Translating the Gesta Francorum
NihilNominis
set about translating the whole of the Gesta Francorum from the Latin
original to English prose. I'm sure that there are plenteous
translations available of this historically important document, but
I'd like to translate it myself for two reasons:
1) The Latin vocabulary is accessible, readable, and useful. It
covers an interesting topic, and so the translation will allow me to
focus upon phrasing, rather than learning new vocabulary, whilst
providing an enjoyable pursuit.
2) The Latin course in which I am enrolled right now, an AP course at
high school, requires rigid, clumsy, literal translations. As such, I
have almost no practice in translating grammatical Latin faithfully
into comprehensible, literary English. This project will give me ten
books of practice.
The text I'm using as source may be found here:
http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/gestafrancorum.html
As I have questions or concerns about a section, I will post them
here. I hope that this group's readers will provide assistance in my
translation efforts.
Sound like fun? Does to me!
Thanks,
NN
-----------
Sean,
An Average Vergil Student
Here endeth.
NihilNominis
paragraph (all I'm touching to-night before bed):
The first sentence is this long (must have been a mediæval Vergil):
"Cum iam appropinquasset ille terminus quem dominus Iesus cotidie suis
demonstrat fidelibus, specialiter in euangelio dicens: "Si quis uult
post me uenire, abneget semetipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur
me" facta est igitur motio ualida per uniuersas Galliarum regiones, ut
si aliquis Deum studiose puroque corde et mente sequi desideraret,
atque post ipsum crucem fideliter baiulare uellet, non pigritaretur
Sancti Sepulchri uiam celerius arripere."
I'm rendering the "cum" as "since", being a conditional for the "facta
est igitur" in the second line.
I'm taking "quem [...] fidelibus" as a parenthetical in commas, and
"specialiter [...] me" into parentheses.
"Ut", I believe, is a result clause, being the result of the "facta
motio"
I have no idea what "pigritaretur" means, but in context I'm rendering
it as "would not delay".
Thus, my translation reads:
"Since already that end, whereof Our Lord Jesus speaketh daily to his
faithful ones (specially in the Gospel where He saith, "If anyone
desireth to come after me, let him deny his very self and let him bear
his cross and follow me"), had approached, a great stirring sounded
through the whole of France, such that if anyone desired to follow God
diligently, and with a pure heart and mind, and if he wished to bear
his cross faithfully, he would not delay, but quickly seize the road
to the Holy Sepulchre".
Critiques? Helps? Anything's welcome.
-NN
------------
B. T. Raven
> Here's the first set of concerns, from the first sentence of the first
> paragraph (all I'm touching to-night before bed):
>
> The first sentence is this long (must have been a mediæval Vergil):
>
> "Cum iam appropinquasset ille terminus quem dominus Iesus cotidie suis
> demonstrat fidelibus, specialiter in euangelio dicens: "Si quis uult
> post me uenire, abneget semetipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur
> me" facta est igitur motio ualida per uniuersas Galliarum regiones, ut
> si aliquis Deum studiose puroque corde et mente sequi desideraret,
> atque post ipsum crucem fideliter baiulare uellet, non pigritaretur
> Sancti Sepulchri uiam celerius arripere."
>
> I'm rendering the "cum" as "since", being a conditional for the "facta
> est igitur" in the second line.
>
> I'm taking "quem [...] fidelibus" as a parenthetical in commas, and
> "specialiter [...] me" into parentheses.
>
> "Ut", I believe, is a result clause, being the result of the "facta
> motio"
>
> I have no idea what "pigritaretur" means, but in context I'm rendering
> it as "would not delay".
Good guess. Pigritor, -ari is be slow, tardy, sluggish per Lewis and
Short. Good luck.
Ed Cryer
"NihilNominis" <nihiln...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:95afa54c-617f-46d6...@q9g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Thus, my translation reads:
-NN
------------
Here endeth.
******
Good idea. History of the First Crusade.
What is the "terminus"? Surely not end of world; nor the infidels'
occupation of Jerusalem. Probably just the writer's old age coming on.
If so then "cum" = when; and the "igitur" is just something like "well
then...".
"Motio". Your translation seems spot on, but I think the grammar of "ut"
is of the form "motio ut ..." great upheaval such that .." Closer to
final than resultant; "movement to ..."
Ed
Weland
and fast read is that you've done a fairly good job.
I'd like to offer you, and members of the group who might want to help,
a proposal. As far as I know there are 2 English translations, one from
1921 and a facing page Latin/English from the 1960s, neither
particularly readily available. I haven't checked Google books.
As one or maybe two people who read this group know, there's a late
antique/early medieval journal online that publishes editions and
translations of texts. I'd like to propose that your translations of
the Gesta become an ongoing series of translations, then when finished
gathered together and placed on the journal's website.
We've done a few translations. In an upcoming issue, I have some Norse
translations, some Latin from Theodulf, and a late antique Latin text,
translated for the first time appearing, so a book or two of the Gesta
would be right at home. (www.heroicage.org)
NihilNominis wrote:
> Here's the first set of concerns, from the first sentence of the first
> paragraph (all I'm touching to-night before bed):
>
> The first sentence is this long (must have been a mediæval Vergil):
>
> "Cum iam appropinquasset ille terminus quem dominus Iesus cotidie suis
> demonstrat fidelibus, specialiter in euangelio dicens: "Si quis uult
> post me uenire, abneget semetipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur
> me" facta est igitur motio ualida per uniuersas Galliarum regiones, ut
> si aliquis Deum studiose puroque corde et mente sequi desideraret,
> atque post ipsum crucem fideliter baiulare uellet, non pigritaretur
> Sancti Sepulchri uiam celerius arripere."
>
> I'm rendering the "cum" as "since", being a conditional for the "facta
> est igitur" in the second line.
Since works, I'd be inclined to a causal "Because", it is because this
terminus approached that the furor spread.
>
> I'm taking "quem [...] fidelibus" as a parenthetical in commas, and
> "specialiter [...] me" into parentheses.
Ok though the quem clause identifies terminus....so I'd take specialiter
in commas and the quem as not.
>
> "Ut", I believe, is a result clause, being the result of the "facta
> motio"
>
Yes.
> I have no idea what "pigritaretur" means, but in context I'm rendering
> it as "would not delay".
Very good...its an intensification of pigro, pigrare, pigravi, pigratus.
NihilNominis
Thanks for the help, and the generally enthusiastic, positive replies
to my idea!
As far as my translation goes, know that I am dedicated to the
project, but that my schedule complicates often, and so I will do much
work when I have time, and little when I cannot...this will vary.
For instance, to-night is rather impossible, as I have work shortly,
then home to bed. This weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will
be out of town, but Monday (MLK Jr. Day) is an entirely free day, so I
should do lots of work then. Thursday; we shall see.
The point: I will finish this project in a timely manner, but the day-
to-day contributions may vary. Bear with me, and do continue to
provide the excellent help which you have done so far.
Thanks,
NN