Section 13
Original Latin
qua re quis tandem me reprehendat, aut quis mihi iure suscenseat, si, quantum ceteris ad suas res obeundas, quantum ad festos dies ludorum celebrandos, quantum ad alias voluptates et ad ipsam requiem animi et corporis conceditur temporum, quantum alii tribuunt tempestivis conviviis, quantum denique alveolo, quantum pilae, tantum mihi egomet ad haec studia recolenda sumpsero? atque id eo mihi concedendum est magis quod ex his studiis haec quoque crescit oratio et facultas quae, quantacumque [est] in me, numquam amicorum periculis defuit. quae si cui levior videtur, illa quidem certe quae summa sunt ex quo fonte hauriam sentio.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from the Latin in Clark’s 1911 edition; source-language model review recorded. Perseus transcription: CC BY-SA 4.0, credited to the Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Who, then, could reproach me, or who could justly resent it, if I reserve for renewing these studies as much time as others are allowed for attending to their own affairs, for celebrating festival days with public games, for other pleasures and for the very rest of mind and body—as much as others devote to banquets that begin early, to the gaming board, or to ball games? And I have all the greater claim to this allowance because these studies also nourish my eloquence and my power of speech, which, whatever their measure, have never failed my friends in their hour of danger. If anyone considers that a lesser matter, I certainly know the spring from which I draw those things that matter most.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the Latin, not from the Musean edition; source-language model review recorded. Perseus transcription: CC BY-SA 4.0, credited to the Perseus Project, Tufts University.
So who can criticize me? Who has a right to be angry with me if I set aside some time to return to these studies? I ask only as much time as others are allowed for their own affairs, for celebrating festivals and public games, for other pleasures, and for resting their minds and bodies. I ask as much time as others spend on dinners that start early, on board games, or on ball games.
And I have all the more right to this time because these studies also develop my speaking ability. Whatever ability I have, it has never failed my friends when they were in danger. Someone may think that ability matters little. But I certainly know the source from which I draw the principles that matter most.
About this section
Section 13 is part of For Archias the Poet by Marcus Tullius Cicero. This page sets the Latin original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 13 of 32 in the work, which is kept in the Roman tradition.
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