On Fate Passage 47

Optare hoc quidem est, non disputare. Nam neque extrinsecus inpulsam atomum loco moveri et declinare dicis, neque in illo inani, per quod feratur atomus, quicquam fuisse causae, cur ea non e regione ferretur, nec in ipsa atomo mutationis aliquid factum est, quam ob rem naturalem motum sui ponderis non teneret. Ita cum attulisset nullam causam, quae istam declinationem efficeret, tamen aliquid sibi dicere videtur, cum id dicat, quod omnium mentes aspernentur ac respuant.

This is wishing, not arguing. For you do not say that the atom is struck from outside and thus moves from its place and swerves; nor do you say that in the void through which the atom travels there was any cause why it should not move in a straight line; nor has any change occurred within the atom itself on account of which it would not maintain the natural motion of its own weight. Thus, although he has supplied no cause to produce that swerve, he nevertheless seems to himself to be saying something when he says what every mind scorns and rejects.

C’est formuler un vœu, non raisonner. Tu ne dis ni que l’atome, poussé de l’extérieur, change de place et dévie, ni que, dans le vide à travers lequel il se meut, il s’est trouvé quelque cause l’empêchant de suivre une ligne droite; et aucun changement ne s’est produit dans l’atome lui-même qui l’empêchât de conserver le mouvement naturel de son propre poids. Ainsi, sans avoir apporté aucune cause capable de produire cette déclinaison, il croit néanmoins dire quelque chose lorsqu’il avance une proposition que tous les esprits dédaignent et repoussent.