Des devoirs Passage 113

Quam multa passus est Ulixes in illo errore diuturno, cum et mulieribus, si Circe et Calypso mulieres appellandae sunt, inserviret et in omni sermone omnibus affabilem et iucundum esse se vellet! domi vero etiam contumelias servorun ancillarumque pertulit, ut ad id aliquando, quod cupiebat, veniret. At Aiax, quo animo traditur, milies oppetere mortem quam illa perpeti maluisset. Quae contemplantes expendere oportebit, quid quisque habeat sui, eaque moderari nee velle experiri, quam se aliena deceant; id enim maxime quemque decet, quod est cuiusque maxime suum.

How much Ulysses endured during his long wandering, serving even women, if Circe and Calypso are to be called women, and wishing to be agreeable and pleasant to everyone in every conversation! At home he even endured the insults of slaves and maidservants so that he might eventually reach what he desired. But Ajax, given the character attributed to him, would have preferred to meet death a thousand times rather than endure such things. In considering these examples, each person must weigh what is peculiarly his own, regulate it, and not wish to test how well another’s qualities might suit him. For what most befits each person is what is most truly his own.

Que de choses Ulysse supporta pendant sa longue errance! Il se pliait même aux volontés de femmes, si toutefois Circé et Calypso doivent être appelées des femmes, et voulait se montrer affable et agréable envers tous dans toute conversation. Chez lui, il endura même les insultes de ses esclaves et de ses servantes afin de parvenir un jour à ce qu’il désirait. Ajax, avec le caractère que lui attribue la tradition, aurait préféré affronter mille fois la mort plutôt que de supporter cela. En considérant ces exemples, il faudra peser ce que chacun possède en propre, le régler, et ne pas vouloir éprouver combien les qualités d’autrui nous conviendraient. Car ce qui convient le mieux à chacun est ce qui lui appartient le plus en propre.