I grieve over these things, these are the things that torture me, these things day and night I sing to you so that you may beware.
§290quod mánu non queunt tangére tantum fas hábent quo manus abstíneant, §291cetéra: rape trahe, fuge láte—lacrumas
They hold only that which they cannot touch with their hand as something from which to keep their hands off; the rest: snatch, drag, flee, hide!
These things, when I see them, draw tears from me, because I have survived to this generation of men.
§294quin príus me ad plures pénetravi?
Why did I not sooner betake myself to the majority?
§295nam hi móres maiorúm laudant, eosdém lutitant quos cónlaudant.
For they praise the morals of our ancestors, yet they defile those very same ones which they praise.
§296hisce égo de artibus gratiám facio, ne cólas neve imbuas íngenium.
I excuse you from these practices, so that you may neither cultivate them nor imbue your mind with them.
Live in my manner and according to ancient morals, what I prescribe to you, that do.
§299nihil égo istos moror faeceós mores, turbidós, quibus boni dedécorant se.
I care nothing for those filthy, turbid morals, by which good men disgrace themselves.
§300haec tíbi si mea imperiá capesses, multá bona in pectore cónsident.
If you embrace these commands of mine, many good things will settle in your breast.
§301Sémper ego usque ad hanc aetatem ab ineunte adulescentia §302tuis servivi servitutem imperiis praeceptis, pater.
Always up to this age of mine, from early youth, I have served a servitude to your commands and precepts, father.
§303pro ingenio ego me liberum esse ratus sum, pro imperio tuo §304meum animum tibi servitutem servire aequom censui.
By my natural disposition I thought myself free, but under your authority I judged it right that my mind should serve a servitude to you.
§305Quí homo cum animo inde ab ineunte aetate depugnat suo, §306utrum itane esse mavelit ut eum animus aequom censeat, §307an ita potius ut parentes eum esse et cognati velint: §308si animus hominem pepulit, actumst: animo servit, non sibi; §309si ipse animum pepulit, dum vivit victor victorum cluet.
A man who fights with his own mind from early youth, whether he would rather be as his mind thinks fit, or rather as his parents and kinsmen wish him to be: if his mind has beaten the man, it is all over: he serves his mind, not himself; if he himself has beaten his mind, as long as he lives he is reputed the victor of victors.
§310tu si animum vicisti potius quam animus te, est quod gaudeas.
If you have conquered your mind rather than your mind you, you have reason to rejoice.
§311nimio satiust, ut opust té ita ésse, quam ut animo lubet: §312qui animum vincunt, quam quos animus, semper probiores cluent.
It is far better to be as you ought to be, than as it pleases your mind: those who conquer their mind, rather than those whom the mind conquers, are always reputed more upright.
§313Istaec ego mi semper habui aetati integumentum meae; §314ne penetrarem me usquam ubi esset damni conciliabulum §315neu noctu irem obambulatum neu suom adimerem alteri §316neu tibi aegritudinem, pater, párerem, parsi sedulo: §317sarta tecta tua praecepta usque habui mea modestia.
I have always held those things as a shield for my youth, lest I should betake myself anywhere where there was a gathering-place of ruin, nor go walking about at night, nor take away what is another's, nor cause you anxiety, father, I have diligently refrained: I have always kept your precepts in good repair by my self-restraint.
§318Quid exprobras? bene quod fecisti tibi fecisti, non mihi; §319mihi quidem aetas actast ferme: tua istuc refert maxime.
Why do you reproach me? What you have done well, you have done for yourself, not for me; my life indeed is almost spent: this concerns you most of all.
§320is probus est quem paenitet quam probus sit et frugi bonae; §321qui ipsus sibi satis placet, nec probus est nec frugi bonae:
He is upright who is dissatisfied with how upright and of good worth he is; he who is quite pleased with himself is neither upright nor of good worth.
§323bene facta bene factis aliis pertegito, ne perpluant.
Cover over your good deeds with other good deeds, lest they leak.
For this reason, father, I have said these things, because there is a certain matter which I wish to obtain from you by entreaty.
§325bQuid id est? dare iam veniam gestio.
What is it? I am already eager to grant your request.
§326Adulescenti hinc genere summo, amico atque aequali meo, §327minus qui caute et cogitate suam rem tractavit, pater, §328bene volo ego illi facere, si tu non nevis.
To a young man from around here, of the highest birth, my friend and contemporary, who has managed his property less cautiously and thoughtfully, father, I wish to do good, if you do not refuse.
§328bNempe dé tuo?
Doubtless out of your own?
§329De meo: nam quod tuomst meumst, ómne meumst autem tuom.
Out of my own: for what is yours is mine, and all mine is yours.
§330Quid is? egetne?
What of him? Is he in need?
§330bEget.
He is.
§330cHabuitne rem?
Did he have property?
§330dHabuit.
He did.
§330eQuí eam perdidit?
How did he lose it?
§331publicisne adfinis fuit an maritumis negotiis?
Was he connected with public affairs, or with maritime business?
§332mercaturan, an venales habuit ubi rem perdidit?
Did he lose his property in trade, or by keeping slaves for sale?
§333Nihil istorum.
None of these.
§333bQuid igitur?
What then?
By Pollux, father, through companionability; besides, he wasted a certain amount in pleasures for the sake of his amusement.
§335Edepol hominem praemandatum ferme familiariter, §336qui quidem núsquam per virtutem rem confregit, atque eget; §337nil moror eum tíbi esse amicum cum eius modi virtutibus.
By Pollux, a man recommended in a truly familiar manner, who indeed has nowhere ruined his property through virtue, and yet is in need; I care nothing for him being your friend with virtues of that kind.
§338Quia sine omni malitiast, tolerare eius égestatem volo.
Because he is without any malice, I wish to relieve his poverty.
§339De mendico male meretur qui ei dat quod edit aut bibat; §340nam et illud quod dat perdit ét illi prodit vitam ad miseriam.
He does a disservice to a beggar who gives him what he may eat or drink; for he both loses what he gives and prolongs the beggar's life for misery.
§341non eo haec díco, quin quae tu vis ego velim et faciam lubens: §342sed ego hoc verbum quom illi quoidam dico, praemonstro tibi,
I do not say this because of that, as if I would not wish what you wish and do it willingly; but when I say this word to a certain person, I am pointing it out to you beforehand.