← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē somnō, famē, et salūte dīdicimus — quōmodo corpus sānum cibō et quiēte sustinētur. Hodiē ad rem trīstiōrem trānsīmus: ad morbōs.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about sleep, hunger, and health — how the healthy body is sustained by food and rest. Today we cross to a sadder matter: to diseases.
Nēmō semper sānus est. Omnēs hominēs interdum aegrotant. Quid est morbus? Morbus est cum corpus nōn rēctē fungitur — cum aliquid in corpore malum est. Et dolor? Dolor est nūntius corporis: “Aliquid malum hīc est! Attende!”
No one is always healthy. All people sometimes become sick. What is disease? Disease is when the body does not function rightly — when something in the body is bad. And pain? Pain is a messenger of the body: “Something bad is here! Pay attention!”
Sed — et hoc est rēs grāvis — morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsissimī. Sī morbus dolet, scīs tē aegrotāre. Sī nōn dolet, fortasse nōn scīs — et morbus crēscit dum tū nihil sentīs.
But — and this is a serious matter — diseases without pain are most dangerous. If a disease hurts, you know that you are sick. If it does not hurt, perhaps you do not know — and the disease grows while you feel nothing.
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Aegrotus the sick one aegrotat. is sick. Cui to whom dolet, it hurts, is he queritur. complains. Morbī diseases sine without dolōre pain sunt are perīculōsī dangerous et and plērumque for the most part lēthālēs. lethal. Febris fever redit returns per by vicēs. turns. Apoplēxia apoplexy ēnecat kills citō. quickly. Scabiēs scabies facit makes prūrītum. itching. Ulcus an ulcer scatet abounds tabō. with pus. Recēns a fresh vulnus wound sānātur. is healed. Quicquid whatever putret rots sordet. stinks. Rōbustus the strong one potest can multum much ferre. bear. Tener the tender one parum little sufferre. can endure.
Aegrotus aegrotat — The sick one (aegrotus) is sick (aegrotat). Another figura etymologica: the adjective and verb share the same root. Aegrotō means “to be sick, be ill.”
Cui dolet, is queritur — He to whom (cui) it hurts (dolet), he (is) complains (queritur). The verb doleō means “to hurt, feel pain”; it can be used impersonally (mihi dolet = “it hurts me”). The deponent verb queror means “to complain, lament.”
Morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsī et plērumque lēthālēs — Diseases (morbī) without (sine) pain (dolōre) are (sunt) dangerous (perīculōsī) and (et) for the most part (plērumque) lethal (lēthālēs). This is important medical wisdom: painless diseases are often the most dangerous because they are not detected early.
Febris redit per vicēs — Fever (febris) returns (redit) by turns (per vicēs). Many fevers are intermittent, coming and going in cycles. The phrase per vicēs means “in turns, alternately.”
Apoplēxia ēnecat citō — Apoplexy (apoplēxia) kills (ēnecat) quickly (citō). Apoplexy (stroke) was known in antiquity as a sudden, often fatal condition. The verb ēnecō means “to kill off, destroy.”
Scabiēs facit prūrītum — Scabies (scabiēs) makes (facit) itching (prūrītum). Scabies is a skin disease caused by mites; prūrītus is the technical term for itching.
Ulcus scatet tabō — An ulcer (ulcus) abounds (scatet) with pus (tabō). The verb scateō means “to gush forth, abound”; tābum is discharge, pus, or corrupt matter.
Recēns vulnus sānātur — A fresh (recēns) wound (vulnus) is healed (sānātur). Fresh wounds heal more easily than old, infected ones.
Quicquid putret sordet — Whatever (quicquid) rots (putret) stinks (sordet). The verb putreō means “to rot, decay”; sordeō means “to be dirty, stink.”
Rōbustus potest multum ferre; tener parum sufferre — The strong one (rōbustus) can (potest) bear (ferre) much (multum); the tender one (tener) [can bear] little (parum) to endure (sufferre). Rōbustus means “strong, hardy”; tener means “tender, delicate, weak.”
