss of time past and future; the weakness of all matter.

Notes

  1. §12.7.1Ὁποῖον δεῖ καταληφθῆναι — The subject of the infinitive `καταληφθῆναι` (to be overtaken) is an omitted general subject ('a person'). `Ὁποῖον` is a predicate adjective qualifying this omitted subject. The entire sentence functions under the ellipsis of a governing verb of contemplation or observation (such as `ἐννόει` 'consider' or `βλέπε` 'see'), which also governs the subsequent accusative noun phrases starting with `τὴν βραχύτητα`.
  2. §12.7.1τοῦ ὀπίσω καὶ πρόσω αἰῶνος — The adverbs `ὀπίσω` (behind, past) and `πρόσω` (forward, future) share the genitive article `τοῦ` and attributively modify the noun `αἰῶνος` (eternity, age). It refers to the boundless duration of time extending both backward into the past and forward into the future.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §12.7.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:12.7.1

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