From the SelectedWorks of Edward H Campbell
Fall October 29, 2015
Medea by Giovanni Boccaccio: A new translation with text and commentary Edward H Campbell, independent scholar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY International License.
Available at: https://works.bepress.com/edward_campbell/36/ P a g e | 1
Commentaries on Greek and Latin Literature
MEDEA
From Giovanni Boccaccio’s Famous Women
A New Translation, with Text, and Commentary
By E. H. Campbell
Draft 1.0 (October 2015)
Campbell’s Commentaries: Bozeman, MT SelectedWorks™
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© E. H. Campbell 2015 All Rights Reserved
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Sigla Inf. = Infinitive mood Interrog. = Interrogative 1st = First person Ion. = Ionic dialect 2nd = Second person Lat. = Latin 3rd = Third person Masc. = Masculine gender Acc. = Accusative case Metaph. = Metaphor Act. = Active voice Mid. = Middle voice Adv. = Adverb Mid./Pass. = Middle/Passive voice Adj. = Adjective Neut. = Neuter gender Aor. = Aorist tense Obj. = Object Art. = Article Op. Cit. = Operas Citatas C. = Common gender Part. = Participle Cf. = Confere, compare! Partic. = Particle Comp. = Comparative Pass. = Passive voice Dat. = Dative case Perf. = Perfect tense Ep. = Epic Pl. = Plural number Esp. = Especially Pluperf. = Pluperfect tense Exclam. = Exclamation Poet. = Poetic Fem. = Feminine gender Prep. = Preposition Freq. = Frequently Pres. = Present tense Gen. = Genitive case Pron. = Pronoun Gk. = Greek Proclit. = Proclitic Hdt. = Herodotus. Sing. = Singular number I.e. = Id est, that is Subst. = Substantive Ibid. = Ibidem, in the same place Superl. = Superlative Imper. = Imperative Viz. = Videre licet, or vidlicet, it should be Imperf. = Imperfect tense seen. Imper. = Imperative mood Voc. = Vocative case Ind. = Indicative mood P a g e | 4
Epitome
Sigla ...... 3
Preface ...... 5
Medea ...... 12
Operas Citatas ...... 36
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Preface
Let me begin by underscoring the purpose of such a meticulous grammatical and syntactical commentary as the one presented here is to make the reading of classical
Greek or Latin as easy for the student as it can possibly be in the hope that those seeking the wisdom of the ancients through these two idioms will continue to pursue it with, or without, the aid of higher education. Although this text may at first appear to be overwhelmingly complicated, in truth any student who understands the Parts of Speech1 and the Case System,2 the Inflection of the Verb,3 and the Principle Rules of Syntax,4 should be able to work themselves through a rather intimidating Latin, or Greek, text more quickly and productively. My methodology intends to leave the ye olde brute force method,5 e.g. Wheelock’s Latin Grammar, and the like, behind by exposing the student to real Latin or Greek, and by providing, to the best of my ability, all of the answers in the footnotes at the bottom of the page, along with a parallel translation.
Armed with this, and the principle textbooks required for this type of inquiry, i.e. a reference grammar and a dictionary, or a lexicon, for either, or both, languages, success should be all but assured. For the rest, who have no particular desire to learn either Latin or Greek, my English translation ought, by itself, prove to be rewarding, especially when
1 Noun, Adjective, Pronoun, Verb, Particle, Prepositions, and Conjunctions. 2 Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative, Ablative, Vocative, and the Locative. 3 Gender, Number, Tense, Voice, and Mood. 4 Cf., Gildersleeve and Lodge, pp. 437-444. 5 I.e., ‘rote memorization,’ e.g., amo, amas, amat…etc. P a g e | 6
compared to the garden variety English translations tendered in today’s classrooms by elucidating the fact that many of them are really not quite as good as Dr. so-in-so would have their students believe. Indeed, many may come to question whether or not those translations of these texts are genuine or fake. That, in a word, is my intention, not to mention the fact that I hope to ignite the fire of desire for the study of these texts, and for the learning those languages, by anyone, and everyone, so happening by.
I should underscore both the absurdity of studying History, of any kind, or of any era, without at least a rudimentary understanding of both languages—for not only was
History invented by a Greek named Herodotus—who remains the best model for all writing of history—but also note that the most relevant kind of history, Roman, would be impossible to either understand, or articulate, without a thorough working knowledge of both languages—and I should not hesitate to ridicule the idea that anyone at all could possibly attain to a college degree in Philosophy without mastering, at least, the Greek— for philosophy without the Greek could be nothing more than utterly laughable—just as the idea that anyone could be named ‘valedictorian’ who did not major in Classics is patently offensive.
For what it’s worth, there is no such thing as oral history, for the historian’s craft is founded on writing. The so-called ‘oral historian’ has conflated the difference between history and a source for history. A teller of tales can only be a source for an historian, just P a g e | 7
as an eyewitness can only be a source to a journalist. But a source cannot themselves also be an historian. There can, on the other hand, and ought to be, as Herodotus himself one time did, at the Olympic Games, a public reading of an historian’s writing. If his work cannot be both read aloud, and be praised, we should understand that the historian has failed in his craft. History is not only supposed to be writing, it should also be expected to be good writing.
But didn’t Socrates himself declare the best wisdom to be the wisdom of the marketplace? He did not mean the so-called ‘marketplace of ideas.’ He most emphatically meant the marketplace. And he also most emphatically opposed the very beginnings of what we now call ‘higher education.’ To conflate ‘marketplace’ with
‘marketplace of ideas,’ thereby permitting what the greatest philosopher of all time openly opposed to take the place of what he openly favored, is the most putrid form of sophistry—for it causes truth and falsehood to change logical places, and for things to be called by their opposite names. The story of how it is that Plato came to live in place called ‘Academia’ is beyond the scope of this document and will not be told here. But it is relatively safe to say, Plato’s academy was not an institution of higher education, for it was not an institution at all. Obviously it was not the marketplace either, it was his own home.6 This document, and its author, neither being a product of, nor emanating from, higher education, fulfills Socratic expectations and demands. And was, therefore, written
6 He having been homeless before it was purchased for him. P a g e | 8
for those of you who seek wisdom in places where it is best found. Obviously, the text presented below is about a woman who, mythologized, or dramatized, or not, once lived, and consequently, it is to be by you read, and understood, with the utmost seriousness.
This here is no place for a skeptic, for whom it is, and always will remain, a book closed.
Not trying to conclusively prove plagiaristic practices on the part of my predecessors, we should not fail to compare both of the two English translations of
Giovanni Boccaccio’s De Mulieribus Claris ordinarily found in American libraries: the first by Guido A. Guarino hails from 1964, the second by Virginia Brown in 2001. Without remarking on the syntactical and grammatical poverty of either, or both, of those books,
I presuppose to point out the striking similarity between the two. Putting as we ought, age before beauty; Guarino’s opening of his translation of Medea thus reads:
“Medea, the most cruel example of ancient wickedness, was daughter of Perseis’
son Aeetes, the famous king of Colchis, and Hypsea his wife. She was quite
beautiful and by far the best trained woman in evil-doing…By intoning
enchantments, she knew perfectly how to disturb the sky, gather winds from their
dens, cause tempests, hold back rivers, brew poisons, make artificial fires for all
kinds of conflagrations, and all other things of this sort. Far worse, her soul was P a g e | 9
not in discord with her arts, for, if those failed, she thought it very easy to use
steel.”7
For the same passage, Virginia Brown penned:
“Medea, the cruelest example of ancient treachery, was the daughter of Aeetes, an
eminent king of Colchis, and his wife Perse. Medea was quite beautiful and by far
the cleverest of witches…She knew perfectly well how, by singing enchantments,
to stir up the heavens, summon the winds from their cave, raise storms, dam
rivers, brew poisons, make incendiary devices, and do all other things of this sort.