Aegrotus aegrotat. The sick one is sick.
Cui dolet, is queritur. He to whom it hurts, complains.
Morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsī et plērumque lēthālēs. Diseases without pain are dangerous and for the most part lethal.
Febris redit per vicēs. Fever returns by turns.
Apoplēxia ēnecat citō. Apoplexy kills quickly.
Scabiēs facit prūrītum. Scabies makes itching.
Ulcus scatet tabō. An ulcer abounds with pus.
Recēns vulnus sānātur. A fresh wound is healed.
Quicquid putret sordet. Whatever rots stinks.
Rōbustus potest multum ferre. The strong one can bear much.
Tener parum sufferre. The tender one can endure little.
Aegrotus aegrotat. Cui dolet, is queritur. Morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsī et plērumque lēthālēs. Febris redit per vicēs. Apoplēxia ēnecat citō. Scabiēs facit prūrītum. Ulcus scatet tabō. Recēns vulnus sānātur. Quicquid putret sordet. Rōbustus potest multum ferre. Tener parum sufferre.
Adiectīvum Verbum Significātiō aegrotus, -a, -um aegrotō, aegrotāre sick / to be sick
The sick person (aegrotus) is defined by being sick (aegrotat).
The verb doleō can be used impersonally with a dative of the person affected:
Latīnē Anglicē Mihi dolet It hurts me / I am in pain Cui dolet To whom it hurts / He who is in pain Caput mihi dolet My head hurts (literally: “the head hurts to me”)
Queror (to complain) is a deponent verb:
Partēs Prīncipālēs queror, querī, questus sum
Tempus Forma Praesēns queror, quereris, queritur Perfectum questus sum Participium querēns (complaining)
Nōmen Gen. Sing. Genus Significātiō morbus, -ī morbī m. disease, sickness febris, -is febris f. fever apoplēxia, -ae apoplēxiae f. apoplexy, stroke scabiēs, -ēī scabiēī f. scabies, mange ulcus, ulceris ulceris n. ulcer, sore vulnus, vulneris vulneris n. wound
Verbum Partēs Prīncipālēs Significātiō aegrotō aegrotō, aegrotāre, aegrotāvī to be sick doleō doleō, dolēre, doluī to hurt, feel pain queror queror, querī, questus sum to complain putreō putreō, putrēre to rot, decay sordeō sordeō, sordēre to be dirty, stink sānō sānō, sānāre, sānāvī, sānātum to heal scateō scateō, scatēre to gush, abound ēnecō ēnecō, ēnecāre, ēnecuī, ēnectum to kill
Adiectīvum Significātiō Oppositus rōbustus, -a, -um strong, hardy tener, -era, -erum tener, -era, -erum tender, delicate rōbustus, -a, -um sānus, -a, -um healthy aeger, aegra, aegrum recēns, recentis fresh, recent vetus, veteris
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō aegrotus, -a, -um adiectīvum sick aegrotō, aegrotāre verbum to be sick doleō, dolēre verbum to hurt, feel pain queror, querī, questus sum verbum (dep.) to complain morbus, -ī (m.) nōmen disease dolor, dolōris (m.) nōmen pain perīculōsus, -a, -um adiectīvum dangerous lēthālis, -e adiectīvum lethal, deadly plērumque adverbium for the most part febris, -is (f.) nōmen fever vicis (gen.) nōmen (defect.) turn, change apoplēxia, -ae (f.) nōmen apoplexy, stroke ēnecō, ēnecāre verbum to kill citō adverbium quickly scabiēs, -ēī (f.) nōmen scabies prūrītus, -ūs (m.) nōmen itching ulcus, ulceris (n.) nōmen ulcer scateō, scatēre verbum to abound, gush tābum, -ī (n.) nōmen pus, discharge vulnus, vulneris (n.) nōmen wound recēns, recentis adiectīvum fresh, recent sānō, sānāre verbum to heal putreō, putrēre verbum to rot sordeō, sordēre verbum to stink, be dirty rōbustus, -a, -um adiectīvum strong, hardy tener, -era, -erum adiectīvum tender, delicate sufferō, sufferre verbum to endure, bear
Ōlim once homō a man quīdam certain Dolōrem Pain ōderat. hated.
