Quique aliis cavit, non cavet ipse sibi
People had certainly not expected Jed Bartlet to go and become a priest.
Such waste, they said, of such a brilliant young man.
Such nonsense, his father raged, and then added spitefully that it probably was where he belonged.
What a life, Jed Bartlet thought. To care for others, and be close to God, and do a little good in the world.
He couldn't think of any other way to do it.
Qui modo patronus, nunc cupit esse cliens
The guys often came to Jed when they had Girl Issues.
They knew he'd listen and nod, and then say something wise and supportive. And that he'd go right back to being an ass and never speak of it again.
Jed was ok with that. He liked that they felt they could tell him things.
But one day, while Dave confessed that he was scared to death of asking Melanie out for dinner, he spotted a laughing girl with dark brown hair, and for the first time, he wished for someone to confess to himself.
Principio, qod amare velis, reperire labora
He started to spend time in different parts of the library, always close to the girl with the dark brown hair.
He'd watch her from the other side of a bookshelf, or sit across the table and sneak an occasional glance.
He never spoke to her, and she never looked at him.
After two weeks, he scraped up his courage and casually asked Mike-I-know-everyone who she was.
"You mean Abbey? Forget it, old boy. She's out of your league."
Proximus huic labor est placitam exorare puellam
It took another two weeks until he finally spoke to her.
She was sitting at a table, looking something up in a book that didn't look like it was meant to be read.
He carefully chose his moment to walk by and drop a volume into her lap.
"I think this would make for a more interesting read."
Between the first pages of Ovid, she would find a note.
Would you meet me for dinner?
Haec tibi non tenues veniet delapsa per auras
He waited for her outside.
She walked towards him with her eyebrows raised and the book in her left hand.
"A poem on how to get a girl? Are you always that imaginative when you try to ask someone out?"
He shrugged, suddenly less than convinced of what he had thought was a smart idea.
She'd throw the book in his face and write him off as a geek. An arrogant geek. It had happened before.
"You might want to try a little harder at that dinner."
Tertius, ut longo tempore duret amor
A year later, they're sitting in the library again.
"So, I've thought about going into economics."
"Really." She doesn't even look up.
"Yeah. This whole priest thing isn't really what it's cooked up to be."
"You don't say." She carefully copies a line out of the book in front of her.
"I was thinking, you know, maybe we could get married our something."
"Maybe." And finally, she's smiling.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Quique aliis cavit, non cavet ipse sibi - Ars Am., I 84
And who looked out for others does not look out for himself.
Qui modo patronus, nunc cupit esse cliens- Ars Am., I 88
He who used to be counsel now wishes to be client.
Principio, qod amare velis, reperire labora - Ars Am., I 35
First, you must find what you want to love.
Proximus huic labor est placitam exorare puellam - Ars Am., I 37
The next task is to soften the desired girl by asking.
Haec tibi non tenues veniet delapsa per auras - Ars Am., I 43
She won't come to you floating from tenders heavens.
Tertius, ut longo tempore duret amor - Ars Am., I 38
Thirdly, that the love may hold for a long time.