Far worse, her character was in keeping with her arts, for, if those failed, Medea
thought nothing of resorting to the sword.”8
Both of those translations being disinteresting alike, it seems to me that Virginia Brown was at least careful enough not to permit three words of Guido Guarino’s translation to appear in a row without quotation marks, but if either of these translators could read
Latin, both were tone deaf to two idioms—English and Latin. It goes without saying that
Oete…regis Colcorum is “Aeetes, King of the Colchians,” and not “king of Colchis.”
There are many other, whether through malpractice, or willful neglect, grammatical and syntactical distortions throughout both of their works. Without belaboring the point, I
7 Op. Cit., Guarino: 35. 8 Op. Cit., Brown: 75. P a g e | 10
leave them all, both mine and theirs, for you to judge—keeping in mind that I do not presuppose to deliver perfection, but only demand works be in good faith done.
Seeing that Medea was such a prominent figure in Greek literature, we could go on and on parsing the sources for the knowing of her existence, and for the knowing of the facts of her life, but it is indeed safe to say that an entire race of people came to be known by her name. According to Herodotus, the Medes took their name from Medea, after Medea, leaving Athens, went there, and they gave to their land the name Media on account of her arrival.
Οἱ δὲ Μῆδοι9 ἄρχοντα10 μὲν παρείχοντο11 Τιγράνην12 ἄνδρα13 Ἀχαιμενίδην,
ἐκαλέοντο14 δὲ πάλαι15 πρὸς πάντων16 Ἄριοι,17 ἀπικομένης18 δὲ Μηδείης19 τῆς
9 masc. nom. pl. of Μῆδος, a Mede. 10 masc. acc. sing. of ἄρχων, ruler, commander. 11 3rd pl. imperf. mid./pass. ind. of παρέχω, hand over, furnish, supply, supply of oneself or from one's own means. 12 Tigranes. 13 masc. acc. sing. of ἀνήρ, man. 14 3rd pl. imperf. mid./pass. ind. of καλέω, call. 15 Adv., long ago. 16 Adj., masc./neut.. gen. pl. of πᾶς, all. 17 masc. nom. pl. of Ἄριοι, Arians. 18 fem. gen. sing. aor. mid. part. of ἀφικνέομαι, come to arrive at, reach. 19 fem. gen. sing. of Μήδεια, Medea. P a g e | 11
Κολχίδος20 ἐξ Ἀθηνέων21 ἐς τοὺς Ἀρίους22 τούτους23 μετέβαλον24 καὶ οὗτοι25 τὸ
οὔνομα.26 Αὐτοὶ27 περὶ28 σφέων29 ὧδε30 λέγουσι31 Μῆδοι.32
The Medes furnished their own leader Tigranes, an Achaemenid, but, long ago,
they all were called Arians, but after the arrival of Medea, the Cochian, from
Athens, to the Arians, they changed the name from this to that. They among
themselves say Medes. (Herodotus, 7.62)
Boccaccio as a Latin author was, despite the false claims made by Edward Hutton,33 whom I doubt could even read Latin at all, was in fact a most subtle master of Latin composition. Unfortunately, the translators before me have failed to carry across his writings in a manner that elucidates their content. The translation of his work has been by no means easy. I sincerely hope this document will both facilitate further study of his
Latin works, and enlighten readers with his wisdom. But as the saying goes: “He who writes for the intelligent, does not write for the many.”
20 fem. gen. sing. of Κόλχος, a Colchian. 21 fem. gen. pl. of Ἀθῆναι, the city of Athens. 22 masc. acc. pl. of Ἄριοι. 23 Adj., masc. acc. pl. of οὗτος, this. 24 3rd pl. aor. act. ind. of μεταβάλλω, change. 25 Adj., masc. nom. pl. of οὗτος. 26 neut. sing., name. 27 Adj., masc. nom. pl. of αὐτός, self. 28 Prep., Causal, to denote the object about or for which one does something. 29 Pron., masc./fem. gen. pl. of σφεῖς, they. 30 Adv., thus. 31 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. of λέγω, say. 32 masc. nom. pl. of Μῆδος. 33 Among other things, Hutton said that, in Latin, Boccaccio did not write with sincerity, that De Mulieribus Claris was written to the sole purpose of entertaining women, and that he never mastered Latin. All of which I declare to be false. P a g e | 12
Medea
Medea, sevissimum34 veteris35 perfidie36 documentum,37 Oete,38 clarissimi39 regis
Colcorum,40 et Perse41 coniugis42 filia fuit:43 formosa44 satis45 et malefitiorum46 longe doctissima.47 Nam, a quocunque48 magistro49 instructa50 sit,51 adeo52 herbarum53 vires54 familiares55 habuit,56 ut nemo57 melius;58 novitque59 plene60 cantato61 carmine62 turbare63 celum,64
34 Adj., superl. neut. sing. of saevus, -a, -um, raging, furious, fierce, violent 35 masc. gen. sing. of vetus, -eris, ancient. 36 neut. of perfidia, -ae, f., faithlessness, treachery, falsehood. 37 neut. sing. of documentum, -i, example, pattern, warning, proof. 38 Aeetes. 39 Adj., superl. masc. gen. sing. of clarus, -a, -um, clear, distinct; renowned, distinguished. 40 masc. gen. pl. of Colchi, Colchians. 41 Perse. 42 fem. gen. sing. of coniunx, -iugis, c., wife or husband. 43 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of sum, to be. 44 Adj., fem. nom. sing. of formosus, -a, -um, beautiful. 45 Adv., enough. 46 neut. gen. pl. of male + facio, evil doing. 47 Noun, superl., fem. nom. sing. of doceo, teacher. 48 Pron., masc. abl. sing. of quis, quid, anyone, anybody, anything. 49 masc. abl. sing. of magister, -tri, teacher. 50 fem. abl. sing. of instruo, -structere, -struxi, -structum, trained, instructed. 51 3rd sing. pres. subj. act. of sum. 52 Adv., to that point, so far; so much; to such an extent. 53 fem. gen. pl. of herba, -ae, plant. 54 fem. nom. acc. pl. of vis, acc. vim, abl. vi; pl. vires, -ium, force, power, strength. 55 Adj., fem. acc. pl. of familiaris, -e, of a household, belonging to a family, domestic, familiar. 56 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of habeo, -ere, -ui, -itum, to have, hold. 57 masc./fem. nom. sing. of nemo, -inis, nobody, no one. 58 Adj., melior, -us, comp. of bonus = ‘better.’ 59 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of nosco, noscere, novi, notum, to become, acquainted with, get knowledge of; to know. 60 Adv., of plenus, full. 61 neut. abl. sing. perf. pass. part. of canto, -are, -avi, -atum, to sing. 62 neut. abl. sing. carmen, -inis, song. 63 pres. act. inf. of turbo, -are, to disturb, throw into disorder or confusion. 64 neut. sing. of caelum, -i, sky. P a g e | 13
Medea,
The most violent example
Of ancient treachery,
Daughter of Aeetes,
Most famous King of the Colchians,
And his wife Perse,
Was good looking enough
And by far
The best teacher
Of evil doings.
