To marvel at nothing is almost the one and only thing, Numicius, which can make and keep a man happy.
§1.6.3hunc solem et stellas et decedentia certis §1.6.4tempora momentis sunt qui formidine nulla §1.6.5imbuti spectent: quid censes munera terrae, §1.6.6quid maris extremos Arabas ditantis et Indos, §1.6.7ludicra quid, plausus et amici dona Quiritis,
This sun, and the stars, and the seasons that pass away at fixed periods—there are some who can gaze upon these imbued with no fear. What do you think of the gifts of the earth, what of the sea that enriches the far-off Arabs and Indians, what of the shows, the applause and the favors of the friendly Roman citizen?
§1.6.8quo spectanda modo, quo sensu credis et ore?
In what way do you think they should be looked at, with what feeling and countenance?
§1.6.9Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem §1.6.10quo cupiens pacto: pavor est utrobique molestus, §1.6.11improvisa simul species exterret utrumque.
He who fears their opposites marvels in almost the same way as he who desires them; anxiety is troublesome on both sides, and an unexpected appearance terrifies both alike.
§1.6.12gaudeat an doleat, cupiat metuatne, quid ad rem, §1.6.13si, quicquid vidit melius peiusve sua spe, §1.6.14defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet?
Whether he rejoices or grieves, desires or fears, what difference does it make, if, whatever he sees better or worse than his expectation, he is stupefied, with eyes fixed, and in mind and body paralyzed?
§1.6.15insani sapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui, §1.6.16ultra quam satis est Virtutem si petat ipsam.
Let the wise man bear the name of madman, the just of unjust, if he should seek Virtue itself beyond what is sufficient.
§1.6.17I nunc, argentum et marmor vetus aeraque et artes §1.6.18suspice, cum gemmis Tyrios mirare colores; §1.6.19gaude quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem; §1.6.20navus mane forum et vespertinus pete tectum, §1.6.21ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris §1.6.22Mutus et (indignum, quod sit peioribus ortus) §1.6.23hic tibi sit potius quam tu mirabilis illi.
Go now, gaze with admiration at silver, old marble, bronze, and works of art; admire Tyrian colors together with gems; rejoice that a thousand eyes look at you as you speak; be busy and seek the forum in the morning, and your roof in the evening, lest Mutus reap more grain from his dotal fields and (shameful, since he is sprung from meaner ancestors) he should be an object of admiration to you, rather than you to him.
§1.6.24quidquid sub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas, §1.6.25defodiet condetque nitentia, cum bene notum §1.6.26porticus Agrippae, via te conspexerit Appi, §1.6.27ire tamen restat Numa quo devenit et Ancus.
Whatever is under the earth, time will bring forth into the sunshine; it will bury and hide what now shines, when well-known the colonnade of Agrippa and the Appian Way have beheld you; yet it remains for you to go where Numa and Ancus have descended.
§1.6.28Si latus aut renes morbo temptantur acuto, §1.6.29quaere fugam morbi, vis recte vivere: quis non?
If your side or reins are assailed by a sharp disease, seek escape from the disease. Do you wish to live aright? Who does not?
If Virtue alone can grant this, bravely leaving pleasures aside, attend to this.
Virtutem verba putas et §1.6.32lucum ligna: cave ne portus occupet alter, §1.6.33ne Cibyratica, ne Bithyna negotia perdas; §1.6.34mille talenta rotundentur, totidem altera, porro et §1.6.35tertia succedant et quae pars quadret acervum.
Do you think Virtue is but words, and a sacred grove but firewood? Take care lest another occupy the harbor first, lest you lose the business of Cibyra and Bithynia; let a thousand talents be rounded out, as many more, and further a third thousand succeed, and the part which makes the heap square.
§1.6.36scilicet uxorem cum dote fidemque et amicos §1.6.37et genus et formam regina Pecunia donat, §1.6.38ac bene nummatum decorat Suadela Venusque,
To be sure, a wife with a dowry, credit, friends, birth, and beauty are bestowed by Queen Money, and Suadela and Venus adorn the well-monied man.
The king of the Cappadocians, rich in slaves, lacks money: do not be like him.
chlamydes Lucullus, ut aiunt, §1.6.41si posset centum scaenae praebere rogatus, §1.6.42qui possum tot?
ait;
Lucullus, as they say, when asked if he could lend a hundred cloaks for the stage, said, "How can I so many?
“tamen et quaeram et quot habebo §1.6.43mittam:” post paulo scribit sibi milia quinque §1.6.44esse domi chlamydum; partem vel tolleret omnis,
Yet I will look, and whatever I have I will send." A little later he writes that he has five thousand cloaks at home; they might take a part or all of them.
It is a poor house where there are not many things left over, which escape the master and profit thieves.
ergo §1.6.47si res sola potest facere et servare beatum, §1.6.48hoc primus repetas opus, hoc postremus omittas.
Therefore, if wealth alone can make and keep you happy, be the first to return to this task, and the last to leave it.
§1.6.49Si fortunatum species et gratia praestat, §1.6.50mercemur servum, qui dictet nomina, laevum §1.6.51qui fodicet latus et cogat trans pondera dextram §1.6.52porrigere: “hic multum in Fabia valet, ille Velina; §1.6.53cui libet hic fasces dabit eripietque curule §1.6.54cui volet importunus ebur. ”
frater,
pater
adde: §1.6.55ut cuique est aetas, ita quemque facetus adopta.
If show and popularity make a man fortunate, let us buy a slave to tell us names, to nudge our left side, and force us to stretch out our hand across obstacles: "This man has much influence in the Fabia tribe, that one in the Velina; this one will give the fasces to whom he pleases, and, importunate, snatch the curule ivory from whom he will." Add "Brother," "Father"; as each one's age is, so courteously adopt him.
§1.6.56Si bene qui cenat bene vivit, lucet, eamus §1.6.57quo ducit gula; piscemur, venemur, ut olim §1.6.58Gargilius, qui mane plagas, venabula, servos §1.6.59differtum transire forum populumque iubebat, §1.6.60unus ut e multis populo spectante referret
If he who dines well lives well, it is light, let us go where our appetite leads; let us fish, let us hunt, as once did Gargilius, who in the morning ordered his nets, hunting spears, and slaves to pass through the crowded forum and the people, so that, before the gazing crowd, one mule out of many might bring back a boar he had bought.
§1.6.61emptum mulus aprum, crudi tumidique lavemur, §1.6.62quid deceat, quid non, obliti, Caerite cera §1.6.63digni, remigium vitiosum Ithacensis Ulixei, §1.6.64cui potior patria fuit interdicta voluptas.
Let us bathe, bloated and undigested, forgetful of what is decent, what is not, worthy of the Caerite register, like the vicious crew of Ulysses of Ithaca, to whom forbidden pleasure was preferable to their country.
§1.6.65si, Mimnermus uti censet, sine amore iocisque §1.6.66nil est iucundum, vivas in amore iocisque?.
If, as Mimnermus thinks, without love and jests nothing is pleasant, may you live in love and jests.
§1.6.67Vive, vale! si quid novisti rectius istis,
Live, and fare well!
§1.6.68candidus imperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
If you know anything better than these precepts, candidly impart it; if not, use these with me.