§34.7.1omnes alii ordines, omnes homines mutationem in meliorem statum rei publicae sentient: ad coniuges tantum nostras pacis et tranquillitatis publicae fructus non perveniet?
All other classes, all men will feel the change of the republic to a better state: shall the fruit of peace and public tranquility not reach our wives alone?
§34.7.2purpura viri utemur, praetextati in magistratibus, in sacerdotiis; liberi nostri praetextis purpura togis utentur; magistratibus in coloniis municipiisque, hic Romae infimo generi, magistris vicorum, togae praetextae habendae ius permittemus,
We men shall use purple, wearing the praetexta in magistracies and priesthoods; our children will use togas bordered with purple; to magistrates in colonies and municipalities, and here in Rome to the lowest class, the masters of the districts, we shall permit the right to have the toga praetexta, and not only so that they may have so great a distinction while alive, but also so that the dead may be burned with it: shall we forbid women alone the use of purple?
§34.7.3nec ut vivi solum habeant † tantum insigne, sed etiam ut cum eo crementur mortui: feminis dumtaxat purpurae usu interdicemus? et, cum tibi viro liceat purpura in vestem stragulam uti, matrem familiae tuam purpureum amiculum habere non sines, et equus tuus speciosius instratus erit quam uxor vestita?
And, though you, a man, are allowed to use purple for a coverlet, will you not permit the mistress of your house to have a purple cloak, and will your horse be more handsomely caparisoned than your wife is clothed?
§34.7.4sed in purpura, quae teritur absumitur, iniustam quidem, sed aliquam tamen causam tenacitatis video;
But in the case of purple, which is worn out and consumed, I see a cause for stinginess, unjust indeed, but still some cause; but in the case of gold, in which no loss occurs except for the cost of workmanship, what ill-nature is this?
in auro vero, in quo praeter manupretium nihil intertrimenti fit, quae malignitas est? praesidium potius in eo est et ad privatos et ad publicos usus, §34.7.5sicut experti estis.
Rather, there is a safeguard in it, both for private and for public uses, as you have experienced.
nullam aemulationem inter se singularum, quoniam nulla haberet, esse aiebat.
He was saying that there is no rivalry among individual women, since none of them would have any.
at hercule universis dolor et indignatio est, §34.7.6cum sociorum Latini nominis uxoribus vident ea concessa ornamenta, quae sibi adempta sint, cum insignis eas esse auro et purpura, cum illas vehi per urbem, se pedibus sequi, tamquam in illarum civitatibus, non in sua imperium sit.
But by Hercules, there is grief and indignation for all of them, when they see those ornaments, which have been taken away from themselves, granted to the wives of the Latin allies, when they see them conspicuous with gold and purple, when they see them riding through the city, and themselves following on foot, as if the empire were in their states, not in their own.
§34.7.7virorum hoc animos vulnerare posset; quid muliercularum censetis, quas etiam parva movent?
This could wound the minds of men; what do you think of weak women, whom even small things move?
§34.7.8non magistratus nec sacerdotia nec triumphi nec insignia nec dona aut spolia bellica iis contingere possunt; §34.7.9munditiae et ornatus et cultus, haec feminarum insignia sunt, his gaudent et gloriantur, hunc mundum muliebrem appellarunt maiores nostri.
Neither magistracies nor priesthoods nor triumphs nor badges of honor nor gifts or spoils of war can fall to their lot; neatness and ornament and dress, these are the distinctions of women, in these they rejoice and glory, this our ancestors called "woman's world" (mundus muliebris).
§34.7.10quid aliud in luctu quam purpuram atque aurum deponunt? quid, cum eluxerunt, sumunt? quid in gratulationibus supplicationibusque nisi excellentiorem ornatum adiciunt?
What else do they lay aside in mourning than purple and gold? What do they take up when they have ended their mourning? What do they add in thanksgivings and supplications except a more excellent ornament?
§34.7.11scilicet, si legem Oppiam abrogaritis, non vestri arbitrii erit, si quid eius vetare volueritis, quod nunc lex vetat;
Of course, if you repeal the Oppian law, will it not be in your own power, if you should wish to forbid any of those things which the law now forbids?
§34.7.12minus filiae, uxores, sorores etiam quibusdam in manu erunt;
Will daughters, wives, and even sisters for some, be less under authority (in manu)?
— numquam salvis suis exuitur servitus muliebris; et ipsae libertatem, quam viduitas et orbitas facit, detestantur.
Woman's subjection is never cast off as long as her male relatives are safe; and they themselves detest the liberty which widowhood and orphanhood produce.
§34.7.13in vestro arbitrio suum ornatum quam in legis malunt esse; et vos in manu et tutela, non in servitio debetis habere eas et malle patres vos aut viros quam dominos dici.
They prefer that their adornment should be in your power rather than in that of the law; and you ought to hold them under authority and guardianship, not in servitude, and prefer to be called fathers or husbands rather than masters.
§34.7.14invidiosis nominibus utebatur modo consul seditionem muliebrem et secessionem appellando.
The consul was just now using hateful terms by calling it a female sedition and secession.
id enim periculum est, ne Sacrum montem, sicut quondam irata plebs, aut Aventinum capiant; — §34.7.15patiendum huic infirmitati est, quodcumque vos censueritis.
For there is, you see, a danger lest they should seize the Sacred Mount, as the angry plebeians once did, or the Aventine; this weak sex must endure whatever you decree.
quo plus potestis, eo moderatius imperio uti debetis. ”
The more power you have, the more moderately you ought to exercise your authority."