And she had such very
Intimate knowledge
Of the power of plants;
Better than anyone,
And well knew how to
Sing a song
To stir-up the sky P a g e | 14
ventos65 ex antro66 ciere,67 tempestates68 movere,69 flumina70 sistere,71 venena72 conficere,73 elaboratos74 ignes75 ad quodcunque76 incendium77 componere78 et huiusmodi79 perficere80 omnia. Nec illi—quod longe peius81 ab artibus82 fuit83 dissonus84 animus;85 nam, deficientibus86 eis,87 ferro88 uti89 arbitrabatur90 levissimum.91
65 masc. acc. pl. of ventus, -i, wind. 66 neut. abl. sing. of antrum, -i, n. a cave. 67 pres. act. inf. of cieo, ciere, civi, citum, to cause to move, to move, to stir. 68 fem. nom./acc pl. of tempestas, -atis, weather, esp. bad weather, storm, tempest. 69 pres. act. inf. of moveo, movere, movi, motum, to move, set in motion, stir. 70 neut. pl. flumen, -inis, a stream; a flowing, a flood. 71 pres. act. inf. of sisto, sistere, stiti, statum, to cause to stand, set, place; to produce, cause to appear; stop. 72 neut. pl. venenum, -i, drug, poison. 73 pres. act inf. of conficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, make, prepare. 74 masc. acc. sing. perf. pass. part. of elaboro, -are, too labor hard, strive, take pains. 75 masc. nom./acc. pl. of ignis, -is, fire. 76 Pron., neut. sing. of quicumque, qaecumque, quodcumque, whoever, whichever, whatever. 77 neut. sing. incendium, -i, fire. 78 pres. act. inf. of compono, -ponere, -posui, -positum, to put, place, lay, set. 79 neut. gen. sing. of hic + modi, = ‘things of this kind.’ 80 pres. act. inf. of perficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, to bring to an end, complete, finish. 81 Adj., comp. neut. sing. of malus = ‘worse.’ 82 fem. dat./abl. pl. of ars, -tis, skill, art. 83 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of sum. 84 Adj., masc. nom. sing. of dissonus, -a, -um, discordant, inharmonious, dissonant. 85 masc. nom. sing. of animus, -i, soul. 86 neut. dat./abl. pl. pres. act. part. of deficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, to do less than one might, to fail. 87 Pron., neut. dat./abl. pl. of is, he, she, it, the one mentioned. 88 neut. abl. sing. of ferrum, -i, sword. 89 pres. pass. inf. of utor, uti, usus sum, make use of, employ. 90 3rd sing. imperf. pass. ind. of arbitror, -ari, to witness; decide, judge, think. 91 Adj., superl. neut. sing. of levis, -e, light, not heavy. P a g e | 15
To cause winds
To howl from a cave,
To cause a storm,
To stop a stream,
To make poisons, and,
By taking pains,
To set fire
To anything whatsoever,
And the doing
Of everything
Of that sort.
And not only that,
What was far worse
Than those arts
Was her dissonant soul;
For if they should fail,
She would judge using a sword,
Not too heavy. P a g e | 16
Hec92 Iasonem93 Thessalum,94 eo95 seculo96 conspicuum97 virtute98 iuvenem,99 a Pelia100 patruo,101 sue102 probitati103 insidiante,104 sub105 pretextu106 gloriosissime107 expeditionis108 missum109 in Colcos110 ad aureum111 surripiendum112 vellus,113 eiusdem114 capta115 prestantia,116 dilexit117 ardenter118 egitque,119 ad eius promerendam120 gratiam, ut, orta121 inter incolas122 seditione,123 patri suscitaretur124 bellum et consequendi125 votum126 Iasoni spatium127 prestaretur.128
92 Adv., ‘here!’ 93 masc. acc. sing. of Iason, -onis, Jason, son of Aeson, king of Thessaly, leader of the expedition of the Argonauts to Colchis to fetch the Golden Fleece. 94 Adj., masc. acc. sing. of Thessalus, -a, -um, Thessalian. 95 Pron., neut. abl. sing. of is, ea, id, he, she, it. 96 neut. abl. sing. of saeculum, -i, a race, generation, age, the people of any time. 97 Adj., masc. acc. sing. of conspicuus, -a, -um, visible; remarkable, striking, conspicuous. 98 masc. abl. sing. of virtus, -utis, manliness, manly excellence; moral excellence, virtue. 99 Adj., masc. acc. sing. of iuvenis, -is, youth. 100 masc. abl. sing. of Pelias, -ae, Pelias, king of Thessaly, who sent Jason to fetch the Golden Fleece in Colchis. 101 masc.. dat./abl. sing. of patruus, father’s brother, uncle. 102 Adv., suus. 103 fem. dat. sing. of probitas, -atis, honesty. 104 masc. sing. pres. act. part. of insidior, -ari, to lie in wait, to lie in ambush; to plot against. 105 Prep. + abl., under. 106 masc. abl. sing. of praetextus, outward appearance; a pretext. 107 Adv., superl. abl. sing. of gloriosus, -a, -um, famous, glorious; boastful, pretentious. 108 fem. gen. sing. of expeditio, -onis, expedition. 109 masc. acc. sing. perf. pass. part. of mitto, mittere, misi, missum, to send, let go. 110 masc. acc. pl. of Colchi. 111 Adj., neut. sing. of aureus, -a, -um, golden. 112 Gerundive, neut. acc. sing. of surripio, -ripere, -ripui, -reptum, to steal. 113 neut. nom. sing., a fleece. 114 Pron., neut. gen. sing. of idem, eadem, idem, the same. 115 neut. pl. perf. pass. part. of capio, capere, cepi, captum, to take, to seize. 116 neut. pl. pres. act. part. of praesto, -stare, -stiti, -stitum, to perform, execute, fulfil. 117 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of diligo, -ligere, -lexi, -lectum, to choose out, hence to prize, love, esteem highly. 118 Adv., hotly, vehemently, violently. 119 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of ago, agere, egi, actum, to set in motion; to drive; to incite into action. 120 Gerundive, fem. acc. sing. of promereo, -ere, -ui, -itum, to deserve. 121 fem. abl. sing. perf. pass. part. of orior, oriri, ortus sum, to rise. 122 masc./fem. acc. pl. of incola,-ae, c., inhabitant. 123 fem. abl. sing. of seditio, -onis, a going apart; hence a civil or military revolt, insurrection, sedition, mutiny. 124 3rd sing. imperf. pass. subj. suscito, -are, arouse from sleep; arouse, excite. 125 Gerundive, neut. gen. sing. of consequor, -sequi, -secutus, to follow, go after. 126 neut. sing. of votum, -i, vow. 127 neut. sing. of spatium, -i, space, extent, room; space of time, period. 128 3rd sing. imperf. pass. subj. of praesto. P a g e | 17
Here now there was this129
Jason, a Thessalian,130
Among this race,
On account of his virtue,131
A distinguished youth132
By his father’s brother Pelius, 133
Plotted against his honesty134
Under the pretext of a most glorious expedition,135
Was sent to the Colchians136
To steal the Golden Fleece;137
The stealing138 of it139
Having been fulfilled,140
He was violently pursued,141
And she in gratitude for his merit,142
By stirring-up the inhabitants in revolt,143
Aroused a war against her father144
And would beforehand promise145
