"Quae vero pestis efficacior ad nocendum quam familiaris inimicus?"(consolatio III.V.41)
In truth, what kind of pestilence is more effective at causing harm than a hostile friend?
Ain't that the truth? A friend knows all your secrets.
S.J. Tester translated this as "and what plague is more able to hurt a man than an enemy who was once a friend?"
I do not know where he gets the 'once' from. I think people can be working to undo you while still wearing the face of friendship. Which is the point I think Boethius wanted to make.
3 comments:
A very acute remark, indeed a good friend might know a lot about you; also nobody can drive you to tears as effectively as your family members. They can hurt better than any stranger because they know you so well.
A question: does "familius" have another meaning than just "friend"?
Yes, a 'familiaris'(the nominative form) can be any member of your household, slave, family member, hanger-on. It basically means anyone you are on intimate terms with.
Definitely very true.
They can hurt better than any stranger because they know you so well.
And why would a stranger want to hurt you so badly? It's usually personal, which implies a pretty strong link.
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