Amicus Plato sed Magis Amicus Veritas

(Plaque by Oscar Roty, 1846-1911)

MARCĪ TVLLĪ CICERŌNIS

LAELIVS DĒ AMĪCITIĀ

Excerpta Selecta Annotationibus Instructa in Usum Discipulorum

Annotated by Peter Cohee

latintutoring.biz

© 2005

Background to Cicero’s Laelius de amicitia.

Marcus Tullius Cicero was born of a well-to-do rural family (domi nobiles) in the hill town of Arpinum in 106 BC. He received an excellent education in cities of Greece and a first-rate training in law and public speaking in Rome. Talented and ambitious, he established himself early, becoming the first of his family branch to attain the consulate (novus homo), at the earliest age allowed by law, for 63 BC. During his consular year he discovered and suppressed a plot to kill the consuls (himself chiefly) and overthrow the government, hatched by the bankrupt and politically frustrated aristocrat Lucius Sergius Catilina. Relying solely on the authority of a controversial and dangerous power, the senatus consultum ultimum, Cicero ordered the execution of five prominent citizens involved in the coup attempt. Over a year later he testified against a powerful aristocrat, Publius Clodius Pulcher, who was on trial for defiling the rites of Bona Dea, one of the City’s most revered ceremonies. Clodius retaliated four years later by re-enacting legislation calling for the banishment and exile of “anyone who had put citizens to death without trial,” meaning Cicero.

Spending a miserable and self-pitying year or so in Macedonia, he was finally recalled to Rome in 57 BC, but without the power and prestige he had earlier enjoyed. He then became the tool of three powerful men, Crassus, Pompeius, and Caesar, who had formed an informal, private political deal (the so-called “First Triumvirate”). A personal alliance between Pompeius and Caesar, sealed by the marriage of Caesar’s daughter to Pompeius, ended with Julia’s death in 54. Crassus died in battle the following year. In 49 BC, when Caesar returned from his decade-long wars in Gaul, civil war broke out between Caesar and his loyal army on the one side and Pompeius and the senate on the other. Caesar finally defeated Pompeius in 48, becoming sole master of the empire of the Roman people. Cicero had sided with the Pompeian faction, but was pardoned by Caesar. His political and public career was now over. Adding to his misery, Cicero’s beloved daughter Tullia died in 45, at the age of 34. Cicero turned, in his life of private retirement, to his one consolation: the writing of philosophy. During the short but productive period prior to his own assassination in 43 BC, he wrote works on the practice of oratory, on political theory, and on ethical philosophy. The essay Laelius de amicitia was composed in the spring and summer of 44 BC, following the assassination of Caesar the dictator, a time when Cicero was feeling very deeply the need for and the importance of real friends.

Setting and style of the work.

Following the example set by Plato (ca. 429-347 BC) and his student Aristotle (384-322 BC), Cicero chose to write his essay on friendship in the form of a fictitious conversation or dialogue (sermo). He does so, he says in his dedicatory preface to his own friend Atticus, to give the essay greater dignity. The setting is the year 129 BC, a few days after the death of Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus (Scipio Africanus the Younger). Scipio had enjoyed a lifelong and legendary friendship with Gaius Laelius, known as Sapiens, “The Wise.” In the dialogue Gaius Fannius and Quintus Mucius Scaevola (both sons-in-law of Laelius), have come to visit and comfort Laelius in his deep personal loss. They are rather surprised to find Laelius happy. Their conversation is a long explanation by Laelius of how the possession of friendship is a kind of defense against death. This allows for a more detailed discussion of the social and political ethics of friendship. In the main line of his ideas, Cicero follows, but does not simply copy, Aristotle’s treatment of friendship in his Politics and Nicomachean Ethics.

Reasons for reading and understanding the work.

Among the male Roman social and political elite, friendship had more dimensions and more serious consequences than it does for most of us now. Among us, on the other hand, other and more types of friendship are available and accepted. Even so, Cicero strives to hit the essence of friendship, to explain it in universal terms that apply no matter how circumstances might change. These selections from Cicero’s essay will force you to think perhaps more deeply and carefully about the quality and the importance of friendship in your life: What qualities do you look for in a friend? What happens when someone you thought of as a friend turns out not to have the qualities you seek, or tries to involve you in some kind of wrongdoing? How do you criticize a friend? What is the relationship between private friendship and public, even political, life? How do you deal with the loss through death of someone you consider your “second self?” How good a friend are you, really? Can genuine friendship make us better people?

Learning expectations for and sample exam on Cicero’s De Amicitia

Learning Expectations. These passages may significantly affect your ideas about friendship; we therefore want you to learn them well. Here are the standards we’ll use to evaluate your knowledge of this material.

You will be expected to demonstrate your knowledge of:

the structure of sentences (i. e. the clauses and phrases of which they are made);

what part of speech any given word is;

the specific form of words (e. g. case and number, tense and mood, etc.);

the function of words in their clause or phrase (e. g. adjective modifying a noun, a pronoun’s case-function, etc.);

the meaning of words in their context (vocabulary);

features of oratorical style and literary devices (e. g. hendiadys, anaphora, etc.)

You will also be expected to:

correctly translate or accurately paraphrase selected phrases, sentences, or passages;

comment critically on a given passage, correctly citing and translating the Latin to support your view;

demonstrate understanding of select passages or sentences;

make meaningful comparisons or applications from the reading to real experience.

Sample Exam. You should expect to find questions like these on your de amicitia exam/s:

∙ Analyze this sentence (§34) into its separate clauses and identify the type of each: Sin autem ad adulescentiam perduxissent, dirimi tamen interdum contentione vel uxoriae condicionis vel commodi alicuius, quod idem adipisci uterque non posset.

Sin autem ad adulescentiam perduxissent,

[protasis of future more vivid condition]

dirimi tamen interdum contentione vel uxoriae condicionis vel commodi alicuius, [main clause (in ind. statement)]

quod idem adipisci uterque non posset.

[relative clause]

∙ Identify the part of speech, specific form, and function of the following (§27-2): Quod in homine multo est evidentius, primum ex eā caritate quae est inter natos et parentes, quae dirimi nisi detestabili scelere non potest

evidentius

[adjective, 3rd decl., neut. sg. nom., predicate adj. to Quod, comparative degree]

caritate

[noun, 3rd decl., fem. sg. abl. of source, obj. of prep. ex ]

quae [rel. pron., fem. sg. nom., referring to caritate, subject of dirimi non potest]

potest

[verb, irreg., 3rd pers. sg. pres. indic. act. from possum; verb of rel. clause]

∙ Identify these oratorical and literary devices:

omnibus … omnium … nulla … nulla … nulla … omnia … nullus

[anaphora, juxtaposition]

honoris … et gloriae

[hendiadys]

exercitatione non parvā

[litotes]

∙ Translate Verum enim … prosequitur amicorum (§23-1) as precisely as possible.

∙ Accurately paraphrase what Cicero calls the “first law of frienship” (§44)

∙ What arguments does Cicero use to prove that friendship is natural? Cite and accurately translate the Latin which supports your view.

∙ You have a friend whom you consider your very best--though you haven’t been friends for long. He tells you that he desperately needs your help with something, that his whole happiness depends on it and that he’ll be indebted to you forever for it. The problem is that it’s criminal and could seriously harm him. First, construct a scenario along these lines, then bring in arguments from de amicitia that could be applied in such a situation.

1. Laelius suggests to his young guests Scaevola and Fannius that he cannot discuss friendship as a

philosopher would; but he still recommends that they give friendship their full attention. Cic. am. 17.

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Ego vero non gravarer, si mihi ipse confiderem; nam et praeclara res est, et sumus, ut dixit Fannius, otiosi. Sed quis ego sum, aut quae est in me facultas? Doctorum est ista consuetudo eaque Graecorum, ut eis ponatur de quo disputent quamvis subito; magnum opus est egetque exercitatione non parvā. Quam ob rem quae disputari de amicitiā possunt, ab eis censeo petatis qui ista profitentur: ego vos hortari tantum possum ut amicitiam omnibus rebus humanis anteponatis; nihil est enim tam naturae aptum, tam conveniens ad res vel secundas vel adversas.

1 Ego … gravarer, si … confiderem: present contrary-to-fact condition, both verbs imperfect subjunctive.

Ego … ipse: the pronouns are emphatic: Ego vero = “But I (at any rate),” ipse = “I personally.”

gravor, -ari, -atus sum: be unwilling, reluctant (i. e. to speak of friendship in a philosophical manner).

mihi: (refl. pron.) myself.

confido, -ere: trust, have confidence in (+ dat. obj.).

nam: (coord. conj.) for you see, …

et … et: (coord. conj.) both … and.

praeclarus-a-um: excellent, very important.

res, rei, f.: topic, subject of conversation (i. e. friendship).

sum esse fui: be

ut dixit: a comparative clause, “as”; the tense is present

perfective, “has (just now) said.”

2 Fannius, -ii, m.: Gaius Fannius (see“Background”); nom. subj. of dixit.

otiosus-a-um: “at leisure.” In his philosophical dialogues, Cicero presents the speakers, all important Roman men, as being temporarily free from duties of government. The Roman elite placed a high value on the sacrifice of one’s personal time to interests of state and scorned any tendency to be not actively working in some way. For Cicero in the 40s BC, with Caesar in power, an active role in government was no longer possible; but he regarded his writing of philosophy as a service to the state, since future leaders could benefit from his work. He called this period of his life otium cum dignitate, “leisure with dignity.”

sed: (coord. conj.) But

quis: (interrog. pron.) who? The question is rhetorical.

aut: (coord. conj.) or

qui quae quod: (interrog. adj.) what (kind of)?

in: (prep. + abl. place where) (with)in.

facultas, -tatis, f.: ability, special knowledge.

doctus, -i, m.: philosopher; subj. gen. defining consuetudo.

iste ista istud: that (which you mention, ask about).

consuetudo, -inis, f.: custom, habit, practice.

3 eaque: lit. “and it” = “and especially.”

