Braggarts 1

[Alastor]

Here's an idea for a new thread: quotes from Roman braggarts. There
should be lots of material out there.

First a quote from Ovid (end of Metamorphoses), spotted by Ed:
Iamque opus exegi, quod nec Iovis ira nec ignis
nec poterit ferrum nec edax abolere vetustas.
cum volet, illa dies, quae nil nisi corporis huius
ius habet, incerti spatium mihi finiat aevi:
parte tamen meliore mei super alta perennis
astra ferar, nomenque erit indelebile nostrum,
quaque patet domitis Romana potentia terris,
ore legar populi, perque omnia saecula fama,
siquid habent veri vatum praesagia, vivam.

(And now the work is done, that Jupiter's anger, fire or sword
cannot
erase, nor the gnawing tooth of time. Let that day, that only has
power
over my body, end, when it will, my uncertain span of years: yet the
best part of me will be borne, immortal, beyond the distant stars.
Wherever Rome's influence extends, over the lands it has civilised, I
will be spoken, on people's lips: and, famous through all the ages,
if
there is truth in poet's prophecies, -vivam - I shall live.)

I'll cut and paste some other quotes here.

[Alastor]

Here's Lucretius, start of Book IV De Rerum Natura:
Avia Pieridum peragro loca nullius ante
trita solo. iuvat integros accedere fontis
atque haurire, iuvatque novos decerpere flores
insignemque meo capiti petere inde coronam
unde prius nulli velarint tempora musae;
primum quod magnis doceo de rebus et artis
religionum animum nodis exsolvere pergo,
deinde quod obscura de re tam lucida pango
carmina, musaeo contingens cuncta lepore. (IV, 1-9)

(Paraphrasing: I'm treading a path through Poetry nobody has trod
before. I enjoy finding and drinking from pure streams and selecting
flowers for an honoured chaplet that the Muses haven't bestowed on
anyone else before, because I'm talking about cool things, Dude,
releasing the mind from tight bonds of superstition, and because I
write so lucidly about difficult stuff, touching everything with
poetic charm.)

[Alastor]

> poetic charm.)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Here is one from Horace, Ode XXX, Book III:

Exegi monumentum aere perennius
regalique situ pyramidum altius,
quod non imber edax, non Aquilo inpotens
possit diruere aut innumerabilis
annorum series et fuga temporum.
Non omnis moriar multaque pars mei
uitabit Libitinam; usque ego postera
crescam laude recens, dum Capitolium
scandet cum tacita uirgine pontifex.

(I've constructed a memorial more enduring than bronze, higher than
Pharaoh's pyramid, which can't be ruined by the eating rain or the
powerless wind or the endless series of years or flight of ages. I
won't die completely, a large part of me will avoid Death; I shall
continue to grow in fame so long as a high priest and hushed Vestal
ascend the Capitol.)

[Ed Cryer]

Rem publicam, Quirites, vitamque omnium vestrum bona, fortunas, coniuges
liberosque vestros atque hoc domicilium clarissumi imperii,
fortunatissimam pulcherrimamque urbem, hodierno die deorum inmortalium
summo erga vos amore, laboribus, consiliis, periculis meis e flamma
atque ferro ac paene ex faucibus fati ereptam et vobis conservatam ac
restitutam videtis.
(Cicero In Catilinam III)
You see this day, O Romans, the republic, and all your lives, your
goods, your fortunes, your wives and children, this home of most
illustrious empire, thus most fortunate and beautiful city, by the great
love of the immortal gods for you, by my labours and counsels and
dangers, snatched from fire and sword, and almost from the very jaws of
fate, and preserved and restored to you.

[Ed Cryer]

Hic est quem legis ille, quem requiris,
toto notus in orbe Martialis
argutis epigrammaton libellis:
cui, lector studiose, quod dedisti
uiuenti decus atque sentienti,
rari post cineres habent poetae.
(Martial)

This man whom you are reading is he whom you seek,
Martial known throughout the world
For his sharp books of epigrams.
The glory that you have given him
While alive and sentient
Few poets get after death.

[Ed Cryer]

ego in hoc natus sum et ad hoc veni in mundum ut testimonium perhibeam
veritati. omnis qui est ex veritate audit meam vocem.
(Jesus to Pilate, according to John)
I was born for this and for this came into the world that I might
deliver testimony to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my
voice.

[Alastor]

Here is an obvious one (why did nobody else come up with it?
Apparently nobody is interested!):

Veni vidi vici

[I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Ceaser]

[Alastor]

Here is a poem from Catullus (avert your eyes if indelicacy offends!).
It's taken from poem number 32:

ne quis liminis obseret tabellam,
neu tibi lubeat foras abire,
sed domi maneas paresque nobis
novem continuas fututiones.
verum si quid ages, statim iubeto:
nam pransus iaceo et satur supinus
pertundo tunicamque palliumque.

[Paraphrase: don't let anyone bolt the door, don't go out either, but
stay at home and prepare yourself for nine stuffings straight off. In
fact if you're restless ask for it now: I'm reclining on the sofa
after a full meal shafting my tunic and cloak.]

Yes but what does it mean?