“Cūr “why exsistis?” do you exist?” clāmāvit. he cried. “Semper “always mē me vexās! you torment! Cum when caput my head dolet, hurts, labōrāre to work nōn not possum. I can. Cum when dēns my tooth dolet, hurts, edere to eat nōn not possum. I can. Cum when pēs my foot dolet, hurts, ambulāre to walk nōn not possum. I can. Utinam would that numquam never dolōrem pain sentīrem!” I might feel!”
Dolor Pain trīstis sad respondisse to have replied dīcitur: is said: “Mē “me ōdistī, you hate, sed but ego I amīcus a friend tuus your sum, am, nōn not inimīcus.” an enemy.”
Homō the man rīsit: laughed: “Amīcus? “a friend? Tū you quī who mē me torquēs?” torment me?”
Dolor Pain dīxit: said: “Audī “listen mē. to me. Ego I sum am nūntius. a messenger. Cum when caput the head dolet, hurts, dīcō I say tibi: to you: ‘Aliquid ‘something malum bad in in capite the head est. is. Attende! pay attention! Quiēsce! rest! Cūrā care for tē!’ yourself!’
“Cum “when dēns the tooth dolet, hurts, dīcō: I say: ‘Dēns ‘the tooth tuus your aegrotat. is sick. Ī go ad to medicum!’ the doctor!’
“Cum “when pēs the foot dolet, hurts, dīcō: I say: ‘Nōlī ‘do not ambulāre! walk! Pēs the foot requiem rest eget!’ needs!’
“Sine “without mē, me, quōmodo how scīrēs would you know tē yourself aegrotāre?” to be sick?”
Homō the man cōgitāvit thought et and dīxit: said: “Sed “but dolor pain ipse itself malum evil est!” is!”
Dolor Pain respondisse to have replied fertur: is reported: “Nōn “not ego I sum am malum, evil, sed but morbus the disease quem which nūntiō. I announce. Sī if mē me nōn not sentīrēs, you felt, morbus the disease crēsceret would grow dum while tū you nihil nothing scīrēs. would know. Morbī diseases sine without dolōre pain sunt are perīculōsissimī! most dangerous! Tacitī silent veniunt; they come; tacitī silent necant.” they kill.”
Homō the man nunc now intellēxit understood et and dīxit: said: “Ignōsce “forgive mihi, me, Dolor. Pain. Nunc now intellegō I understand tē you esse to be nūntium a messenger fidēlem, faithful, nōn not inimīcum. an enemy. Audiam I shall hear tē you posthāc hereafter et and morbōs diseases cūrābō I shall cure dum while adhūc still parvī small sunt.” they are.”
Ex from illō that diē day homō the man Dolōrem Pain ut as amīcum a friend accēpit accepted — amīcum — a friend sevērum severe quidem, indeed, sed but fidēlem. faithful.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Dolor pain est is nūntius a messenger corporis. of the body. Quī he who eum it audit, hears, morbum disease cūrat cures dum while parvus small est. it is. Quī he who eum it neglegit, neglects, morbum disease sinit allows crēscere. to grow.
Ōlim homō quīdam Dolōrem ōderat. Once a certain man hated Pain.
“Cūr exsistis?” clāmāvit. “Semper mē vexās!” “Why do you exist?” he cried. “You always torment me!”
“Cum caput dolet, labōrāre nōn possum.” “When my head hurts, I cannot work.”
“Cum dēns dolet, edere nōn possum.” “When my tooth hurts, I cannot eat.”
“Cum pēs dolet, ambulāre nōn possum.” “When my foot hurts, I cannot walk.”
“Utinam numquam dolōrem sentīrem!” “Would that I might never feel pain!”