Graecus-a-um: Greek (modifying doctorum ).

eis: (demonstr. pron.) “to them,” dat. ind. obj. of ponatur.

ut … ponatur: after nouns such as consuetudo, a noun result clause will follow; the noun is general, the clause, in complementary apposition, makes the noun more specific: “(namely) that a subject or topic be proposed to them” etc.

de quo disputent: a generic relative clause without an expressed antecedent; it functions as the subject of ponatur.

disputo, are: discuss, debate, argue; the subjunctive is potential: “about which they might debate.”

quamvis subito: (adv.) “however suddenly,” i. e. they are so skilled in rhetoric that they can argue any topic

extemporaneously, at a moment’s notice.

magnus-a-um: great, difficult.

opus, operis, n.: task, undertaking (i. e. such rhetorical art).

egeo, -ere, -ui: need, require (+ abl. sep.).

4 exercitatio, onis, f.: training, practice.

parvus-a-um: small, little; non parvā is an example of litotes, two negatives combined to express a strong positive: “no small” = “a great deal of.”

Quam ob rem: “on account of which thing” = “Therefore.”

quae disputari … possunt : This rel. clause serves as the dir. obj. of petatis. Translate it as indefinite, lit. “whatever things can be debated about friendship” = “whatever philosophical arguments can be made about friendship.”

ab eis ... petatis: after certain verbs of recommending such as censeo,a writer will omit the ut of a noun purpose clause (“indirect command”).

ab: (prep. + abl. of source) from.

eis = doctoribus or more generally, “those people.”

censeo, ere: recommend, advise.

peto, -ere, -i(v)i, -itus: inquire, ask.

5 qui ista profitentur: a rel. clause defining eis.

ista: such things (as you propose, i. e. frienship); ista is the antecedent to quae disputari possunt, though it comes later in the sentence and is the acc. dir. obj. of profitentur.

profiteor, -eri, -fessus sum: profess, teach.

vos: (pers. pron.) you (pl.); acc. dir. obj. of hortor.

hortor, -ari, -atus sum: recommend, advise.

tantum: only, simply, the one thing that. NB! don’t mistake this tantum … ut as an adverbial result construction, “so much … that” etc..

possum posse potui: be able, can (+ inf.).

ut … anteponatis: noun purpose clause (“indirect

command”), second object of hortari.

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; acc. dir. obj. of anteponatis.

omnis, -e: every; in pl. = all.

res, rei, f.: thing; dat. obj. of anteponatis.

humanus-a-um: human.

6 antepono, -ere, -posui, -positum: consider X (acc.) more important than Y (dat.), prefer X to Y.

nihil: (indecl.) nothing; nom. subj. of est.

enim: (coord. conj.) for you see, ...

tam … tam: (demonstr. adv.) so (understand a following comparative clause, “as friendship is”).

aptus-a-um: fit, appropriate for (+ dat.).

conveniens: suitable.

ad: (prep. + acc. of purpose) for.

vel ... vel: (coord. conj.) either ... or.

res ... secundas ... (res) adversas: prosperity ... adversity.

notae

2. Real friendship can exist only between people who are good. Not perfect or perfectly wise, maybe,

but good people such as we might really know in our lives. Cic. am. 18.

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Sed hoc primum sentio, nisi in bonis amicitiam esse non posse. Neque id ad vivum reseco, ut illi qui haec subtilius disserunt, fortasse vere, sed ad communem utilitatem parum: negant enim quemquam esse virum bonum nisi sapientem. Sit ita sane; sed eam sapientiam interpretantur, quam adhuc mortalis nemo est consecutus; nos autem ea quae sunt in usū vitāque communī, non ea quae finguntur aut optantur, spectare debemus.

1 Sed: (coord. conj.) But

hoc: “this (point, namely, that),“ acc. dir. obj. in apposition to the indirect statement that follows.

primum: (adv.) firstly; translate as an adjective with hoc in the predicate: “But my first observation is this: that” etc.

sentio, -ire, sensi, sensum: perceive, observe.

nisi … posse: indirect ‘statement’, object of sentio.

nisi … non: “except … not” = “only.”

in: (prep. + abl. of circumstance) among, between.

bonus, -i, m.: good man, good person.

sum, esse, fui: exist, take place; compl. inf. with posse.

possum, posse, potui: be able, can.

Neque id ad vivum reseco: lit. “and I do not cut it back to the quick” = “nor do I mean this too exactly,” an agricultural metaphor from the act of pruning branches back to green wood (vivum). Laelius means that his discussion of good men and their friendship will be based on his actual experience, not on detailed philosophical theory. For an active member of Rome’s ruling elite, philosophy was fine as far as it goes; but it was unseemly to go too far into it, it being a distraction from more urgent civic responsibilities.

id: (demonstr. pron.) “it,” ref. back to hoc, i. e. the concept of friendship among those who are good in a strict philosophical sense; acc. dir. obj. of reseco.

ut: (subord. conj.) comparative, “as;” supply resecant or faciunt from context.

illi: (demonstr. pron.) “those (people);” nom. subj. of

understood verb and antecedent to qui)

2 qui ... disserunt: rel. clause defining illi; the reference is to formal Greek philosophers.

haec: (demonstr. pron.) these topics, esp. friendship; acc. dir. obj. of disserunt.

subtiliter: (adv.) articulately, in detail; note the comparative degree: “in finer detail,” i. e. than he himself will do.

dissero, ere, -ui: discuss, debate.

fortasse: (adv.) perhaps.

vere: (adv.) rightly, truly.

ad: (prep. + acc. of purpose) to, for.

communis, -e: common, general.

utilitas, -tatis, f.: usefulness, benefit, advantage.

parum: (adv.) little = “with little application.”

nego, -are: deny, say … not.

enim: (coord. conj.) “for you see,” explaining what he

meant by the preceding statement.

3 quemquam esse … sapientem: ind. statement, ‘object’ of negant.

quisquam: (indef. pron.) anyone; negant quemquam esse virum bonum, lit. “they deny that anyone is a good man” = “they say that nobody is a good man” etc.

vir, viri, m.: man; acc. pred. noun to quemquam.

sapiens, -entis: wise, a wise person; in this context a person who has devoted his life to the formal study of philosophy. Cicero is also making an urbane joke on Laelius’ nickname: he was called ‘Sapiens’.

Sit ita sane; sed: “Very well, let it be so; but (nevertheless).”

eam … quam: demonstrative antecedent and its corresponding relative, called correlation.

is ea id: (demonstr. adj.) that (kind of)

sapientia, -ae, f.: wisdom; acc. dir. obj. of interpretantur.

interpretor, -ari, -atus sum: explain, talk about; the

subject is still illi qui ... disserunt, philosophers.

4 quam ... est consecutus: rel. clause defining eam sapientiam.

adhuc: (adv.) up until now, so far.

mortalis nemo: no (one who is) mortal; nom. subj. of est consecutus.

consequor, -sequi, -secutus sum: achieve, attain.

sed … consecutus: Laelius means that while (Greek) philosophers, esp. the Stoics, may speak in finer detail and perhaps correctly about ideal kinds and conditions of perfect--and impossible--friendship, he (a pragmatic Roman) will consider real-life friends and friendship.

nos autem: “we, on the other hand.”

ea quae … ea quae: again, correlation: “those things which;” the neut. pl. acc. demonstratives ea … ea are both objects of the infinitive spectare.

quae sunt in usū vitāque communī: rel. clause defining the first ea, lit. “which exist in common experience and life” = “which are commonly experienced in life,” i. e. in the ordinary reality in which we live, not the imagined ideal world of philosophical

speculation.

5 quae finguntur aut optantur: rel. clauses defining the second ea.

fingo, -ere, finxi, fictum: imagine, pretend.

aut: (coord. conj.) or

opto, -are: hope for, desire.

specto, -are: examine, consider closely; obj. inf. to debemus.

debeo, -ere, -ui, -itum: ought, should

notae

3. Laelius defines ‘good men’ and explains that humans naturally form relationships. Cic. am. 19.1

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Qui ita se gerunt, ita vivunt, ut eorum probetur fides, integritas, aequitas, liberalitas, nec sit in eis ulla cupiditas, libido, audacia, sintque magnā constantiā, hos viros bonos, ut habiti sunt, sic etiam appellandos putemus, quia sequantur quantum homines possunt naturam optimam bene vivendi ducem. Sic enim mihi perspicere videor, ita natos esse nos, ut inter omnes esset societas quaedam, maior autem ut quisque proxime accederet.

Qui … ducem: The style of this sentence is called ‘apodotic’, i. e. arranged in two carefully-balanced halves: Qui … constantia and hos … ducem. Study its construction carefully:

Qui ita se gerunt,

(et qui) ita vivunt

ut eorum probetur fides, integritas, aequitas, liberalitas,

nec sit in eis ulla cupiditas, libido, audacia,

sintque magnā constantiā,

hos viros bonos,

ut habiti sunt,

sic etiam appellandos putemus,

quia sequantur,

quantum homines possunt,

naturam optimam bene vivendi ducem.

1 Qui ita se gerunt, ita vivunt: indefinite relative clauses; translate the rel. pronoun as “Whoever” or “Those who.”

ita: (demonstr. adv.) in such a way.

se gerere: behave oneself, conduct oneself.

vivo, -ere, vixi: live

ut … nec … -que: link and introduce adverbial result clauses after ita; the term ‘result’ is here a little misleading, since the clauses don’t express consequences of good mens’ lives, but define the goodness of their lives.

eorum: (demonstr. pron.) their; gen. of possess.

probo, -are: approve, find good; the following four nominative nouns make a single compound subject.

fides, -ei, f.: good faith, loyalty.

integritas, -atis, f.: wholeness, soundness of character.

aequitas, -atis, f.: fairness, even-mindedness.

liberalitas, -atis, f.: generosity, great-heartedness.

nec: = et ut non

sum esse fui: be; cupiditas, libido, and audacia are the compound subject of singular sit.

in: (prep. + abl. of location) in

eis: (demonstr. pron.) them (i. e. good men).

