[2] Worthy of honor--_Clarus_. "A person may be called _clarus_ either on account of his great actions and merits; or on account of some honor which he has obtained, as the consuls were called _clarissimi viri_; or on account of great expectations which are formed from him. But since the worth of him who is _clarus_ is known by all, it appears that the mind is here called _clarus_ because its nature is such that pre-eminence is generally attributed to it, and the attention of all directed toward it." _Dietsch_. [3] Abandons itself--_Pessum datus est_. Is altogether sunk and overwhelmed. [4] Impute their delinquency to circumstances, etc.--_Suam quisque culpam ad negotia transferunt_. Men excuse their indolence and inactivity, by saying that the weakness of their faculties, or the circumstances in which they are placed, render them unable to accomplish any thing of importance. But, says Seneca, _Satis natura, homini dedit roboris, si illo utamur;--nolle in causâ, non posse praetenditur_. "Nature has given men sufficient powers, if they will but use them; but they pretend that they can not when the truth is that they will not." "_Negotia_ is a common word with Sallust, for which other writers would use _res, facta_." Gerlach. "Cajus rei nos ipsi sumus auctores, ejus culpam rebus externis attribuimus." _Muller_. "Auctores" is the same as the [Greek: _aitioi_]. [5] Useless--_Aliena_. Unsuitable, not to the purpose, not contributing to the improvement of life. [6] Instead of being mortal--_Pro mortalibus_. There are two senses in which these words may be taken: _as far as mortals can_, and _instead of being mortals_. Kritz and Dietsch say that the latter is undoubtedly the true sense. Other commentators are either silent or say little to the purpose. As for the translators, they have studied only how to get over the passage delicately. The latter sense is perhaps favored by what is said in c. 2, that "the illustrious achievements of the mind are, like the mind itself, immortal." [7] II. They all rise and fall, etc.--_Omnia orta occidunt, et aucta senescunt_. This is true of things in general, but is here spoken only of the qualities of the body, as De Brosses clearly perceived. [8] Has power over all things--_Habet cuncta_. "All things are in its power." Dietsch. "_Sub ditione tenet_. So Jupiter, Ov. Met. i. 197: Quum mihi qui fulmen, qui vos habeoque regoque." _Burnouf_. So Aristippus said, _Habeo Laidem, non habeor a Laide_, [Greek: _echo ouk echomai_]. Cic. Epist. ad Fam. ix. 26. [9] III. Civil and military offices--_Magistratus et imperia_. "Illo vocabule civilia, hoc militaria munera, significantur." _Dietsch_.