News of Composition Board

A orthopedic surgeon friend of mine with a penchant for Latin asked me for help, but my Latin isn't good enough. Basically, he wants to give a Latin name (don't ask me why) to some sort of table that lists important things concerning the patients that are going to be operated (age, place of residence, handedness etc.). In English, it would be something like "Remarks/comments on the Patients to be Operated". He's proposing "De indice ...

Haec est translātiō (vel adaptātiō) mea carminis praeclārī Disneiānī (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blvW8Wp6JFk). Spērō ut vōbīs placeat, sed quālēscunque sint vestrās opīniōnēs, petō ut mihi illās dīcātis, bonās malāsve.

PULCHR'AC BESTIA

Fābul'aeterna'st.
Vēra'st narratiō.
Tum vix amīcī,
Tum hīc coniunctī
Gestō subitō.

Mūtātiō parva'st,
Sed simul magna'st.
Quamquam timidī
Et impārātī,
Pulchr'ac bestia stant!

Nōn exspectātur,
At nōn mūtātur.
Ut anteā fuit
Tam certē erit
Quam sōl oriētur.

Nōn exspectātur,
At nōn mūtātur.
Ut anteā fuit
Tam certē ...

Thank you for your corrections.

Previous episodes

Image of current page


Far into the early spring night Ben-Hur and his friends debate when and how Jesus will proclaim himself king of the Jews. Then, just as Ben-Hur is about to return to his army, a messenger arrives.

Primo autem vere in serum noctis Benhur et amici disputant quando ac quomodo Jesus se regem Judæorum pronuntiaturus sit. Deinde, Benhur jam ad exercitum revertente, nuntius pervenit.

Ἅμα ...

A couple months ago I did some Modern Greek audio for the first couple or so chapters for Athenaze. Let me know what you all think! https://soundcloud.com/johannes-ursinus/sets/athenaze

It wasn't love, it wasn't love.
It was a perfect illusion.
Mistaken for love, it wasn't love.
It was a perfect illusion.
You were a perfect illusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn599R0ZBwg

Ἔρως οὐκ εἶχέ με,
ἀλλ' ἄτη καλή τις.

Thank you for your corrections!

Image of the page.

All the previous pages.


For nearly two years Ben-hur continued to recruit and train his army in the desolate country north of Jerusalem, but whenever possible he secretly joins the crowd that gathers whenever Jesus, the Nazarene, approaches. Finally he is ready to report what he has observed.

Per prope duos annos Benhur permanet contrahens exercensque copias in deserto septentrionali a Hierosolymis, occulte autem ...

Thanks for your corrections!

Previous pages.

Image of current page.


A wild looking, but striking figure draws the gaze of all eyes.

Oculi omnium in hominem vastum vultu at mirabilem finguntur.

Τὤμματα πάντων εἰς ἄνθρωπον ἄγριον τὸ πρόσωπον ἀλλὰ θαυμάσιον ὄντα πήγνυται.

He must be the man they call John the baptist. He is pointing at someone. Hear what he says.

Manifestum est eum Joannem qui Baptista vocatur esse. Ostendit autem aliquem. Audite ...

Thanks for your help!

Previous pages.

Image of current page.



And so, to prepare for the coming of the king, Ben-Hur swiftly raises and trains an army of Galileans, using his own wealth to arm and feed the soldiers. Only a few months have passed when exciting news reaches the camp.

Itaque Benhur, utens suis ipsius opibus ad armandos alendosque milites, mox contrahit et instruit exercitum Galilæorum ut adventum regis paret. Tantum autem paucis mensibus ...

τίς δὴ βιβιλόπαις ἦεν; τίς ὁδοιπορέοι κε
οἶον δὴ ἐθέλων χιλιάδας σταδίων
οὔτε πολυψύχρου νιφετοῦ οὐτ᾽ ἀσπέτου ὄμβρου
οὐτ᾽ οὖν ἡελίου καῦματος ἰδαλίμου
οὔτ᾽ ἄρ ἀμαυρῆς νυκτός ἐέρχθεις, μοῦνον ἐρήμῳ
οἰοπόλῳ κομίσαι ἀγγελίας; τί πάθεν;

νῦν δὲ μαραίνεται ὄψις, ἔπεισι δὲ νύξ* ἐρεβεννή,
οὐδὲ φάος δύναται ἡελίοιο ἰδεῖν.

These are intended in the style of early elegies. The subject matter of the first poem is weird, yes, but more importantly I would like to know ...

ΙΓ' ἄρθρα τῆς Ἰουδαίων πιστέως κατὰ Μωϋσέα τὸν Μαϊμωνίδην·

א - אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה. שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ הוּא בּוֹרֵא וּמַנְהִיג לְכָל הַבְּרוּאִים. וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ עָשָׂה וְעוֹשֶׂה וְיַעֲשֶׂה לְכָל הַמַּעֲשִׂים:

Α'· Πιστεύω τελείᾳ πίστει τὸν Δημιουργὸν τὸν εὐλογητὸν δημουργεῖν τε καὶ ἡγεῖσθαι πάντα τὰ ζῷα, μόνον τὲ ποιεῖν, ποιῆσαι, καὶ ποιέσειν τὰ πάντα.

ב - אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה. שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ הוּא יָחִיד וְאֵין יְחִידוּת כָּמוֹהוּ בְּשׁוּם פָּנִים. וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ אֱלֹהֵינוּ. הָיָה הֹוֶה וְיִהְיֶה: ...