A place for Jason afterwards.146
129 Hec. 130 Iasonem Thessalum. 131 virtute. 132 conspicuum…iuvenem. 133 a Pelia patruo. 134 sue probitati insidiante. 135 sub pretextu gloriosissime expeditionis. 136 missum in Colcos. 137 ad aureum surripiendum vellus. 138 “The Gerundive is the Future Passive Participle, after it has gained the power of conveying the leading idea in its phrase…The Gerundive is thus nearly the equivalent of a Verbal Noun. But it is not yet a complete Verbal Noun. Instead of depending directly on the word which governs the phrase, and itself governing the other word of the phrase…it is still subordinate to that other word, and has to agree with it…It is in thought the leading word, but not yet grammatically so.” (Op. Cit.: Hale and Buck: 609-610, emphasis theirs). 139 eiusdem capta. 140 prestantia. 141 dilexit ardenter egitque. 142 ad eius promerendam gratiam. 143 ut orta inter incolas sedition. 144 patri suscitaretur bellum 145 et…votum…prestaretur. 146 consequendi…Iasoni spatium P a g e | 18
Quis147 hoc etiam148 sensatus149 arbitr
147 Interrog., who? or what? 148 Conj., as yet, still. 149 Adj., masc. nom. sing. of sensatus, -a, -um, gifted with sense, intelligent. 150 3rd sing. pres. pass. subj. of arbitror, witness. 151 masc. gen. sing. of oculus, -i, the eye. 152 Supine, neut. dat. sing. of intueor, -tueri, -tuitus sum, to consider, contemplate, pay attention to; gaze, glance. 153 Adj., superl. masc. gen. sing. of opulentus, -a, -um, rich, wealthy, opulent. 154 neut. sing. of exterminium, -ii, destruction. 155 3rd sing. imperf. pass. subj. of sequor, sequi, secutus sum, to follow. 156 Pron., masc./neut. abl. sing. of is, ea, id. 157 Conj., then, therefore, thereupon, accordingly, consequently. 158 neut. Abl. Sing. perf. pass. part. of patro, -are, to father; hence to accomplish, perform, execute, achieve. 159 neut. abl. sing. of scelus, -eris, crime. 160 masc. gen. sing. of diletus, -us, in gen. a choosing, choice, selection. 161 fem. gen. sing. of iuvenis, -is, c., youth. 162 3rd sing. plup. act. subj. of mereo, -ere, -ui, -itum, to deserve, earn, obtain. 163 masc. nom. sing. perf. pass. part. of amplector, -plecti, -plexus sum, to embrace. 164 Adv., in the same place, or Pron., masc./fem. neut. dat./abl. sing., the same. 165 Pron., masc./fem. abl. sing./pl. of sui, himself, herself, itself, themselves. 166 fem. acc. sing. of patria, -ae, fatherland. 167 fem. acc. sing. of substantia, -ae, substance, essence; property. 168 Adj., fem. acc. sing. of omnis, -e, all, very, whole. 169 fem. nom. sing. pres. act. part. of traho, trahere, traxi, tractum, to draw, drag, 170 Adv., secretly. 171 fem. acc. sing. of fuga, -ae, flight, running away. 172 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of arripio, -ripui, reptum, to seize, lay hold of, take possession of. 173 Adv., not. 174 neut. abl. sing. of grandis, -e, great, large. 175 neut. abl. sing. of facinus, -oris, a deed, action. 176 Adj., contentus, -a, -um, contented. 177 Adj., comp., neut. sing. of malus. 178 masc./fem. acc. sing. of trux, trucis, rough, savage, fierce, grim. 179 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of diverto, -vertere, -versum, to turn different ways. 180 masc. acc. sing. of animus, -i, soul. P a g e | 19
As yet,
What intelligent man
Would be witness to this:
That from one glance of the eyes
At wealth
The destruction of a king,
Would follow?
The crime having been thus accomplished,181
The flower of her youth was chosen for his embrace182
When the former dragged away all the wealth
Of the fatherland.183
Secretly seizing flight,184
Not contented with such a great crime,185
Turned her soul186
To more savage things.187
181 eo igitur patrato. 182 cum dilecti iuvenis meruisset. 183 cum eodem secum patriam substantiam omnem trahens. 184 clam fugam arripuit. 185 nec contenta tam grandi facinore. 186 divertit animum. 187 in peius trucem. P a g e | 20
Arbitrata188 quidem189 Oetam secuturum190 profugos,191 ad eum192 sistendum193 in
Thomitania194 Phasidis195 insula,196 per quam197 secuturo198 transitus199 futurus200 erat,201
Absyrtium202 seu203 Egyaleum204 puerum205 fratrem206 suum,207 quem208 in hoc secum fuge comitem209 traxerat,210 obtruncari211 et eius membra212 passim213 per arva214 dispergi215 iussit,216 ut, dum217 spersa218 miserabilis219 colligeret220 genitor221 et eis lacrimas222 tumulumque223 daret,224 fugientibus225 etiam fuge spatium226 commodaret.227
188 fem. abl. sing. perf. pass. part. of arbitror. 189 Adv., indeed, even. 190 masc. acc. sing. fut. act. part. of sequor, sequi, secutus sum, to follow. 191 Adj., masc. acc. pl. of profugus, -a, -um, flying, fleeing, fugitive. 192 Pron., masc. acc. sing. of is, ea, id. 193 Gerundive, masc. acc. sing. of sisto, -sistere, stiti, statum, to cause to stand, set, place; stop. 194 Tomis. 195 Adj., gen. sing. of Phasis, -dis, the River Phasis 196 fem. nom. sing. of insula, -ae, island. 197 Pron., fem. acc. sing. of qui, quae, quod, who. 198 masc. abl. sing. fut. act. part. of sequor. 199 masc. nom. sing. perf. pass. part. of transeo, -ire, -ii, -itum, to go over, cross, pass over. 200 Adj., masc. nom. sing. of futurus, -a, -um, future part. of sum, about to be, i.e., the future. 201 3rd sing. imperf. act. ind. of sum. 202 masc. acc. sing. of Absyrtus, -i, brother of Medea, killed by his sister on her flight from Colchis. 203 Conj., sive, or. 204 masc. acc. sing. of Aegialeus, -ei, a brother of Medea. 205 masc. acc. sing. of puer, -i, boy. 206 masc. acc. sing. of frater, -tris, brother. 207 Adj., masc. acc. sing. of suus, his own. 208 Pron., masc. acc. sing. of qui. 209 masc. acc. sing. of comes, -itis, c., a fellow-traveler; a companion, a comrade. 210 3rd sing. pluperf. act. ind. of traho. 211 pres. pass. ind. of obtrunco, -are, to cut down, cut to pieces. 212 neut. pl. of membrum, -i, limb. 213 Adv., here and there, up and down, far and wide. 214 Adj., neut. pl. of avarus, -a, -um desirous, covetous, greedy. 215 pres. pass. inf. of dispergo, -spergere, -spersi, -spersum, to scatter. 216 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussum, to order, command, bid. 217 Conj., while. 218 sparsa = neut. pl. perf. pass. part. of spargo, spargere, sparsi, sparsum, to scatter, strew. 219 Adj., masc. gen. sing. of miserabilis, -e, sad. 220 3rd sing. imperf. subj. act. of conligo, -ligere, -legi, -lectum, collect. 221 masc.. nom. sing. of genitor, -oris, father. 222 fem. acc. pl. of lacrima, -ae, a tear. 223 masc. acc. sing. of tumulus, -i, a mound of earth. 224 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of do, dare, dedi, datum, to offer or give; to cause, bring about, put. 225 masc./fem./neut. dat. pl. pres. acct. part. of fugio, fugere, fugi, fugitum, to flee. 226 neut. sing. of spatium, -i, space, extent, room; space or period of time. 227 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of commondo, -are, to make fit, adapt, accommodate. P a g e | 21
