Latin Trimester 2 Passages

That great man Alexander was always having many writers of his own achievements with himself. For he once stood before the grave of Achilles and said these words: “You have been fortunate, oh young man, because you have found Homer the praiser of your virtue.” And truly! For, without that Ilias, the same tomb was able to bury his body and the name. Nothing can conserve the human body, but the great literature can conserve the name of great men.

M. Tullius Cicero, what are you doing? Those men now ought to pay the penalty for their many bad deeds: you ought to lead them to death, because they have drawn Rome into many dangers. Often the Romans have punished citizens in this city also by death. But you ought not to think these bad men to be citizens. For never in this city have betrayers of the fatherland been held by the law of the state. These men have lost their own rights to be citizens. The Roman people will give you much thanks, M. Tullius, if you will punish those men with virtue.

Oh my three sons, you ought not to be miserable. For now I come to death, but part of me, my spirits, will always remain. While I was with you, you were not seeing my spirit, but from my deeds you were understanding that I was in his body. Therefore believe that the spirit is the same after death, also if you will not see it, and always keep me in your memory.

Will I always be a listener? There is a mob of poets in this city – therefore I will be a poet. There are thousands of crimes in this city – I will write about these crimes. To write satire is not difficult. If nature is not able to help me, indignation makes the verse. In my book, there will be all deeds of men – fear, anger, pleasure, faults, desires, plots. Now it is full of abundance of crimes in this miserable city of Rome.

Is there love in old age? Pleasure is truly less, but desire is also less. Nothing, however, is a concern to us, if we do not desire, and he does not lack that which he desires. Youths desire excessively; old people often have enough love and much wisdom. I think, therefore, this time of life to be pleasant.

About this passage: The Four Loves

Eros: sexual, physical, romantic

Philia: attraction of values, friendship

Agape: unconditional love, Love of God

Storge: deep affective bonds, family

Cicero is saying that eros fading as you get older is a good thing. He argues this by saying that it is a relief. It allows people to live more calm and wise lives which can make them happier.

Oh human race, which fears death too much! Why do you all fear the dangers of death? All things are changed, all things will flow, nothing comes to true death. The soul wanders and is mixed into other bodies; neither does it remain, nor does it keep the same forms, but is changed into new forms. Life is a river; our times hurry away and are always new. Our bodies are always being changed; which we were or are, we will not be tomorrow.

He suggests that the soul gets reborn into a new body. He is saying that the body goes into other bodies. The body is always changing but the soul is everlasting. The soul doesn’t go to new bodies, but it instead will wander into other bodies as it sees changes. When you die, it is a false death because the soul lives on and only the body dies. The soul is mixing in with bodies that already exist.

How many things old men hold in their minds! If serious study and labor and honesty remain in old age, often even memory, knowledge, and wisdom remain. Sophocles that Greek writer, made tragedies into extreme old age; but because of this study he seemed to be neglecting his family and was called into court by his sons. Then the author recited to the jury that tragedy which he had with himself and which he had written shortly before, “Oedipus at Colonus.” Where this tragedy was recited, the old man was freed by the sentences of the jury.

This passage is about how Cicero says that old age doesn’t weaken a person’s mind or abilities. Cicero says that old age doesn’t mean weakness, and that old people’s mental ability can maintain strength. He says that respect should be earned by ability, and not by age.

We have a decree of the senate against you, Catiline, emphatic and serious; we have a sharp judgement, and our state has both strength and the plan. What is it, Catiline? Why do you remain? Oh immortal gods! Depart now from this city with your evil hand of criminals; you will free me from great fear if you lead out all those conspirators with you. Unless you depart now, we will quickly cast you out. Nothing in our city can please you. Go, go! The run to Manlius, that evil friend of yours; he has denied you for a long time . begin now; prepare your troops and wage war against the state! In a short time, we will conquer you and all your people, enemies of the fatherland, and you will always pay a heavy penalty. 

 Cicero is saying that Catiline is dangerous because Catiline is trying to overthrow the government. Cicero tells Catiline that the should exile himself so he doesn’t get executed, and he argues that Rome would be safer without Catiline. Cicero basically says to Catiline, “Everyone knows what you’re doing so why are you still here.” He tries to isolate and shame Catiline. Cicero is trying to expose Catiline and have the whole city go against him.