Iuvenis quīdam diū apud Zēnōnem philosophum vīxerat. Domum tandem rediit. Tum pater eum percontātur hīs verbīs: "Quid didicistī, mī fīlī?" Contrā fīlius, "Hoc tibi, pater, mōribus meīs mōnstrābō." Hoc respōnsum aegerrimē ferēns, pater, eum flagrīs lacerāvit. Inquit fīlius, "īram patris ferre didicī."
aeger, aegra, -um: [i] sick; ill [ii] difficult; reluctant > aegrē (adv.) painfully (i.e. emotionally rather than physically) > aegerrimē (superlative adverb): hoc respōnsum aegerrimē ferēns │ taking this reply very badly
flagrum, -ī [2/m]: whip; lash
lacerō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1] tear to pieces; mutilate; Engl. deriv. laceration; in this context ‘lash’ would convey the idea more appropriately
percontor, -ārī, -ātus sum [1/deponent]: inquire; investigate; interrogate; question strictly
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A certain youth had lived for a long time at the house of the philosopher Zeno. Finally he returned home. Then his father questions him with these words ‘What have you learned, my son?’ The son (said) in reply, ‘I shall show you this by my conduct, father.’ Taking this reply very badly the father lashed him with whips. The son said, ‘I have learned (how) to bear a father’s anger.’
