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Emendations of Seneca

EPISTULAE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

D. R. Shackleton Bailey
Affiliation:
University of Michigan

Extract

10. 2. lugentem timentemque custodire solemus, ne solitudine male utatur.

Reynolds does not mention Haupt's conjecture amentemque, which is certainly on the right lines. Bereaved persons may need watching because in the violence of their grief they may do themselves an injury (cf. Ben. 2. 14. 2 ut frigidam aegris negamus et lugentibus ac sibi iratis ferrum), and the same applies to madmen (cf. Macer, Dig. 1. 18. 14 nam custodes furiosis non ad hoc solum adhibentur ne quid perniciosius ipsi in se moliantur, sed sqq.) or to anyone suspected of suicidal inclinations (cf. Sen. Contr. 3. 5 minantem sibi ipsi (sc. filiam) custodio). It does not apply to persons afraid; they may sometimes be glad of company, but do not require surveillance. My only doubt is whether amentem, seldom used of actual insanity, is the right word. Perhaps dementem or furentem, which makes a better match with the participle lugentem.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1970

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References

page 350 note 1 Passages are cited from L. D. Reynolds's Oxford Text (1965). Mr. Reynolds has kindly commented on some of the proposals here advanced, and has saved me from advancing others which were not new.