2 ullus-a-um: any at all

cupiditas, -atis, f.: (excessive) passion

libido, -inis, f.: (excessive) sexual desire

audacia, -ae, f.: recklessness

magnus-a-um: great

constantia, ae, f.: steadfastness, firmness of character; abl. of description, “of.”

hos: in correlation with Qui at the beginning of the sentence: “Those who/Whoever …, these (are the people) we should account” etc.

viros bonos … appellandos: predicate objects in indirect statement after putemus; supply esse and remember that with forms of esse the gerundive expresses the idea of deserving: “that these should be called ‘good men.’”

ut habiti sunt: clause of comparison with indicative verb; relative ut stands in correlation to demonstrative sic of the main clause: “just as they are held (to be good), even thus let us account them worthy-to-be-called good men.”

habeo, ere, -ui, -itus: (esp. in passive) consider, suppose.

sic etiam: (adverbs) just so, even thus.

3 appello, -are: call

puto, -are: account, reckon; hortatory subj., “let us.”

quia sequantur: causal clause, “because.”

sequor, sequi, secutus sum: follow; the subjunctive indicates that Laelius is not necessarily giving his own reason, but is reporting the opinion of others.

quantum: (neut. acc. as rel. adv.) as much (as), so far (as).

homo, hominis, c.: human being

possum, posse, potui: be able; supply sequi from context.

natura, -ae, f.: nature; acc. dir. obj. of sequantur.

optimus-a-um: (superl. of bonus ) best

optimam … ducem: in predicate apposition to naturam: “nature as the best guide.” An essential Stoic idea is that we should live in accordance with nature in order to live in the best possible way. Thus Laelius recommends (in §18) that we should look at things as they really are, not at idealistic theories.

bene: (adv.) well; take closely with vivendi.

vivo, -ere, vixi: live; vivendi is gerund, the genitive is

objective after ducem (translate using “for”).

4 dux, ducis, m. (f.): leader, guide. Note that ducem, normally masculine, is here modified by feminine optimam, in agreement with naturam.

Sic enim: (adverbs) In just such a way.

mihi … videor: “I seem to myself” = “I think (that) I.”

perspicio, -ere: perceive, notice, observe.

ita natos esse nos: acc. + inf. phrase after perspicere. Note the connection naturam … natos esse, alluding to Aristotle, ὁ ἄνθρωπος φύσει πολιτικὸν ζῷον, “the human by nature (is a) social being;” thus “such was our nature (at our birth)” etc.

ita: (demonstr. adv.) so, in such a condition.

nascor, nasci, natus sum: be (born, created).

ut … quaedam: adverbial result clause, following ita.

5 societas quaedam: “a social bond, so to speak.”

maior … accederet: “but greater as each person might come nearest (to us in some mutual relationship, such as friendship, marriage, or kinship),” i. e. we all mutually (inter omnes) form social bonds, but some are naturally closer than others.

ut … accederet: comparative clause, “as,” whose verb, usually indicative; is here potential subjunctive.

notae

4. Human relationships are not equal: citizenship, kinship, and friendship all have different degrees of

importance; but friendship is most important. Cic. am. 19.2—20.1

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Itaque cives potiores quam peregrini, propinqui quam alieni; cum his enim amicitiam natura ipsa peperit. Sed ea non satis habet firmitatis; namque hōc praestat amicitia propinquitati, quod ex propinquitate benevolentia tollī potest, ex amicitiā non potest; sublatā enim benevolentiā, amicitiae nomen tollitur, propinquitatis manet. Quanta autem vis amicitiae sit, ex hōc intellegi maxime potest, quod ex infinitā societate generis humani, quam conciliavit ipsa natura, ita contracta res est et adducta in angustum, ut omnis caritas aut inter duos aut inter paucos iungeretur.

1 Itaque: “And so,” “And for that reason” (i. e., that certain human relationships are closer than others).

civis, civis, c.: fellow-citizen; nom. subj. of understood sunt.

potior, -oris: more important; nom. pred. adj. to cives.

quam: (comparat. adv.) than

peregrinus, -i, m.: citizen of another country

propinquus, -i, m.: close relative; supply potiores sunt.

alienus, -i, m.: stranger, unknown person

cum: (prep. + abl. of accompaniment) with

hīs: (demonstr. pron.) these people, the latter = propinquis.

enim: (coord. conj.) Indeed ..., It’s true that ...

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; acc. dir. obj. of peperit.

natura, -ae, f.: nature; nom. subj. of peperit. In this context natura = the circumstance of human birth, resulting in family and kinship.

ipse ipsa ipsum: (intensive adj.) itself, i. e., the very fact

of kinship creates a kind of ‘friendship’ between relatives.

2 pario, -ere, peperi, partum: give birth to, beget.

sed: (coord. conj.) but

ea: (demonstr. pron.) it (friendship among relatives).

non: (adv.) not

satis: (indecl. noun) enough; dir. obj. of habet.

firmitas, -tatis, f.: firmness, permanence; partitive genitive after satis.

Namque: (coord. conj.) “I say that because” etc.

hōc … quod: “in this respect, … (namely,) that.”

praesto, -are, -stiti: be more important than (+ dat. of ref.)

propinquitas, -atis, f.: close kinship

quod ... tolli potest: a fact clause, “that.”

ex: (prep. + abl. of sep.) from

3 benevolentia, -ae, f.: good will; nom. subj. of tolli potest.

tollo, -ere, sustuli, sublatum: remove, take away.

possum, posse, potui: be able, can (+ complem. infin.)

enim: (coord. conj.) You see, ...

sublatā … benevolentiā: ablative absolute; translate as a conditional clause: “If good will is removed,” etc. Laelius means that ties of blood-relationship remain, even if there is ill will between relatives; but if there is no good will, there

can be no friendship.

4 nomen, nominis, n.: name; nom. subj. of tollitur.

maneo, -ere, mansi: remain, stay

Quanta … sit: ind. question, subject of intellegi potest.

quantus-a-um: how great

autem: (coord. conj.) however

vis, --, f.: power, force; nom. subj. of sit.

sum, esse, fui: be

ex hōc … quod: from the fact that.

intellego, -ere, -lexi, lectum: understand

5 maxime: (adv.) especially, chiefly.

ex: (prep. + abl. of source) out of.

infinitus-a-um: infinite, limitless.

societas, -tatis, f.: association, relationship.

genus humanum, generis humani, n.: human race; appositional genitive, “out of the limitless association which is the human race.

quam ... natura: rel. clause, “which,” defining societate.

concilio, -are: bring about, arrange; the tense is present perfect, “which nature has brought about.”

ita: (demonstr. adv.) so, in such a way.

6 contraho, -ere, -traxi, -tractum: restrict.

res, rei, f.: thing; nom. subj. of contracta est and a loose pred. nom. to amicitia.

et: (coord. conj.) and; joins contracta with adducta.

adduco, -ere, -duxi, -ductum: limit.

in angustum: lit. “into a narrow place” = narrowly;

in contrast to the unlimited number of other kinds of human association, friendship is rather rare.

ut … iungeretur: adv. result clause, following ita.

omnis, -e: all, every example of.

caritas, -atis, f.: affection; nom. subj. of iungeretur.

aut … aut: (disjunctive coord. conj.) either … or.

inter: (prep. + acc.) between.

duo duae duo: two (people).

pauci-ae-a: (a) few (people).

7 iungo, -ere, iunxi, iunctum join, unite; translate the imperfect tense as if present.

notae

5. Friendship: agreement in all things; a divine gift; better than wealth or health; the natural result of

virtue. Cic. am. 20. 2

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Est enim amicitia nihil aliud nisi omnium divinarum humanarumque rerum cum benevolentiā et caritate consensio; quā quidem haud scio an, exceptā sapientiā, nihil melius homini sit a dīs immortalibus datum. Divitias alii praeponunt, bonam alii valetudinem, alii potentiam, alii honores, multi etiam voluptates: beluarum hoc quidem extremum; illa autem superiora caduca et incerta, posita non tam in consiliis nostris quam in fortunae temeritate. Qui autem in virtute summum bonum ponunt, praeclare illi quidem, sed haec ipsa virtus amicitiam et gignit et continet, nec sine virtute amicitia esse ullo pacto potest.

1 sum esse fui: be.

enim: (coord. conj.) You see, ...

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; nom. subj. of Est.

nihil aliud nisi: lit. “nothing else if not” = “nothing other than;” nihil aliud is pred. nom. to amicitia.

omnis, -e: all.

divinus-a-um: divine, heavenly.

humanus-a-um: human, earthly.

res, rei, f.: thing; subj. gen. defining consensio.

cum: (prep. + abl. accomp.) (together) with.

benevolentia, -ae, f.: good will.

et: (coord. conj.) and.

2 caritas, -itatis, f.: affection, kindness.

consensio, -onis, f.: agreement; pred. nom. to amicitia.

quā: after a period, colon, or semi-colon, a relative pronoun is used in a ‘connective’ function and is best translated as a demonstrative; the abl. expresses comparison: “than this,”

i. e. amicitia.

quidem haud scio an: lit. “indeed I don’t know whether” = “I really think (that).”

exceptā sapientiā: abl. absolute = “with the exception of wisdom.”

nihil: (indecl.) subj. of sit ... datum.

melior, -ius: better.

homo, -inis, c.: man, mankind; dat. ind. obj. of sit datum.

do, dare, dedi, datum: give.

sit … datum: the subjunctive is due to the fact that haud scio an still retains some of its original verbal force, introducing an indirect question.

a: (prep. + abl. agent) by.

deus, dei, m.: god (dīs in abl. pl.).

3 immortalis, -e: undying, immortal

divitiae, -arum, f. pl.: riches, wealth, possessions; acc. dir. obj. of praeponunt.

alii … alii … alii … alii … multi “some … others … others … (still) others … many;” all are nom. subjects of praeponunt. This emphatic repetition of a word is anaphora.

praepono, -ere, -posui, -positum: prefer, value more.

bonus-a-um: good.

valetudo, -udinis, f.: health; acc. dir. obj. of praeponunt.

potentia, -ae, f.: power; acc. dir. obj. of praeponunt.

honor, -oris, m.: elected public office, political power; acc.

dir. obj. of praeponunt.

notae

4 multi, -orum, m. pl.: many (people).

etiam: (adv.) even

voluptas, -tatis, f.: pleasure, sensual gratification; acc. dir. obj. of praeponunt.

belua, -ae, f.: wild animal, beast; predicative genitive, expressing what is typical or characteristic of a subject: “This last thing (i. e. pleasure) is the chief interest of wild animals” etc.

hoc … extremum, illa … superiora: “this last thing (voluptates) … those previously-mentioned things” (divitiae, bona valetudo, potentia, honores). In Latin, a list of nouns, esp. abstract ones, of different genders can be referred to by a neuter pronoun.

quidem … autem: (adv.) true, … but ...

caducus-a-um: temporary, fleeting (< cadere, fall).

incertus-a-um: unreliable.

