§13.1Multum tibi esse animi scio.
I know that you have much courage.
Nam etiam antequam instrueres te praeceptis salutaribus et dura vincentibus, satis adversus fortunam placebas tibi, et multo magis, postquam cum illa manum conseruisti viresque expertus es tuas, quae numquam certam dare fiduciam sui possunt, nisi cum multae difficultates hinc et illinc apparuerunt, aliquando vero et propius accesserunt; sic verus ille animus et in alienum non venturus arbitrium probatur.
For even before you equipped yourself with salutary precepts that conquer hardships, you were sufficiently pleased with yourself against fortune, and much more so after you joined battle with her and tested your strength, which can never give a certain confidence in itself unless many difficulties have appeared on this side and that, and sometimes indeed have approached even closer; in this way, that true courage which is not about to submit to another's judgment is proved.
§13.2Haec eius obrussa est: non potest athleta magnos spiritus ad certamen adferre, qui numquam suggillatus est; ille, qui sanguinem suum vidit, cuius dentes crepuere sub pugno, ille, qui subplantatus adversarium toto tulit corpore nec proiecit animum proiectus, qui quotiens cecidit, contumacior resurrexit, cum magna spe descendit ad pugnam.
This is its touchstone: an athlete cannot bring high spirits to the contest who has never been bruised; he who has seen his own blood, whose teeth have rattled under the fist, he who, having been tripped up, has borne his adversary with his whole body and, though cast down, has not cast down his spirit, and who, as often as he fell, rose up more stubborn, goes down to the fight with great hope.
§13.3Ergo, ut similitudinem istam prosequar, saepe iam fortuna supra te fuit, nec tamen tradidisti te, sed subsiluisti et acrior constitisti.
Therefore, to continue this comparison, fortune has already often been above you, and yet you have not surrendered yourself, but have leaped up and stood firmer and more eager.
Multum enim adicit sibi virtus lacessita; tamen si tibi videtur, accipe a me auxilia, quibus munire te possis.
For virtue when provoked adds much to itself; yet, if it seems good to you, receive from me helps with which you may fortify yourself.
§13.4Plura sunt, Lucili, quae nos terrent, quam quae premunt, et saepius opinione quam re laboramus.
There are more things, Lucilius, that terrify us than press upon us, and we suffer more often from opinion than from reality.
Non loquor tecum Stoica lingua, sed hac submissiore.
I do not speak with you in the Stoic language, but in this more humble style.
Nos enim dicimus omnia ista, quae gemitus mugitusque exprimunt, levia esse et contemnenda; omittamus haec magna verba, sed, di boni, vera.
For we say that all those things which wring out groans and shrieks are light and contemptible; let us pass over these grand words, but, good gods, true ones.
Illud tibi praecipio, ne sis miser ante tempus, cum illa, quae velut imminentia expavisti, fortasse numquam ventura sint, certe non venerint.
This is what I prescribe to you: do not be miserable before the time, since those things which you dreaded as if they were imminent will perhaps never come, and certainly have not yet come.
§13.5Quaedam ergo nos magis torquent quam debent; quaedam ante torquent quam debent; quaedam torquent, cum omnino non debeant.
Some things, therefore, torment us more than they ought; some torment us before they ought; some torment us when they ought not to at all.
Aut augemus dolorem aut fingimus aut praecipimus.
We either exaggerate our pain, or imagine it, or anticipate it.
Primum illud, quia res in controversia est et litem contestatam habemus, in praesentia differatur.
Let the first of these, because the matter is in dispute and we have a joined lawsuit, be postponed for the present.
Quod ego leve dixero, tu gravissimum esse contendes; scio alios inter flagella ridere, alios gemere sub colapho.
What I shall call light, you will contend to be most heavy; I know that some laugh under the whip, and others groan under a slap.
Postea videbimus, utrum ista suis viribus valeant an inbecillitate nostra.
Later we shall see whether those things are strong by their own power or by our weakness.
§13.6Illud praesta mihi, ut, quotiens circumsteterint, qui tibi te miserum esse persuadeant, non quid audias, sed quid sentias, cogites et cum patientia tua deliberes ac te ipse interroges, qui tua optime nosti: Quid est, quare isti me conplorent? Quid est, quod trepident, quod contagium quoque mei timeant, quasi transilire calamitas possit? Est aliquid istic mali, an res ista magis infamis est quam mala? Ipse te interroga: Numquid sine causa crucior et maereo et quod non est malum, facio?" §13.7Quomodo," inquis, "intellegam, vana sint an vera, quibus angor?" Accipe huius rei regulam: aut praesentibus torquemur aut futuris aut utrisque.
Guarantee this to me, that as often as those stand around who would persuade you that you are miserable, you will think not of what you hear, but of what you feel, and deliberate with your patience, and question yourself, who know your own affairs best: 'What is the reason why these people bewail me? Why are they anxious, why do they fear even contact with me, as if calamity could jump across? Is there any evil in this, or is the thing more infamous than evil?' Question yourself: 'Am I not tortured and mourning without cause, making what is not an evil into one?' “How,” you say, “shall I understand whether those things by which I am anxious are empty or true?” Receive the rule for this matter: we are tormented either by the present, or by the future, or by both.
De praesentibus facile iudicium est; si corpus tuum liberum et sanum est, nec ullus ex iniuria dolor est.
Concerning the present, judgment is easy; if your body is free and healthy, and there is no pain from injury.
Videbimus quid futurum sit.
We shall see what is to be in the future.
§13.8Hodie nihil negotii habet. "At enim futurum est. "Primum dispice, an certa argumenta sint venturi mali.
Today has no trouble. “But indeed it will come.” First, discern whether there are certain proofs of the coming evil.
Plerumque enim suspicionibus laboramus, et inludit nobis illa, quae conficere bellum solet, fama, multo autem magis singulos conficit.
For we are usually troubled by suspicions, and that rumor, which is accustomed to settle a war, mocks us, and even much more settles individuals.
Ita est, mi Lucili;
It is so, my Lucilius; we quickly assent to opinion.
cito accedimus opinioni Non coarguimus illa, quae nos in metum adducunt, nec excutimus, sed trepidamus et sic vertimus terga, quemadmodum illi, quos pulvis motus fuga pecorum exuit castris, aut quos aliqua fabula sine auctore sparsa conterruit.
We do not refute those things which bring us into fear, nor do we shake them off, but we tremble and turn our backs just like those whom the dust raised by the flight of cattle has driven from their camp, or whom some story spread abroad without an author has terrified.