2002 Unseens Translation

A. Cicero 2002

(Cicero, governor of Cilicia, fears war with the Parthians; he informs the Senate of the precautions he has taken) Cum ego propter itinerum et navigationum difficultatem serius in meam provinciam venissem, maxime convenire officio meo putavi, parare ea quae ad exercitum et ad rem militarem pertinerent. Quae cum ego cura et diligentia fecissem, et litterae mihi cotidie afferrentur de bello quod a Parthis in provincia Syria gereretur, iter mihi faciendum esse per Cappadociam putavi; erat enim magna suspicio, Parthos, si ex Syria egredi atque irrumpere in meam provinciam conarentur, iter per Cappadociam facturos esse. Itaque cum exercitu per Cappadociam iter feci et castra ad Cybistra locavi, ut rex Parthorum sciret non procul a suis finibus exercitum populi Romani esse. serius: rather late. convenire: to befit. pertinere: to pertain to, to concern.

When I, on account of the difficulty of the journey and the sailing, had come rather late into my province, I thought it greatly fitting to my duty (office) to prepare those things which pertained to the army and to military matters. Which when I had done with with care and diligence, letters were brought to me daily abot the war which was being waged by the Parthians in the Syrian Province, I thought that I should make a journey through Cappadocia; for there was great suspicion that the Parthians, if they tried to come out of Syria and to break into my province, that they would make the journey through Cappadocia. Therefore I journeyed through Cappadocia with an army and located a camp at Cybistra, so that the King of the Parthians might know that the army of the Roman people was not far from his own territory (broders) B. Ovid 2002

(The new year should begin in Spring when everything is fresh and young) dic, age, frigoribus quare novus incipit annus, qui melius per ver incipiendus erat ? omnia tunc florent, tunc est nova temporis aetas: et nova de gravido palmite gemma tumet. et modo formatis operitur frondibus arbor, prodit et in summum seminis herba solum. et tepidum volucres concentibus aëra mulcent, ludit et in pratis luxuriatque pecus. tum blandi soles, ignotaque prodit hirundo et luteum celsa sub trabe figit opus. quare: why? ver: Spring. palmes: vine-shoot. gemma: bud. tumeo: I burst. operio: I cover. prodeo: I come forth. semen (Genitive = seminis): seed. solum: earth. concentus: song. mulceo: I charm. hirundo: swallow (a bird). luteus: of mud. opus: nest.

Come tell why the new year begins with cold were it not better it would begin in Spring? Then everything flowers, then is a new age of time and a new bud bursts from the heavy vine-shoot. and now the tree is covered with beautiful leaves and grass comes forth from seeds on the top of the earth and birds charm the warm air with their song and the cattle play and relax in the meadows then the coaxing sun(s) , and the swallow unknowingly comes forward and makes its nest of mud under a high beam. C. Livy 2002

(A strange happening wins the favour of the king and queen for Servius Tullius)

In regia prodigium visu mirabile fuit. Puero dormienti, cui Servio Tullio fuit nomen, caput arsisse in conspectu multorum ferunt. Plurimo igitur clamore inde ad tantae rei miraculum orto, exciti sunt rex et regina. Cum quidam aquam ad restinguendum ferret, ab regina retentus est; puerum moveri regina vetuit donec sua sponte experrectus esset. Mox somnus et flamma abierunt. Tum regi regina inquit, "Videsne hunc puerum quem tam humili cultu educamus ? Scire licet hunc puerum regiae afflictae praesidium futurum esse. Proinde omni indulgentia nostra nutriamus.” Inde puer in tanto honore fuit non modo apud regem sed apud patres plebemque ut rege tandem mortuo ipse regnum occupaverit. regia: palace. ardeo: I go on fire. ferunt: people say, it is said. restinguo: I extinguish. expergiscor: I awaken. cultus: style. scire licet: anyone can see. nutrio: I rear, support.

In the palace there was a sight, miraculous to behold, They say (ferunt) that the head of a person whose name was Servius Tullius went on fire in the sight of many people. Therefore from this, a huge shout having arisen at the wonder of such a great happening, the King and the Queen were awakened. When a certain person brought water to extinguish the fire, he was held back by the queen; the queen forbade the boy to be moved until he was awakened of his own will. Soon the sleep and the flame went away. Then the queen said to the king, “Do you see this boy whom we are educating in so humble a style? Anyone can see that this boy will be a protection to the afflicted palace. From now on let us rear him with all our indulgence.” From then on the boy was in such great honour not only at the king’s house but also among the senators and the ordinary people that at last when the king died he himself occupied the kingdom. D. Virgil 2002

(Palinurus and the Trojans are buffeted by a storm; at last they sight land)

…venti volvunt mare magnaque surgunt aequora; dispersi iactamur gurgite vasto. excutimur cursu et caecis erramus in undis. ipse diem noctemque negat discernere caelo nec meminisse viae media Palinurus in unda. tres adeo incertos caeca caligine soles erramus pelago, totidem sine sidere noctes. quarto terra die primum se attollere tandem visa, aperire procul montes ac volvere fumum. vela cadunt, remis insurgimus, haud mora, nautae annixi torquent spumas. gurges: sea. caecus: dark. discerno: I distinguish. memini (+ Genitive): I remember. caligo: mist. totidem: just as many. volvo (line 9): I roll away. fumus: mist. velum: sail. insurgo: put strength into. annixus: striving. torqueo: I produce.

The winds roll the sea and the great sea rises up, scattered we are tossed about on the vast sea. We are shaken off our course and we wander in the dark waves. Palinurus himself says that he is not able to discern day from night by the sky nor remember the way in the midst of the waves. For three uncertain suns we wander in the misty blind sea, the same number of nights without a star. On the fourth day at last land is seen first to raise itself, the mountains open up afar and smoke rolls, the sails fall, we put strenght on the oars, no delay, the anxious sailors churn up the foam.