LITTERÆ
Multilingual literary magazine
Latin
Dorothy Sayers says:
"I will say at once, quite firmly, that the best grounding for education is the Latin
grammar. I say this not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even
a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor and pains of learning almost any
other subject by at least 50 percent."
-- From the National Review.
PHEDRU:
Prologus
Olim (once upon a time) erat in insula Herakleia puer nomine Daimon. Daimon erat filius regis insulae qui Proteus appellabatur. Duas sorores habebat, sed Daimon erat minimus natu. Multi pueri in insula cum Daimone ludebant (played), sed parvus erat. Ubi amici cum Daimone pugnabant, eum saepe superabant.Aesopus auctor quam materiam repperit,
hanc ego polivi versibus senariis.
Duplex libelli dos est: quod risum movet,
et quod prudenti vitam consilio monet.
Calumniari si quis autem voluerit,
quod arbores loquantur, non tantum ferae,
fictis iocari nos meminerit fabulis.Lupus et Agnus
Ad rivum eundem lupus et agnus venerant, siti compulsi. Superior stabat lupus, longeque inferior agnus. Tunc fauce improba latro incitatus iurgii causam intulit;'Cur' inquit 'turbulentam fecisti mihi aquam bibenti? 'Laniger contra timens 'Qui possum, quaeso, facere quod quereris, lupe? A te decurrit ad meos haustus liquor'.
Repulsus ille veritatis viribus 'Ante hos sex menses male' ait 'dixisti mihi'. Respondit agnus'Equidem natus non eram'. 'Pater hercle tuus' ille inquit 'male dixit mihi'; atque ita correptum lacerat iniusta nece.Haec propter illos scripta est homines
fabula qui fictis causis innocentes opprimunt.PHEDRU
(first century A.D.)
Catullus
(original Latin text)
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas!
Catullus
(English translation)
O sparrow that are my sweetheart's pet,
with whom she likes to play, whom to hold in her lap,
to whose pecking to offer her finger-tips
and provoke you to bite sharply
whenever it pleases her, bright-eyed with longing for me,
to engage in some endearing frolic
so that, I fancy, when her fierce passion subsides,
it may prove a diversion for her pain:
to be able to play with you, as does your mistress,
and allay the sad cares of my heart
would be as welcome to me as they say
was to the swift-footed girl that golden apple
which loosed her long-tied girdle.
This site and all text and html on it (c) copyright 1995-1999 R R NegenbornDaimon
A short story
Uno die, in litore (shore) Maris Aegaei, Daimon amicique nautas spectabant dum (while) navem parant. Tum navis ab insula ad insulam Naxon (Naxos) navigavit. Navis magna erat, sed priusquam longe navigaverat, subito (suddenly) quattuor serpentes ingentes (huge) e mari in navem serpserunt, navem occupaverunt, tum nautas necaverunt (killed).
Reliqui nautae militesque in litore irati erant. Unus ex eis clamavit: "Multos annos cum serpentibus circum Herakleiam pugnabamus, sed quo modo (how) superabimus? Ubi unam serpentem necamus, duae serpentes e mari serpunt."
Post paucos dies, plures (more) serpentes visae sunt. Tres pueros necaverunt dum in aqua prope (near) litus natant (were swimming). Postero die, serpens sororem Daimonis devoravit dum in litore prope aquam ambulat. Populus perterritus erat.
Rex Proteus nuntios ad oraculum Apollinis in insula Delo (Delos) misit. Oraculum dixit: ‘Iuno serpentes ad insulam Herakleiam misit quod populus Herakleiae amicus populo Deli est, atque nautae ab insula Herakleia ad insulam Delon saepe navigant. Iuno Delon odit quod ibi Latona edidit (gave birth to) Apollinem et Dianam, filium filiamque Iovis. Ubi heros fortis et clarus trans mare ad insulam Herakleiam volabit, Herakleiam liberabit."