Dolor trīstis respondisse dīcitur: “Mē ōdistī, sed ego amīcus tuus sum, nōn inimīcus.” Pain is said to have replied sadly: “You hate me, but I am your friend, not your enemy.”
Homō rīsit: “Amīcus? Tū quī mē torquēs?” The man laughed: “A friend? You who torment me?”
Dolor dīxit: “Audī mē. Ego sum nūntius.” Pain said: “Listen to me. I am a messenger.”
“Cum caput dolet, dīcō tibi: ‘Aliquid malum in capite est. Attende! Quiēsce! Cūrā tē!’” “When the head hurts, I say to you: ‘Something bad is in the head. Pay attention! Rest! Take care of yourself!’”
“Cum dēns dolet, dīcō: ‘Dēns tuus aegrotat. Ī ad medicum!’” “When the tooth hurts, I say: ‘Your tooth is sick. Go to the doctor!’”
“Cum pēs dolet, dīcō: ‘Nōlī ambulāre! Pēs requiem eget!’” “When the foot hurts, I say: ‘Do not walk! The foot needs rest!’”
“Sine mē, quōmodo scīrēs tē aegrotāre?” “Without me, how would you know that you are sick?”
Homō cōgitāvit et dīxit: “Sed dolor ipse malum est!” The man thought and said: “But pain itself is evil!”
Dolor respondisse fertur: “Nōn ego sum malum, sed morbus quem nūntiō.” Pain is reported to have replied: “I am not evil, but the disease which I announce.”
“Sī mē nōn sentīrēs, morbus crēsceret dum tū nihil scīrēs.” “If you did not feel me, the disease would grow while you knew nothing.”
“Morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsissimī! Tacitī veniunt; tacitī necant.” “Diseases without pain are most dangerous! They come silently; they kill silently.”
Homō nunc intellēxit et dīxit: “Ignōsce mihi, Dolor.” The man now understood and said: “Forgive me, Pain.”
“Nunc intellegō tē esse nūntium fidēlem, nōn inimīcum.” “Now I understand that you are a faithful messenger, not an enemy.”
“Audiam tē posthāc et morbōs cūrābō dum adhūc parvī sunt.” “I shall hear you hereafter and shall cure diseases while they are still small.”
Ex illō diē homō Dolōrem ut amīcum accēpit — amīcum sevērum quidem, sed fidēlem. From that day the man accepted Pain as a friend — a severe friend indeed, but faithful.
Haec fābula docet: Dolor est nūntius corporis. This fable teaches: Pain is a messenger of the body.
Quī eum audit, morbum cūrat dum parvus est. He who hears it cures disease while it is small.
Quī eum neglegit, morbum sinit crēscere. He who neglects it allows disease to grow.
Ōlim homō quīdam Dolōrem ōderat.
“Cūr exsistis?” clāmāvit. “Semper mē vexās! Cum caput dolet, labōrāre nōn possum. Cum dēns dolet, edere nōn possum. Cum pēs dolet, ambulāre nōn possum. Utinam numquam dolōrem sentīrem!”
Dolor trīstis respondisse dīcitur: “Mē ōdistī, sed ego amīcus tuus sum, nōn inimīcus.”
Homō rīsit: “Amīcus? Tū quī mē torquēs?”
Dolor dīxit: “Audī mē. Ego sum nūntius. Cum caput dolet, dīcō tibi: ‘Aliquid malum in capite est. Attende! Quiēsce! Cūrā tē!’ Cum dēns dolet, dīcō: ‘Dēns tuus aegrotat. Ī ad medicum!’ Cum pēs dolet, dīcō: ‘Nōlī ambulāre! Pēs requiem eget!’ Sine mē, quōmodo scīrēs tē aegrotāre?”
Homō cōgitāvit et dīxit: “Sed dolor ipse malum est!”
Dolor respondisse fertur: “Nōn ego sum malum, sed morbus quem nūntiō. Sī mē nōn sentīrēs, morbus crēsceret dum tū nihil scīrēs. Morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsissimī! Tacitī veniunt; tacitī necant.”
