E4Cap32
Chapter — Part IV
Latin
Sed humana potentia admodum limitata est et a potentia causarum externarum infinite superatur atque adeo potestatem absolutam non habemus res quæ extra nos sunt, ad nostrum usum aptandi. Attamen ea quæ nobis eveniunt contra id quod nostræ utilitatis ratio postulat æquo animo feremus si conscii simus nos functos nostro officio fuisse et potentiam quam habemus non potuisse se eo usque extendere ut eadem vitare possemus nosque partem totius naturæ esse cujus ordinem sequimur. Quod si clare et distincte intelligamus, pars illa nostri quæ intelligentia definitur hoc est pars melior nostri, in eo plane acquiescet et in ea acquiescentia perseverare conabitur. Nam quatenus intelligimus nihil appetere nisi id quod necessarium est nec absolute nisi in veris acquiescere possumus adeoque quatenus hæc recte intelligimus eatenus conatus melioris partis nostri cum ordine totius naturæ convenit. Finis quartæ partis
English (Elwes 1883)
But human power is extremely limited, and is infinitely surpassed by the power of external causes; we have not, therefore, an absolute power of shaping to our use those things which are without us. Nevertheless, we shall bear with an equal mind all that happens to us in contravention to the claims of our own advantage, so long as we are conscious, that we have done our duty, and that the power which we possess is not sufficient to enable us to protect ourselves completely; remembering that we are a part of universal nature, and that we follow her order. If we have a clear and distinct understanding of this, that part of our nature which is defined by intelligence, in other words the better part of ourselves, will assuredly acquiesce in what befalls us, and in such acquiescence will endeavour to persist. For, in so far as we are intelligent beings, we cannot desire anything save that which is necessary, nor yield absolute acquiescence to anything, save to that which is true: wherefore, in so far as we have a right understanding of these things, the endeavour of the better part of ourselves is in harmony with the order of nature as a whole.
Modern English
But human power is far too limited and infinitely surpassed by the power of external causes, so we do not have absolute power to adapt things outside us to our use. Yet we will bear with equanimity what happens to us against what our own advantage requires, if we are conscious that we have done our duty and that the power we have could not extend far enough to enable us to avoid it, and that we are a part of the whole of nature, whose order we follow. If we understand this clearly and distinctly, that part of us which is defined by intellect — our better part — will be fully at peace with it and will strive to persist in that peace. For insofar as we understand, we can desire only what is necessary and can find absolute rest only in what is true. And so insofar as we understand this rightly, the striving of our better part agrees with the order of the whole of nature.