She having perceived Aeetes
Would indeed the fugitives be following,228
In order to stop him at Tomis,229
An Island in River Phasis,230
By means of his following her,231
His crossing over being about to be,232
Absyrtus, or Aegialus,
Her own boy brother,233
He in this flight along dragged
As a fellow traveler,234
Was cut to pieces235
And his members ordered
Generously scattered far and wide236
So as, his father, would,
Out of sadness,
Collect the scatterings237
And, in his tears,
Would a burial mound build;238
Accommodating time for their flight.239
228 arbitrate quidem Oetam secuturum profugos. “The so-called Ablative Absolute is an Ablative combined with a participle, and servers to modify the verbal predicate of a sentence.” (Op. Cit., Gildersleeve and Lodge: 409). 229 ad eum sistendum in Thomitania. Terminal Accusitive: “The activity of a verb may be defined by the Point Reached. Hence the rule: Names of Towns and small Islands, when used as limits of Motion Whiter, are put in the Accusative.” (Op. Cit., Gildersleeve and Lodge: 337). 230 Phasidis insula. 231 per quam secuturo. “The means or Instrument is put in the Ablative without a Preposition. The Agent or Doer is put in the Ablative with the Preposition ab (a). The Person Through Whom is put in the Accusative with per.” (Op. Cit., Gilderseelve and Lodge: 401). 232 transitus futurus erat 233 Absyrtium seu Egyaleum puerum fratrem suum. 234 quem in hoc secum fuge comitem traxerat. 235 obtruncari. 236 et eius membra passim per arva dispergi iussit. 237 ut, dum spersa miserabilis colligeret genitor. 238 et eis lacrimas tumulumque daret. 239 fugientibus etiam fuge spatium commodaret. P a g e | 22
Nec eam fefellit240 opinion,241 sic enim factum est. Tandem cum post errores242 plurimos in Thessaliam cum243 Iasone devenisset244 suo245 Esonemque246 socerum,247 tam ex reditu248 nati249 quam ex parta250 victoria251 predaque252 et illustri253 coniugio254 tanta replesset255 letitia,256 ut revocatus257 in floridam258 videretur259 etatem,260
240 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of fallo, -ere, fefelli, falsum, lead astray, cause to be mistaken; cheat. 241 fem. nom. sing. of opinio, -onis, opinion, conjecture, supposition. 242 masc. acc. pl. of error, -oris, a wandering about; wavering, uncertainty; error. 243 “Historical cum.—Cum, when (as), is used in narrative with the Imperfect Subjunctive of contemporaneous action, with the Pluperfect Subjunctive of antecedent action, to characterize the temporal circumstances under which an action took place.” (Op. Cit., Gildersleeve and Lodge: 585, emphases theirs). 244 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of devenio, -venire, -veni, -ventum, to come to, arrive, reach. 245 Adj., masc. dat. sing. of suus, -a, -um. 246 masc. acc. sing. of Aeson, -onis, a Thessalian prince, brother of king Pelias, and father of Jason, who, according to fable, was in extreme old age transformed by the magic arts of Medea into a youth. 247 masc. acc. sing. of soccer, -eri, a father-in-law. 248 Supine, neut. dat. sing. of redeo, -ire, -ii (-ivi), -itum, to go back, come back, return. 249 masc. gen. sing. of natus, part. of nascor, -i, natus sum, to be born. 250 fem. abl. sing. of pario, parere, peperi, partum, to bring forth, to bear. 251 fem. abl. sing. of victoria, -ae, victory. 252 fem. abl. sing of praeda, -ae, plunder, booty. 253 Adj., neut. dat. sing. of illustris, -e, noble, illustrious. 254 neut. dat. sing. of coniugium, -i, marriage. 255 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of repleo, -plere, -plevi, -pletum, to fill again, fill up; to make full, fill, satisfy. 256 fem. abl. sing. of laetitia, -ae, joy, exultation, rejoicing , gladness, pleasure, delight. 257 masc. nom. sing. perf. pass. part. of revoco, -are, to call back, recover. 258 Adj., fem. acc. sing. of floridus, -a, -um, flowery; blossoming; of age, fresh, blooming. 259 3rd sing. imperf. pass. subj. of video, videre, vidi, visum, to see. 260 fem. acc. sing. of aetas, -atis, the life of man, age, lifetime, years. P a g e | 23
Nor did this supposition fail her,
For that indeed was done.
And at last,
After much wandering,261
She, with Jason,262
Into Thessaly,263
And to her father-in-law Aeson,264
Arrived.265
So great,266
On account of the returning to his native land,267
And because of the bearing of the loot from the victory,268
And for his illustrious marriage,269
He270 was so overjoyed271
That he seemed272
To be recovering273
To a flowering274
Age.275
261 tandem cum post errores plurimos. 262 cum Iasone. 263 in Thessaliam. 264 suo Esonemque socerum. 265 devenisset. 266 tam. 267 ex reditu nati. 268 ex parta victoria predaque. 269 et illustri coniugio. 270 Aeson. 271 tanta replesset Letitia. 272 ut…videretur. 273 revocatus. 274 in floridam. 275 etatem. P a g e | 24
Iasoni paratura276 regnum, arte277sua zizaniam278 inter natas279 et Peliam280 sevit281 easque282 misere283 armavit284 in patrem. Ceterum,285 labentibus286 annis,287 exosa288 Iasoni facta289 et ab eodem290 loco291 eius292 Creusa, filia Creontis, Corinthiorum regis, assumpta,293 inpatiens294 fremensque295 cum multa in Iasonem excogitasset,296 eo297 prorupit298 ut ingenio299 suo Creusam Creontisque regiam300 omnem301 assummeret302 igne303 volatili;304 et, spectante305 Iasone, quos ex eo susceperat306 filios trucidaret307 et effugeret308 in
Athenas, ubi, Egeo309 nupta310 regi,
