Ben-Hur Translation Page 27: And They Are Off!

[bedwere]

Previous pages.

Image of current page in English

Many thanks for your help!

One hundred thousand cheering spectators from all parts of the Roman empire crowd the stadium at Antioch on the afternoon of the great race.

Tempore magni certaminis pomeridiano centum millia ex omnibus sub Romano imperio locis spectatorum plaudentium stipant circum Antiocheum.

Τῆς τοῦ μεγάλου ἀγῶνος δείλης δέκα μύριοι ἐκ πάντων τῆς τῶν Ῥωμαίων βασιλείας τόπων θεαταὶ κροτοῦντες ἀναπληροῦσι τὸν Ἀντιόχειον ἱππόδρομον.

By all odds, Messala is the favorite driver. But there is much speculation about the mysterious Jew called Ben-Hur and his magnificent Arabian horses.

Messala omnino exspectatur victurus. Multi autem colloquuntur de occulto, qui Benhur appellatur, Judæo splendidisque equis ejus.

Ὁ μὲν Μεσσάλας παντελῶς προσδοκᾶται νικήσειν. Πολλοὶ δὲ διαλογίζονται περὶ τοῦ τε κρυπτοῦ Ἰουδαίου, τοῦ Βενὼρ καλουμένου, καὶ τῶν λαμπρῶν ἵππων αὐτοῦ.

The sport of chariot racing is full of dangers and surprises, for once past the line there are no rules to restrain the cruelty and ruthlessness of the driver.

Inopinata autem pericula in quadrigarum certaminibus abundant. Nam, dimissione facta, absunt præcepta ad crudeles atque importunos aurigas frenandos.

Ἀδόκητοι δὲ κίνδυνοι ἐν τοῖς τῶν τεθρίππων ἀγῶσι περισσεύουσιν. Τῆς γὰρ ἀφέσεως ποιηθείσης, ἄπεισιν αἱ ἐντολαὶ τοῦ τοὺς ὠμούς τε καὶ ἀγρίους ἡνιόχους χαλινοῦν.

A blare of trumpets, a signal from the starter and the thrilling contest begins.

Tubæ canunt, præses signum dat, dirum certamen incipit.

Αἱ μὲν σάλπιγγες φθέγγονται, ὁ δὲ πρόεδρος σημαίνει, ὁ δὲ δεινὸς ἀγὼν ἄρχεται.

Ben-Hur has drawn the least favored position and Messala has the best.

Benhur sortitus est pessimum locum, Messala autem optimum.

Ὁ μὲν Βενὼρ κεκλήρωται τὸν κάκιστον τόπον, ὁ δὲ Μεσσάλας τὸν κράτιστον.

But this only sharpens Ben-Hur’s grim determination to bring crushing defeat to his sworn enemy!

Quod verumtamen exacerbat terribilem Benhur constitutum devincere suum inimicissimum!

Πλὴν τοῦτο παροξύνει τὸν γόργον Βενὼρ προῃρημένον κατανικῆσαι τὸν αὑτοῦ ἔχθιστον.

As the teams thunder down the course one chariot has been forced against the inner wall. The unfortunate driver is hurled under the hooves of his madly plunging horses.

Dum quadrigæ tonantes currunt cursum, currus in murum interiorem impulsus est. Infortunatusque auriga conjicitur sub equorum furiose irruentium ungulas.

Τῶν τεθρίππων βροντώντων καὶ τὸν δρόμον τρεχόντων, ἅρμα τι ἐπὶ τὸ ἐνδότερον τεῖχος ἐπῆκται. Καὶ ὁ δυστυχὴς ἡνίοχος συμβάλλεται ὑπὸ τὰς τῶν ἵππων μανικῶς εἰσπιπτόντων ὁπλάς.

Ben-Hur behind and the two drivers nearest to him check their speed to avoid crashing into the wreck.

Benhur autem qui post est et duo proximi ei aurigæ minus festinant ne in ruinas incidant.

Ὁ δὲ Βενὼρ ὄπισθεν ὢν καὶ οἱ δύο πλησιαίτατοι αὐτοῦ ἡνίοχοι μεῖνον σπεύδουσιν ἵνα μὴ εἰς τὸ ἐρείπιον εἰσπέσωσιν.

By skillful driving Ben-Hur has maneuvered his four abreast of Messala. But at the point of passing, the Roman deals Ben-Hur’s horses a vicious blow with his whip.

Benhur quidem sollerter agitans sic quaternos decucurrit ut æquarentur Messalæ. Romanus autem, cum in eo sit ut superetur, loro plagam equis Benhuris turpiter infligit.

Ὁ μὲν Βενὼρ ἀγχινόως ἐλαύνων οὕτω τοὺς τέσσαρας παρατέτακται ὥστε αὐτοὺς ἐξισωθῆναι τῷ Μεσσάλᾳ. Ὁ δὲ Ῥωμαῖος, μέλλων ὑπερβάλλεσθαι, τῷ ἱμάντι πληγὴν τοῖς ἵπποις τοῦ Βενὼρ αἰσχρῶς ἐπιβάλλει.

The Arabians have never before felt the sting of a lash, and are thrown into a panic of terror!

Arabi autem, qui numquam senserunt flagelli morsum, terrore subito et inani tenentur!

Οἱ δ' Ἀραβικοὶ, οἱ οὐδεπώποτε αἰσθόμενοι τοῦ τῆς μάστιγος δήγματος, πανικῷ θορύβῳ συνέχονται.

[bedwere]

Ῥωμαϊστί



Græce