Proteus populusque Herakleiae erant miseri. Populus clamabat: "Ubi est vir fortis qui ad insulam Herakleiam trans mare volabit?" Daimon dixit amicis: "Navigabo ad Graeciam et ad insulas Graeciae. Virum fortem petam." Amici riserunt (laughed) ac responderunt: "Numquam (never) invenies (will you find) virum fortem qui Herakleiam liberabit. Tam (so) parvus es." Unus ex pueris, nomine Gyas, qui erat magnus, Daimonem supplantavit (tripped up) atque eum ad terram pepulit (pushed). Daimon surrexit (got up), tum pectus (chest) Gyae percussit (struck). Gyas Daimonem iterum (again) ad terram pepulit, tum eum percussit iterum atque iterum, sed Daimon se non tradidit (did not give up). Tandem, Gyas surrexit. "Si heroem (hero) umquam invenies, rnihi nuntia," dixit.
Daimon ad regem ambulavit. Regem rogavit: "Nonne liberatorem Herakleiae inveniam si ad Graeciam atque ad insulas Graeciae navigabo?"
"Fili, puer parvus es," Proteus respondit. "Necesse erit multa pericula subire (undergo). Si tuam fortitudinem sollertiamque (and cleverness) demonstrabis, te ire (to go) patiar (I shall allow). Certamen (contest) erit inter te et unum ex militibus meis de improviso (without warning). Si eum sine armis, aut telis, aut auxilio superabis, te liberatorem Herakleiae petere (to seek) patiar."
Postridie, Daimon ambulabat ad oppidum ab scopulis (cliffs) super mare ubi sepias (cuttlefish) inter saxa (rocks) captabat. Lineam portabat cum lapide (stone) quem ad extremam (end) lineam adligaverat (had tied). Saepe, Daimon atque alii (other) pueri sepias lapide lineaque ita captabant: ubi sepiae lapidem devorabant, eas ex aqua linea trahebant (pulled). Hodie, Daimon duas sepias captaverat et eas amicis dederat.
Ubi in oppidum ambulavit, subito unus ex amicis qui de consilio regis audiverat, clamavit: "Daimon! Specta!"
Daimon se vertit atque militem magnum spectavit. Miles erat armatus. Dum miles ad Daimonem lente (slowly) ambulat, multi pueri virique convenerunt atque clamabant. Daimon nullum telum portabat. Miles gladium vibravit (brandished).
Miles Daimonem gladio petivit (attacked), sed Daimon ab eo (him) saluit (jumped). Deinde, Daimon lineam cum lapide super suum caput lato circulo agitavit (swung). Miles propius (nearer) non ambulavit. Miles scutum (shield) suum sinistra (left) manu portavit, ergo (therefore) Daimon lapidem ad dextram agitavit. Miles gladio se defendit, sed lapis manum dextram magna vi (force) percussit; tum gladius in terram cecidit (fell). Miles gladium tollere (pick up) non audebat (dare). Cucurrit (ran) ad alium militem qui pilum portabat, sed Daimon crura (legs) pedesque (and feet) militis linea involvit. Miles cecidit. Daimon cum celeritate sustulit (picked up) gladium, tum eum super militem tenebat (held) ac clamavit: "Te trade! (surrender)" Miles magnopere iratus erat, sed se tradidit.
Tum pueri virique magna voce clamaverunt, Daimonem laudaverunt, atque dixerunt: "Gratias deis immortalibus. Fortasse (maybe) liberatorem Herakleiae invenies." Proteus erat elatus (proud). Rex, tamen, erat etiam tristis quod Daimon mox discessurus erat (was going to leave). "Vere, fortis atque sollers es," rex Daimoni dixit. "Si liberatorem Herakleiae invenire cupis (want), licet (it is permitted)."
Postea, rex navem paravit, sed nautae territi sunt. Ab insula Herakleia navigare recusaverunt (refused). "Iuno serpentes misit," dixerunt. "Ab hac insula navigare non licet. Sin (but if) aliquis (someone) ab serpentibus effugiet (escapes), Iuno irata erit."
Itaque rex, quod fortitudine, sollertiaque Daimonis confidebat, atque populum suum liberare cupiebat, Daimoni naviculam (small boat, sailboat) dedit. "Nauta peritus (skilled) es," rex Daimoni dixit. "Fortasse serpentes superabis, et tandem liberatorem Herakleiae invenies. Porta hunc (this) gladium. Neptunus eum primo regi Herakleiae dedit." Daimon gladium spectavit. ln gladio erant verba: "Fortitudo superat."