5 positus-a-um: dependent, relying.

non tam in … quam in: the demonstrative adverb tam and comparative quam stand in correlation to one another: “not so much on … as on” etc.

in: (prep. + abl. of ‘location’ or circumstance) on

consilium, -ii, n.: plan, intention.

noster nostra nostrum: our.

fortuna, -ae, f.: fortune; subj. gen. defining temeritate.

temeritas, -tatis, f. recklessness, unpredictability.

Qui … illi: the demonstrative antecedent illi follows its own relative; translate the relative as indefinite, “whoever” etc., then follow with “they” etc.

autem: (adv.) however, but.

virtus, -tutis, f.: virtue, excellence of character; abl. of ‘location’, “in.”

summum bonum: the highest good.

6 pono, -ere, posui, positum: put, place (intellectually).

praeclare: (adv.) splendidly, brilliantly; supply ponunt or some such verb as faciunt, agunt, etc.

quidem, sed: (adv. + coord. conj.) “indeed, but (what is more important);” cf. to quidem ... autem in line 4.

haec ipsa: this very, this ... itself.

virtus: virtue nom. subj. of gignit and continet.

et … et: (coord. conj.) both … and.

gigno, -ere beget, create, produce.

contineo, -ere, -tinui, -tentum: maintain, preserve.

nec: (adv. + coord. conj.) and ... not.

sine: (prep. + abl. of sep.) without.

7 sum esse fui: exist; compl. inf. to potest.

ullus-a-um: any at all.

pactum, i, n.: means, way; abl. of means, “by.”

possum, posse, potui: be able, can (+ complem. inf.).

6. Laelius' encomium (great praise) of friendship. Cic. am. 22. 1

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Principio, quī potest esse vita 'vitalis', ut ait Ennius, quae non in amici mutuā benevolentiā conquiescit? Quid dulcius quam habere quīcum omnia audeas sic loqui ut tecum? Quī esset tantus fructus in prosperis rebus nisi haberes qui illis aeque ac tu ipse gauderet? Adversas vero ferre difficile esset sine eo qui illas gravius etiam quam tu ferret. Denique ceterae res quae expetuntur opportunae sunt singulae rebus fere singulis: divitiae, ut utare, opes, ut colare, honores, ut laudere, voluptates, ut gaudeas, valetudo, ut dolore careas et muneribus fungare corporis.

1 Principio: (abl. as adv.) In the first place, Firstly (followed by Denique in line 4).

quī: (interrog. adv.) how; the question is rhetorical.

possum, posse, potui: be able, can (+ complem. infin.).

vita, -ae, f.: life; nom. subj. of potest esse.

sum, esse, fui: be.

vitalis, -e: (of) true life; nom. pred. adj. to vita.

ut ait Ennius: “as Ennius says;” Quintus Ennius (239-169 BC), an early Roman poet and playwright often quoted by Cicero.

quae … conquiescit: a rel. clause equal to a condition: “if it doesn’t” etc..

non: (adv.) not

in: (prep. + abl. of ‘location’) in, within.

amicus-i, f.: friend; subjective genitive.

mutuus-a-um: shared, reciprocated.

benevolentia, -ae, f.: good will, kindness.

2 conquiesco, -ere, quievi: rest, abide.

Quid: (interrog. pron.) What …?; supply est.

dulcis, -e: sweet; note comparative degree.

quam: (comparat. adv.) than

habere quicum: “to have (someone, a friend) with whom;” quī- is an old abl. sing. masc. form, used instead of quo, esp. with the enclitic preposition cum.

omnis, -e: all, every; neut. pl. = everything; acc. obj. of loqui.

audeo, -ere, ausus sum: dare (note: a semi-deponent verb, whose three perfect tenses are passive in form, though active in meaning); the subjunctive is potential in a generalizing relative clause: “you would, might dare”

sic … ut: just as

loquor, loqui, locutus sum: speak, say; obj. inf. after audeas.

tecum = cum te

Quī: (interr. adv.) How ?

esset potential subjunctive in a rhetorical question which is also the main clause (apodosis) of a present contrary-to-fact

condition.

tantus-a-um: so much, such great

3 fructus, -us, m.: enjoyment; nom. subj. of esset.

in: (prep. + abl. of circumstance) in the midst of.

prosperae res: success, achievement, prosperity.

nisi: (subord. conj.) if not, unless

habeo, -ere, -ui, -itum: have; supply amicum as dir. obj.

qui … gauderet: potential subjunctive in a generalizing relative clause subordinate to a present contrary-to-fact sentence, hence the imperfect tense.

illis = prosperis rebus; abl. of cause with gauderes.

aeque ac tu: “just as much as you (do)” After adjectives and adverbs of equality, ac (atque) has a comparative sense.

gaudeo, -ere, gavisus sum: enjoy, take delight in (+ abl. of cause; note: like audeo, this verb is also semi-deponent).

adversae (res): adversity, difficulty, problems; acc. obj. of ferre.

vero: (coord. conj.) but

fero, ferre, tuli, latum: bear, endure, put up with; nom.

subj. of esset.

4 difficilis, -e: difficult; nom. pred. adj. to ferre.

esset: potential subjunctive: “would be.”

sine: (prep. + abl. of sep.) without

eo: = amico

qui … ferret: generalizing rel. clause whose verb is potential subjunctive, “who could ...” etc.

illas = res adversas; acc. dir. obj. of ferret.

gravius etiam quam tu: even more seriously than you do.

Denique: (adv.) Finally, To sum up

ceterae res quae expetuntur: lit. “other ends which are

desired” = “the other objects of human desire.”

expeto, -ere: seek out, desire.

5 opportunus-a-um: fit, appropriate, suitable (+ dat. of ref.); nom. pred. adj. to ceterae res.

singuli-ae-a: individual(ly), separate(ly)

fere: (adv.) generally

divitiae, -arum, f. pl.: riches, wealth.

ut … utare … ut colare … ut laudere … ut gaudeas … ut … careas et … fungare: adv. purpose clauses, “to,” “so that you” etc., giving specific examples of rebus singulis.

utor, uti, usus sum: use, employ (+ abl. of instrument); utare = utaris.

ops, opis, f.: (in pl.) resources, material advantages.

colo, -ere, colui, cultum: honor, esteem; colare = colaris.

honor (honos), honoris, m.: elected public office.

6 laudo, -are: praise; laudere = lauderis.

voluptas, -tatis, f.: pleasure.

valetudo, -inis, f.: (good) health.

dolor, -oris, m.: pain, suffering.

careo, ere, -ui: be without, be free from (+ abl. of sep.).

munus, -eris, n.: function.

fungor, fungi, functus sum: perform, carry out (+ abl. of

means).

corpus, -oris, n.: body; subj. gen. after muneribus.

notae

7. Laelius’ encomium of friendship (cont.). Cic. am. 22. 2

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Amicitia res plurimas continet, quoquo te verteris, praesto est, nullo loco excluditur, numquam intempestiva, numquam molesta est. Itaque non aquā, non ignī, ut aiunt, locis pluribus utimur quam amicitiā; nam et secundas res splendidiores facit amicitia, et adversas, partiens communicansque, leviores.

1 Amicitia res plurimas continet: lit. “friendship contains very many things,” i. e. there are many good things in human life, each applicable to a specific purpose or need; but friendship, because it embraces all human experience, is more important.

Quoquo: (indef. relat. adv.) Wherever, In whatever direction.

verto, -ere, verti, versum: turn (+ refl. pron.), go. The perfect subjunctive has potential, generalizing force, always with the second person singular “universal you” in Cicero; you can use “one” as subject in translation.

praesto: (adv.) at hand, present, available, there.

sum esse fui: be; the understood subj. is amicitia.

nullus-a-um: (adj.) no, none at all

locus, -i, m.: place; abl. of sep., “from.”

excludo, -ere, -clusi, -clusum: shut out.

numquam: (adv.) never

2 intempestivus-a-um: at the wrong time, inconvenient.

molestus-a-um: annoying, bothersome.

Itaque: (adv. + coord. conj.) and for that reason.

non: (adv.) not

aquā … ignī: water and fire, essential for (physical) human life; thus in the Roman legal formula for exile, a person so convicted interdicitur aqua ignique, “is prevented from (receiving) water and fire,” i. e. basic help and assistance, from any Roman citizen, no matter where he goes.

ut aiunt: as (people) say, as the saying goes

plures, plura: more; locis pluribus is abl. of location, “in.”

utor, uti, usus sum: use, enjoy (+ abl. of instrument).

3 quam: (compar. adv.) than

nam: (inferential adv.) “I say that because …”

et … et: both … and

secundae res: prosperity, success; acc. dir. obj. of facit.

splendidus-a-um: brilliant; acc. pred. adj. to secundas res. Note the comparative degree.

amicitia: Cicero’s placement of the subject between the two parallel clauses graphically illustrates the centrality of

friendship, whatever life’s circumstances:

Nam et secundas res splendidiores facit

amicitia

et adversas, partiens communicansque, leviores.

adversae (res): difficulties, problems, adversity; acc. dir. obj. of facit.

facio, -ere, feci, factum: make, render, cause X (acc.) to be Y (acc.); notice that facere can affect two objects: one direct and the other predicative.

partior, -iri, partitus sum: distribute.

4 communico, -are: share. The participles partiens and communicans are modal, describing how friendship makes adversity easier to bear (leviores), thus “by distributing and sharing troubles, friendship makes them lighter.”

levis, e: light, easy (to bear); acc. pred. adj. to adversas (res). Note comparative degree.

