Meditations — Page 7
He trod the path beaten by his predecessors, seeking only to do his duty as well as he could, and to keep out corruption.
Siguió el camino trazado por sus predecesores, buscando únicamente cumplir con su deber lo mejor que podía y mantener alejada la corrupción.
He did some unwise things, it is true.
Hizo algunas cosas imprudentes, es cierto.
To create a compeer in empire, as he did with Verus, was a dangerous innovation which could only succeed if one of the two effaced himself; and under Diocletian this very precedent caused the Roman Empire to split into halves.
Crear un igual en el imperio, como hizo con Vero, fue una innovación peligrosa que solo podría tener éxito si uno de los dos se borraba a sí mismo; y bajo Diocleciano ese mismo precedente causó que el Imperio Romano se dividiera en dos mitades.
He erred in his civil administration by too much centralising.
Erró en su administración civil por una excesiva centralización.
But the strong point of his reign was the administration of justice.
Pero el punto fuerte de su reinado fue la administración de justicia.
Marcus sought by-laws to protect the weak, to make the lot of the slaves less hard, to stand in place of father to the fatherless.
Marco buscó leyes para proteger a los débiles, para hacer menos dura la suerte de los esclavos, para actuar como padre de los huérfanos.
Charitable foundations were endowed for rearing and educating poor children.
Se dotaron fundaciones benéficas para la crianza y educación de niños pobres.
The provinces were protected against oppression, and public help was given to cities or districts which might be visited by calamity.
Las provincias fueron protegidas contra la opresión, y se prestó ayuda pública a las ciudades o distritos que pudieran ser azotados por una calamidad.
The great blot on his name, and one hard indeed to explain, is his treatment of the Christians.
La gran mancha en su nombre, y una verdaderamente difícil de explicar, es su trato hacia los cristianos.
In his reign Justin at Rome became a martyr to his faith, and Polycarp at Smyrna, and we know of many outbreaks of fanaticism in the provinces which caused the death of the faithful.
Durante su reinado, Justino en Roma se convirtió en mártir de su fe, y Policarpo en Esmirna, y conocemos muchos brotes de fanatismo en las provincias que causaron la muerte de los fieles.
It is no excuse to plead that he knew nothing about the atrocities done in his name: it was his duty to know, and if he did not he would have been the first to confess that he had failed in his duty.
No es excusa alegar que no sabía nada sobre las atrocidades cometidas en su nombre: era su deber saberlo, y si no lo sabía habría sido el primero en confesar que había fallado en su deber.
Vocabulary
- Siguió
- Followed or continued along a particular path or course.
- el
- The (masculine singular definite article in Spanish).
- camino
- Road, path, or way; journey or course of action.
- trazado
- Traced, drawn, or laid out; also a layout or outline.
- por
- By, through, for, or during; indicates agent or means.
- sus
- His, her, its, or their (possessive adjective plural).
- predecesores
- Predecessors; those who came before in a position.
- buscando
- Searching for, looking for, or seeking something.
- únicamente
- Only, solely, or exclusively; used to limit scope.
- cumplir
- To fulfill, accomplish, or carry out a duty or promise.
- con
- With; preposition indicating accompaniment or association.
- su
- His, her, its, or their (possessive adjective singular).
- deber
- Duty, obligation, or responsibility to someone or something.
- lo
- It, that, or the (neuter direct object pronoun).
- mejor
- Better, best, or in the best possible manner.
- que
- That, which, or who; relative pronoun in Spanish.
- podía
- Could, was able to, or had the ability to do.
- mantener
- To maintain, keep, or support something in a state.
- alejada
- Distant, remote, or kept away from something.
- la
- The (feminine singular definite article in Spanish).
- corrupción
- Corruption; dishonest or immoral conduct and behavior.
- Hizo
- Made, did, or performed an action in the past.
- algunas
- Some, a few, or certain (feminine plural indefinite).
- cosas
- Things, matters, or objects; plural of cosa.
- imprudentes
- Rash, imprudent, or unwise actions lacking careful thought.
- es
- Is; third person singular present tense of ser.
- cierto
- True, certain, sure, or indeed; affirmative statement.
- Crear
- To create, make, or establish something new.
- un
- A, an (masculine singular indefinite article).
- igual
- Equal, same, or peer; one of the same rank.
- en
- In, on, at, or into; preposition of location.
- imperio
- Empire; extensive territory or domain ruled by ruler.
- como
- Like, as, or how; used for comparison or manner.
- hizo
- Made, did, or performed; past tense of hacer.
- fue
- Was; past tense of ser (to be).
- una
- A, an (feminine singular indefinite article).
- innovación
- Innovation; introduction of something new or different.
- peligrosa
- Dangerous, risky, or hazardous; full of danger.
- solo
- Only, solely, or alone; used to limit scope.
- podría
- Could, would be able to, or might be able.
- tener
- To have, possess, or hold something as one's own.
- éxito
- Success, favorable outcome, or positive result achieved.
- si
- If; conditional conjunction used in hypothetical statements.
- uno
- One, a person, or someone (numeral or pronoun).
- de
- Of, from, or about; preposition showing possession or origin.
- los
- The (masculine plural definite article in Spanish).
- dos
- Two; the numeral 2 in Spanish language.
- se
- Itself, himself, herself, or themselves (reflexive pronoun).
- borraba
- Erased, wiped out, or eliminated from existence.
- sí
- Himself, herself, itself, or themselves (reflexive pronoun).
- mismo
- Same, self, or very; emphasizes identity or sameness.
- bajo
- Under, below, or beneath; also means low or short.
- ese
- That (masculine singular demonstrative adjective or pronoun).
- precedente
- Precedent; earlier action or decision that guides future.
- causó
- Caused, brought about, or led to a result.
- Imperio
- Empire; extensive territory or domain ruled by ruler.
- Romano
- Roman; relating to Rome or the Roman civilization.
- dividiera
- Divided; past subjunctive of dividir (to divide).
- mitades
- Halves; plural of mitad, meaning half or portion.
- Erró
- Erred, made a mistake, or acted wrongly.
- administración
- Administration; management or government of affairs.
- civil
- Civil; relating to citizens or civilian matters.
- excesiva
- Excessive, too much, or beyond reasonable limits.
- centralización
- Centralization; concentration of power in one place.
- Pero
- But; conjunction introducing a contrasting statement.
- punto
- Point, dot, or aspect; also a score in games.
- fuerte
- Strong, powerful, or forceful; also a fort.
- reinado
- Reign, rule, or period of a sovereign's authority.
- justicia
- Justice, fairness, or the legal system and its application.
- buscó
- Sought, looked for, or attempted to find something.
- leyes
- Laws, legal rules, or statutes governing society.
- para
- For, in order to, or toward a purpose.
- proteger
- To protect, defend, or guard from harm.
- débiles
- Weak, feeble, or vulnerable persons or things.
- hacer
- To make, do, or perform an action.
- menos
- Less, fewer, or minus; indicates reduction or subtraction.
- dura
- Hard, harsh, or difficult; lasting or enduring.
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