Juvenal Satire x 346-367: mens sana in corpore sano, or not?

In his tenth satire Juvenal (late first century –early second century) criticizes human striving after wealth and fame. This satire has an Epicurean and Stoic outlook: we should live according to Nature and not exceed the limits set by her. After a number of examples, Juvenal asks:`ìs there nothing people shall wish for?’ Yes, there is: we can ask for a free mind and live a life a virtue. Once we have this, we don’t need Fortuna any more.

It is in this final part of the satire, that we find the famous dictum: mens sana in corpore sano. Isolated from its context, it is interpreted as something we should work for ourselves. Countless sport schools, clubs and physiotherapist have this as slogan – as if a healthy mind is taken for granted! But within the context it is something people can pray for, if they want something to pray for. For me, having no inclination for total body workouts, this is a great relief!

Juveanl, Satire  x, 346-367

nil ergo optabunt homines? si consilium uis,

permittes ipsis expendere numinibus quid

conueniat nobis rebusque sit utile nostris;

nam pro iucundis aptissima quaeque dabunt di.

carior est illis homo quam sibi. nos animorum               350

inpulsu et caeca magnaque cupidine ducti

coniugium petimus partumque uxoris, at illis

notum qui pueri qualisque futura sit uxor.

ut tamen et poscas aliquid uoueasque sacellis

exta et candiduli diuina tomacula porci,               355

orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.

fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem,

qui spatium uitae extremum inter munera ponat

naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores,

nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil et potiores               360

Herculis aerumnas credat saeuosque labores

et uenere et cenis et pluma Sardanapalli.

monstro quod ipse tibi possis dare; semita certe

tranquillae per uirtutem patet unica uitae.

nullum numen habes, si sit prudentia: nos te,               365

nos facimus, Fortuna, deam caeloque locamus.

expendo expendi expensum: litt. `to pay’, but here ``to decide’

ipsis numinibus: to the very powers that be (a numen is less concrete than a deus.)

pro iucundis: instead of pleasant things

aptissima quaeque dabunt di = di dabunt ea quae aptissima sunt

caecus: blind

coniugium: union (i.e. a marriage)

partum uxoris: and the wife giving birth (partus, partus, m.)

illis: the gods

qui = quales

posco poposci: to ask. pray

voveo vovi votum: to consecrate

sacella: a small temple, shrine

exta extorum: organs

candulus: white

divinus: (here) predicting

tomacula: sausages (note that sacella, candula and tomacula are all diminutives, expressing Juvenal’s contempt for asking the future from the gods.)

porcus:  pig

fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem: pray for a strong mind free from (careo + abl.) fear of death.

extremum: as the least valuable

munus muneris (n.): gift

quieo quivi quitum: to be able, can    

irascor iratus sum: to be angry 

potiores: more preferable  (than the venere etc. of Sardanapalius)

Herculis : Hercules was seen as an example of wisdom by the Stoics. His 12 labours were allegorically explained as exertions for reaching moral perfection

aerumna: hardship, toil

venus vernris (f.) lust

cena: dinner party

pluma: feather,  cushion filled with feathers

Sardanapalius: Assurbanipal (669-627 BC), the last king of Assyria, known for his lavish and luxurious lifestyle.

monstro: to point out

semita certe tranquillae per uirtutem patet unica uitae: a single way (semita) lies open through virtue for a quiet life, (i.e. the practice of a Stoic lifestyle.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenal

Translation by G.G. Ramsay (1918):

Is there nothing then for which men shall pray? If you ask my counsel, you will leave it to the gods themselves to provide what is good for us, and what will be serviceable for our state; for, in place of what is pleasing, they will give us what is best. Man is dearer to them than he is to himself. Impelled by strong and blind desire, we ask for wife and offspring; but the gods know of what sort the sons, of what sort the wife, will be. Nevertheless that you may have something to pray for, and be able to offer to the shrines entrails and presaging sausages from a white porker, you should pray for a sound mind in a sound body; for a stout heart that has no fear of death, and deems length of days the least of Nature's gifts; that can endure any kind of toil; that knows neither wrath nor desire, and thinks that the woes and hard labours of Hercules are better than the loves and the banquets and the down cushions of Sardanapalus. What I commend to you, you can give to yourself; for it is assuredly through virtue that lies the one and only road to a life of peace. Thou wouldst have no divinity, O Fortune, if we had but wisdom; it is we that make a goddess of thee, and place thee in the skies.