Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.47.1

Contemplating the Stars to Cleanse Earthly Filth

Passage 243 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author advises observing the movement of stars as if running with them and pondering the elemental changes to cleanse oneself of the filth of earthly life.

§7.47.1Περισκοπεῖν ἄστρων δρόμους ὥσπερ συμπεριθέοντα καὶ τὰς τῶν στοιχείων εἰς ἄλληλα μεταβολὰς συνεχῶς ἐννοεῖν· ἀποκαθαίρουσι γὰρ αἱ τούτων φαντασίαι τὸν ῥύπον τοῦ χαμαὶ βίου.
To observe the courses of the stars as if running along with them, and constantly to ponder the changes of the elements into one another; for the representations of these things wash away the filth of the earth-bound life.

Notes

  1. §7.47.1Περισκοπεῖν — An independent infinitive used with imperative force (imperative infinitive). The same applies to ἐννοεῖν at the end of the clause. It is used as a self-exhortation to prompt action.
  2. §7.47.1συμπεριθέοντα — Present participle of συμπεριθέω (to run along with) in the accusative masculine singular. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the unexpressed accusative subject (such as σε or τινά) of the infinitive περισκοπεῖν. It expresses the dynamic state of the subject who synchronizes with the movements of the stars rather than merely observing them.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.47.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.47.1

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