276 fem. nom. sing. fut. act. part. of paro, -are, prepare. 277 fem. abl. sing. ars, artis, a practical skill, an art. 278 neut. pl. of zizania, -orum, a weed. 279 fem. acc. pl. of nata, -ae, daughter. 280 masc. acc. sing. of Pelias, -ae, a king of Thessaly, half-brother of Aeson. Being appointed by Aeson guardian to his son Jason. 281 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of sero, serere, sevi, satum, to sow. 282 Pron., fem. acc. pl. of is, ea, id. 283 Adv., of miser, -era, -erum, sadly, miserably; violently. 284 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of armo, -are, to provide with arms. 285 Adv., for the rest, otherwise. (Op. Cit., Gildersleeve: 491). 286 masc. abl. pl. pres. act. part. of labor, labi, lapsus sum, to glide, slide, fall down, slip. 287 masc. abl. pl. of annus, -i, a circuit of the sun, a year. 288 Adj., fem. abl. sing. of exosus, -a, -um, hating exceedingly. 289 fem. abl. sing. perf. pass. part. of facio, facere, feci, factum. 290 Adv., to the same place; to the same point or person. 291 masc. abl. sing. of locus, -i, place, spot, region. 292 Pron., neut. gen. sing. of is, ea, id. 293 fem. nom. sing. perf. pass. part. of adsumo, -sumere, -sumpsi, -sumptum, to take to oneself. 294 Adj., fem. nom. sing. of impatiens, -entis, unable to bear or to endure. 295 fem. nom. sing. pres. act. part. of fremo, -ere, -ui, -itum, to roar, murmur, growl. 296 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of excogito, -are, to think out, devise, contrive, invent. (excogitasset ). 297 Pron., neut. abl. sing. of is, ea, id. 298 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of prorumpo, -rumpere, -rupi, -ruptum, to cause to break forth, to thrust forth, send forth. 299 neut. abl. sing. of ingenium, -i, nature, natural constitution; character. 300 fem. acc. sing. of regia, -ae, palace. 301 Adj., fem. acc. sing. of omnis, -e, all. 302 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of adsumo, (adsumeret). 303 masc. abl. sing. of ignis, -is, fire. 304 Adj., masc. abl. sing. of volatilis, -e, winged, flying; swift, rapid; fleeting, transitory. 305 masc. abl. sing. pres. act. part. of specto, -are, to look at carefully, contemplate, observe, watch. 306 3rd sing. pluperf. act. ind. of suscipio, -cipere, -cepi, -ceptum, to take up, undertake. 307 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of trucido, -are, to cut to pieces, slaughter, massacre; to demolish, destroy, extinguish. 308 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of effugio, -fugere, -fugi, -fugitum, to flee, fly away, escape. 309 Aegeus, -ei, king of Athens, and father of Theseus. 310 fem. nom. sing. perf. pass. part. of nubo, nubere, nupsi, nuptum, to cover, veil; to be married to. P a g e | 25
Preparing a kingdom for Jason,311
By means of her practical skills,312
Sowed noxious weeds313
Between the daughters314 and Pelias315
And they were shamelessly armed316
Against the fatherland.317
After that, as the years slipped away,318
She, by Jason, hated became,319
And from her position,
Cresua, daughter of Creon,
King of the Corinthians, assumed;
Unable to that endure,
And fuming with rage,
She would, against Jason,
Many things invent;
And it, according to its nature,
Rushed forth
And claimed his Cresua, and all of Creon’s palace
In a swift fire,
And, with Jason watching,
From him his sons took
And cut them to pieces;
And to Athens fled,
Where she became wife of king Aegeus.
311 Iasoni paratura regnum. 312 arte sua. 313 zizaniam…sevit. 314 inter natas. 315 et Peliam. 316 easque misere armavit. 317 in patrem. 318 ceterum labentibus annis. labentibus annis is an Ablative of Time. (Op. Cit., Gildersleeve: 393). 319 exosa Iasoni facta. exosa…facta is an Ablative Absolute. “The so-called Ablative Absolute is an Ablative combined with a participle, and serves to modify the verbal predicate of the sentence.” (Ibid.: 409). Iasoni is a Dative of Interest. (Ibid: 350). P a g e | 26
Cum Medum,320 a se denominatum,321 iam filium suscepisset322 ex eo, et frustra323
Theseum324 redeuntem325 veneno326 temptasset327 occidere,328 tertio329 fugam330 arripuit331 et, cum Iasonis in gratiam332 redisset,333 una334 cum eo omni335 Thesalia ab Agialeo, Pelie filio, pulsi336 repatriavit337 in Colcos senemque338 atque exulem339 patrem340 regno restituit.341 Quid tandem egerit342 quove343 sub celo344 seu345 mortis346 genere347 diem348 clauserit,349 nec legisse350 memini351 nec audisse.352
320 masc. acc. sing. of Medus, -i, son of Medea and Aegeus. 321 masc. acc. sing. perf. pass. part. of denomino, -are, to name. 322 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of suscipio, -cipere, -cepi, -ceptum, to have a child. 323 Adv., in error; without effect, in vain. 324 masc. acc. sing. of Theseus, -ei, a king of Athens and son of Aegeus and Aethra. 325 masc. acc. sing. pres. act. part. of redeo, -ire, -ii (-ivi), -itum, return. 326 neut. abl. sing. of venenum, -i, poison. 327 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of tempto, -are, try. 328 pres. act. inf. of occido, -cidere, -cidi, -cisum, kill. 329 Adj., neut. dat. sing. tertius, -a, -um, third. 330 fem. acc. sing. of fuga, -ae, flight, running away. 331 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of arripio, -ripui, reptum, to seize. 332 fem. acc. sing. of gratia, -ae, gratitude. 333 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of redeo. 334 Adj., fem. nom. sing. of unus, -a, -um, one. 335 Adj., fem. dat. sing. of omnis, -e. 336 neut. gen. sing. perf. pass. part. of pello, pellere, pepuli, pulsum, impel. 337 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of repatrio, -avi, repatriate. 338 masc. acc. sing. of senex, senis, old, aged, elderly. 339 masc. acc. sing. of exsul, exsulis, a banished or exiled person. 340 masc. acc. sing. of pater, -tris, father. 341 3rd sing. pres. act. ind. of restituo, -uere, -ui, -utum, restore. 342 3rd sing. pres. act. ind. of egero, -gerere, -gessi, -gestum, to bear out, carry out. 343 Adv., quovis, to any place at all. 344 neut. abl. sing. of caelum, -i, sky. 345 Conj., sive, or if. 346 fem. gen. sing. of mors, mortis, death. 347 neut. abl. sing. of genus, -eris, race. 348 fem. acc. sing. of dies, -ei, day. 349 3rd sing. perf. act. subj., to close, end, conclude. 350 perf. act. inf. of lego, legere, legi, lectum, to collect; To read out, read aloud, recite; read. 351 1st sing. perf. act. ind. of memini, -nisse, to remember. 352 perf. act. inf., audio, -ire, to hear. P a g e | 27
Right away, had by him a child
Named him Medus, after herself
And, vainly trying to kill Theseus
With poison upon his return,
Seized upon a flight
For the third time,353
And, whereas she returned
To the good graces of Jason,
As one,354 along with him,
And everything Thessalian,
Was by Aegialeus, son of Pelias,
Compelled to repatriate to Colchus
And restored her elderly exiled father to his kingdom
And ultimately, where on Earth355 she went,
Or if she would have been with her people
On the day of her death,
I remember neither reading,
Nor hearing.