Postridie, Daimon naviculam suam paravit. Cibum aquamque comparavit. Etiam in naviculam magnum rete (net), funem (rope), atque saxum rotundum ancorae portavit. Perticam (pole) gracilem (thin) atque rete ab latere naviculae super aquam ligavit (tied). Ubi navicula parata erat, Daimon "Valete," patri, matri, sorori, amicisque dixit.
From "Daimon" by Gess, Hirschler, Rogerson, Saltonstall, Longman 1974
Monosticha Catonis (Cato's Monostichs with English translation)
Incipiunt dicta Marci Catonis ad filium suum.
Cum animadverterem quam plurimos graviter in via morum errare, succurrendum opinioni eorum
et consulendum famae existimavi, maxime ut gloriose viverent et honorem contingerent. Nunc
te, fili carissime, docebo, quo pacto morem animi tui componas. Igitur praecepta mea ita
legito, ut intellegas; legere enim et non intelligere neglegere est.
[Since I am aware of how many stray in the path of morals, I thought I should come to the
aid of their understanding and take their reputations into account, so that they might
live with greatest glory and obtain honors. Now I shall teach you, dearest son, how to
fabricate morals for your own mind. There read my precepts, that you may understand; to
read and not to understand is to be negligent.]
1.Itaque deo supplica. So, pray to God.
2.Parentes ama. Love your parents.
3.Cognatos cole. Respect your kindred.
4.Magistrum metue. Fear (respect) your teacher.
5.Datum serva. Keep what is given to you.
6.Fora para. Be careful of the market-place.
7.Cum bonis ambula. Keep company with good people.
8.Antequam voceris, ne accesseris. Don't go until called.
9.Mundus esto. Keep clean.
10.Saluta libenter. Greet freely.
11.Maiori concede. Give way to your superior.
12.Minori parce. Be nice to your inferior.
13.Rem tuam custodi. Keep what you have (your counsels?)
14.Verecundiam serva. Preserve modesty.
15.Diligentiam adhibe. Be diligent.
16.Libros lege. Read books.
17.Quae legeris, memento. Remember what you read.
18.Familiam cura. Take care of your family.
19.Blandus esto. Be nice (be laid back).
20.Irascere ob rem noli. Don't get angry for no reason.
21.Neminem riseris. Don't laugh at anybody.
22.Mutuum da. Give in return.
23.Cui des, videto. Think about to whom you are giving.
24.In iudicio adesto. Stand by (a friend) in court.
25.Ad praetorium stato. Keep in good standing.
26.Convivare raro. Don't party too much.
27.Quod satis est, dormi. Sleep the right amount of time.
28.Iusiurandum serva. Keep your oath.
29.Vino tempera. Don't drink too much.
30.Pugna pro patria. Fight for your country.
31.Nihil temere credideris. Don't be gullible.
32.Tute consule. Give good advice.
33.Meretricem fuge. Flee the prostitute.
34.Litteras disce. Study literature.
35.Nihil mentire. Don't lie.
36.Bono benefacito. Do good to the good.
37.Maledicus ne esto. Don't curse.
38.Existimationem retine. Hold on to your reputation.
39.Aequum iudica. Judge properly.
40.Parentem patienter vince. Overcome your parent with patience.
41.Beneficii accepti esto memor. Remember a good turn.
42.Miserum noli ridere. Don't sneer at the poor.
43.Consultus esto. Be a good guru.
44.Virtute utere. Practice virtue.
45.Iracundiam temporale rege. Control your anger.
46.Trocho lude. Play with the hoop (sic!).
47.Aleam fuge. Spurn dice-playing.
48.Nihil arbitrii virium feceris. Don't be a bully.
49.Minorem non contempseris. Don't sneer at your inferior.
50.Alienum noli concupisci. Don't covet.
51.Coniugem ama. Love your wife.
52.Liberos erudi. Teach your children.
53.Pati legem, quam ipse tuleris. Keep the law you make yourself.
54.Pauca in convivio loquere. Don't talk much at a banquet.
55.Illud stude agere, quod iustum est. Seek to do that which is right.
56.Libenter amorem ferto. Be ready to show affection.