Homō nunc intellēxit et dīxit: “Ignōsce mihi, Dolor. Nunc intellegō tē esse nūntium fidēlem, nōn inimīcum. Audiam tē posthāc et morbōs cūrābō dum adhūc parvī sunt.”
Ex illō diē homō Dolōrem ut amīcum accēpit — amīcum sevērum quidem, sed fidēlem.
Haec fābula docet: Dolor est nūntius corporis. Quī eum audit, morbum cūrat dum parvus est. Quī eum neglegit, morbum sinit crēscere.
Dē Argūmentō:
This original fable personifies Pain (Dolor) as a messenger, directly illustrating the Vestibulum’s teaching: morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsī et plērumque lēthālēs. Pain is reframed not as an enemy but as a “severe but faithful friend” — a warning system that enables early treatment.
This continues the series’s theme of bodily signals as messengers, connecting to the previous lesson’s treatment of hunger and satiety.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Optative subjunctive: utinam numquam dolōrem sentīrem! — “Would that I might never feel pain!” (unattainable wish, imperfect subjunctive). -
Contrary-to-fact condition: sī mē nōn sentīrēs, morbus crēsceret — “If you did not feel me, the disease would grow” (imperfect subjunctive in both clauses). -
Indirect statement: intellegō tē esse nūntium fidēlem — “I understand you to be a faithful messenger.” -
Impersonal dolet: caput dolet, dēns dolet, pēs dolet — “the head hurts,” “the tooth hurts,” “the foot hurts.” -
Defective verb ōdī: ōderat — “he hated” (pluperfect form with imperfect meaning, from ōdī).
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō ōdī, ōdisse verbum (def.) to hate exsistō, exsistere verbum to exist vexō, vexāre verbum to torment torqueō, torquēre verbum to twist, torment utinam coniūnctiō would that fidēlis, -e adiectīvum faithful inimīcus, -ī (m.) nōmen enemy nūntiō, nūntiāre verbum to announce tacitus, -a, -um adiectīvum silent necō, necāre verbum to kill sevērus, -a, -um adiectīvum severe, strict posthāc adverbium hereafter adhūc adverbium still, yet sinō, sinere, sīvī, situm verbum to allow
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why morbī diseases sine without dolōre pain sunt are perīculōsiōrēs? more dangerous?
MAGISTER: Quia because dolor pain est is nūntius. a messenger. Sī if morbus a disease dolet, hurts, scīs you know tē yourself aegrotāre. to be sick. Tum then medicum a doctor petis you seek aut or remedium a remedy quaeris. you seek. Sed but sī if morbus the disease nōn not dolet, hurts, nōn not scīs do you know eum it adesse. to be present. Morbus the disease crēscit grows dum while tū you nihil nothing sentīs. feel.
DISCIPULUS: Quī what morbī diseases nōn not dolent? hurt?
MAGISTER: Multī! many! Quīdam some tumōrēs tumors nōn not dolent hurt dōnec until magnī large fīunt. they become. Quaedam certain venēna poisons in in sanguine the blood latent lurk sine without dolōre. pain. Febris fever interdum sometimes lēnis mild vidētur seems sed but perīculōsa dangerous est. is. Apoplēxia apoplexy saepe often sine without praemonitiōne warning venit comes — et — and citō quickly ēnecat! kills!
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo how ergō therefore morbōs diseases sine without dolōre pain invenīmus? do we find?
MAGISTER: Haec this est is ars the art medicōrum! of doctors! Medicī doctors corpus the body exāminant. examine. Signa signs quaerunt they seek quae which tū you ipse yourself nōn not sentīs feel — colōrem — color cutis, of the skin, pulsūs the pulse cordis, of the heart, calōrem the heat corporis. of the body. Sapiēns a wise person est is quī who corpus the body suum his own medicō to a doctor ostendit shows etiam even cum when bene well sē himself sentit. he feels.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what dē about febrī? fever? Cūr why “redit does it “return per by vicēs”? turns”?
