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LadySofia
Member
since 2000-05-16
Posts 238
FL., USA

0 posted 2006-03-19 10:11 AM


(Latine dictum) Persona Gratus

"Ad musa, ex amor,
Ab initio, ex nihilo
Alea iacta est,
Amicus curiae, primus inter pares
Dum spiro, spero,
In flagrante delicto, inter alia
Honoris causa ad hominem,
Dicit: sed mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,
In vento et rapida scribere oportet aqua,
Simpliciter, omnia vincit amor
..."

Lovingly adapted from Catullus while attempting to learn Latine dictum.


"O! quid solutis est beatius curis!
    *Cumm mens onus reponit, ac pergrino
      Labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum
        Desideratoque acquiescimus lecto.
          Hoc est, quod unum est pro laboribus tantis.]
      - Catullus, Carmina (31, 7)"
trans: "O, what is more sweet than when the mind, set free from care, lays its burden down; and, when spent with distant travel, we come back to our home, and rest our limbs on the wished-for bed? This, this alone, repays such toils as these!"

*cumm misspelled due to "mature content" flag (at least it is not premature lol)



[This message has been edited by LadySofia (03-20-2006 07:12 AM).]

© Copyright 2006 Amanda Piatt - All Rights Reserved
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
1 posted 2006-03-19 05:24 PM





Carmen bellus... or something like that. Good read.


Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
2 posted 2006-03-19 05:28 PM


Could we have a translation so we can all enjoy it? I'm afraid I don't know latin...or any latin men..or any latin dances..OH..it's THAT kind of latin....

Just kidding...I admire you for taking on the task. You did a good job!

LadySofia
Member
since 2000-05-16
Posts 238
FL., USA
3 posted 2006-03-20 02:35 AM


Favored Person (Esteemed Friend)

"Towards the muse, out of love,
From the beginning, out of nothing,
The die is cast,
Friend of the court, first among equals,
As long as I breathe, I hope
*In the act of (love), among other things
As a mark of esteem to the person,
What a woman says to her fond lover should be written,
On air or the swift water,
Naturally (simply), love conquers all."

Hope that helps!

Although Catullus is not known for calling to a muse, as is found in Homer and other earlier non-Stoic poets of the time, I felt compelled to do so. I did not stay true to Catullus' use of elegaic couplet (a variation on dactylic hexameter). I believe the line in question is from VALERII CATVLLI CARMINA.

Not sure how Latin should sound? Check this out:

Wilfried Stroh Reads in Latin
Virgil's The Aeneid, Book IV


*Note: Fragrante delicto can be interpreted differently depending on the era of Latine in question; here one preferred archaic form is used as a demonstration, interpret it as you will. Due to changes in belief systems and how Latin words were used during the Middle Ages, this phrase could also be interpreted as: in the very act of committing an offense; red-handed; while the crime is blazing (enflamed or inflammatory). The word "(love)" is used to avoid vulgarity and banality (you may prefer an even softer word, I prefer something more frank, as love is frank and bears one's self to another).

*Sigh* that's what I get for posting in the rated "G" forum...since when did we start silencing and censoring our voices on this forum according to "ratings" and "appropriateness"? Isn't that open to interpretation? I have been a member of this community for six years now, and I have yet to share everything with you. Come on now we're all over the age of 13 here...a sad thing I come back here eager to share my new undergrad works to find censorship on this forum...as a poet I feel ashamed that we have gone this route, a step backwards in modern poesy folks...I feel inhibited now...how can I share in a limited environment? Censorship. It goes against our Constitution in the United States ladies and gents. /cries :'( (For clarification I am referring to my signature-a Latin word is blocked out, due to a modern interpretation) This is in no way an "Open Forum" any more, especially in light of Greco-Roman antiquity, where the idea of the true forum began and was crushed by Caesar. This forum perhaps should instead be entitled *Censored "G" (General/Premature) forum.

I hope you all understand the nature with which I say such things, no animosity implied, but a touch of melancholy as I edit. It is good reasoning with a contemporary argument, if you ask me. Direct inference.

[This message has been edited by LadySofia (03-20-2006 05:28 PM).]

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