57.Minime iudica. Do not judge.
• ‘Vel duo vel
nemo’ (grammar: count nouns)
• ‘Honey, I’m
home!’ said he... (grammar: non-count nouns)
• Greece or Italy?
(grammar: uter & comp.)
• The Greeks or
the Romans? (boring)
• Married to a
‘Mushroom’ (less boring)
• Arithmetica (grammar:
number words & arithmetic operations)
• Salutationes
• ‘Vestis virum
facit’
• A Noble Slave
• A Trial
• Juppiter
• Ad thermas
STORIES
FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS
a little less easy than most of the rest;
‘baroque’ orthography
• In principio
• Adamus
• Cainus
• Turris
• Diluvium
• Abramus a Deo vocatus
• Unde Isaacus
uxorem duxerit
• ‘Saturnia regna’ (grammar: nominativus cum infinitivo) • De Romanorum exercitu (grammar: the imperfect tense) • De senatu • De moribus M. Catonis • De M. Ciceronis eruditione (grammar: the accusative case)
• De medicae artis origine • Lycurgus • Two Different Cultures (grammar: syntaxis convenientiae) • Ingratitude • Too Lucky a Mortal • De Minerva ejusque cultu
• De aerumnis Sinonis (grammar: past narrative) • A Stupid Story • A Letter
• The Fourteen Hundred:
Basic Latin Vocabulary
• Tips on Dictionary Work
• A classic of Latin pedagogy:
Comenius, Orbis
sensualium pictus (Praefatio, Invitatio, Alphabetum) –
pdf 117 kb
USEFUL LINKS
• Lewis & Short,
Latin Dictionary (at Perseus)
• Allen &
Greenough, Latin Grammar (at Perseus)
• ‘What Do You Want to Know
Today?’ (at UKY)
• Claude Pavur’s Latin
Teaching Materials (at SLU)
• Dr
Jones’s QED Latin Primer
• Latin 1
– a page for Latin beginners by E. H. Smith
• The
AboutCom Guide to Latin Language by Janet Burns
• E. L. Easton:
Latin Online
• DOWNLOAD William
Whitaker’s ‘Words’ (Latin-to-English Dictionary)
• DOWNLOAD
Paul Barrette’s Latin Lexicon
• DOWNLOAD Bob
Hasenfratz’s ‘Lingua Latina’ (morphology & vocabulary drill)
• Monte Cassino Monastery: Latin
Homepage
• LISTEN
TO Weekly World News in Latin (RealAudio at YLE)
Petronius
Petronius’ verses, fractured and translated by Guido Monte
legenda
Petronii saturarum libri = sat.
night
sat.41
dies...nihil est –
dum versas te,
nox fit
the day... is the slightest thing –
just one little move
and the night has fallen
contingency
nos non pluris sumus
quam bullae
human beings
are only bubbles
labyrinth
sat. 58
Qui de nobis?
longe venio, late venio –
solve me
which of us?
I’m going far and wide
solve me
mysteries
sat. 48
dicam tibi
qui de nobis currit
et de loco non movetur,
qui de nobis crescit et minor fit
I’ll tell you which of us running
stays at his own place,
which of us getting smaller grows taller
temptation
sat.72
cum sciamus nos morituros esse,
quare non vivamus ?
we know the end;
why don’t we really live?
echoes sat. 79
haesimus calentes
et transfudimus hinc et hinc labellis
errantes animas
anxiously we embraced each other,
some life breathes to infuse
into our mouths, everywhere
stars
sat. 89
Iam plena Phoebe candidum extulerat
iubar
minora ducens
astra radianti face
a full moon was carrying a pure light,
hand in hand with her sparkling stars
impossible memory
sat.128
animus quod perdidit optat
atque in praeterita
se totus immagine
versat
we love only what is lost
gathering our thoughts only
on the lost imagery
the end
sat. 80
grex agit in scena mimum:
pater ille vocatur,
filius hic, nomen divitis ille tenet -
mox ubi ridendas inclusit pagina
partes, vera redit facies,
adsimulata perit
here is the life comedy:
someone is called the father,
someone else the son, or the rich man –
but after the funny acts,
here is finally the real performance face,
fiction is finished forever