MAGISTER: Multae many febrēs fevers nōn not sunt are continuae continuous sed but intermittentēs. intermittent. Veniunt, they come, abeunt, they go away, redeunt. they return. Hoc this medicīs to doctors ūtile useful est is — saepe — often dīcit it tells eīs them quālis what kind of morbus disease sit. it is.
DISCIPULUS: Et and quid what dē about vulneribus? wounds? Cūr why recentia fresh ones facilius more easily sānantur? are healed?
MAGISTER: Vulnus a wound recēns fresh est is pūrum clean — nondum — not yet infectum. infected. Corpus the body statim immediately sānāre to heal incipit. begins. Sed but vulnus a wound vetus old saepe often infectum infected est. is. Putret it rots et and sordet. stinks. Quicquid whatever putret, rots, difficile with difficulty sānātur. is healed.
DISCIPULUS: Cūr why quīdam some hominēs people sunt are rōbustī, strong, aliī others tenerī? tender?
MAGISTER: Partim partly nātūra, by nature, partim partly vīta. by life. Quī he who bene well edit, eats, bene well dormit, sleeps, corpus the body exercet, exercises, rōbustior stronger fit. becomes. Quī he who male badly edit, eats, parum little dormit, sleeps, numquam never corpus the body exercet, exercises, tenerior more tender fit. becomes. Rōbustus the strong one morbīs diseases melius better resistit; resists; tener the tender one facilius more easily aegrotat. becomes sick.
DISCIPULUS: Ergō therefore salūs health in in nostrā our potestāte power est? is?
MAGISTER: Magna a great ex of parte, part, ita! yes! Nōn not omnia all things in in nostrā our potestāte power sunt are — quīdam — some morbī diseases omnēs everyone afficiunt, affect, rōbustōs strong ones et and tenerōs. tender ones. Sed but corpus the body cūrāre, to care for, bene well edere, to eat, satis enough dormīre, to sleep, corpus the body exercēre to exercise — haec — these things omnia all salūtem health tuentur. protect.
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsiōrēs? Master, why are diseases without pain more dangerous?
MAGISTER: Quia dolor est nūntius. Because pain is a messenger.
Sī morbus dolet, scīs tē aegrotāre. If a disease hurts, you know that you are sick.
Tum medicum petis aut remedium quaeris. Then you seek a doctor or seek a remedy.
Sed sī morbus nōn dolet, nōn scīs eum adesse. But if the disease does not hurt, you do not know it is present.
Morbus crēscit dum tū nihil sentīs. The disease grows while you feel nothing.
DISCIPULUS: Quī morbī nōn dolent? What diseases do not hurt?
MAGISTER: Multī! Many!
Quīdam tumōrēs nōn dolent dōnec magnī fīunt. Some tumors do not hurt until they become large.
Quaedam venēna in sanguine latent sine dolōre. Certain poisons lurk in the blood without pain.
Febris interdum lēnis vidētur sed perīculōsa est. Fever sometimes seems mild but is dangerous.
Apoplēxia saepe sine praemonitiōne venit — et citō ēnecat! Apoplexy often comes without warning — and kills quickly!
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo ergō morbōs sine dolōre invenīmus? How therefore do we find diseases without pain?
MAGISTER: Haec est ars medicōrum! This is the art of doctors!
Medicī corpus exāminant. Doctors examine the body.
Signa quaerunt quae tū ipse nōn sentīs — colōrem cutis, pulsūs cordis, calōrem corporis. They seek signs which you yourself do not feel — the color of the skin, the pulse of the heart, the heat of the body.
Sapiēns est quī corpus suum medicō ostendit etiam cum bene sē sentit. Wise is he who shows his body to a doctor even when he feels well.
DISCIPULUS: Quid dē febrī? Cūr “redit per vicēs”? What about fever? Why does it “return by turns”?
MAGISTER: Multae febrēs nōn sunt continuae sed intermittentēs. Many fevers are not continuous but intermittent.
Veniunt, abeunt, redeunt. They come, go away, return.
