Help Please! Loci Antiqui #6 Cicero on Friendship
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:51 pm
This is probably the clumsiest translation I have ever done and I will not rest easy until I get some help fixing it!
Latin: Ego vos hortor ut amicitiam omnibus rebus humanis anteponatis. Sentio equidem, excepta sapientia nihil melius homini a deis immortalibus datum esse. Divitias alii anteponunt; alii salutem; alii potestatem; alii honores; multi etiam voluptates. Illa autem incerta sunt posita non tam in consiliis nostris quam in fortunae vicissitudinibus. Qui autem in vitute summum bonum ponunt, bene illi quidem faciunt; sed ex ipsa virtute amicitia nascitur nec sine virtute amicitia esse potest.
Which I have translated: I urge you in order that every friendship is put before the business of men. I think indeed, except wisdom, nothing is better given by the immortal gods to man. Some put riches before all else, others put health, others put power, others put honor; many even put pleasure before all. However, places in our councils are as uncertain as changes of fortune. Who places virtue as the highest good will indeed accomplish satisfactorily; but virtue is not able to spring forth in friendship without virtue from himself (this sentence doesn't make any sense to me).
Latin: Denique ceterae rew quae petuntur opportunae sunt rebus singulis: divitiae ut eis utaris; honores, ut lauderis; salus ut dolore careas et rebus corporis utaris. Amicitia res plurimus continet; nullo loco excluditur; numquam intempestiva, numquam molesta est. Itaque non aqua, non igne in locis pluribus utimur quam amicitia; nam amicitia secundus res clariores facit et adversas res leviores.
Which I have clumsily translated: At last the remaining matter, they who seek other suitable things are singular: in order that they experience riches; honor, in order that they shall be praised; health, in order that they be without pain and experiences of the body. Friendship is what matters most; it excludes none, is never unseasonable, and never troublesome. So not water, not fire (in locis pluribus utimur: I have NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS!) than friendship; for friendship is the second brightest thing and opposite things are trivial to accomplish.
I'm hoping to finish translating this by tomorrow and will not rest easy until I get it right! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Latin: Ego vos hortor ut amicitiam omnibus rebus humanis anteponatis. Sentio equidem, excepta sapientia nihil melius homini a deis immortalibus datum esse. Divitias alii anteponunt; alii salutem; alii potestatem; alii honores; multi etiam voluptates. Illa autem incerta sunt posita non tam in consiliis nostris quam in fortunae vicissitudinibus. Qui autem in vitute summum bonum ponunt, bene illi quidem faciunt; sed ex ipsa virtute amicitia nascitur nec sine virtute amicitia esse potest.
Which I have translated: I urge you in order that every friendship is put before the business of men. I think indeed, except wisdom, nothing is better given by the immortal gods to man. Some put riches before all else, others put health, others put power, others put honor; many even put pleasure before all. However, places in our councils are as uncertain as changes of fortune. Who places virtue as the highest good will indeed accomplish satisfactorily; but virtue is not able to spring forth in friendship without virtue from himself (this sentence doesn't make any sense to me).
Latin: Denique ceterae rew quae petuntur opportunae sunt rebus singulis: divitiae ut eis utaris; honores, ut lauderis; salus ut dolore careas et rebus corporis utaris. Amicitia res plurimus continet; nullo loco excluditur; numquam intempestiva, numquam molesta est. Itaque non aqua, non igne in locis pluribus utimur quam amicitia; nam amicitia secundus res clariores facit et adversas res leviores.
Which I have clumsily translated: At last the remaining matter, they who seek other suitable things are singular: in order that they experience riches; honor, in order that they shall be praised; health, in order that they be without pain and experiences of the body. Friendship is what matters most; it excludes none, is never unseasonable, and never troublesome. So not water, not fire (in locis pluribus utimur: I have NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS!) than friendship; for friendship is the second brightest thing and opposite things are trivial to accomplish.
I'm hoping to finish translating this by tomorrow and will not rest easy until I get it right! Any help would be greatly appreciated.