A statuette, probably of the Roman goddess Virtus, from about the time of the emperor Claudius, a century after Cicero’s death. She held a spear in her upraised left hand and is dressed in Amazon fashion, with her right breast exposed. Greek and Roman religion often combined traditional ‘male’ values with ‘female’ ones, especially in the representation of deified abstractions of human values.

J. Paul Getty Museum.

consideranda: Has a friend ever made a good situation or time better for you and/or made a tough situation easier for you to endure?

8. (Laelius continues) Friendship makes up for many losses, survives beyond death. Cic. am. 23. 1

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Cumque plurimas et maximas commoditates amicitia continet, tum illa nimirum praestat omnibus, quod bonā spē praelucet in posterum nec debilitari animos aut cadere patitur. Verum enim amicum qui intuetur, tamquam exemplar aliquod intuetur sui. Quocirca et absentes adsunt et egentes abundant et imbecilli valent et, quod difficilius dictū est, mortui vivunt: tantus eos honos, memoria, desiderium prosequitur amicorum. Ex quo illorum beata mors videtur, horum vita laudabilis.

1 Cumque … continet, tum … praestat: relative Cum and demonstrative tum are called a correlative pair; when both verbs are indicative, a common meaning is temporal: “when … then;” but the pair also often means “both … and (more importantly).”

-que: (enclitic coord. conj.) and

plurimi-ae-a: very many, a great many.

et: (coord. conj.) and

maximus-a-um: greatest (superlat. of magnus-a-um).

commoditas, -tatis, f.: advantage; acc. dir. obj. of continet.

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; nom. subj. of continet.

illa = amicitia; nom. subj. of praestat, praelucet, and patitur.

nimirum: (adv.) lit. “no wonder” = “certainly.”

praesto, -are: be superior to (+ dat. ref.).

omnis, -e: every, all; omnibus = commoditatibus.

2 quod … praelucet … nec … patitur: causal clauses, “because,” “inasmuch as.”

bonā spē praelucet in posterum: “it shines ahead with (a lamp of) good hope on the future.”

debilito, -are: weaken; obj. infin. after patitur.

animi, -orum, m.: courage; acc. subj. of debilitari.

aut: (disjunct. coord. conj.) or; separates the infinitives debilitari and cadere.

cado, -ere, cecidi, casum: fall, fail

patior, pati, passus sum: permit, allow.

verus-a-um: true, real, genuine

enim: (coord. conj.) “you see, …”

3 amicus, -i, m.: friend; acc. dir. obj. of intuetur.

amicum qui intuetur, … exemplar … intuetur: in Latin, whenever a demonstrative antecedent and its corresponding relative pronoun would be in the same case (esp. nominative), the antecedent is usually omitted and the whole relative clause becomes the virtual noun subject of the main verb; this is especially true when the subject is indefinite. Translate qui as “whoever” or “anyone who.”

intueor, -tueri, -tuitus sum: look upon, regard, behold.

tamquam … sui: “a kind of (aliquod) exact likeness (exemplar), so to speak (tamquam), of himself (sui).”

Quocirca: (adv.) For that reason

et … et … et … et: an exaggerated use of conjunctions called polysyndeton.

absum, -esse, afui: be absent, away; participle as noun = “those who are away (from us)”

adsum, -esse, adfui: be present, close by.

4 egeo, -ere, -ui: lack, be in need; participle as noun = “those in need,” “the poor.”

abundo, -are: have wealth, be rich

imbecillus-a-um: helpless, defenseless (people).

valeo, ere, -ui: be strong

quod: “something which;” when a whole idea, fact, or clause is defined by a relative clause, the pronoun is regularly neuter singular.

difficilis, -e: difficult, hard; note comparative degree.

dictu: “to say,” a supine, a verbal noun in the ablative, dependent on an adjective; lit. “more-difficult with-respect-to-saying.” Remember that Scaevola and Fannius have come to Laelius to ask him about how he can cope with the serious loss of his lifetime friend, Scipio; thus it is more difficult for Laelius to say, at this time, that even dead friends continue to live (i. e. in the persons of their surviving friends).

mortui, -orum, m. pl.: (the) dead.

vivo, -ere, vixi: live, be alive.

tantus … amicorum: “so great is the esteem, remembrance, and longing of their friends which follows them (i. e. when they die).” Instead of an adverbial result arrangement (tantus … ut), a writer will sometimes invert the order of clauses and omit the conjunction ut (explicative asyndeton); in this case the tantus-clause explains what is said right before.

eos: = “them,” i. e. mortuos, implied from mortui.

honos, -oris, m.: esteem, high regard.

5 memoria, -ae, f.: remembrance

desiderium, -ii, n.: longing

prosequor, -sequi, -secutus sum: follow after; honos, memoria, and desiderium all form the singular compound subject.

amicorum: subjective genitive defining honos, memoria, and desiderium.

Ex quo: “The result of this (esteem, longing, etc.) is that.”

illorum … horum: of the former (amicorum mortuorum) … of the latter (surviving friends).

beatus-a-um: blessed; nom. pred. adj. to mors.

mors, mortis, f.: death; nom. subj. of videtur.

videor, -eri, visus sum: seem (to be).

vita, -ae, f.: life; nom. subj. of videtur.

6 laudabilis, -e: praiseworthy; supply videtur; nom. pred. adj. to vita.

notae

9. Friendship arises from nature itself; no family, no great state, can survive without it. Cic. am. 23. 2

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Quod si exemeris ex rerum naturā benevolentiae iunctionem, nec domus ulla nec urbs stare poterit, nec agri quidem cultus permanebit. Id si minus intellegitur, quanta vis amicitiae concordiaeque sit, ex dissensionibus atque ex discordiis percipi potest. Quae enim domus tam stabilis, quae tam firma civitas est, quae non odiis et discidiis funditus possit everti? Ex quo quantum boni sit in amicitiā iudicari potest.

1 Quod si: But if

si exemeris …, nec … nec … stare poterit, nec … permanebit: a future more vivid condition, in which the verb of the subordinate ‘if’ clause (protasis) is future perfect indicative, followed by the main clauses (apodoses), with verbs in the simple future tense.

eximo, -ere, -emi, -emptum: take away, remove; note how Latin writers will often prefix to a verb a preposition they will then use later in the clause (ex- … ex).

ex rerum naturā: lit. “from the nature of things” = “from the natural order of things.”

benevolentia, -ae, f.: good will; subjective genitive: “the bond of (i. e. forged by) good will.”

iunctio, -onis, f.: tie, bond; acc. dir. obj. of exemeris.

nec … nec ... nec: (coord. conj.) neither … nor ... nor.

domus, -ūs, f.: house(hold), family; nom. subj. of stare poterit.

ullus-a-um: any (at all).

urbs, urbis, f.: city; nom. subj. of stare poterit.

sto, stare, steti, statum: stand, exist, survive.

2 possum, posse, potui: be able, can (+ compl. infin.)

quidem: (adv.) indeed, even.

agri … cultus: agriculture, farming; nom. subj. of permanebit.

permaneo, -ere, -mansi: remain; note future tense.

Id: “That fact,” i. e. that without friendship civilization would fail.

Id si minus intellegitur: lit. “If that is less understood” = “If that fact is not entirely clear.”

quanta … sit: indirect question, subject of percipi potest.

quantus-a-um: how great

vis, --, f.: force, power; nom. subj. of sit.

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; subjective genitive.

3 concordia, -ae, f.: harmony (between friends); subj. gen.

sum, esse, fui: be.

ex: (prep. + abl. of source) from.

dissensio, -onis, f.: argument.

atque: (coord. conj.) and also.

discordia, -ae, f.: disagreement, quarrel.

percipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum: observe, notice perceive.

Quae … domus tam stabilis (est), quae tam firma civitas est, quae non … possit everti? The first and second quae are interrogative adjectives in rhetorical questions, modifying domus and civitas respectively; the third quae is a relative pronoun.

enim: (coord. conj.) “To explain this, let me ask you, …”

tam: (demonstr. adv.) so

4 stabilis, -e: solid, stable; nom. pred. adj. to domus.

firmus-a-um: firm, secure; nom. pred. adj. to civitas.

civitas, -tatis, f.: city (i. e., all the citizens, not urbs, the buildings, streets, etc., of a city; and not ‘citizenship’!).

quae … possit everti: a relative clause of result, where quae = ut, following tam in the two leading clauses: “so stable … so secure … that it cannot be overturned.”

odium, -ii, n.: hatred; in pl. = acts of hatred; abl. of means or cause, “by” or “because of.”

et: (coord. conj.) and; joins odiis with discidiis to form one concept (‘hendiadys’): “dissension arising from hatred.”

discidium, -ii, n.: division, split; abl. of means or cause, “by” or “because of.”

funditus: (adv.) from the bottom up, completely.

everto, -ere, -verti, -versum: overthrown, destroy; complementary infinitive to possit.

Ex quo: From this (negative example).

5 quantum … sit … in amicitia: ind. question, the subject of iudicari potest.

quantum boni: how much (of) good; boni is partitive genitive, dependent on quantum.

iudico, -are: judge; complem. infin. to potest.

notae:

10. Does friendship arise out of human weakness, or from some deeper cause? Cic. am. 26

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Saepissime igitur mihi de amicitiā cogitanti maxime illud considerandum videri solet, utrum propter imbecillitatem atque inopiam desiderata sit amicitia, ut, dandis recipiendisque meritis, quod quis minus per se ipse posset, id acciperet ab alio vicissimque redderet, an esset hoc quidem proprium amicitiae, sed antiquior et pulchrior et magis a naturā ipsā profecta aliā causā. Amor enim, ex quo amicitia nominata est, princeps est ad benevolentiam coniungendam; nam utilitates quidem etiam ab eis percipiuntur saepe qui simulatione amicitiae coluntur et observantur temporis causā; in amicitiā autem nihil fictum est, nihil simulatum et, quidquid est, id est verum et voluntarium.