Hoc medicīs ūtile est — saepe dīcit eīs quālis morbus sit. This is useful to doctors — it often tells them what kind of disease it is.
DISCIPULUS: Et quid dē vulneribus? Cūr recentia facilius sānantur? And what about wounds? Why are fresh ones healed more easily?
MAGISTER: Vulnus recēns est pūrum — nondum infectum. A fresh wound is clean — not yet infected.
Corpus statim sānāre incipit. The body immediately begins to heal.
Sed vulnus vetus saepe infectum est. Putret et sordet. But an old wound is often infected. It rots and stinks.
Quicquid putret, difficile sānātur. Whatever rots is healed with difficulty.
DISCIPULUS: Cūr quīdam hominēs sunt rōbustī, aliī tenerī? Why are some people strong, others tender?
MAGISTER: Partim nātūra, partim vīta. Partly by nature, partly by life.
Quī bene edit, bene dormit, corpus exercet, rōbustior fit. He who eats well, sleeps well, exercises the body, becomes stronger.
Quī male edit, parum dormit, numquam corpus exercet, tenerior fit. He who eats poorly, sleeps little, never exercises the body, becomes more tender.
Rōbustus morbīs melius resistit; tener facilius aegrotat. The strong one resists diseases better; the tender one becomes sick more easily.
DISCIPULUS: Ergō salūs in nostrā potestāte est? Therefore health is in our power?
MAGISTER: Magna ex parte, ita! For the most part, yes!
Nōn omnia in nostrā potestāte sunt — quīdam morbī omnēs afficiunt, rōbustōs et tenerōs. Not all things are in our power — some diseases affect everyone, strong and tender alike.
Sed corpus cūrāre, bene edere, satis dormīre, corpus exercēre — haec omnia salūtem tuentur. But to care for the body, to eat well, to sleep enough, to exercise the body — all these things protect health.
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsiōrēs?
MAGISTER: Quia dolor est nūntius. Sī morbus dolet, scīs tē aegrotāre. Tum medicum petis aut remedium quaeris. Sed sī morbus nōn dolet, nōn scīs eum adesse. Morbus crēscit dum tū nihil sentīs.
DISCIPULUS: Quī morbī nōn dolent?
MAGISTER: Multī! Quīdam tumōrēs nōn dolent dōnec magnī fīunt. Quaedam venēna in sanguine latent sine dolōre. Febris interdum lēnis vidētur sed perīculōsa est. Apoplēxia saepe sine praemonitiōne venit — et citō ēnecat!
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo ergō morbōs sine dolōre invenīmus?
MAGISTER: Haec est ars medicōrum! Medicī corpus exāminant. Signa quaerunt quae tū ipse nōn sentīs — colōrem cutis, pulsūs cordis, calōrem corporis. Sapiēns est quī corpus suum medicō ostendit etiam cum bene sē sentit.
DISCIPULUS: Quid dē febrī? Cūr “redit per vicēs”?
MAGISTER: Multae febrēs nōn sunt continuae sed intermittentēs. Veniunt, abeunt, redeunt. Hoc medicīs ūtile est — saepe dīcit eīs quālis morbus sit.
DISCIPULUS: Et quid dē vulneribus? Cūr recentia facilius sānantur?
MAGISTER: Vulnus recēns est pūrum — nondum infectum. Corpus statim sānāre incipit. Sed vulnus vetus saepe infectum est. Putret et sordet. Quicquid putret, difficile sānātur.
DISCIPULUS: Cūr quīdam hominēs sunt rōbustī, aliī tenerī?
MAGISTER: Partim nātūra, partim vīta. Quī bene edit, bene dormit, corpus exercet, rōbustior fit. Quī male edit, parum dormit, numquam corpus exercet, tenerior fit. Rōbustus morbīs melius resistit; tener facilius aegrotat.
DISCIPULUS: Ergō salūs in nostrā potestāte est?
MAGISTER: Magna ex parte, ita! Nōn omnia in nostrā potestāte sunt — quīdam morbī omnēs afficiunt, rōbustōs et tenerōs. Sed corpus cūrāre, bene edere, satis dormīre, corpus exercēre — haec omnia salūtem tuentur.
