item: adv., also, likewise.
39. beluam: belua, beast.
hoc…interest, quod (40):this makes a difference, (the fact) that….
40. haec: i.e., belua.
tantum quantum: adv., only to the extent that.
41. paulum admodum (42): very little.
42. praeteritum aut futurum: an awareness of past and future, vs. only the present, was viewed as a major distinction between man and beast.
quod…futuras (46): the thought is simply that, through his faculty of reason, man can understand the concatenation of cause and effect and can govern himself accordingly.
44. praegressus: praegressus, -us, previous development, antecedent.
antecessiones:antecedent (causes).
45. similitudines comparat: i.e., makes analogies.
46. adnectit: adnectere, to connect, associate.
47. degendam: from de + agere.
49. societatem: here, community, common bond.
in primis (50): = imprimis, adv., particularly, especially.
50. praecipuum: especial, peculiar, distinguished.
51. impellitque ut…velit (52): drives (man) to want.
coetus et celebrationes:meetings and assemblies; subj. of both esse and obiri.
52. obiri: to be visited, attended.
suppeditent ad (53):are sufficient for.
53. cultum et…victum: cultus refers to culture and refinement in living; victus refers to food and the other necessities of life.
coniugi: coniunx,wife.
The need to define terms.
Placet igitur, quoniam omnis disputatio de officio futura est, 25 ante definire quid sit officium (quod a Panaetio praetermissum esse miror). Omnis enim, quae ratione suscipitur de aliqua re, institutio debet a definitione proficisci ut intellegatur quid sit id de quo disputetur. Omnis de officio duplex est quaestio: unum genus est quod pertinet ad finem bonorum; alterum, quod positum 30 est in praeceptis quibus in omnis partes usus vitae conformari possit. (I.7)
Origin of the concepts of right, morality, and virtue.
(a) Self-preservation and procreation. Principio, generi animantium omni est a natura tributum ut se, vitam, corpusque tueatur, declinet ea quae nocitura videantur, omniaque quae sint 35 ad vivendum necessaria anquirat et paret, ut pastum, ut latibula, ut alia generis eiusdem. Commune item animantium omnium est coniunctionis appetitus procreandi causa et cura quaedam eorum quae procreata sint.
(b) Reason. Sed inter hominem et beluam hoc maxime 40 interest, quod haec, tantum quantum sensu movetur, ad id solum quod adest quodque praesens est se accommodat, paulum admodum sentiens praeteritum aut futurum; homo autem—quod rationis est particeps, per quam consequentia cernit, causas rerum videt earumque praegressus et quasi antecessiones non 45 ignorat, similitudines comparat rebusque praesentibus adiungit atque adnectit futuras—facile totius vitae cursum videt ad eamque degendam praeparat res necessarias.
(c) Society. Eademque natura vi rationis hominem conciliat homini et ad orationis et ad vitae societatem, ingeneratque in 50 primis praecipuum quendam amorem in eos qui procreati sunt impellitque ut hominum coetus et celebrationes et esse et a se obiri velit ob easque causas studeat parare ea quae suppeditent ad cultum et ad victum, nec sibi soli sed coniugi, liberis, ceterisque quos caros habeat tuerique debeat; quae cura exsuscitat 55 etiam animos et maiores ad rem gerendam facit.
54. quae cura: the antecedent of a rel. pron. is often attracted into the rel. cl., = and this concern (referring to the preceding cl.).
exsuscitat: exsuscitare,to arouse.
55. maiores: sc. eos (i.e., animos); OBJ. COMPL.
56. propria: appropriate (to), characteristic (of).
58. avemus: avere, to wish, be eager.
59. occultarum aut admirabilium: i.e., the mysteries or miracles of science.
61. sit: subjunct. in a SUBORDINATE (REL.) CL. IN IND. STATE.
63. principatus: principatus, -us, preeminence, rule, independence.
64. informatus: for this metaphor of molding or shaping the intellect, cp. conformari (31).
praecipienti: practically synonymous with docenti, whereas imperanti is specifically political.
utilitatis…legitime (65): a ruler must keep in mind both what is useful and what is just and legal.
66. humanarum…rerum: the insignificant matters of life, as the Stoics saw it.