353 terito is a Dative of Indirect Object. “The Indirect Object is put in the Dative with Transitive verbs, which already have a Direct Object in the Accusative. Translation, to, for, from. This Accusative becomes the Nominative of the Passive.” (Op. Cit., Gildersleeve: 345). 354 Cf., n 348, supra. 355 lit., sub celo = ‘under the sky.’ P a g e | 28
Sed, ne omiserim,356 non omnis oculis357 prestanda358 licentia359 est. Eis360 enim spectantibus,361 splendors362 cognoscimus,363 invidiam364 introducimus,365 concupiscentias366 attrahimus367 omnes;368 eis agentibus,369 excitatur370 avaritia,371 laudatur372 formositas,373 damnatur374 squalor375 et paupertas376 indigne;377 et cum indocti378 sint379 iudices380 et superficiebus381 rerum382 tantummodo383 credant,384 sacris385 ignominiosa,386 ficta387 veris388 et anxia389 letis390 persepe391 preficiunt;392
356 1st sing. perf. act. subj. of omitto, -mitere, -misi, -missum, leave out, omit. 357 masc. dat. pl. of oculus, -i, the eye. 358 Gerundive, neut. acc. pl. of praesto, -stare, -stiti, -stitum, to stand before. 359 fem. abl. sing. licentia, -ae, freedom, liberty, license. 360 Pron., masc. abl. pl. of is, ea, id. 361 masc. abl. pl. pres. act. part. of specto, -are, look at carefully, contemplate, observe, watch. 362 masc. acc. pl. of splendor, -oris, brilliance, brightness, lustre; distinction. 363 1st pl. pres. act. ind. of cognosco, -gnoscere, -gnovi, -gnitum, to become acquainted with, know, learn. 364 fem. acc. sing. of invidia, -ae, envy. 365 1st pl. pres. act. ind. of introduco, -ducere, -duxi, -ductum, to lead or conduct inside, introduce. 366 fem. acc. pl. of concupiscentia, -ae, an eager desire, longing, concupiscence; ardent sensual longing. 367 1st pl. pres. act. ind. of attraho, -trahere, -traxi, -tractum, to draw to, attract. 368 Adj., masc./fem. acc. pl. of omnis, -e. 369 masc. abl. pl. pres. act. part. of ago, agree, egi, actum, to set in motion, drive. 370 3rd sing. pres. pass. ind. of excito, -are, to rouse forth, arouse, excite. 371 fem. nom. sing. of avaritia, -ae, greed, avarice. 372 3rd sing. pres. pass. ind. of laudo, -are, to praise. 373 fem. nom. sing. of formositas, -atis, beauty. 374 3rd sing. pres. pass. ind. of damno, -are, to cause lossor injury to; to condemn. 375 masc. nom. sing. of squalor, -oris, roughness, stiffness; dirtiness, filthiness, foulness, squalor. 376 fem. nom. sing. paupertas, -atis, poverty. 377 Adv., unworthy. 378 Adj., masc. nom. pl. of indoctus, -a, -um, untaught, untrained, unskilled. 379 3rd pl. pres. act. subj. of sum. 380 masc. nom. acc. pl. of iudex, -icis, a judge. 381 fem. abl. pl. of superficies, -ei, the top, the surface. 382 fem. gen. pl. of res, rei, thing, object, matter, affair. 383 Adv., of such size, of such great measure. 384 3rd pl. pres. act. subj. of credo, -dere, -didi, -ditum, to trust; to entrust something to someone. 385 neut. dat. pl. of sacrum, -i, something sacred. 386 Adj., neut. pl. of ignominiosus, -a, -um, of persons disgraced; disgraceful, shameful. 387 neut. pl. of fictum, -i, false. 388 Adj., neut. pl. of verus, -a, -um, true. 389 Adj., neut. pl. of anxius, -a, -um, anxious. 390 neut. dat. pl. of letum, -i, death. 391 Adv., very often. 392 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. of praeficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, to set over, oversee. P a g e | 29
But I should not have left out:393
Not everything is394
At liberty to stand395
Before the eyes,396
For, by observing through them,397
We come to know splendors,398
We are led to envy,399
We are drawn to everything sensual,400
Through their conduct401
Greed is aroused,402
Beauty is praised,403
Poverty and squalor are condemned as indignity,404
And since they are untrained judges,405
And believe in the superficialities
Of matters of such great size,406
Very often prefer407
The disgraceful to the sacred,408
The false to the true,409
And are anxious for death.410
393 sed ne omiserim. 394 non omnis…est. 395 prestanda licentia. 396 omnis. 397 eis enim spectantibus. 398 splendors cognoscimus. 399 invidiam introducimus. 400 concupiscentias attrahimus omnes. 401 eis agentibus. 402 excitatur avaritia. 403 laudatur formositas. 404 damnatur squalor et paupertas indigne. 405 et cum indocti sint iudices. 406 et superficiebus rerum tantummodo credant. 407 persepe…preficiunt. 408 sacris ignominiosa. 409 ficta veris 410 anxia letis P a g e | 30
Et dum abicienda411 commendant412 et brevi413 blandientia414 tractu,415 inficiunt416 non nunquam animos turpissima417 labe.418 Hi419 nescii420 a formositate,421 etiam inhonesta,422 a lascivis423 gesticulationibus,424 a petulantia425 iuvenili426 mordacibus427 uncis428 capiuntur429 trahuntur430 rapiuntur431 tenenturque;432 et, cum pectoris433 ianua434 sint,435 per eos436 menti437 nuntios438 mictit439 libido,440 per eos cupido441 inflat442 suspiria443 et cecos444 incendit445 ignes,446 per eos emictit447 cor448 gemitus449 et affectus450 suos ostendit451 illecesbres.452
411 Gerundive, neut. acc. pl. of abicio, -icere, -ieci, -iectum, to throw down or away. 412 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. of commendo, -are, to commit to the care, keeping, or protection of anyone. 413 Adv., in a short time, soon. 414 fem. abl. sing. of blandientia, -ae, flattery. 415 Supine, neut. abl. sing. of traho. 416 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. of inficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, to include in the making; to stain, tinge, dye, color. 417 Adj., superl. of turpis, -e, ugly, foul, unsightly, repulsive. 418 fem. abl. sing. of labes, -is, a spot, blot, stain, blemish, defect. 419 Pron., masc. nom. pl. of hic. 420 Adj., masc. pl. of nescius, -a, -um, not knowing, ignorant, unaware. 421 fem. abl. sing. of formositas, -atis, beauty. 422 Adj., fem. abl. sing. of inhonestus, -a, -um, ugly. 423 Adj., neut. abl. pl. of lascivus, -a, -um, wanton, licentious, insolent. 424 fem. abl. pl. of gesticulation, -onis, pantomime, gesticulation. 425 fem. nom. abl. sing. of petulantia, -ae, impudence, pertness, wantonness; offensively bold behavior. 426 Adj., fem. abl. sing. of iuvenilis, -e, youthful, juvenile. 427 Adj., dat. pl. of mordax, -acis, biting, snappish; stinging; satirical. 428 masc. dat. pl. of uncus, -i, a hook, or barb. 429 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. of capio, capere, cepi, captum, seize. 430 3rd pl. pers. pass. ind. of traho, trahere, traxi, tractum, to draw, drag. 431 3rd pl. pres. pass. ind. of rapio, rapere, rapui, raptum, snatch, tear away. 432 3rd pl. pres. pass. ind. of teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum, to hold. 433 neut. gen. sing. of pectus, -oris, the breast. 434 fem. nom. sing. ianua, a door. 435 3rd pl. pres. act. subj. of sum. 436 masc. acc. pl. of is, ea, id, he, she, it. 437 fem. dat. sing. of mens, mentis, mind. 438 Adj., masc. acc. pl. nuntius, -i, a messenger. 439 mittit, 3rd sing. pres. act. ind. of mitto, mittere, misi, missum, to send. 440 fem. nom. sing. of libido, -inis, violent desire. 441 masc./fem. nom. sing. of cupido, -inis, longing, desire. 442 3rd sing. pres. act. ind. of inflo, -are, to blow into; inspire. 443 neut. pl. suspirium, -i, a deep breath, a sigh. 444 Adj., masc. acc. pl. of caecus, -a, -um, blind. 445 3rd sing. pres. act. ind. of incendo, -cendere, -cendi, -censum, to kindle, set fire to, burn. 446 masc. nom./acc. pl. of ignis, -is, fire. 447 emittit, 3rd sing. pres. act. ind. of emitto, -mittere, -misi, -missum, to send forth, sent out, emit. 448 neut. sing. of cor, cordis, the heart. 449 masc. acc. pl. of gemo, gemere, gemui, gemitum, to sigh, groan. 450 masc. nom. sing. of adficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectum, a state of mind. 451 3rd sing. pres. act. inf. of ostendo, -tendere, -tendi, -tentum and –tensum, to hold out, show, display. 452 fem. acc. pl. of inlecebra, -ae, enticement, allurement, charm. P a g e | 31
And while they are entrusted
To the protection of a person
They cast it to the ground
And, through flattery,
It soon drags you down
They stain the souls of not no one
With the most repulsive spot.