1 saepe: (adv.) often; note superlative degree.

igitur: (coord. conj.) therefore.

mihi: (pers. pron.) to me; dat. of ref. with videtur.

de: (prep. + abl. of respect) about.

cogito, -are: think; the pres. act. participle agrees with mihi and is equivalent to a temporal clause, lit. “to me thinking” = “to me whenever I think.”

maxime: (adv.) especially, modifying considerandum.

illud: “this (question, namely),” etc. The neuter demonstrative, nom. subj. of videtur, points ahead to its appositive, the double indirect question utrum … an.

considero, -are: consider; remember that a gerundive + a form of esse (even when only implied) forms the passive periphrastic, which always conveys some sense of merit, obligation, etc., thus: “worthy of consideration, worth asking.”

videor, -eri, visus sum: seem, appear

solet: “is accustomed;” videri solet = ”usually seems.”

utrum … desiderat sit amicitia, … an … esset hoc … proprium amicitiae: disjunctive (having two options) ind.

quest., whether … or.

2 propter: (prep. + acc. of limit) because of, on account of.

imbecillitas, -tatis, f.: weakness, helplessnes

atque: (coord. conj.) and also

inopia, -ae, f.: lack of resources, neediness

desidero, -are: desire, seek out

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; nom. subj. of desiderata sit.

ut … acciperet … redderet: adverbial purpose clauses.

dandis recipiendisque meritis: “by favors given and

received,” a gerundive construction, abl. of means.

3 quod … id: notice how the relative pronoun precedes its own demonstrative antecedent; translate the relative as indefinite, “whatever.”

quod … posset: “whatever anyone (quis) is less able (to achieve, obtain) by himself (per se) alone (ipse).”

id: (demonstr. pronoun) it, this; acc. dir. obj. of acciperet.

accipio, ere, -cepi, -ceptum: get, receive; the subject, “he,” “that person,” is implied by quis.

alius, -ius: (indef. pron.) (an)other person.

vicissim: (adv.) in turn

-que: (enclitic coord. conj.) and; joins acciperet to redderet.

reddo, -ere, reddidi, redditum: give back, repay.

sum esse fui: be

hoc: (demonstr. pron.) this (i. e. the mutual giving and

receiving of favors). Cicero asks: is the mutual exchange of favors the deliberate purpose of friendship, or just a natural result of the feeling of love inherent in friendship?

quidem … sed: (adv. + coord. conj.) indeed … but (cf. quidem … autem in lines 6-7 below).

4 proprium, -ii, n.: the defining characteristic; nom. predicate noun to hoc.

antiquior et pulchrior et ... profecta: the understood subject is amicitia.

antiquus-a-um: ancient, primitive.

pulcher-pulchra-pulchrum: beautiful.

magis ā naturā ipsā profecta: “more directly derived from nature itself.”

aliā causā: “for (some) other reason” (than anyone’s

personal advantage), abl. of cause.

amor, amoris, f.: love; nom. subj. of est.

5 enim: (coord. conj.) “What I mean is, …”

ex quo ... nominata est: rel. clause defining amor.

ex: (prep. + abl. of source) after.

nomino, -are: name.

princeps, -cipis, m.: the necessary motivating force; pred. nom. to amor.

ad … coniungendam: when the preposition ad takes a noun-gerundive phrase as object, purpose is expressed; translate with a gerund and object: “for joining bonds of good will.”

benevolentia, -ae, f.: good will.

coniungo, -ere, -iunxi, -iunctum: join together, bind.

Nam: (coord. conj.) “You see, …”

utilitas, -tatis, f.: usefulness, advantage; nom. subj. of

percipiuntur.

6 quidem … autem: it’s true … however.

etiam: (adv.) even.

ab: (prep. + abl. of agent) by.

eis: (demonstr. pronoun) those people.

percipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum: obtain

simulatio, -onis, f.: pretense; abl. of means, “by.”

colo, -ere, colui, cultum: cultivate, manipulate.

observo, -are: keep, maintain (as friends).

7 temporis causā: “for the sake of temporary advantage.”

nihil: nothing; nom. subj. of est.

fictus-a-um: false, phony, bogus; nom. pred. adj. to nihil.

simulatus-a-um: pretended.

et = sed; after one or more negative clauses (as here, nihil … nihil), et often has an adversative sense, “but.”

quidquid est: indef. rel. clause, “whatever there is (in friendship.”

id: (demonstr. pron.) it, that (in ref. to quidquid), nom. subj. of second est.

verus-a-um: real, genuine; nom. pred. adj. to id.

8 voluntarius-a-um: given willingly. nom. pred. adj.

11. Friendship is clearly a natural relationship, without calculation of future advantage. Cic. am. 27.1

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Quapropter ā naturā mihi videtur potius quam ab indigentiā orta amicitia, applicatione magis animi cum quōdam sensū amandi quam cogitatione quantum illa res utilitatis esset habitura. Quod quidem quale sit etiam in bestiis quibusdam animadverti potest, quae ex se natos ita amant—

ad quoddam tempus—et ab eīs ita amantur, ut facile earum sensus appareat.

1 Quapropter: (adv.) For that reason

ab: (prep. + abl. of cause/source) “from,” “out of.”

videor, -eri, visus sum: seem. Note that Latin prefers the ‘personal’ construction (“friendship seems”), where English prefers the ‘impersonal’ (“it seems that friendship”); either is good in translation.

potius quam: (comparative adv.) rather than.

indigentia, -ae, f.: need; abl.of source, “from,” “out of.”

orior, -iri, ortus sum: arise, come into existence; supply esse for the infinitive.

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; nom. subj. of videtur.

applicatio, -onis, f.: inclination; abl. of means, “by.”

magis … quam: (comparat. adv.) more… than

animus, -i, m.: intellect; obj. gen. after applicatione.

2 cum: (prep. + abl. of accomp.) together with.

quidam-quoddam-quaedam: (a) certain

sensus, -ūs, m.: feeling, sense

amandi: gerund from amare; appositional gen. after sensu, i. e. “with a certain feeling, (namely that) of loving.

cogitatio, -onis, f.: calculation; abl. of means, “by.” Since cogitatio is derived from cogitare, it has some active-transitive force; translate with a gerund, “by calculating.”

quantum … habitura: ind. question, object of cogitatione.

quantum … utilitatis: “how much (of) advantage;” utilitatis is partitive genitive after quantum.

illa res: lit. “that thing” = amicitia, implied from amandi.

utilitas, -tatis, f.: advantage, usefulness

habeo, -ere, -ui, -itum: have; esset habitura is a future active periphrastic construction, using a finite form of esse and a future active participle; esset is in secondary sequence following the perfect infinitive orta (esse); the compound tense looks forward to the future from a past point of view at the (hypothetical) origin of any friendship.

Quod: connective relative; translate as a demonstrative, “this.” The neuter pronoun refers to the whole concept

applicatio animi cum quodam sensu amandi.

3 Quod … sit: “Of what sort indeed this is” = “What this is really like;” ind. question, subject of animadverti potest.

quidem: (adv.) indeed

qualis, -e: of what sort

etiam: even

in: (prep. + abl. of ‘location’) in the case of, among.

bestia, -ae, f.: beast, wild animal. Cicero uses quibusdam specifically of those animals which have affection for their offspring, at least for a certain time (ad quoddam tempus),

i. e. when they are babies, as opposed to other kinds of animals, such as reptiles, which don’t.

animadverto, -ere, -verti, -versum: notice, observe.

possum, posse, potui: be able, can (+ complem. infin.).

quae ... amant: rel. clause defining bestiis.

ex se natos: lit. “(those) born from them(selves)” = “their own offspring.”

ita: (demonstr. adv.) so, to such a degree.

amo, -are: love.

4 ad: (prep. + acc. of extent of time) for.

tempus, -oris, n.: time

eis: (demonstr. pron.) “them” = natis suis.

ut … appareat: adverbial result clause, following ita in the two relative clauses.

facile: (adv.) easily

earum: (demonstr. pron.) “their” = bestiarum.

sensus, -us, m.: affection, tender feeling; nom. subj. of appareat.

appareo, -ere, -ui: appear, be plain to see, be evident.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/galleries/

mothersday/images/primary/06483_9.jpg

notae:

12. Affection between children and parents and the affinity of good people are natural. Cic. am. 27. 2

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Quod in homine multo est evidentius, primum ex eā caritate quae est inter natos et parentes, quae dirimi nisi detestabili scelere non potest, deinde cum similis sensus exstitit amoris, si aliquem nacti sumus cuius cum moribus et naturā congruamus, quod in eo quasi lumen aliquod probitatis et virtutis perspicere videamur.

Study this sentence’s design:

Quod in homine multo est evidentius,

primum ex eā caritate

quae est inter natos et parentes,

quae dirimi nisi detestabili scelere non potest,

deinde

cum similis sensus exstitit amoris,

si aliquem nacti sumus

cuius cum moribus et naturā congruamus,

quod in eo quasi lumen aliquod probitatis et virtutis

perspicere videamur.

1 Quod: connective relative, “This (fact),” i. e. the naturalness of affection and love; nom. subj. of est.

in homine: abl. of respect: “in the case of a human being,” “where mankind is concerned” (as opposed to animals).

multo: (abl. as adv.) much.

evidens, -entis: visible, perceivable; note comparative.

primum … deinde: (adv.) first … then. Cicero begins with the most natural bond, the affection of parents and children; then he proceeds to another kind of bond, the friendship of two unrelated but spiritually similar persons.

ex: (prep. + abl. of source.) on the basis of.

caritas, -tatis, f.: affection.

quae …, quae: the absence of a conjunction between these two relative clauses means that the second one defines the first more precisely and isn’t just another qualification of caritas.

quae est: “which exists,” “existing.”

inter: (prep. + acc.) between

natus, -i, m.: child.

parens, -entis, c.: parent.

2 dirimo, -ere, -emi, -emptum: take away, destroy; complementary infin. to potest.

nisi … non: lit. “unless ... not” = “only.”

detestabilis, -e: horrible, accursed

scelus, -eris, n. : crime, wicked act; abl. of means or cause, “by,” “as a result of.”

cum … amoris: indefinite temporal clause, “when(ever).”

similis, -e: mutual, shared, reciprocated.

sensus, -us, m. : feeling; nom. subj. of exsistit.

exsisto, -ere, -stiti: exist, arise.

amor, amoris, m.: affinity (not sexual love here); genitive of the ‘rubric’ specifying sensus: “a feeling (namely that) of love.”

si aliquem nacti sumus: the protasis, the subordinate “if” clause, of a general condition, the apodosis, or leading clause, of which is cum ... amoris.

aliquem … cuius ... in eo: “someone … whose ... in such a person.”

