[103] (1) Quīn igitur addis: 'reum magistrum, reum vitricum, reum dēprecātōrem'? Sed quid deinde? 'Plūrimōrum maleficiōrum et manifēstissimōrum'. Cedo ūnum dē plūrimīs, cedo dubium vel saltem obscūrum dē manifēstissimīs.
(2) Cēterum ad haec, quae obiēcistis, numerā an bīnīs verbīs respondeam. 'Dentēs splendidās': ignōsce munditiīs. 'Specula īnspicis': dēbet philosophus. 'Versūs facis': licet fierī. 'Piscēs explōrās': Aristotelēs docet. 'Lignum cōnsecrās': Platō suādet. (3) 'Uxōrem dūcis': lēgēs iubent. 'Prior nātū'st': solēt fierī. 'Lucrum sectātū's': dōtālēs accipe, dōnātiōnem recordāre, testāmentum lege.
(4) Quae sī omnia affatim retudī, sī calumniās omnēs refūtāvī, sī mē in omnibus nōn modo crīminibus, vērum etiam maledictīs procul ā culpā tūtus sum, sī philosophiae honōrem, quī mihi salūte meā antīquior est, nusquam minuī, immō contrā ubīque sī cum septem pennīs eum tenuī: (5) sī haec, ut dīcō, ita sunt, possum sēcūrus exīstimātiōnem tuam reverērī quam potestātem verērī, quod minus grave et verendum mihi arbitror ā prōcōnsūle damnārī quam sī ā tam bonō tamque ēmendātō virō improber.
Dīxī.
Vocabulary
vītricus –ī m.: a step–father
dēprecātor –ōris m.: intercessor, mediator
maleficium –ī n.: crime, wicked deed
manifēstus –a –um: clear, manifest
cedo: bring it here!; out with it!
saltem (or saltim): at least, at any rate
obscūrus –a –um: vague, unclear
obiiciō obiicere obiēcī obiectus: to raise as an accusation
(2)
numerō numerāre numerāvī numerātus: to count
bīnī –ae –a: 2 by 2, two each
dēns dentis m.: tooth
splendidō –āre –āvī –ātus: to brighten, polish
īgnōscō īgnōscere īgnōvī īgnōtus: to pardon, forgive (+ dat.)
munditia –ae f.: cleanliness; elegance
speculum –ī n.: mirror
īnspiciō –ere –spexī –spectus: to look into
philosophus –ī m.: philosopher
versus versūs m.: line (of poetry)
piscis piscis m.: fish
explōrō explōrāre explōrāvī explōrātus: to explore, investigate
Aristotelēs –is or –ī m.: Aristotle
līgnum lignī n.: a piece of wood
cōnsecrō cōnsecrāre cōnsecrāvī cōnsecrātus: to consecrate
Platō –ōnis m.: Plato
suādeō suādēre suāsī suāsus: to recommend
nātus –ūs m.: birth
(3)
lucrum lucrī n.: gain, profit
sector sectārī sectātus sum: to pursue
dōtālis –e: pertaining to a dowry
dōnātiō –ōnis f.: a presenting, giving, donation
recordor recordārī recordātus sum: to remember
testāmentum testāmentī n.: will
affatim: sufficiently, enough
(4)
retundō retundere ret(t)udī retū(n)sum: to dull
calumnia –ae f.: the bringing of a false accusation; false statement
refūtō refūtāre refūtāvī refūtātus: to repel; disprove
maledictum –ī n.: a curse; [insults or slander?]
philosophia philosophiae f.: philosophy
nusquam: nowhere
minuō minuere minuī minūtus: to lessen
immō: no indeed
septem; septimus –a –um: 7; 7th
penna pennae f.: wing, feather
exīstimātiō exīstimātiōnis f.: reputation, estimation [judgment?]
(5)
revereor –verērī –veritus sum: to stand in awe of, revere
prōcōnsul prōcōnsulis m.: proconsul
ēmendō –āre: to correct, amend [free from error?]
improbō improbāre improbāvī improbātus: to disapprove, blame