Saturday, April 7, 2012

Quod tibi suspectum est...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), 4.9, with English translations by Duff and Chase.

Quod tibi suspectum est, confestim discute quid sit;
Namque solent, primo quae sunt neglecta, nocere.


Seek quick the truth when once thou dost suspect,
Dangers grow large when nourished by neglect.
(Chase)

Test quickly what it is that you suspect:
Men end by suffering from what they neglect.
(Duff)

Here is the vocabulary:

qui - who, which, that
tu - you
suspectus - mistrusted, suspicious
sum - be, exist
confestim - immediately, at once
discutio - examine, inquire
quid - what
namque - for and in fact
soleo - be accustomed, usual
primus - first (primo - at first)
neglectus - ignored, neglected
noceo - harm, injure