3 nanciscor, nancisci, nactus sum: encounter, meet.

cuius … congruamus: a rel. clause of purpose with potential subjunctive: “with whose character and nature we (in our own character and nature) might match,” i. e., we seek to find such people or are naturally drawn to them.

cuius: “whose” (not “of whom”).

cum: (prep. + abl. of accomp.) with.

mos, moris¸ m.: in. pl. = (moral) character.

congruo, -ere: agree, match.

quod … videamur: causal clause, “because,” explaining the agreement of character and nature.

in eo: “in him,” “in such a person,” referring to aliquem.

quasi lumen aliquod: “a kind of lamp, so to speak.”

probitas, -tatis, f. : (moral) goodness; the genitive is again of the ‘rubric’, but this time completing the metaphor (probitas = lumen), “a lamp, so to speak, (namely that) of

goodness and of virtue.”

4 et: (coord. conj.) and; joins probitatis with virtutis.

virtus, -tutis, f.: virtue, good character.

perspicio, -ere, -spexi, -spectum: observe, recognize.

videor, -eri, visus sum: seem; this subjunctive is potential, due to the indefinite conjunction cum, the hypothetical cause introduced by quod, and the indefinite pronoun aliquem, thus: “because in such a person we might, possibly, seem” etc.

A copy of a Roman oil lamp (lumen). Oil was poured in through the small central hole, and a wick was inserted into the ‘spout’ and set alight. It gave a soft but bright light, about that of a candle.

notae

13. If friendships are natural and eternal, why do they sometimes fall apart? Cic. am. 33

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Audite vero, optimi viri, ea quae saepissime inter me et Scipionem de amicitia disserebantur. Quamquam ille quidem nihil difficilius esse dicebat quam amicitiam usque ad extremum vitae diem permanere; nam vel ut non ĭdem expediret, incidere saepe, vel ut de rē publicā non ĭdem sentiretur; mutari etiam mores hominum saepe dicebat, aliās adversis rebus, aliās aetate ingravescente. Atque earum rerum exemplum ex similitudine capiebat ineuntis aetatis, quod summi puerorum amores saepe unā cum praetextā togā deponerentur.

1 audio, -ire, -ivi, -itum: hear, listen to; imperative mood.

vero: (adv.) but (changing the subject); at this point in the dialogue, Laelius has expressed his views about the causes of friendship and now turns to the reasons why friendships sometimes fail.

optimi viri: vocative, directed at Scaevola and Fannius. Remember that Cicero’s dialogue, though fictitious, still represents Roman male aristocratic values. In this context, optimi viri means not only “excellent men” with respect to personal qualities, but associates them with traditional, “conservative” political interests.

ea quae … disserebantur: lit. “those (things) which used to be discussed,” but use some freedom in translation, e. g., “the topics of conversation,” “the subjects discussed” etc.

saepissime … saepe … saepe … saepe notice Cicero’s frequent use of this adverb here; it applies twice to conversations between Scipio and Laelius, twice to indirect statements.

inter: (prep. + acc. of limit) between.

de: (prep. + abl. of respect) about, concerning.

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship.

dissero, -ere, -ui: discuss, talk.

2 Quamquam … quidem: “Now, as you surely know.”

ille: lit. “that one = “he,” i. e. Scipio; nom. subj. of dicebat.

nihil difficilius esse: indirect statement, ‘obj.’ of dicebat.

nihil: (indecl.) nothing.

difficilis, -e: difficult, hard to do; note comparative.

sum, esse, fui: be.

quam … permanere: a clause of comparison following difficilius. Translate “than for friendship” etc.

usque: (adv.) right up, all the way.

ad: (prep. + acc. of extent of time) to.

extremus-a-um: final, last.

vita, -ae, f.: life; a kind of partitive gen. defining diem.

dies, -ei, f.: day.

3 permaneo, -ere, -mansi: remain, last.

nam: (coord. conj.) “you see, …” introducing the explanation why Scipio thought permanent life-long friendship so difficult.

vel … vel … etiam: either … or … also.

ut … expediret, … ut … sentiretur: noun result clauses, the subjects of incidere.

īdem eadem ĭdem: (demonstr. pron.) the same (thing), nom. subj. firstly of expediret and secondly of sentiretur.

expedio, -ire, -ivi: be convenient.

incido, -ere, -cidi: happen, occur; called an impersonal verb because the subject is usually a noun result clause.

incidere … mutari … mores: indirect statements, the ‘objects’ of dicebat.

de re publica: “about politics,” “about public policy.”

4 sentio, -ire, sensi, sensum: think, feel, believe.

muto, -are: change.

etiam: (adv.) also, moreover.

mos, moris, m.: (in pl.) personal character, habits.

homo, hominis, c.: human being, person; subj. genitive.

alias … alias: (adv.) sometimes … sometimes.

adversae res: hardship, adversity; the abl. expresses both attendant circumstances, “in,” and cause, “owing to.”

aetate ingravescente: abl. absolute and also of cause.

aetas, -tatis, f.: old age (but note different sense in line 5).

5 ingravesco, -ere: become burdensome, tiring.

Atque: (coord. conj.) And furthermore

earum rerum: “of those things,” i. e. the changes that happen to a friendship over time.

exemplum, -i, n.: example; acc. dir. obj. of capiebat.

ex: (prep. + abl. of source or material) from, by making.

similitudo, -inis, f.: comparison, analogy.

capio, -ere, cepi, captum: take; “he” (Scipio) is the understood subject. Note the tense: “used to take.”

ineo, -ire, -ivi: enter, begin

aetas, -tatis, f.: youth; iniens aetas = early youth; obj. gen. after similitudine, “to.”

quod … deponerentur: causal clause, “because.”

6 summi … amores: “our greatest passions;” nom. subj. of deponerentur.

puer, pueri, m.: boy, child; subjective genitive.

unā cum: (adv. and prep. + abl. of accomp.) along with.

praetexta toga: see note below

depono, -ere, -posui, -positum: put away, put aside.

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Until about his 16th birthday, an aristocratic Roman boy wore a special toga, called praetexta, that had a broad red-purple stripe around the edge, and a lead or precious metal amulet, a bulla, on a cord around his neck (see picture in opposite column). On that birthday, typically, in a family ceremony at the lararium, a cabinet-like shrine in the front room of the house, the boy dedicated his bulla to the household gods (Lares and Genius) of his family and put aside his praetexta. His father (or most senior male relative) then presented him his toga civilis, the plain white toga, which meant he was now a Roman citizen. Roman girls had a similar ritual. This is called a ‘rite of passage’ or ‘coming of age’ ceremony, when a young person is formally recognized as an adult by other adult members of the society.

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14. Why friendships fall apart: competition in marriage, ambition, politics, and money. Cic. am. 34

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Sin autem ad adulescentiam perduxissent, dirimi tamen interdum contentione, vel uxoriae condicionis vel commodi alicuius quod ĭdem adipisci uterque non posset. Quod si qui longius in amicitiā provecti essent, tamen saepe labefactari si in honoris contentionem incidissent; pestem enim nullam maiorem esse amicitiis quam in plerisque pecuniae cupiditatem, in optimis quibusque honoris certamen et gloriae; ex quo inimicitias maximas saepe inter amicissimos exstitisse.

Study this passage’s carefully balanced structure (remember that the indirect statements are continued from §33):

Sin autem ad adulescentiam perduxissent,

dirimi tamen interdum contentione,

vel uxoriae condicionis

vel commodi alicuius

quod idem adipisci uterque non posset.

Quod si qui longius in amicitia provecti essent,

tamen saepe labefactari

si in honoris contentionem incidissent;

pestem enim nullam maiorem esse amicitiis

quam in plerisque pecuniae cupiditatem,

in optimis quibusque honoris certamen et gloriae;

ex quo inimicitias maximas saepe inter amicissimos exstitisse.

1 Sin autem: “But even if, however,” a conditional-concessive clause, followed by tamen in the next, main clause. In §33, Laelius recalled that Scipio used to say that our childish passions are put away when we become adults; at this point he turns to deal with those friendships which continue into (early) adulthood, but still fail.

ad: (prep. + acc. of extent of time) (in)to, unto.

adulescentia, -ae, f.: young adulthood.

perduco, -ere, -duxi, -ductum: continue; the understood subject is “two friends” and the understood dir. obj. is “their friendship.” When a future more vivid condition depends on an indirect statement, the future perfect indicative verb of the subordinate, “if” clause (protasis) is represented by the pluperfect subjunctive. The main,“then” clause (apodosis) is expressed by the accusative and infinitive construction.

dirimo, -ere, -emi, -emptum: take away, destroy; the subject, “their friendship,” is understood from §33.

tamen: (demonstr. adv.) nevertheless, still.

interdum: (adv.) at times, sometimes.

contentio, -onis, f. : rivalry, competition; abl. of cause, “out of,” “because of.”

vel … vel: (coord. conj.) whether … or.

uxoria condicio: marriage arrangement, betrothal;

objective genitive after contentione, “for” or “over.”

2 commodum, -i, n. : advantage, convenience; objective genitive, “for.”

aliqui-aliqua-aliquid: some (kind of).

quod idem: “which … equally.”

adipiscor, adipisci, adeptus sum: get, obtain, achieve.

uterque: each, either (of two friends).

Quod: (coord. conj.) But (on the other hand).

si qui: note that after si, nisi, ne and num, aliquis is shortened to quis, etc. The phrase si qui then becomes indefinite: “if any” = “whoever,” nom. subj. of provecti essent.

longius: further (i. e. in life, past early adulthood).

in: (prep. + abl. of circumstance) in.

3 amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship.

provehor, -vehi, -vectus sum: proceed, advance.

saepe: (adv.) often, frequently.

labefacto, -are: weaken, fail; infinitive in the continued indirect statement; the subject is amicitia, understood from in amicitia.

honor (honos), -oris, m. : political office; obj. gen., “for.”

incido, -ere, -cidi: fall into, enter upon.

pestis, -is, f. : destructive force; acc. subj. of esse.