These ignoramuses
By beauty,
Even by the ugly,
By insolent gestures,
By youthful boldness,
To stinging hooks,
They seize,
They drag,
They snatch,
And hold ;
And when there should be a door
To the heart,
Through them violent desire
Sends messengers to the mind
Through them
Desire inspires deep breaths
And kindles blinding fires
Through them the heart emits a groan
And a state of mind shows them
Charms. P a g e | 32
Quos,453 si quis454 recte455 saperet,456 aut clauderet,457 aut in celum458 erigeret,459 aut in terram demergeret.460 Nullum461 illis462 inter463 utrumque464 tutum465 iter466 est; quod si omnino467 peragendum468 sit,469 acri470 sunt cohibendi,471 ne lasciviant,472 freno.473
Apposuit474 illis natura475 fores,476 non ut in somnum477 clauderentur478 solum,479 sed ut obsisterent480 noxiis.481
453 masc. acc. pl. of quis. 454 si quis = if anybody. 455 Adv., rectus, in a straight line, straight, upright, direct, undeviating; direct, right, correct, proper, appropriate, befitting. 456 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of sapio, sapere, sapivi or sapii, to know or understand a thing. 457 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of claudo, claudere, clausi, clausum, to shut, to close, to shut up. 458 neut. sing. of caelum, -i, sky. 459 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of erigo, -rigere, -rexi, -rectum, to set up, to place upright, lift up, erect. 460 3rd sing. imperf. act. subj. of demerge, -mergere, -mersi, -mersum, to sink, to plunge into, dip under. 461 Adj., neut. sing. of nullus, -a, -um, not any, none, no. 462 Pron., masc. abl. pl. of ille, illa, illud, that. 463 Prep., between. 464 neut. acc. sing.of uterque, utraque, utrumque, each of two, both. 465 neut. sing. perf. pass. part. of tueor, tueri, tuitus, and tutus sum, to look at, behold, regard. 466 neut. sing. of iter, itineris, a going, walk, way; journey. 467 Adv., altogether, wholly, entirely, utterly, at all. 468 Gerundive, neut. acc. sing. of perago, -agere, -egi, -actum, To thrust through, pierce through, transfix. 469 3rd sing. pres. act. subj. of sum. 470 Adj., neut. abl. sing., acer, -cris, -cre, sharp. 471 Gerundive, neut. gen. sing. of cohibeo, -ere, -ui, -itum, to hold in, contain, hold together. 472 3rd pl. pres. act. subj. of lascivio, -ire. 473 neut. abl. sing. of frenum, -i, a bridle, curb, bit. 474 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of appono, -ponere, -posui, -positum, to place near. 475 fem. nom. sing. of natura, -ae, nature. 476 Adj., masc. acc. pl. of foris, -is, door, gate. 477 masc. acc. sing. of somnus, -i, sleep. 478 3rd pl. imperf. pass. subj. of claudo. 479 Adj., neut. sing. of solus, -a, -um, alone, only, single, sole. 480 3rd pl. imperf. act. subj. of obsisto, -sistere, -sisti, -situm, to stand, place oneself before or in the way of. 481 fem. dat./abl. pl. of noxia, -ae, hurt, harm, damage, injury. P a g e | 33
If anybody should rightly understand,
He would either shut them,
Or lift them to the sky,
Or lower them to the ground,
Nothing looked at by them
Is the way ;
But if
He should be altogether
Transfixed,
They,
Not to be lacivious,
Are to be restrained
By a sharp bit.
Nature put
Doors upon them
Not only to be shut
In sleep alone,
But to stand in the way
Of crime.
P a g e | 34
Eos482 quippe483 si potens484 clausisset485 Medea, aut aliorsum486 flexisset,487 dum erexit488 avida489 in Iasonem, stetisset490 diutius491 potentia492 patris,493 vita494 fratris495 et sue496 virginitatis497 decus498 infractum:499 que omnia500 horum501 impudicitia502 periere.503
482 Pron., masc. acc. pl. of is, ea, id. 483 Adv., of course, as you see, obviously, as one might expect, naturally, by all means. 484 fem. nom. sing. pres. act. part. of possum, posse, potui, to be able. 485 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of claudo. 486 Adv., in another direction, in another manner, in a different sense 487 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of flecto, flectere, flexi, flexum, to bend, to alter the shape of, to bow, to twist, curve. 488 3rd sing. perf. act. ind. of erigo. 489 Adj., neut. pl. or fem. nom./abl. sing. of avidus, -a, -um, vehemently desiring, longing for. 490 3rd sing. pluperf. act. subj. of sto, stare, steti, statum, to stand. 491 Adv., comp., diu, by day. 492 Adj., neut. pl. of potens, -entis, power. 493 masc. gen. sing. of pater, patris, father. 494 fem. nom. sing. of vita, -ae, life. 495 masc. gen. sing. of frater, fratris, a brother. 496 Adv., of suus. 497 fem. gen. sing. of virginitas, -atis, virginity. 498 neut. sing. of decus, -oris, grace, glory, honor, dignity, splendor, beauty. 499 Adj., neut. sing. of infractus, -a, -um, unbroken. 500 Adj., neut. pl. of omnis, -e. 501 Pron., masc./neut. gen. pl. of hic, haec, hoc, this, this here. 502 fem. nom./abl. sing. of impudicitia, -ae, shamelessness, immodesty, impurity. 503 3rd pl. perf. act. ind. of pereo, -ire, -ii and -ivi, -itum, to go through; to go to waste, be lost, perish, pass away. P a g e | 35
Obviously,
If Medea were able to shut them,
Or would have turned them
In another direction,
When for Jason
Desire was aroused,
The power of her father
The life of her brother,
And the dignity
Of her virginity,
Would have stood unbroken
Longer:
All of this,
Through shamelessness,
Was lost.
P a g e | 36
Operas Citatas
Boccaccio, Giovanni, Famous Women, with an English translation by Virginia Brown,
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press: 2001.
---, Concerning Famous Women, with an English translation by Guido Guarino,
London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd: 1964.
Gildersleeve, B. L., and G. Lodge, Gildersleve’s Latin Grammar, Mineola, NY: Dover
Publications: 2009.
Hale, William Gardner and Carl Darling Buck, A Latin Grammar, Boston, MA: Ginn and
Co.: 1903.
Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley, Cambridge, MA: Harvard
University Press: 1920.
Perseus Digital Library Project, Ed. Gregory R. Crane, Tufts University: Somerville, MA:
2007. URL: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.
Simpson, D. P., Cassell’s Latin Dictionary, Hoboken, NJ, Wiley Publishing: 1968.