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explores the medical wisdom of the Vestibulum, explaining why painless diseases are dangerous and how doctors detect hidden illness. The discussion also addresses the contrast between rōbustus and tener, connecting physical strength to lifestyle choices. The conclusion — salūs magna ex parte in nostrā potestāte est — empowers students while acknowledging limitations.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Temporal dōnec + subjunctive: dōnec magnī fīunt — “until they become large” (anticipatory). -
Indirect question: quālis morbus sit — “what kind of disease it is” (subjunctive). -
Comparative adjectives: perīculōsiōrēs, rōbustior, tenerior — “more dangerous,” “stronger,” “more tender.” -
Partitive ablative: magna ex parte — “for the most part.” -
Infinitive phrase as subject: corpus cūrāre... salūtem tuentur — “to care for the body... protect health.”
Match each Latin word with its meaning:
Latīnē English 1. aegrotus a. pain 2. morbus b. wound 3. dolor c. sick 4. febris d. disease 5. vulnus e. fever
Match each verb with its meaning:
Verbum Significātiō 1. aegrotō a. to complain 2. doleō b. to heal 3. queror c. to be sick 4. sānō d. to rot 5. putreō e. to hurt
Give the opposite of each word: -
sānus ↔ __________ -
rōbustus ↔ __________ -
recēns ↔ __________ -
salūs ↔ __________
-
The sick one is sick. -
He to whom it hurts, complains. -
Diseases without pain are dangerous. -
A fresh wound is healed. -
The strong one can bear much.
-
Morbī sine dolōre sunt plērumque lēthālēs. -
Febris redit per vicēs. -
Quicquid putret sordet. -
Rōbustus morbīs melius resistit. -
Dolor est nūntius corporis.
Translate using the impersonal construction with dolet: -
My head hurts = Caput __________ dolet. -
His tooth hurts = Dēns __________ dolet. -
Her foot hurts = Pēs __________ dolet. -
It hurts them = __________ dolet.
Memorize these sentences: -
Aegrotus aegrotat. The sick one is sick. -
Cui dolet, is queritur. He to whom it hurts, complains. -
Morbī sine dolōre sunt perīculōsī et plērumque lēthālēs. Diseases without pain are dangerous and for the most part lethal. -
Recēns vulnus sānātur. A fresh wound is healed. -
Rōbustus potest multum ferre; tener parum sufferre. The strong one can bear much; the tender one can endure little. -
Dolor est nūntius corporis. Pain is a messenger of the body.
-
c (aegrotus = sick) -
d (morbus = disease) -
a (dolor = pain) -
e (febris = fever) -
b (vulnus = wound)
-
c (aegrotō = to be sick) -
e (doleō = to hurt) -
a (queror = to complain) -
b (sānō = to heal) -
d (putreō = to rot)
-
sānus ↔ aeger/aegrotus -
rōbustus ↔ tener -
recēns ↔ vetus -
salūs ↔ morbus
-
Aegrotus aegrotat. -
Cui dolet, is queritur. -
Morbī sine dolōre perīculōsī sunt. -
Recēns vulnus sānātur. -
Rōbustus multum ferre potest.
-
Diseases without pain are for the most part lethal. -
Fever returns by turns. -
Whatever rots stinks. -
The strong one resists diseases better. -
Pain is a messenger of the body.
-
Caput mihi dolet. -
Dēns eī dolet. -
Pēs eī dolet. -
Eīs dolet.
In proximā lectiōne novam partem Vestibulī incipimus — dē vītā domesticā! Aedēs habet vestibulum. Domus habet līmen. Ostium clausum aperītur. Ā corpore et mente ad domum trānsībimus — ubi habitāmus et quōmodo vīvimus!
In the next lesson we begin a new part of the Vestibulum — on domestic life! A building has a vestibule. A house has a threshold. A closed door is opened. We shall cross from body and mind to the house — where we live and how we live!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
---