4 enim: (adv.) indeed.

nullus-a-um: no, not any.

maiorem … quam: greater (= more harmful) … than.

amicitiis: dat.of reference after pestem.

in plerisque: “in the case of most people,” i. e. in the usual kinds of friendship (distinct from in optimis quibusque below).

pecunia, -ae, f.: money; objective genitive, “for.”

cupiditas, -tatis, f.: desire, greed; acc. in appos. to pestem.

in: (prep. + abl. of respect) in the case of.

optimis quibusque: lit. “each best (person)” = “excellent

individuals” or “the nobility,” “the aristocratic elite.”

5 honoris … et gloriae: not two separate things but one concept expressed by two nouns joined by et (hendiadys) = “the glory that comes from holding political office;” objective genitive, “for,” “over.”

certamen, -inis, n.: competition.

ex quo: connective relative = “from this (kind of rivalry).”

inimicitia, -ae, f.: personal enmity, hatred. Distinguish hostis, a public enemy, an enemy of the state, or a foreign enemy, from inimicus, a personal enemy, esp. in the political arena.

maximus-a-um: greatest, most destructive (superlative of magnus).

inter: (prep. + acc.) between; note how Cicero uses inter here in a separative sense; cf. §27. 2, line 1.

amicissimos: “closest friends,” “best friends.”

ex(s)to, -are, -stiti: arise, come into existence.

notae

15. When a friend asks another to help do something wrong, friendship is damaged. Cic. am. 35. 1

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Magna etiam discidia et plerumque iusta nasci, cum aliquid ab amicis quod rectum non esset postularetur, ut aut libidinis ministri aut adiutores essent ad iniuriam; quod qui recusarent, quamvis honeste id facerent, ius tamen amicitiae deserere arguerentur ab eis quibus obsequi nollent.

The indirect statement begun after dicebat in §33 continues with nasci in this sentence and controls the tense and mood of most of the finite verbs here:

Magna etiam discidia et plerumque iusta nasci,

cum aliquid ab amicis

quod rectum non esset

postularetur,

ut aut libidinis ministri (essent)

aut (ut) adiutores essent ad iniuriam;

quod qui recusarent,

quamvis honeste id facerent,

ius tamen amicitiae deserere arguerentur ab iis

quibus obsequi nollent.

1 magnus-a-um: great, serious.

etiam: (adv.) even, also, too.

discidium, -i, n.: disagreement, quarrel; acc. subj. of nasci.

plerumque: (adv.) generally, as a general rule.

iustus-a-um: right, appropriate, justified.

nascor, nasci, natus sum: “arise, occur;” infinitive in indirect statement after dicebat (§33); translate as present.

cum … postularetur: indefinite circumstantial clause, “when(ever).”

aliquid: (indef. pron.) something; nom. subj. of postularetur.

ab: (prep. + abl. of source) from

amicus, -i, m.: friend.

quod … non esset: generic relative clause expanding indefinite aliquid, “which wouldn’t be.”

rectus-a-um: right, proper; nom pred. adj. to aliquid.

2 postulo, -are: demand, request.

ut … essent ad iniuriam: a noun purpose clause ("indirect command") following postularetur, in apposition to, and making more specific, aliquid … quod rectum non esset. Translate with “for example, to be ...” etc.

aut … aut: (coord. conj.) either … or

libido, -inis, f.: lust, addiction; obj. gen., “of.”

minister¸-tri, m.: helper, enabler; nom. pred. noun to understood subject amici.

adiutor, -oris, m.: accomplice, accessory; nom. pred. noun to understood subject amici.

sum esse fui: be.

ad: (prep. + acc. of purpose) for, in, for.

iniuria, -ae, f.: wrong-doing, injustice.

quod: connective relative, “this, such a request;” acc. dir. obj. of recusarent.

qui recusarent: indefinite relative clause with no antecedent, “whoever …,” almost equivalent to a condition, “if anyone” which then serves as the subject of arguerentur.

recuso, -are: refuse; supply esse, “be” (i. e. ministri ... adiutores, etc.)

3 quamvis ... facerent: concessive clause, “although,” “no matter how ...”

honeste: (adv.) honorably (i. e., no matter how honorable their motives are in their refusal).

id: (demonstr. pron.) it; neut. acc. dir. obj. of facerent; i. e. refuse; translate as a demonstrative adverb, "so."

facio, -ere, feci, factum: do.

ius, iuris, n.: obligation, right; acc. obj. of deserere.

tamen: (demonstr. adv.) nevertheless, still.

amicitia, -ae, f.: friendship; subj. gen., “of.”

desero, -ere: abandon, forsake; translate the infinitive as a genitive gerund, "of forsaking."

arguo, -ere: accuse.

ab: (prep. + abl. of agent) by

eis: (demonstr. pron.) those people

quibus obsequi nollent: rel. clause expanding eis.

obsequor, -sequi, -secutus sum: yield, give in to (+ dat. of

person).

4 nolo, nolle, nolui: not want, be unwilling.

controversia: One night, you’re out with your best friends. One of them is driving his or her parents’ car. You pass a liquor store and see someone about to go in. That person is known to you all and he or she is over 21. Your friend pulls the car over and someone else calls out to this person. Several of your friends ask him or her to buy you all some liquor. You get a bad feeling about this. You try to talk them out of it but they don’t listen and either try to persuade you or make fun of you. You get out of the car, which means you’ll have to call your parents to come and get you, and that will mean questions. You will either have to tell them the truth or lie. Now your friends are really mad at you. Have you broken a law of friendship?

16. When friends try to manipulate us into wrong, it destroys trust, causes hatred. Cic. am. 35. 2

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Illos autem, qui quidvis ab amico auderent postulare, postulatione ipsā profiteri omnia se amici causā esse facturos; eorum querelā non inveteratās modo familiaritates exstingui solere, sed odia etiam gigni sempiterna. Haec ita multa quasi fata impendere amicitiis, ut omnia subterfugere non modo sapientiae sed etiam felicitatis diceret sibi videri.

1 Illos … profiteri: the indirect statement begun in §33 continues; illos … profiteri then introduces a secondary indirect statement, omnia se … esse facturos.

autem: (coord. conj.) but, however; this word turns our attention from friends who refuse to do wrong (in §35.1) to ‘friends’ who dare to ask us to do wrong.

qui … auderent postulare: again, the subjunctive in this generalizing relative clause is potential: Illos … qui = “The kind of ‘friends’ who would dare” etc.

quidvis: (indef. pron.) whatever (they want); acc. obj. of postulare.

ab: (prep. + abl. of source) from.

amicus, -i, m.: friend.

audeo, -ere, ausus sum: dare.

postulo, -are: demand, request (+ abl.).

postulatio, -onis, f. : demand, request; abl. of both means and circumstances = “by (or ‘in’) the very act of the request.”

ipse ipsa ipsum: (intensive adj.) (the) very, ---self.

profiteor, -eri, professus sum: declare, insist.

omnia … se esse facturos: indirect statement, ‘object’ of profiteri. Remember that in Latin, when the subject of the leading verb and of the indirect statement are the same, the reflexive pronoun is necessary; translate simply as “they,” but understand it means “they themselves,” not some other “they.” Note that esse facturos is future active and translate accordingly.

omnis, -e: every, each; in neut. pl. as substantive = all things, everything; acc. obj. of esse facturos.

amici causā: “for the friend’s sake;” causā always follows

the noun it governs in constructions like this.

2 facio, -ere, feci, factum: do, undertake.

eorum: (demonstr. pron.) = Illorum (qui quidvis auderent postulare); translate “their,” not “of them.”

querela, -ae, f. : complaint; abl. of cause, “by” or “because of.”

inveteratus-a-um: long-lasting, insistent.

non ... modo … sed … etiam: (adv.) not only … but even.

inveteratās familiaritates exstingui ... odia gigni: indirect statements, still following dicebat in §33.

familiaritas, -tatis, f. : personal closeness, intimacy; acc. subj. of exstingui.

exstinguo, -ere, -stinxi, -stinctum: destroy.

soleo, -ere, solitus sum: be accustomed to, “usually.”

odium, -i, n. : hatred (pl. = feelings of hate); acc. subj. of gigni.

Study the structure of this last sentence:

[Scipio dicebat ...]

Haec ita multa quasi fata impendere amicitiis

ut

omnia subterfugere

non modo sapientiae sed etiam felicitatis

diceret

sibi videri.

3 gigno, -ere, genui, genitum: create, produce.

sempiternus-a-um: permanent, lifelong.

Haec ... amicitiis: again, ind. statement.

Haec: (demonstr. pron.) lit. “these things,” i. e. manipulative tricks of this kind; neut. pl. acc. subj. of impendere.

ita multa: so many = in such great number.

quasi fata: “deadly, one might say,” “virtually fatal.”

impendeo, -ere, -pendi: hang over, threaten (+ dative).

ut … diceret: adverbial result following ita; the subject of diceret is Scipio, whose words Laelius is still reporting.

omnia subterfugere … sibi videri: indirect statement, object of diceret. The infinitive phrase omnia subterfugere = the acc. subject of videri; the refl. pron. sibi refers to Scipio.

omnia: “them all” i. e. = Haec multa, all these numerous (kinds of threats to long-lasting friendship).

subterfugio, -ere: escape, shun, avoid; try translating with a gerund, “shunning” or another verbal noun, “the

avoidance of” etc.

4 sapientiae … felicitatis: predicative genitive of characteristic: “an indication not only of wisdom, but even of good fortune.”

sapientia, -ae, f. : wisdom.

felicitas, -tatis, f. : good luck.

videor, -eri, visus sum: seem (supply esse ).

notae:

17. Nine terms of the first law of friendship. Cic. am. 44

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Haec igitur prima lex amicitiae sanciatur, ut ab amicis honesta petamus, amicorum causā honesta faciamus; ne exspectemus quidem dum rogemur; studium semper adsit, cunctatio absit; consilium vero dare audeamus libere; plurimum in amicitiā amicorum bene suadentium valeat auctoritas; eaque et adhibeatur ad monendum, non modo aperte sed etiam acriter, si res postulabit, et adhibitae pareatur.

1 Haec … prima lex: first translate the demonstrative H