Ben-Hur Translation Page 28: The Fall of Messala

[bedwere]

Previous pages.

Image of current page in English

Many thanks for your help!

With matchless skill and super-human strength Ben-Hur recovers control of his four, and urges them to greater speed. Almost abreast of Messala’s chariot, Ben-Hur turns his thundering steeds suddenly at a sharp angle.

Benhur autem quaternos incomparabili arte atque incredibili nixu in potestatem suam receptos concitat. Et pæne æquatus currui Messalæ, Benhur subito convertit equos tonantes.

Ὁ δὲ Βενὼρ τοὺς τέσσαρας ἀσυγκρίτῳ τέχνῃ τε καὶ ἀπίστῳ πείρᾳ ὑφ' ἑαυτοῦ πάλιν ὑποταγέντας παρορμᾷ. Καὶ σχεδὸν ἐξισασμένος τῷ τοῦ Μεσσάλα ἅρματι, ὁ Βενὼρ ἐξαίφνης ἐπιστρέφει τοὺς ἵππους βροντῶντας.

His ironshod hub grinds beneath Messala’s wheel, tearing the Roman’s spokes to splintered stumps. An Earth shaking roar swells from the stadium as hoarse cheers mingle with cries of horror.

Axis ejus ferro obductus molit sub rota Messalæ, distrahens Romani radios in assulas. Terram autem rugitus concutiens emittitur ex circo, dum rauci clamores tremendis gemitibus miscentur.

Ὁ δὲ σεσιδηρωμένος ἄξων αὐτοῦ ἀλεῖ ὑπὸ τοῦ τροχοῦ τοῦ Μεσσάλα, διασπῶν τὰς τοῦ Ῥωμαίου κνήμας εἰς ἐσχισμένα τινά. Ἐλελίχθον δὲ βρύχημά τι ἀναπέμπεται ἐκ τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου, τῶν βραγχῶν ἀλαλαγμῶν τοῖς φοβεροῖς στεναγμοῖς μεμιγμένων.

Messala is pinned in the wreckage of his chariot and dying horses. Although clinging
desperately to life, the Roman is forever hopelessly crippled. By the daring Jew’s sweep to victory, Messala is bankrupt and disgraced.


Ergo Messala adfigitur ruinis currus equorumque morientium. Etsi pertinaciter appetat vivere, Romanus sine spe claudus fit in æternum. Victoria igitur ab audace Judæo rapta, Messala decoquitur atque deicitur.

Ὁ τοίνυν Μεσσάλας προσάπτεται τῷ ἐρειπίῳ τοῦ ἅρματός τε καὶ τῶν ἵππων ἀποθνῃσκόντων. Καίπερ γλιχόμενος τοῦ ζῆν, ὁ Ῥωμαῖος ἀνελπίστως χωλαίνεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Διὰ οὖν τῆς νίκης ὑπὸ τοῦ τολμηροῦ Ἰουδαίου ἁρπασθείσης, ὁ Μεσσάλας χρεωκοπεῖται τε καὶ καταβάλλεται.

Triumphantly crossing the finish line, Ben-Hur’s long-sought revenge against Messala is crowned with majestic fulfillment that, far more than victory in the race, swells his heart with unbounded joy!

Benhuris, qui vincit et terminum transit, in Messalam vindicta, longe quæsita, supra modum impleta est, ita ut ipse in hoc multo magis quam in certaminis victoria nimis lætetur!

Ἡ δὲ τοῦ Βενώρ, τοῦ κρατήσαντος καὶ τὸ τέρμα διαβάντος, εἰς τὸν Μεσσάλαν τιμωρία μακρῶς ζητηθεῖσα ὑπερβαλλόντως πεπλήρωται ὥστε αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τούτῳ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἢ ἐπὶ τῇ ἐν τῷ ἀγῶνι νίκῃ λίαν εὐφραίνεται.

[bedwere]

Ῥωμαϊστί


Græce