Section 46

Question 1

An vos aliam causam esse ullam putatis cur in tantis praemiis eloquentiae, tanta voluptate dicendi,

Answer 1

Or do you think that there is any other reason why, amid such great rewards for eloquence, such great pleasure in speaking,

Question 2

tanta laude, tanta gratia, tanto honore tam sint pauci semperque fuerint, qui in hoc labore versentur?

Answer 2

such great praise, such great influence, such great prestige, there are so few, and always have been, who are involved in this work?

Question 3

Obterendae sunt omnes voluptates, relinquenda studia delectationis, ludus, iocus, convivium, sermo paene est familiarum deserendus.

Answer 3

All pleasures must be supressed, pursuits of pleasure must be abandoned, love-affairs, joking, banquets, almost the conversation of friends must be abandoned.

Question 4

Quare in hoc genere labor offendit homines a studioque deterret, non quo aut ingenia deficiant aut doctrina puerilis.

Answer 4

Therefore, in this type of work, [it is] toil [that] gives offence to men and deters them from study, not because either their talents or boyhood training are lacking.